About Resurrection · Allenton, Wisconsin
Resurrection Catholic Parish is a small, welcoming Catholic community located in the village of Allenton, in Washington County, southeastern Wisconsin. The parish was formed anew in 1997 through the merger of three historic, smaller parishes — Sacred Heart of Allenton (organized 1917), St. Anthony of Padua of Allenton, and Ss. Peter and Paul of Nenno. Resurrection worships today in the original 1918 Sacred Heart church building, a brick Late Gothic Revival structure set on one of the highest points in Allenton. The parish is part of the Tri-Parish Cluster with St. Lawrence (Hartford) and St. Peter (Slinger) and belongs to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
- Established
- 1997 (current parish); 1917 (Sacred Heart, predecessor parish)
- Patron
- The Resurrection of the Lord (parish); Sacred Heart of Jesus (historic patron of the original 1917 building, still reflected in the church's interior images)
- Rector
- Very Reverend Richard J. Stoffel (Fr. Rick Stoffel)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
Resurrection is a small, friendly Catholic parish in the heart of the Allenton countryside where parishioners really do know one another by name within a season or two. Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday evening at 6:30 pm and Sunday morning at 8:30 am, with weekday Masses on Wednesday evening and Friday morning, and weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays. Families benefit from a robust, cluster-wide Disciple Maker Formation Program serving 4K through high school, plus adult faith formation, sacramental preparation, and the nearby St. Peter Catholic School. In Fr. Rick Stoffel's words, Allenton is a growing community with a warm spirit of welcome — a place where new arrivals feel like they've always belonged.
Mass times at Resurrection
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:15 pm at Resurrection Parish (before the 6:30 pm Mass)
- Thursday 11:00 am at St. Peter Parish (Slinger)
- Thursday 5:45 pm at St. Peter Parish (Slinger)
- Saturday following 8:00 am Mass at St. Peter Parish (Slinger)
- Saturday 9:00 am at St. Lawrence Parish (Hartford)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 5:15–6:15 pm at Resurrection Parish (with devotional prayer at 6:00 pm)
- Thursday 8:30 am–6:45 pm at St. Peter Parish (Slinger)
- West Bend Adoration Chapel at St. Frances Cabrini — open from 7:00 pm Sunday evenings until 8:00 am Saturday mornings
About Resurrection Catholic Parish
Resurrection Catholic Parish is a small, family-oriented Catholic community in Allenton, Wisconsin, in the rolling countryside of Washington County about an hour northwest of Milwaukee. Although the current parish name dates only to 1997, its worship space is the original 1918 Sacred Heart Church on Main Street, and the community today spans descendants of the founding German-Catholic farming families of the area along with newer arrivals drawn by the county's steady growth. The parish belongs to a Tri-Parish Cluster with St. Lawrence in Hartford and St. Peter in Slinger, sharing clergy and faith-formation staff.
- Parish Name: Resurrection Catholic Church
- Formed: 1997 (from the merger of Sacred Heart, St. Anthony of Padua, and Ss. Peter and Paul)
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Milwaukee
- Cluster Partners: St. Lawrence (Hartford) and St. Peter (Slinger)
History
The parish's roots reach back to 1917, when Father Anthony Lauer organized Sacred Heart Parish with the blessing of Archbishop Sebastian Messmer. Five local men formed the building committee, Sebastian Schmidt donated the land, and the whole town pitched in to build a brick church whose cornerstone was laid July 29, 1917. The Dedication Mass was celebrated February 11, 1918. Over the following decades pastors added a rectory (1920), a convent (1926), and a four-room school (1959); in 1969 the School Sisters of St. Francis withdrew and the school closed. In 1997, Sacred Heart merged with St. Anthony of Padua and Ss. Peter and Paul to form Resurrection, retaining the historic 1918 worship space.
- 1917 — Sacred Heart Parish organized; cornerstone laid July 29, 1917 by Archbishop S. Messmer
- 1918 — Dedication Mass celebrated February 11, 1918
- 1920 — Rectory built ($11,000)
- 1926 — Convent built under Father Anthony Erz ($6,000)
- 1959 — Major remodel under Father George Etzel; round brick addition and new four-room school
- 1969 — School Sisters of St. Francis withdraw; parish school closes
- 1997 — Merger into Resurrection Catholic Church
Architecture of the Historic Church
The worship space is a brick Late Gothic Revival church set on one of the highest points in Allenton, with a gable roof and a square bell tower. A large round brick addition was added to the rear in 1959 as part of a major remodel that also added a new sanctuary, sacristies, confessionals and side exits. The property — listed in the Wisconsin Historical Society's Architecture and History Inventory as Historic Property HI114462 — also includes a 1920 four-square rectory, a 1926 gabled brick convent, and a 1959 one-story International-style school building with ribbon windows.
- Architectural Style: Late Gothic Revival
- Wall Material: Brick with gable roof and square bell tower
- 1959 addition: large round brick addition at rear
- Rectory: 1920 four-square brick cube with flat-top pyramidal roof
- Convent: 1926 gabled brick building, still in use
- School: 1959 one-story brick, International-style ribbon windows
- WHS Inventory No.: HI114462
Sacred Images and Devotion to the Sacred Heart
Inside the church, parishioners and visitors encounter a series of sacred images tied to the story of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus — the original patron of the building when it was Sacred Heart Church. These images were preserved when the parish was reorganized as Resurrection in 1997 and remain a living link to the parish's 1917 founding identity.
