About Holy Trinity · New Denmark, Wisconsin
Holy Trinity Oratory is a small Catholic church in the unincorporated community of New Denmark, in southwestern Brown County, Wisconsin, founded in 1866 by Bohemian immigrant families. Long treated as a 'Mission' of All Saints Parish in Denmark, it was canonically reclassified as an Oratory of All Saints Parish effective July 1, 2024 by the Diocese of Green Bay, giving it stronger canonical protections and ensuring its continued life. Today about 51 families worship in this pine-paneled, beamed-ceiling country church, still affectionately called the 'Little Bohemian Church' by neighbors who greet each other with 'Jak se Maj!' (How are you?).
- Established
- 1866
- Patron
- Holy Trinity
- Rector
- Father Kevin Ori (pastor of the Triangle of Faith cluster; Holy Trinity is an Oratory of All Saints Parish)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
Holy Trinity is a tight-knit Bohemian-heritage Catholic community of about 51 families in rural Brown County, where worship still happens in a pine-paneled, beamed-ceiling country church built by 19th-century immigrant founders. Members stay involved across the 'Triangle of Faith' cluster (with All Saints in Denmark and St. Mary's Glenmore/Stark), keeping the Altar Society and choir active, gathering for the parish picnic and special feast-day liturgies, and supporting a parish cemetery that is still lovingly maintained. With its 2024 elevation to Oratory status under the Diocese of Green Bay, Holy Trinity offers both an intimate small-parish experience and the stability of belonging to a larger Catholic family.
Mass times at Holy Trinity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM at All Saints, Denmark (cluster-wide confession before the 4:00 PM Saturday Mass); available before Mass as needed
Adoration times
- Wednesdays 5:00 AM – 6:00 AM at All Saints, Denmark
- Fridays 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM at All Saints, Denmark (First Friday Adoration with Benediction at 7:00 PM, All Saints)
- 1st Friday of the month, All Saints, Denmark
Welcome to Holy Trinity Oratory
Holy Trinity Oratory in New Denmark is a small church in southwestern Brown County on Highway NN, established in 1866 by local immigrants of mostly Bohemian descent. The parish is small — currently about 51 families — but the church and grounds, including the cemetery, are maintained in excellent condition. The interior's pine-paneled walls and beamed ceiling date from the 1939 remodel, and the parish is still called the 'Little Bohemian Church' by neighbors who greet each other with 'Jak se Maj!' (How are you?).
- Small Bohemian-heritage parish of ~51 families
- Pine-paneled walls and beamed ceiling (1939 remodel)
- Known locally as the 'Little Bohemian Church'
- Parish cemetery on the grounds
History of Holy Trinity
Holy Trinity traces its roots to December 9, 1866, when the land on which the church now stands was bought from Franz Kozlovsky for $30. The original Bohemian charter members — Kozlovsky, Wanek, Pociepicky, Hanek, Tuma, Pelishek, Shochpol, Kapinos and Kapinos — built a parish that has now worshiped on this spot for 159 years. Holy Trinity has been served from Denmark since 1922, and the great 1939 remodel under Fr. John Gehl essentially gave the building its present shape.
- 1866: land bought from Franz Kozlovsky for $30 (Dec 9, 1866)
- Before 1866: area Catholics attended Mass at the now-ghost parish of St. Wencelaus in Green Street, nine miles away
- 1922: Holy Trinity Mission served from Denmark by Fr. Joseph J. Ahearn, first resident pastor of All Saints
- 1939: church completely remodeled and enlarged under Fr. John Gehl — possibly after a tornado — with new main altar, sacristies, side pews, basement hall, heating, and stained-glass windows
- Nov. 14, 1939: rebuilt church dedicated by Bishop Paul Peter Rhode; cornerstone blessed by Monsignor Joseph A. Marx, V.G., P.A.
- 1939 remodel cost $8,996, funded by 82 parish families
- Stained-glass windows: $100 each, paid for through $50 honorariums; donor family names still appear on them
From Mission to Oratory: A New Canonical Chapter (2024)
In 2024 the Diocese of Green Bay worked with Holy Trinity and All Saints to formalize the parish's status. Effective July 1, 2024, Holy Trinity was officially made an Oratory of All Saints Parish rather than a Mission. This transition gives Holy Trinity additional canonical protections it did not have as a Mission, helping to strengthen the Oratory and ensure its continued existence for generations to come.
- Bishop Ricken's Decree Establishing Holy Trinity Oratory (2024)
- Canonical protections beyond the former 'Mission' status
- Linked-cluster structure with All Saints Parish remains intact
The Linked-Parish Years and the Return of Regular Mass
From 2000 to 2014 Holy Trinity had no regular Sunday Mass after All Saints, Holy Trinity, and St. James Cooperstown were linked under Fr. Ron Colombo. The congregation refused to fade: monthly Communion-with-the-Word services on the first Tuesday, Mass with Fr. Ron on the third Thursday, plus Christmas, Easter, Trinity Sunday, the parish picnic, baptisms, weddings, and funerals. In 2014 Fr. Kevin Ori arrived with Deacon David Scheuer, and in August 2014 Holy Trinity celebrated its first 'regular' Mass in 14 years — continuing to this day on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month.
