About Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Auburndale, Wisconsin
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (locally known as St. Mary's) is a Roman Catholic parish in the village of Auburndale, Wisconsin, in the Marshfield Deanery of the Diocese of La Crosse. Founded in 1883, it serves the rural Auburndale community with weekend and weekday Masses and is now grouped with two neighboring parishes — St. Kilian in Blenker and St. Michael in Hewitt — under a single pastor and a shared tri-parish bulletin. Father Angisamy Irudayaraj, a priest of the Diocese of Tiruchirappalli (India), was appointed Parochial Administrator of all three parishes effective July 2, 2024, and resides at the Auburndale rectory.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (her Nativity)
- Rector
- Father Angisamy Irudayaraj (Reverend Irudayaraj S. Angisamy), Parochial Administrator — appointed July 2, 2024
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a small, family-sized rural parish where Mass is offered four days a week (Sunday morning plus Monday, Tuesday and Friday), confession is heard a half hour before every weekend Mass, and Eucharistic Adoration is celebrated on First Fridays. Parishioners can get involved in the PCCW ladies' rosary before Sunday Mass, a new 9th–12th grade youth group, Religious Education (CCD), the Knights of Columbus charity raffle, the Pastoral Council, the Cemetery Committee, and the parish's Prayer Tree. As part of the St. Mary–St. Kilian–St. Michael tri-parish family, it offers a tight-knit community where one priest and a small staff personally know the families they serve.
Mass times at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 1/2 hour before weekend Masses
- By appointment (call the parish office)
Adoration times
- First Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to noon
Parish Identity & History
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary — known locally as St. Mary's — is the Catholic parish of the village of Auburndale in central Wisconsin. It belongs to the Diocese of La Crosse (Marshfield Deanery) and, per diocesan archives, has maintained sacramental registers since its founding in 1883. After 140 years of continuous ministry, the parish today forms one body with two neighboring mission parishes — St. Kilian in Blenker and St. Michael in Hewitt — sharing one pastor, one tri-parish bulletin, and one office under the 'Saints MMK' brand (saintsmmk.com).
- Founded 1883
- Diocese of La Crosse, Marshfield Deanery
- Tri-parish family with St. Kilian (Blenker) and St. Michael (Hewitt)
Pastoral Leadership
Reverend Irudayaraj S. Angisamy — known to parishioners as 'Father Angi' — was appointed Parochial Administrator of Nativity of the BVM, St. Kilian and St. Michael parishes on July 2, 2024. A priest of the Diocese of Tiruchirappalli in India, he was welcomed to the cluster with an ordination potluck hosted by the three parishes. He resides at the Auburndale rectory.
- Father Angisamy Irudayaraj, Parochial Administrator (since July 2, 2024)
- Rectory: 715-652-2728
- Tri-parish office staff: Amy Sue Vruwink
Devotions & Other Services
Beyond Mass and confession, St. Mary's hosts the rosary before Sunday Mass — led by the PCCW women's group — and offers pastoral outreach to the sick, homebound, and hospitalized. Anointing of the Sick and home Communion visits are arranged through the parish office.
- Rosary before Sunday Mass (8:10 a.m. in May, led by PCCW)
- First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, 9:30 a.m. – noon
- Ministry to the Sick: home, hospital, or care-facility visits
Sacraments
The parish prepares Catholics for the sacraments of Christian initiation and vocation. Baptisms and Marriages are scheduled through a meeting with Father Angi; the parish recommends beginning marriage preparation at least six months before the anticipated wedding date. The parish also brings Communion and Anointing to those who are sick, hospitalized, or homebound.
- Baptism — meeting with the pastor
- Marriage — at least 6 months of preparation
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion to the homebound
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Religious Education (CCD) at St. Mary's is coordinated by Sharon Schaefer (715-652-2196) and concludes each year with a Graduation Mass in May. A Religious Education Committee, elected in June along with the Pastoral Council and Cemetery Committee, oversees the program. In 2025 a new youth group for Catholic teens in grades 9–12 launched at St. Mary's, with activities such as evening yard games and faith fellowship.
- CCD Coordinator (St. Mary's): Sharon Schaefer, 715-652-2196
- Annual CCD Graduation Mass each May
- Religious Education Committee
- New Youth Group for grades 9–12 ([email protected])
Parish Life & Organizations
St. Mary's is served by a small constellation of lay-led groups that make parish life run. The PCCW (Parish Council of Catholic Women) gathers monthly for fellowship, leads the Sunday-rosary, and supports parish projects. The Pastoral Council (four evening meetings per year, two-year terms) advises the pastor. A separate Cemetery Committee oversees parish cemetery care, and the tri-parish Finance Council handles stewardship.
- PCCW (Parish Council of Catholic Women) — monthly meetings, leads Sunday rosary
- Parish Pastoral Council — 4 evening meetings/year, 2-year terms
- Cemetery Committee
- Finance contact (St. Mary's): Tony Schmitt, 715-652-2974
- Parish Pastoral contact: Tony Schmitt, 715-652-2974
Outreach & Community
The parish participates in the Wisconsin State Council Knights of Columbus annual charity raffle (top prizes include a $50,000 cash option or a 2025 Ford Ranger) and runs a Prayer Tree for prayer requests. Pastoral staff and lay ministers also visit parishioners who are hospitalized or in care facilities to bring Holy Communion and the Anointing of the Sick.
- Knights of Columbus Wisconsin State Council charity raffle
- Tri-Parish Prayer Tree: [email protected]
- Visits to the hospitalized and homebound for Holy Communion and Anointing
Liturgical Ministries
St. Mary's lay liturgical ministers are scheduled monthly in the tri-parish bulletin. The parish welcomes parishioners to serve as lectors (Readers), Eucharistic ministers, ushers, and altar servers.
- Readers / Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Ushers
- Servers
- Choir (across the tri-parish)
Visiting & Contact
Visitors and parishioners are welcomed at the tri-parish office during posted hours. The parish encourages connecting via its website, Facebook page, or its 'My Parish' mobile app (text APP to 88202 or visit myparishapp.com). Sunday bulletin announcements, Mass intentions, and ministry schedules are published in the tri-parish bulletin available at parishesonline.com.
- Office: 715-652-2806
- Rectory: 715-652-2728
- Office hours: M/T/Th 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; W/F 8 a.m.–noon
- Email: [email protected]
- Tri-Parish website: http://www.saintsmmk.com/
- Facebook: facebook.com/saintsmmk
- Parish App: text APP to 88202 (myparishapp.com)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Angisamy Irudayaraj2024–present
Reverend Irudayaraj S. Angisamy, a priest incardinated in the Diocese of Tiruchirappalli (India), appointed Parochial Administrator of Nativity of the BVM (Auburndale), St. Kilian (Blenker), and St. Michael (Hewitt) effective July 2, 2024, residing at the Auburndale rectory.