- Patron of the original building: Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Saint connected to interior imagery: St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
- First-Friday devotion: Litany to the Sacred Heart prayed after Mass each 1st Friday
Faith Formation — Disciple Maker Formation Program
The cluster-wide Disciple Maker Formation Program (4K through high school) serves all three parishes of the Tri-Parish Cluster: Resurrection (Allenton), St. Lawrence (Hartford), and St. Peter (Slinger). The goal is to excite and enlighten young parishioners, encourage them to be active members of their parishes, and equip them to share their faith in surrounding communities. Adult faith formation is offered alongside the children's program, and a monthly "Be A Saint" newsletter highlights opportunities for all ages.
- Elementary Formation (Grades 4K–5)
- Youth Ministry (Grades 6–11)
- Adult Faith Formation
- Family Days/Nights throughout the formation year
- Monthly 'Be A Saint' newsletter for families
Faith Formation Staff
The Disciple Maker Formation team is shared across the cluster parishes.
- Director of Formation: Kim Slizewski ([email protected], 262-644-8083 ext. 2207)
- Child and Family Minister: Sandi Dhein ([email protected], 262-644-8083 ext. 2205)
- Youth Activities Coordinator: Kaylyn Krebs ([email protected], 262-644-8083 ext. 2211)
St. Peter Catholic School (Cluster School)
Resurrection families are served by St. Peter Catholic School in nearby Slinger, the cluster's parish school. The school currently serves over 80 families and emphasizes a Christ-centered, inclusive, comprehensive, and technology-based learning environment.
- Principal: Cheryl Jaeger (262-644-8083 ext. 3100, [email protected])
- School Secretary: Yvonne Stucke (262-644-8083 ext. 3105, [email protected])
- Location: Slinger, WI
Becoming a Catechist / Christian Formation
The parish invites adults and even confirmed high-school seniors to serve as catechists in the formation program. Safeguarding training is required for those working with children. The Cluster Formation Committee also welcomes new members and new ideas to support the Faith Formation Team and adult formation opportunities.
- Elementary Catechist (Safeguarding required)
- Youth Ministry Catechist (Safeguarding required)
- Sunday School Catechist Aide (Safeguarding required)
- Family Day/Night volunteers
- Cluster Formation Committee members
Liturgical Ministries
Beyond faith formation, Resurrection parishioners serve at the altar in a variety of liturgical ministries, including altar service at Mass (open to Faith Formation students as well as adults).
- Altar Servers (open to Faith Formation students and adults)
Tri-Parish Cluster
Resurrection is one of three parishes in a shared pastoral cluster within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Clergy, deacons, formation staff, and school services are shared so that the three small parishes can sustain vibrant Catholic life in southeastern Washington County.
- Resurrection (Allenton) — 209 Main Street, Allenton, WI 53002
- St. Lawrence (Hartford)
- St. Peter (Slinger)
- Shared Pastor: Very Rev. Richard J. Stoffel
- Shared Associate Pastor: Rev. Kevin J. Kowalske
- Shared Deacon: Deacon Robert Derks
Parish Staff and Office
Parish operations are run by a small but dedicated team, supported by the Resurrection Parish Office / Emmaus Center at 628 Church Street. The main church and mailing address is 209 Main Street, P.O. Box 96, Allenton, WI 53002.
- Parish Secretary / Bulletin Editor: Denise Rate ([email protected])
- Parish Bookkeeper: Brenda Lighthizer
- Office Phone: 262-629-5240
- Office Hours: Tuesday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Mailing: P.O. Box 96, Allenton, WI 53002
Sacraments and Sacramental Records
Resurrection ministers the usual sacraments of the Catholic Church. Because the parish is a successor to Sacred Heart of Allenton (organized 1917), baptismal records from before 1993 are maintained by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Archives; records from 1993 onward are kept at Resurrection Parish itself.
- Baptism, Marriage, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick
- Baptismal records before 1993: Archdiocese of Milwaukee Archives (414-769-3463)
- Baptismal records 1993 onward: Resurrection Parish, Allenton
- Sacramental prep runs through Disciple Maker Formation
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Anthony Lauer1917–
Organized Sacred Heart Parish; initiated construction of the 1918 church and school.
- Father Anthony Erz
Built the 1926 convent for the teaching nuns.
- Father Leo Skalitzky12-year pastorate
Built up the school fund, purchased additional land, added a small 7th–8th grade school building.
- Father Robert Schweizerfrom 1949
Reorganized the parish financial system with a new donation approach.
- Father Thaddeus Dolata
Grew the building-improvement fund.
- Father George Etzel8-year pastorate
Led the 1959 remodel/enlargement of the church and the building of the new four-room school.
- Very Reverend Richard J. Stoffelcurrent
Shared Pastor for the Tri-Parish Cluster (Resurrection / St. Lawrence / St. Peter).