About Nativity of the Lord · Cudahy, Wisconsin
Nativity of the Lord is a Roman Catholic parish in Cudahy, Wisconsin, formed on July 1, 2000 through the merger of three historic Cudahy parishes — St. Frederick's (German heritage), Holy Family (Polish heritage) and St. Joseph's (Slovak heritage). It belongs to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Milwaukee and is part of the South Shore Catholic Parishes collaborative, sharing pastoral leadership, liturgy staff and formation resources with neighboring parishes such as St. Veronica, St. Paul, Immaculate Conception, Sacred Heart and St. Augustine.
- Established
- 2000
- Patron
- The Nativity of the Lord
- Rector
- Fr. Carmelo Giuffre
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
Nativity of the Lord welcomes parishioners and visitors into a community rooted in the merged heritage of Cudahy's German, Polish and Slovak Catholic parishes, with daily and weekend Masses, Sunday Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, and a vibrant Music Ministry including the Sanctus Choir and Resurrection Choir. Outreach runs through St. Vincent de Paul, Respect Life, the Catholic Social Justice Committee (patron: St. Simon of Cyrene), the Knights of Columbus and the Christian Ladies Guild, so there is a clear path to serve whether one is drawn to liturgy, formation, or corporal works of mercy. The parish also shares faith formation and sacramental preparation across the South Shore Catholic Parishes collaborative.
Mass times at Nativity of the Lord
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 4:15 pm (English) — no 4:15 pm confession when Monday holidays are observed
Adoration times
- Adoration offered (per Archdiocese of Milwaukee schedule listing)
Our Parish History
Nativity of the Lord Catholic Church was formed on July 1, 2000, after the merger of the three Cudahy parishes: St. Frederick's, mostly of German heritage; Holy Family, mostly of Polish heritage; and St. Joseph's, mostly of Slovak heritage. The new name was chosen to express the unity of these distinct ethnic Catholic communities of Cudahy into one worshipping family in Word and Sacrament. The parish continues to draw on this rich, multi-ethnic heritage as the foundation of its identity and mission in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
- Formed July 1, 2000
- Merged parishes: St. Frederick's, Holy Family, St. Joseph's
- German, Polish, and Slovak heritage communities
Clergy & Parish Staff
Nativity of the Lord is served through the South Shore Catholic Parishes collaborative. Fr. Carmelo Giuffre is Pastor and Fr. Michael Courchaine is Associate Pastor. Shared staff includes Del Kahlstorf (Shared Director of Music/Liturgy), Joshua Moore (Shared Director of Formation), Kim Mueller (Shared Director of Administration), Paul Weisenberger (Shared Director of Worship), Joe Laska (Shared Director of Facilities), Carlos Ortega (Shared Facilities Co-Director), Roy Robles (Maintenance Director), and administrative assistants Gerry Cofta, Lisa Lopez and Hanna Rapavi.
- Fr. Carmelo Giuffre — Pastor
- Fr. Michael Courchaine — Associate Pastor
- Del Kahlstorf — Shared Director of Music / Liturgy
- Joshua Moore — Shared Director of Formation
- Kim Mueller — Shared Director of Administration
- Paul Weisenberger — Shared Director of Worship
Music & Liturgical Ministry
Music at Nativity of the Lord is led by Shared Director of Music Del Kahlstorf. The Sanctus Choir is open to all interested singers in high school and older, rehearsing Thursday evenings 6:30–8:30 pm, and alternates between St. Veronica and Nativity of the Lord on Sunday mornings with monthly Masses at St. Paul. The Resurrection Choir provides music for funerals at St. Veronica and Nativity of the Lord, rehearsing the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month from 10:00–11:30 am. Cantors lead the Responsorial Psalm and Gospel Acclamation after a simple audition, and instrumentalists assist from time to time. Liturgical ministry opportunities include Mass Greeters, Altar Servers (students grade 5+ and adults), Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors and Hospitality Ministers, all coordinated in advance by the ministry lead.
- Sanctus Choir (high school+) — Thursday rehearsals 6:30–8:30 pm
- Resurrection Choir — funerals at St. Veronica and Nativity of the Lord
- Cantors and instrumentalists
- Liturgical roles: Mass Greeters, Altar Servers, EMHCs, Lectors, Hospitality Ministers
Parish Leadership Councils
Parish life is guided by several councils and commissions that work alongside the priests. The Pastoral Council includes parishioners chosen from and by the community along with the parish trustees. The Finance Council partners with parish staff to oversee the budget, long-term financial strategies, and record keeping. The Stewardship Engagement Team fosters a vibrant, spiritually motivated and financially secure parish. The Formation Commission meets monthly to set goals and provide guidance for parish-wide formation and ministry.
- Pastoral Council (with parish trustees)
- Finance Council
- Stewardship Engagement Team
- Formation Commission
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Formation across Nativity of the Lord is coordinated through the shared South Shore Catholic Parishes Formation office under Joshua Moore. Religious Education is available for registered families with children in the elementary and middle school grades, with shared offerings that include preparation for the Sacraments of Confirmation, Reconciliation and First Eucharist, typically coordinated through the local Catholic grade school, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy.
- Shared South Shore Formation office (Joshua Moore)
- Religious Education for registered families
- Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation
Outreach & Caring for Others
Nativity of the Lord follows the call of Jesus to love God by loving our neighbors through the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Outreach is organized under the Human Concerns Commission and includes the St. Vincent de Paul conference, the Respect Life committee, the Catholic Social Justice Committee, the Knights of Columbus and the Christian Ladies Guild. Together they offer prayer, financial assistance, advocacy, and friendship to those in need on the south side of Milwaukee and beyond.
- St. Vincent de Paul — home visits, southside Milwaukee, meets 1st & 3rd Mondays
- Respect Life — education and advocacy for the sacredness of all human life
- Catholic Social Justice Committee — patron: St. Simon of Cyrene; focus on racial justice and healing
- Knights of Columbus
- Christian Ladies Guild
Stewardship & Online Giving
Nativity of the Lord encourages stewardship of time, talent and treasure. The Stewardship Engagement Team promotes a vibrant, spiritually motivated and financially secure parish and helps parishioners find ministries where their gifts can be used. Online giving options are available through the parish website.
- Stewardship Engagement Team
- Online giving through nativitycudahy.org
- Volunteer pathways via the parish office
South Shore Catholic Parishes Collaborative
Nativity of the Lord is one of six parishes that make up the South Shore Catholic Parishes collaborative of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee: Immaculate Conception, Nativity of the Lord, Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Augustine, St. Paul, and St. Veronica. The parishes share priests and key staff in liturgy, formation, administration, worship and facilities, allowing each individual parish to maintain its local identity while sharing resources. Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob's April 2026 priest appointments renewed the current pastoral team for this collaborative.
- Immaculate Conception, Milwaukee
- Nativity of the Lord, Cudahy
- Sacred Heart of Jesus, Milwaukee
- St. Augustine, Milwaukee
- St. Paul, Milwaukee
- St. Veronica, Milwaukee
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Carmelo Giuffrecurrent (appointed 2026)
Pastor of the South Shore Catholic Parishes collaborative including Nativity of the Lord.
- Fr. Michael Courchainecurrent (appointed 2026)
Associate Pastor of the South Shore Catholic Parishes collaborative.