About Immaculate Conception · Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Church of the Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic parish in the Bay View neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded in 1871 to serve Irish immigrant mill workers at the Milwaukee Iron Company. Now part of the tri-parish South Shore Catholic grouping with St. Augustine and Sacred Heart of Jesus, it is led by Father Edward Sanchez and describes itself as 'a Eucharistic, Catholic Community dedicated to providing a place of worship and growth, serving the spiritual and physical needs of those around us, upholding the dignity of every human life, loving God through faith and action, and continuously building God's Church.' Its present Colonial Revival church, dedicated in 1908, is a designated Bay View Landmark and houses notable mosaic and stained-glass artwork, while the parish runs an extensive Eucharistic Adoration program from Thursday mornings through Saturday afternoons.
- Established
- 1871
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Father Edward Sanchez
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a historic Bay View parish whose 1908 Colonial Revival church — designated an official Bay View Landmark — still anchors the neighborhood 150 years after its founding. Daily and Sunday Mass is complemented by one of the most distinctive offerings on Milwaukee's south side: a continuous 56-hour Eucharistic Adoration window from Thursday at 8:45 a.m. through Saturday at 3:00 p.m., with the parish actively working toward perpetual adoration. Members can join the worship team as lectors, extraordinary ministers, ushers, servers, cantors or choir, serve on the Tri-Parish or Finance Councils, walk with families as a Family Faith Formation catechist or companion, or help the St. Vincent de Paul–partnered Elizabeth Ministry, Human Concerns Committee and Ministry to the Homebound.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:45 AM
- Saturday 3:30 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:45 AM through Saturday 3:00 PM (continuous Eucharistic Adoration)
- Tuesday 5:00–6:00 PM at Sacred Heart of Jesus (sister parish)
Parish Identity & Mission
Immaculate Conception describes itself as 'a Eucharistic, Catholic Community dedicated to providing a place of worship and growth, serving the spiritual and physical needs of those around us, upholding the dignity of every human life, loving God through faith and action, and continuously building God's Church.' Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m., with daily Mass on Thursdays and Saturdays at 8:15 a.m.
Our Parish History
Founded in 1871 to serve Irish and English-speaking mill workers at the Milwaukee Iron Company's Bay View plant, the parish is now more than 150 years old. It opened its present Colonial Revival church in 1908, expanded it in 1958–59 with the addition by Brust and Brust, and was designated a Bay View Landmark on May 20, 2006. The full timeline of pastors — from Fr. Thomas Fagan (43 years) through Fr. Edward Sanchez — is recorded on the parish website's Our Parish History page.
- 1871: Parish founded; wooden church dedicated November 29 by V. Rev. Martin Kundig
- 1886: School opens with 90 pupils (peaks near 1,000 in the 1950s)
- 1907–08: Present church designed by Buemming and Dick; dedicated August 30, 1908 by Archbishop Messmer
- 1958–59: Brust and Brust addition expands seating from ~600 to 1,000; church orientation reversed
- 1990: Mass of Rededication after 'Operation Restoration' by Fr. Norman Oswald
- 2006: Designated a Bay View Landmark
- November 1, 2023: Fr. Edward Sanchez begins as tri-parish administrator
- June 8, 2024: Archbishop Jeffrey Grob names Fr. Sanchez Pastor
Architecture & Parish Art
The Colonial Revival church by Buemming and Dick (1907) and the Brust and Brust addition (1958–59) form a single visually unified building crowned by a dome-topped tower rising roughly 120 feet on the Russell Avenue façade. The interior preserves Conrad Schmidt Studios mosaics and Stations of the Cross, the Felix Senger Jesse Tree mosaic, Oberammergau wood carvings of Mary and St. Joseph at the side altars, and etched-glass front doors by Mike Levin installed in January 2008.
- Buemming and Dick, architects of the 1907 original
- Brust and Brust, architects of the 1959 south addition
- Conrad Schmidt Studios mosaics and ecclesiastical art (1958)
- Felix Senger — Jesse Tree mosaic, stained glass, Stations of the Cross
- Oberammergau wood carvings of Mary/Christ Child and St. Joseph
- Mike Levin / Milwaukee Plate Glass front doors (2008)
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
Reconciliation is offered twice on Saturday mornings and afternoons, with appointments available on request. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared for through the Family Faith Formation program, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium (ages 3–5), and the High School & Youth Confirmation program, all coordinated across the South Shore Catholic parishes. The homebound receive Communion on the first Friday of every month through the Ministry to the Homebound.
- Reconciliation (Confession): Saturday 8:45 a.m. & 3:30 p.m.
