About Old St. Mary · Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Old Saint Mary Parish is the oldest Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, founded in 1846 by German Catholic immigrants the same year the City of Milwaukee was incorporated. Its Zopfstil-style church at 844 N. Broadway — designed by Prussian architect Victor Schulte and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 — remains the oldest church building still standing in the city. The parish has been served by the Paulist Fathers since 1903, and today it is part of the "Family of Four Parishes" grouping of downtown Milwaukee churches. Known for its downtown walkability, Bavarian artistic treasures, and active ministries in faith formation, social justice, and pastoral care, Old St. Mary continues to welcome workers, students, and visitors to its historic sanctuary.
- Established
- 1846
- Patron
- Saint Mary (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Richard R. Andre, C.S.P.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
Old St. Mary welcomes downtown workers, students, families, and visitors with daily Mass, Saturday Vigil, and three Sunday Masses — including a livestreamed 9:00 am Mass on YouTube. The parish runs the only Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee still bearing the historic parish name (Old St. Mary's School), an OCIA process for adults becoming Catholic, faith formation from PreK through high school, an active St. Anne's Society continuing since 1844, and ministries of care reaching 200+ homebound parishioners each Christmas. As a downtown landmark and the oldest church still standing in Milwaukee, it offers a singular mix of historic beauty, Bavarian artistic heritage, and a vibrant Paulist-led urban ministry.
Mass times at Old St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday, 11:30 am at Old St. Mary Church (844 N Broadway)
- Tuesday, 11:30 am at Old St. Mary Church (844 N Broadway)
- Friday, 11:30 am at Old St. Mary Church (844 N Broadway)
- First Friday after 7:00 am Mass at Old St. Mary
- Saturday, 7:15 am at Ss. Peter & Paul (2490 N Cramer St) — canceled July 4
Parish History
Founded in 1846 — the same year the City of Milwaukee was incorporated — by German Catholic immigrants, Old Saint Mary Parish is the oldest Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and the oldest church building still standing in the city. The St. Anne Women's Society (Sanct Anna Frauenverein), founded October 6, 1844, purchased the property for $425 and laid the cornerstone on April 19, 1846. The church was designed by Prussian immigrant architect Victor Schulte in the Zopfstil (German Federal) style and built of cream city brick. The first pastor was Father Michael Heiss, who later became the second Archbishop of Milwaukee.
- Founded 1846 — same age as the City of Milwaukee
- First German Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
- First Pastor: Father Michael Heiss (later 2nd Archbishop of Milwaukee)
- Architect: Victor Schulte (also designed St. John Cathedral and the archdiocesan seminary)
- Cornerstone laid April 19, 1846; church substantially modified 1866–67
- St. Anne Women's Society still active since 1844
Art, Architecture & Treasures
Old Saint Mary houses an extraordinary collection of Bavarian and German craftsmanship reflecting the heritage of its immigrant founders. The 1848 hand-carved wooden high altar, the Annunciation painting attributed to Franz Xaver Glink (a gift of King Ludwig I of Bavaria), the Stations of the Cross painted in Munich, and three bronze bells cast in Munich and named Mary, Mary Ann, and Mary Magdalene (1868) all evoke the parish's deep Bavarian roots. Exterior works include the 1959 Italian-marble Our Lady of the Way on Kilbourn Avenue, the 1982 "Madonne of Milwaukee" mosaic on Broadway, and the statue of "Our Lady of the Motorists" from the 1970s. The stained glass windows were produced by the renowned Franz Mayer Glassworks Company of Munich, and the interior was restored in 1982 by Conrad Schmitt Studios.
- Zopfstil (German Federal) architecture, cream city brick
- Hand-carved wooden high altar, 1848
- Annunciation painting by Franz Xaver Glink, gift of King Ludwig I of Bavaria (1848)
- Stations of the Cross painted in Munich
- Three Munich-cast bronze bells (Mary, Mary Ann, Mary Magdalene) — 1868
- Tower clock installed 1860; organ installed 1871, replaced 1894
- Stained glass windows by Franz Mayer Glassworks Company, Munich
- Interior restored by Conrad Schmitt Studios in 1982
- National Register of Historic Places (1973); Wisconsin State Register (1989)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish offers faith formation for every age and stage. Children from PreK through high school are served by the UPLIFT Family Formation program, with catechists supported by materials and formation. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) walks those seeking full communion with the Catholic Church — whether unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or baptized Catholic but not yet confirmed — through formation beginning each fall. Adult Confirmation and adult formation programs round out the offerings, with small-group facilitators and FOCCUS-trained married couples supporting engaged couples through marriage preparation.
