About Nativity of Mary · Janesville, Wisconsin
Nativity of Mary Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Janesville, Wisconsin, part of the Diocese of Madison. Founded in 1876 as Janesville's second Catholic congregation (after St. Patrick, 1847), it serves its downtown Janesville community from its historic home at 313 East Wall Street. Since 2024, Nativity of Mary has been grouped with the city's three other Catholic parishes — St. John Vianney, St. Patrick, and St. William — into the St. Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate, with Rev. Chad Droessler installed as pastor by Bishop Donald J. Hying. The parish lives out a mission centered on the Eucharist and the Holy Spirit, 'proclaiming the Gospel as good stewards, sharing God's love.' It is recognized as an official Jubilee Year 2025 pilgrimage site.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Chad Droessler
- Diocese
- Diocese of Madison
Why belong here
Nativity of Mary offers a peaceful, downtown Janesville home for Catholics who want traditional Eucharistic-centered worship: two Sunday Masses (8 AM and 6 PM), weekday Masses on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday, daily confession opportunities, and Saturday Eucharistic Adoration from 9 AM to noon. As part of the new St. Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate, parishioners share in a robust Catholic school system (St. Mary School on the same campus), parish religious education, Hispanic ministry, pastoral care, marriage formation, and a long tradition of community outreach that traces back to the founding of the city-wide ECHO food-pantry network in 1970.
Mass times at Nativity of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30–8:00 AM (before 8 AM Mass)
- Sunday 5:30–6:00 PM (before 6 PM Mass)
- Saturday 7:45–9:00 AM (heard throughout the 8:15 AM Mass until the line is finished)
- Monday–Friday 11:40 AM–12:10 PM (when noon Mass is celebrated)
Adoration times
- Saturday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration — listed Jubilee Year 2025 pilgrimage site)
History of Nativity of Mary Parish
Nativity of Mary began in the winter of 1876 as Janesville's second Catholic congregation. On March 3 the eight-rod-square lot was purchased for $580 and on March 14 a contract was let for a plain frame church at $2,000; the first liturgy was offered in July and Rev. John Stephen Muenich was installed as first pastor that September. The congregation was incorporated under Wisconsin law on August 17, 1883. By the turn of the century the frame church was overcrowded, and under Rev. W.A. Goebel — to plans by architects Frank Kemp and Fred Roesling Sr. — a new High Victorian Gothic church was built in 1900-1902, dedicated by Bishop Muldoon of Chicago on June 14, 1902. Goebel also opened the parish school on September 1, 1913, with 96 pupils in six grades under the Sisters of St. Dominic of Racine.
- 1876 — parish founded; first pastor Rev. John Stephen Muenich (September 1876)
- 1883 — incorporated under Wisconsin law (August 17)
- 1900-1902 — present church built, dedicated June 14, 1902 by Bishop Muldoon
- 1913 — Nativity of Mary School opens (Sept 1) under the Dominican Sisters of Racine
- 1917 — Rev. Charles Olson adds the rectory (1918) and rebuilds the sisters' residence
- 1933 — Rev. Ewald J. Beck begins a 34-year pastorate
- 1944 — original white altars replaced with oak (main altar gifted by Rev. Beck)
- 1967 — Rev. Bernard Pierick succeeds Msgr. Beck; three bells installed
- 1968 — Parish Council formally constituted under Madison Diocese mandate
- 1970 — parish helps found city-wide ECHO (Everyone Cooperating to Help Others) food program
- 2024 — merged with St. John Vianney, St. Patrick, and St. William into St. Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate
Architecture of the 1902 Church
The 1902 church is High Victorian Gothic, designed by Janesville architects Frank Kemp and Fred Roesling Sr. The exterior is built on a Waukesha limestone foundation with pressed brick so plentiful it consumed the local brick yard's whole supply, with 21-inch-thick walls and a steeple soaring over 200 feet into the air. Inside, the auditorium features an arched ceiling, gas and electric brass lighting, oak pews, pillars of onyx and Italian marble, and antique stained-glass windows. The 1944 renovation installed new oak altars (a main altar donated by Rev. Beck and two side altars), and three bells were added to the tower under Rev. Pierick.
- High Victorian Gothic style
- Architects Frank Kemp & Fred Roesling Sr.
- Waukesha limestone foundation; pressed-brick exterior
- 21-inch-thick walls; 200+ foot steeple
- Arched ceiling; oak pews; onyx and Italian-marble pillars
- Antique stained-glass windows
- Three bells installed mid-20th century
St. Mary School & Faith Formation
Nativity of Mary School opened on September 1, 1913 — first in the old frame church moved to the corner of Prospect and North Wisconsin Streets — with 96 pupils in six grades under the Sisters of St. Dominic of Racine. The school is now part of the Janesville Catholic schools system, sharing a principal (Heidi Miller) with St. John Vianney School and operated alongside St. William Catholic School under the St. Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate. Religious Education for parish children who do not attend the parish school, as well as the RCIA process, are coordinated across the pastorate.
