Our Lady Queen of Peace

Parish History

Our Lady Queen of Peace traces its origin to a June 1945 evening when six couples walked the abandoned Westmorland Golf Course to scout a site for Madison's next Catholic parish. Their delegation to Archbishop Moses Kiley in Milwaukee produced a conditional yes: 300 west-of-Franklin Catholics had to pledge $300 each. Six men went door-to-door, met the goal, and in November 1945 Archbishop Kiley established the parish. Father Bernard R. Doyle, the founding pastor, assumed duties on December 12, 1945, with 318 families — the first new parish in Madison in more than 20 years.

• Founded December 12, 1945
• First pastor: Fr. Bernard R. Doyle (1945–1947; died in auto accident)
• Site: 5.5 acres of the former Westmorland Golf Course on Madison's west side

Early Growth Under Monsignor McDonnell (1947–1969)

After Father Doyle's sudden death, Bishop William O'Connor appointed Father Francis L. McDonnell in November 1947. He broke ground for the school in July 1948 and for the fan-shaped church on June 20, 1954. By 1956 OLQP served more than 1,000 families with 515 students; the convent opened in 1959, completing the campus. Monsignor McDonnell died on St. Patrick's Day 1969.

• School groundbreaking: July 18, 1948 (Bishop O'Connor)
• School opened: fall 1949, staffed by the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa
• Church groundbreaking: June 20, 1954
• Original church cost: ~$480,000

Father Edward Erbe Era & Vatican II Renewal (1969–1993)

Father Edward J. Erbe, the third pastor, guided the parish through almost a quarter-century of Vatican II liturgical change. He updated the sanctuary to Vatican II guidelines in 1979, installed a 40-rank Schantz pipe organ in 1980 ($100,000), and welcomed Dr. Jane Lindle as the school's first lay principal in 1984. In 1985, after 36 years, the thinning ranks of the Dominican Sisters led them to depart the school, and the convent was repurposed as the Parish Center.

• 1979 sanctuary renovation to Vatican II guidelines
• 1980 Schantz pipe organ installation
• 1984 first lay school principal appointed
• 1985 Dominican Sisters depart after 36 years

Monsignor Fiedler & the 1990s Renovation (1993–2021)

Father Kenneth J. Fiedler succeeded Father Erbe on June 10, 1993, launching a Long-Range Planning Task Force. A $4 million building and renovation project broke ground in October 1995, with priests moving into houses on S. Owen Drive; the convent was removed for a new gymnasium; and the enlarged school added a larger library, meeting rooms, and computer, music, art, and religious education rooms. Bishop William Bullock rededicated the church on August 25, 1996, with additional seating, a remodeled sanctuary, and an enlarged Eucharistic Chapel. Monsignor Fiedler later battled throat cancer and died on August 28, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• $4M renovation broke ground October 1995
• Church rededicated August 25, 1996 by Bishop Bullock
• Eucharistic Chapel enlarged
• K4 classes added in 2010

Catholic Multicultural Center & Outreach

On June 5, 2009, Our Lady Queen of Peace stepped in to assume primary responsibility for the Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) on Madison's south side after diocesan budget cuts closed it. The CMC reopened August 3, 2009 with a food pantry, free meal programs, health programs, and English-as-a-second-language classes; by 2010 its free meal program had expanded to seven days a week. QP coordinates Hospitality Weekends on the third Sunday of each month to gather donations for the CMC, and parishioners are asked to give non-perishable food only (not perishables or cash in the bins).

• CMC reopened August 3, 2009 under QP stewardship
• Free meal program expanded to 7 days/week in 2010
• Parish St. Vincent de Paul Council active in outreach

Tri-Fold Mission: Worship, Word, Service

QP organizes parish life around a tri-fold mission: Worship (growing with Christ through liturgy and prayer), Word (education and faith formation), and Service (giving back through outreach). Today it is the spiritual home to more than 3,300 families with a school of more than 500 students and many active ministries.

Our Lady Queen of Peace School

The parish school (K4 through Grade 8) is housed at 418 Holly Avenue, Madison, WI 53711, with more than 500 students enrolled. Staffed originally by the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa from 1949 to 1985, today the school offers Smart Boards in every classroom, an iPad program, band, drama, and sports teams for grades 5–8. Recent renovations (2018 onward) updated bathrooms, bleachers, the Holly Avenue entrance, kindergarten rooms, and the science lab.

• School opened fall 1949
• Alumni Organization (QPAO) founded 2010
• Sports: volleyball, basketball, track, football, softball (grades 5–8)
• Band and drama programs
• Phone (school office): 608-231-4580

Meet the Priests & Parish Staff

The parish is currently led by Pastor Father Brian Wilk (ordained May 23, 2003 by Bishop William Bullock; grew up in South Milwaukee; served previously as associate pastor at OLQP, St. Joseph, and St. Dennis, and as pastor at St. Henry and St. Bernard in Watertown, St. Joseph in Fort Atkinson, St. Mary in Palmyra, and St. Bernard in Middleton). Associate Pastor Father Jay Poster also serves the parish. Deacon Mark Zwolski is on staff, along with a large pastoral team including directors for Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Religious Education & OCIA, Music, Operations, Buildings & Grounds, and Development.

• Fr. Brian Wilk — Pastor (also Vicar Forane, Lake Mendota Vicariate)
• Fr. Jay Poster — Associate Pastor (ordained 2003)
• Deacon Mark Zwolski

Getting Involved & Visiting

The parish invites visitors and newcomers to attend Mass, join a ministry, or sign up for faith formation programs. The Parish Center is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM; visitors are asked to check in at the front desk and ring the doorbell to enter. Hospitality Weekends on the third Sunday of each month are designed for newcomers to meet parishioners, and active ministries include Music, Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Bible Study, Pastoral Care/Health Ministries, St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus Council #7784, and the Queen of Peace Alumni Organization.

• Parish Center Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00–4:00
• Parish phone: 608.231.4600
• Hospitality Weekend: third Sunday of each month after Masses