- First Communion through Family Faith Formation & Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Confirmation: High School & Youth Confirmation Sundays 5:30 p.m. at St. Veronica
- Eucharist to the homebound: first Friday of each month
- Baptism celebrated in the 1959 west-wall baptistery
Religious Formation for All Ages
Faith formation is offered for the entire family through the South Shore Catholic parishes. Children ages 3–5 gather in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium at St. Veronica on Saturday mornings, while school-age children and their parents attend Family Faith Formation Sundays from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. in St. Veronica's Johnson Hall. Teens prepare for Confirmation on Sunday evenings, and adult formation opportunities round out the program. All volunteers working with minors must complete a criminal background check and Archdiocesan Safe Environment training.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (ages 3–5): Saturday mornings at St. Veronica Atrium
- Family Faith Formation: Sundays 12:30–2:00 p.m. at St. Veronica's Johnson Hall
- High School & Youth Confirmation: Sundays 5:30 p.m. at St. Veronica
- Adult Formation programming
- Family Holy {Half} Hours — quarterly adoration + pot-luck led by Fr. Edward
- Contact: Josh Moore (Family Faith Formation)
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve Sunday Masses as lectors, extraordinary ministers, ushers, altar servers, cantors and choir members. The choir rehearses on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. The Altar Guild welcomes girls ages 7 and older on the first Saturday of the month at 2:30 p.m. The Ministry to the Homebound brings Communion to those in nursing and assisted-living facilities on the first Friday of each month.
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (open to Confirmed teens and adults)
- Servers (boys after First Communion)
- Ushers (open to Confirmed teens and adults)
- Cantors and Choir (Wednesdays 6:30 p.m.)
- Altar Guild for girls 7+ (first Saturday, 2:30 p.m.)
- Ministry to the Homebound (first Friday)
Parish Life, Councils & Outreach
Parish governance is exercised through a Tri-Parish Council representing the three South Shore parishes, a Finance Council that advises the pastor on financial health, and a Building & Grounds Committee that maintains the parish and cemetery. The Human Concerns Committee coordinates campaigns supporting outside ministries, while the Elizabeth Ministry — modeled on the Visitation — reaches out to mothers and expectant women in partnership with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, hosting a Spring Baby Shower and the Advent Giving Tree.
- Tri-Parish Council
- Finance Council
- Building & Grounds Committee
- Human Concerns Committee
- Elizabeth Ministry (with St. Vincent de Paul Society)
- South Shore Sharing community lunch (last Saturday of the month, 12:00–1:00 p.m. in Ryan Hall)
Getting Involved & Contact
Parishioners are invited to serve through the Tri-Parish Council, Finance Council, Building & Grounds Committee, liturgical ministries or one of the formation programs. The parish shares email contacts across the South Shore Catholic grouping so volunteers can connect directly with the coordinator of each ministry.
- Liturgical ministries: [email protected] / [email protected]
- Altar Guild: [email protected]
- Adoration coordinator: [email protected]
- Building & Grounds: Joe at [email protected]
- Faith Formation: Josh Moore
Visiting the Parish
Immaculate Conception stands at 1023 East Russell Avenue at the corner of South Kinnickinnic Avenue in the Bay View neighborhood of Milwaukee. The parish phone is (414) 769-2480 and the church is served by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. A ramp-accessible entrance on the east side of the building is open at night for Adoration visitors.
- Address: 1023 E. Russell Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207
- Phone: (414) 769-2480
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Milwaukee
- Archbishop: Most Rev. Jeffrey Grob
- East-side ramp accessible entrance open at night for adoration
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Thomas Fagan1871–1872 (temporary minister), then 1880–1923
Irish professor from St. Francis Seminary who founded the parish on three lots donated by the Milwaukee Iron Company; returned as pastor and served 43 years until his death in October 1923.
- Rev. P.F. PettitMarch 1872 – August 1875
First resident pastor; oversaw construction of the rectory.
- Rev. J.W. Vaheyafter 1875
Succeeded Fr. Pettit during a period of priest shortage.
- Rev. James Hegertybefore 1880
Served between Fr. Vahey and Fr. Fagan's return.
- Fr. Thomas Pierceearly 20th century
First assistant and later pastor; oversaw construction of the present 1907–08 church and rectory.
- Fr. David Ryan1950s–1971
Led the 1950s church expansion, the 1958–59 renovation by Brust and Brust, and the change from Latin to English liturgy and the move of the altar to face the people.
- Fr. Robert Schmidbauer1971–1984
Refurbished the organ and relocated it from the old choir loft to the balcony.
- Fr. Norman Oswald1984–1990
Launched 'Operation Restoration' to renovate church and school, completed in 1990 with a Mass of Rededication by Archbishop Weakland.
- Fr. Dennis WitzDecember 1990–2004
Restored the bell tower and merged IC grade school with St. Augustine into St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Academy.
- Fr. Ronald KoteckiJune 2004 –
Co-founded St. Thomas Aquinas Academy in September 2004; oversaw the May 20, 2006 Bay View Landmark designation.
- Fr. Philip SchumakerJune 14, 2016 – 2023
Brought together staff, offices and councils of Immaculate Conception and St. Augustine, and was later named pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus.
- Fr. Edward SanchezAdministrator November 1, 2023; Pastor June 8, 2024 – present
Appointed by Archbishop Jeffrey Grob to lead the tri-parish (IC, St. Augustine, Sacred Heart of Jesus) South Shore Catholic grouping.