- 2000: linked parish formed (All Saints, Holy Trinity, St. James Cooperstown) under Fr. Ron Colombo; regular Sunday Masses discontinued
- Local trustee to the press: 'We are Not Closing'
- 2005: St. Joseph's, Kellnersville, joined the linkage
- 2009: St. Mary's Glenmore/Stark joined the linkage
- 2014: Fr. Ron Colombo retired; Fr. Kevin Ori and Deacon David Scheuer assigned
- August 2014: Holy Trinity's first regular Mass in 14 years
- 2016: parish celebrated its Sesquicentennial (150 years)
Parish Ministries and Community Life
Members of Holy Trinity are active across the linked parishes, participating in liturgies, councils and committees, and in social events like the parish picnic. The parish's own Altar Society and choir remain very active, and recent improvements to the church and site include a new metal roof and a wheelchair ramp to the front door. The cluster-wide 'One Degree Youth Ministry' and other parish ministries offer ways for every age and talent to get involved.
- Altar Society (active)
- Parish Choir (active)
- Parish Council and Finance Council
- One Degree Youth Ministry (cluster-wide)
- Prayer Tree / Prayer Chain
- Servers, ushers, lectors, church decorators/cleaners
- Care Ministry to the homebound and nursing-home residents
- Religious Education teachers
- Annual parish picnic and Triangle of Faith social events
Buildings, Grounds and Cemetery
The small country church sits on its original 1866 lot on County Highway NN in New Denmark and is surrounded by a parish cemetery that is still maintained in excellent condition. Recent additions include a new metal roof and a wheelchair ramp at the front door, while the 1939 remodel continues to define the interior — pine-paneled walls, beamed ceiling, the main altar, two sacristies and the basement meeting/dining hall.
- Original 1866 land purchase site
- Pine-paneled walls and beamed ceiling (1939)
- Basement meeting and dining hall
- Parish cemetery on the grounds
- New metal roof and wheelchair ramp
Triangle of Faith: Cluster Parishes
Holy Trinity is one of three parishes in the 'Triangle of Faith Catholic Community' in Denmark, Wisconsin, together with All Saints in Denmark and St. Mary's Glenmore/Stark. The three share clergy, faith formation, youth ministry, social events, and a common mission of community, service and evangelization. All Saints is the parish center — its 145 St. Claude St. address is Holy Trinity's mailing address (c/o All Saints Parish).
- All Saints — Denmark (145 St. Claude St.)
- Holy Trinity — New Denmark (6397 County Rd NN)
- St. Mary's Glenmore/Stark
- Shared clergy: Fr. Kevin Ori and Deacon David Scheuer
- Cluster-wide faith formation, youth ministry and social events
Visiting and Contact
The physical address for Holy Trinity Oratory is 6397 County Road NN, Denmark, WI 54208. Mail should be addressed c/o All Saints Parish, 145 St. Claude St., Denmark, WI 54208. The parish phone line is (920) 863-5256, and the parish website is denmarkareacatholic.com/holy-trinity.
- Physical: 6397 County Rd NN, Denmark, WI 54208
- Mailing: c/o All Saints Parish, 145 St. Claude St., Denmark, WI 54208
- Phone: (920) 863-5256
- Web: denmarkareacatholic.com/holy-trinity
- Facebook: All Saints Denmark (cluster)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph J. Ahearnfrom 1922
Appointed first resident pastor of All Saints Parish, Denmark; began serving Holy Trinity Mission from Denmark.
- Father Dusold
Served Holy Trinity Mission.
- Father Jacobs
Served Holy Trinity Mission.
- Father Short
Served Holy Trinity Mission.
- Father John Gehl
Led the 1939 remodel and enlargement of the church.
- Father Fellerretired 1990
Long-serving pastor preceding Dickrell.
- Father Cyril Dickrell1990–1992
Served after Fr. Feller's retirement.
- Father Robert Gulig1992–2000 (retirement)
Linked All Saints, Holy Trinity, and St. James Cooperstown beginning 2000.
- Father Ron Colombo2000–2014 (retirement)
Pastor of the linked-parish arrangement; discontinued regular Sunday Masses at Holy Trinity during his tenure, though the parish remained active.
- Father Kevin Ori2014–present
Assigned to the new cluster of All Saints, St. Mary's Glenmore/Stark, and Holy Trinity; with Deacon David Scheuer, restored regular weekend Masses at Holy Trinity in August 2014.