- UPLIFT Family Formation (PreK–High School)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Adult Confirmation
- Adult Faith Formation small groups
- FOCCUS marriage preparation inventory facilitated by trained couples
School
Old Saint Mary's School continues the parish's long educational mission begun in 1851, when the School Sisters of Notre Dame, led by Sister (Mother) M. Caroline Freiss, opened their first Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee at Old Saint Mary. Today the parish school remains one of the parish's largest ministries, with its own principal and faculty working in partnership with the pastor and associate pastor.
- Oldest Catholic school site in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee (founded 1851 by School Sisters of Notre Dame)
- Today: Old St. Mary's School (osmschool.com), served by the parish pastorate
Liturgical & Music Ministry
Liturgical ministers — Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Ushers/Ministers of Hospitality, Acolytes/Servers, Cantors, and Choir Members — serve the parish community at Mass approximately 1–2 times per month, with formation offered to deepen their commitment. The music program, directed by Joseph Wittmann (organist) and Matthew Lawrenz (Director of Liturgy and Music), draws on the parish's 1894 hand-carved-case organ (expanded 1949) and a long tradition of cantors and choirs. New volunteers are warmly welcomed; interested parishioners are invited to introduce themselves after Mass.
- Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Ushers, Acolytes/Servers, Cantors, Choir
- Music Director / organist: Joseph Wittmann
- Director of Liturgy and Music: Matthew Lawrenz
- Parish sacristan: Nicholas Corrao
Pastoral Care & Outreach
Old St. Mary's Pastoral Care and Social Justice ministries reach well beyond the church walls. Ministers of Care visit parishioners who are homebound or living in healthcare facilities, ensuring they remain connected to the parish community. Each December, the Holiday Plant Delivery visits 200+ parishioners with poinsettias, and on Ash Wednesday and during Holy Week ministers bring ashes, the Eucharist, and a Lenten bag lunch to the same neighbors. The Prayer Shawl Ministry knits and blesses shawls distributed through the Director of Pastoral Care. The parish also runs an Advent Giving Tree supporting area nonprofits, OremusMKE outreach that opens the church doors to downtown neighbors, and the Funeral Ministry of Hospitality.
- Ministry of Care (homebound and healthcare-facility visits)
- Holiday Plant Delivery (December — 200+ parishioners)
- Ash Wednesday & Holy Week homebound visits
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Funeral Ministry of Hospitality
- Advent Giving Tree
- OremusMKE (open-door outreach to downtown neighbors)
- Director of Pastoral Care: Terri Balash
- Director of Social Justice and Outreach: Idalia Nieves-Reyes
Family of Four Parishes
Old Saint Mary is one of four clustered parishes serving downtown Milwaukee's near east side, sharing staff, a unified Mass and Confession schedule, and joint faith-formation programming. The cluster is led by a single pastor and includes the parishes of Ss. Peter & Paul, Our Lady of Divine Providence-St. Casimir, and Three Holy Women (which itself comprises Holy Rosary, St. Hedwig, and St. Rita locations). Together the Family of Four serves seven worship sites across the city.
- Ss. Peter & Paul — Cramer & Bradford (2490 N Cramer St)
- Our Lady of Divine Providence-St. Casimir — Bremen & Clarke (2600 N Bremen St)
- Three Holy Women-St. Hedwig — Brady & Humboldt
- Three Holy Women-St. Rita — Cass & Pleasant
- Three Holy Women-Holy Rosary — Oakland & Lafayette (2011 N Oakland Ave)
- Old St. Mary — Broadway & Kilbourn (844 N Broadway)
Visit & Contact
Old Saint Mary sits at the corner of Broadway and Kilbourn Avenue in downtown Milwaukee, within easy walking distance for downtown workers and visitors. The parish invites newcomers with the motto "You are a stranger here but once," echoing the welcoming spirit of its immigrant founders. Sunday Mass livestreams are available on YouTube, and the parish also produces a weekly Gospel Teasers video series on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
- Address: 844 N Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202
- Phone: (414) 271-6180
- Sunday Mass livestream: YouTube (9:00 am)
- Social: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube (Gospel Teasers & livestream)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael Heiss1846– (founding pastor)
First pastor of Old St. Mary; later became the second Archbishop of Milwaukee.
- Fr. Tim Kitzke
Served as pastor of the Family of Four Parishes (which includes Old St. Mary); installed as rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and vicar for urban ministry in August 2023.
- Rev. Richard R. Andre, C.S.P.2024–present
Current pastor; member of the Paulist Fathers (ordained 2012); previously served in Knoxville, TN; Austin, TX; and Boston, MA.