About Our Lady of Peace · Marshfield, Wisconsin
Our Lady of Peace is a Roman Catholic parish in Marshfield, Wisconsin, part of the Diocese of La Crosse and the Marshfield Deanery. Founded in 1946 as the third Catholic parish in the city, it serves the west side of Marshfield from a campus on West Fifth Street and South Columbus Avenue, sharing pastoral ministry with neighboring Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. The parish operates the Our Lady of Peace Intermediate School (grades 3–5) and is a founding member of the tri-parish Columbus Catholic Schools system, which includes the shared Columbus Catholic High School and Middle School. Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday evening and Sunday morning, with daily Mass on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and Confessions before Saturday Mass.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- Our Lady of Peace (Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title Our Lady of Peace)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Douglas C. Robertson
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse
Why belong here
Our Lady of Peace offers the regular rhythms of Catholic life — weekend and daily Mass, Saturday Confession, and Eucharistic Adoration — within a connected community of three Marshfield parishes (with Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. John the Baptist) that share faith formation, youth ministry, and outreach. Parishioners can serve through the St. Vincent de Paul Outreach and Clinic, sing in the Our Lady of Peace Choir or Sacred Heart Choir, help form young disciples through the family-based Marshfield Faith Formation program, and send their children to the parish's own Our Lady of Peace Intermediate School and the tri-parish Columbus Catholic Schools.
Mass times at Our Lady of Peace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 pm (until 3:45 pm)
Adoration times
- 1st Friday 5:30 pm (parish / Eucharistic devotion referenced on the parish schedule page)
Parish History
Established in 1946 on a twenty-acre site on the far west side of Marshfield, Our Lady of Peace was the third Catholic parish in the city. Father Walter J. Dillenburg served as founding pastor. The first church-and-school building, a brick-clad Mediterranean Revival structure at 1300 W. Fifth Street, was completed in 1948, and the first Mass was celebrated there in February 1949. As the parish grew, a Contemporary Style rectory (1951) and a brick convent at 510 S. Columbus Avenue (1954) were added. The parish weathered a serious fire on the morning of January 6, 1960, but Father Dillenburg reported that the entire loss was covered by insurance, and Mass continued in the convent and Columbus Auditorium during repairs. By 1965, a larger Contemporary Style church was constructed between the original church/school and the rectory, and it was dedicated on June 12, 1966. The original 1948 building was then converted into a gymnasium, fulfilling the original 1948 plan. The parish also helped found Columbus Catholic High School in 1951–1952 together with Marshfield's other Catholic parishes.
- 1946 – Parish established; founding pastor Rev. Walter J. Dillenburg
- 1948 – Combined Mediterranean Revival church and school built at 1300 W. Fifth St.
- February 1949 – First Mass celebrated
- 1951 – Rectory built at 1414 W. Fifth St.
- 1951–1952 – Columbus Catholic High School built at 710 S. Columbus Ave. as a joint Marshfield Catholic project
- 1954 – Convent built at 510 S. Columbus Ave.
- January 6, 1960 – Fire damages the church
- 1965 – Current Contemporary Style church built at 1400 W. Fifth St.
- June 12, 1966 – New church dedicated
- Original 1948 building converted into a gymnasium
Parish Staff & Clergy
Our Lady of Peace shares pastoral leadership with neighboring Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. The pastor is assisted by an associate pastor, a chaplain to Columbus Catholic High School and Middle School, and a deacon. A team of lay staff handles administration, religious education, music, liturgy, and facilities.
- Very Rev. Douglas C. Robertson — Pastor
- Rev. Jared N. Clements — Associate Pastor
- Rev. Jeffrey W. Hennes — Associate Pastor; Chaplain to CHS & CMS
- Deacon Nathan J. Mueller — Financial Secretary
- Alexis Vine — Secretary
- JaNae Westrich — Administrative Assistant
- Corinne Johnson — Volunteer Office Aid
- David Alcott — Director of Religious Education
- Jackie Walker — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Lee Riekki — Director of Liturgy (OLP)
- Elizabeth Dahlby — Director of Music (OLP)
- Penny Schnider — Director of Music (SHJ)
- Dale Mancl — Custodian (OLP)
- Penny Schnider — Custodian (SHJ)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Our Lady of Peace collaborates with Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. John the Baptist parishes in Marshfield Faith Formation, a tri-parish family catechesis program. The program equips parents to hand on the Catholic faith to their children at home, supported by parish catechists. First Reconciliation and First Communion are typically received in 2nd grade, and Confirmation is celebrated in 11th grade, usually in September at the start of the year.
- Marshfield Faith Formation — collaboration of Our Lady of Peace, Sacred Heart of Jesus, and St. John the Baptist parishes
- Family catechesis model — parents are the primary catechists
- First Reconciliation & First Communion in 2nd grade
- Confirmation in 11th grade (typically September)
Order of Christian Initiation (OCIA/RCIA)
The Order of Christian Initiation prepares adults seeking to become Catholic. The Our Lady of Peace / Sacred Heart program is a five-month journey running from the first week of February through Pentecost. OCIA catechumens attend the 10:00 am Sunday Mass and, after the Homily, are dismissed to Dillenburg Hall for formation sessions.
- 5-month program: February through Pentecost
- Sessions held after the Homily at the 10:00 am Sunday Mass
- Formation sessions take place in Dillenburg Hall
- Catechumens are typically received into the Church at the Easter Vigil
- Contact: [email protected]
Youth Ministry
Youth Ministry serves students in 6th grade through high school with weekly gatherings, retreats, mission trips, and the annual March for Life. Activities include Steubenville Conference, summer Adventure Camp at Crosswoods Adventure Camp in Delta, Wisconsin, and a summer Mission Trip focused on disaster relief. A Chaplain's Fund, run jointly with the Knights of Columbus of Marshfield, helps subsidize participation.
- Deanery Youth Group — grades 9–12, meets 1st and 3rd Wednesdays
- Steubenville Conference — Catholic high-school encounter conference
- Adventure Camp — Crosswoods Adventure Camp, Delta, WI (6th grade – senior)
- High School Leadership Weekend — October
- Summer Mission Trip — disaster relief with daily Mass, rosary, adoration, Confession
- Annual March for Life trip to Washington, D.C.
- Chaplain's Fund (est. 2023) — Knights of Columbus partnership subsidizing youth trips
- Contact: David Alcott, [email protected]
Young Adult Ministry
The Frassati Young Adult Group brings together Catholics aged 18–39 — college students and young professionals — on the second Tuesday of each month from September through May, beginning at 6:30 pm. Each gathering combines prayer, fellowship, and a fun activity.
- Open to ages 18–39 (college through young professional)
- Meets 2nd Tuesday of each month, September–May, 6:30 pm
- Contact: Katelyn Hall, [email protected]
Liturgy & Music
Liturgy and music are coordinated across the linked parishes. The Director of Liturgy for Our Lady of Peace works with the Director of Music to support parish worship, and choirs serve both parishes. The Deanery Festival Youth Choir brings together young singers from across the Marshfield Deanery.
- Director of Liturgy — OLP: Lee Riekki
- Director of Music — OLP: Elizabeth Dahlby
- Director of Music — SHJ: Penny Schnider
- Our Lady of Peace Choir
- Sacred Heart Choir
- Deanery Festival Youth Choir
Outreach & Service
Outreach is centered on the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which operates both an Outreach ministry and a Clinic serving those in need in the Marshfield area. The parish also participates in annual disaster relief through its summer Mission Trip and supports pro-life work through the annual March for Life.
- St. Vincent de Paul Outreach
- St. Vincent de Paul Clinic
- Annual March for Life
- Summer disaster-relief Mission Trip
Columbus Catholic Schools
Our Lady of Peace is a founding parish of the Columbus Catholic Schools system, which unites the three Marshfield Catholic parishes in providing faith-based education from primary school through high school. The parish operates the Our Lady of Peace Intermediate School, which serves 3rd through 5th grade.
- Our Lady of Peace Intermediate School — 3rd to 5th grade; Principal Michele Green; phone 715-387-1177
- St. John the Baptist Primary School
- Columbus Catholic Middle School
- Columbus Catholic High School — built 1951–1952 at 710 S. Columbus Ave.
- Tri-parish collaboration: Our Lady of Peace, Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. John the Baptist
Contact, Office & Location
Our Lady of Peace and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parishes share an office and contact system, with two locations on opposite sides of Marshfield.
- OLP Parish Office: 1414 W. 5th Street, Marshfield, WI 54449 — phone 715-384-9414 — [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- OLP Church / school campus: 510 S. Columbus Ave. and 1300/1400 W. Fifth St.
- Sister parish Sacred Heart of Jesus: 112 E. 11th Street, phone 715-384-3213
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Walter J. Dillenburg1946–
Founding pastor of Our Lady of Peace Parish; oversaw construction of the 1948 church/school and later the 1965 church. Commented publicly after the January 1960 fire that the loss was 100% covered by insurance.
- Very Rev. Douglas C. Robertson
Current pastor of Our Lady of Peace and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parishes, listed on the parish website and in the Diocese of La Crosse parish directory.