- Parish school since 1913 (originally Dominican Sisters of Racine, WI)
- St. Mary School (current) — principal Heidi Miller
- St. John Vianney School and St. William Catholic School (pastorate)
- Religious Education program (K-12) — Amanda Adams, Director
- RCIA (Becoming Catholic) — Sunday evenings at Nativity of Mary Church
- Marriage Formation — coordinators Mike and Patty O'Brien
Clergy & Staff
Since 2024 the four Janesville parishes — including Nativity of Mary — share a single pastoral team under St. Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate. Rev. Chad Droessler was installed as pastor by Bishop Donald J. Hying on September 21, 2024; he is assisted by Parochial Vicars Rev. Christopher Gernetzke and Rev. Vincent Racanelli, with Rev. Tom Marr in priestly residence. Parish and school staff include Executive Secretary Heidi Schwank, Business Administrator Jeanne Vogt, Secretary Jenny McBride, Director of Religious Education Amanda Adams, Hispanic Ministry Director Yadira Castellanos, Pastoral Care Director George Wollinger, Pastoral Care Associate Lucia Smith, school principals Angela Flynn (St. William) and Heidi Miller (St. John Vianney/St. Mary), Assistant Principal Melissa Lentz (St. William), Pastorate Maintenance Supervisor Brian Cusick, and Maintenance Director for Nativity of Mary Sean Leonard.
- Rev. Chad Droessler — Pastor (installed Sept 21, 2024)
- Rev. Christopher Gernetzke — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Vincent Racanelli — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Tom Marr — Priest in Residence
- Heidi Schwank — Executive Secretary
- Jeanne Vogt — Business Administrator
- Jenny McBride — Secretary
- Amanda Adams — Director of Religious Education and Evangelization
- Yadira Castellanos — Hispanic Ministry Director
- George Wollinger — Pastoral Care Director
- Lucia Smith — Pastoral Care Associate
- Mike and Patty O'Brien — Marriage Formation Coordinators
- Heidi Miller — Principal, St. John Vianney & St. Mary
- Angela Flynn — Principal, St. William Catholic School
- Melissa Lentz — Assistant Principal, St. William
- Sean Leonard — Maintenance Director, Nativity of Mary
- Brian Cusick — Pastorate Maintenance Supervisor
- Joanne Shields — Maintenance Associate
Music & Liturgy
Music at Nativity of Mary is led by cantors and a parish choir who rehearse Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM. A new pipe organ was purchased during Msgr. Beck's pastorate after GM's 1935 return to Janesville brought new prosperity to the parish. The parish continues a traditional liturgical style rooted in its High Victorian Gothic setting.
- Choir/Cantor Practice — Thursday 6:30 PM
- Traditional liturgical style rooted in 1902 High Victorian Gothic church
Pastoral Outreach & Community Service
Outreach is part of Nativity of Mary's DNA: in 1970 the parish Social Services Commission helped found ECHO (Everyone Cooperating to Help Others), Janesville's interfaith food-pantry network now supported by more than 30 religious organizations. Earlier, the commission ran the parish's own food pantry for emergencies not covered by welfare agencies, organized rides for religious-education students with intellectual disabilities, supported Meals on Wheels, and packed Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets each year. Today pastoral care is led by George Wollinger (director) and Lucia Smith (associate), with Hispanic ministry under Yadira Castellanos.
- ECHO (Everyone Cooperating to Help Others) — city-wide food pantry network, co-founded 1970
- Parish food pantry and Thanksgiving/Christmas basket ministry
- Meals on Wheels support
- Religious Education transportation for students with intellectual disabilities
- Pastoral Care (visits, Communion to the homebound, Anointing of the Sick)
- Hispanic Ministry (pastorate-wide)
Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults for the Janesville pastorate is hosted at Nativity of Mary Church, where classes meet Sunday evenings from 7:00–8:30 PM. RCIA welcomes unbaptized adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, Christians from other traditions seeking full communion, and baptized Catholics who have not yet received Confirmation or Eucharist.
- Classes meet Sunday evenings 7:00–8:30 PM at Nativity of Mary Church
- Open to unbaptized adults, other Christian traditions, and uncatechized Catholics
- Led across the pastorate; contact Fr. Matthew Pearson (now of Stella Maris Pastorate)
Plan Your Visit
Visitors are warmly welcomed at Nativity of Mary, 313 East Wall Street in downtown Janesville. Saturday Mass is at 8:15 AM with confessions heard from 7:45 AM; Sunday Masses are at 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Eucharistic Adoration is held Saturday 9 AM–12 PM. Across Janesville, Catholics can attend a daily Mass at one of the four St. Jane Frances de Chantal parishes. The parish office can be reached at (608) 752-7861 or [email protected].
- Address: 313 E. Wall Street, Janesville, WI 53545
- Phone: (608) 752-7861
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.nativitymary.org
- Facebook: Nativity of Mary Parish - Janesville WI
- Easy access to daily Mass at any of the four Janesville Catholic parishes
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Stephen Muenich1876–
First pastor of Nativity of Mary, installed September 1876
- Rev. Robert Roche
Second pastor; began a fund to improve the church lot and acquire school property
- Rev. W.A. Goebelto ~1917
Built the High Victorian Gothic church dedicated in 1902; opened Nativity of Mary School in 1913 with the Sisters of St. Dominic of Racine
- Rev. Charles Olson1917–~1931
Added the rectory in 1918 and rebuilt the sisters' residence; organized Holy Name, Children of Mary and other lay societies
- Rev. Ewald J. Beck (Msgr.)July 1, 1933–1967 (34 years)
Long-tenured pastor; oversaw a new organ and 1944 oak altars; died suddenly after retiring
- Rev. Bernard PierickJune 21, 1967–
Had previously served 14 years as rector of Holy Name Seminary; installed three bells; fostered parish council and ecumenical cooperation
- Rev. Robert Butzby 2018
Listed as Pastor in the 2018 parish directory
- Rev. Stephen J. Umhoeferby 2018
Listed as Pastor in the 2018 parish directory
- Rev. Matthew Pearson2023–2024
Served as parochial administrator; led RCIA; reassigned to Stella Maris Pastorate in 2024
- Rev. Chad DroesslerSeptember 21, 2024–present
Installed by Bishop Hying as first pastor of the merged St. Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate