About Sacred Heart · Manawa, Wisconsin
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish in Manawa, Wisconsin, belonging to the Diocese of Green Bay. The parish traces its origins to 1874 and is currently administered by Fr. Krishnarao "Kris" Mekala, a member of the Missionaries of Faith, who also serves SS. Peter and Paul Parish in nearby Weyauwega. The community offers Sunday and weekday Masses in English, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, Sunday confessions, and faith formation for parishioners of all ages in the Waupaca County area.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Krishnarao "Kris" Mekala (Parish Administrator, Missionaries of Faith)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a multigenerational community where families have worshipped together since 1874, with some current parishioners able to trace their roots back to the parish's founding. Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM is followed by opportunities for faith formation for all ages, weekly Eucharistic Adoration including the diocesan Holy Hour on the third Wednesday, and a long tradition of lay involvement as lectors, extraordinary ministers, ushers, choir members, and finance and parish council leaders. With its 150-year history, a dedicated parish center, and a current priest leading a noted renewal in attendance, Sacred Heart offers a warm, family-style Catholic home in the Waupaca County area.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 7:15 AM – 7:45 AM
Adoration times
- Wednesday (3rd Wednesday of the month): Diocesan Holy Hour of Prayer at 9:30 AM, after the 9:00 AM Mass
- First Friday: 8:00 AM – 8:50 AM (Morning Mass begins at 9:00 AM)
Parish History
Sacred Heart traces its beginnings to 1874, when Mary Day donated land and a small 24-by-40-foot frame church called Mary Help of Christians was built for the local Catholic community. By the early 1890s the structure could no longer hold the growing congregation, so under the leadership of Fr. Francis Steinbrecher a new church was constructed. On April 14, 1894, the parish was formally incorporated as Sacred Heart with Fr. Steinbrecher as its first resident pastor. Improvements have continued for more than a century, including a rebuilt church basement in 1958 and the dedication of a parish center in 1988.
- 1874 — Mary Help of Christians frame church built on land donated by Mary Day
- April 14, 1894 — Parish incorporated as Sacred Heart; Fr. Francis Steinbrecher named first resident pastor
- 1958 — Church basement rebuilt
- 1988 — Parish center dedicated
- June 16, 2024 — 150th anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop David Ricken
150th Anniversary & Time Capsule
On Sunday, June 16, 2024, Sacred Heart celebrated 150 years as a parish with a Mass led by Bishop David Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay. Concelebrants included Fr. Charles 'Charlie' Hoffmann (a priest-son of the parish), Fr. Matthew Rappl, and Fr. Xavier Santiago, both former pastors. A brunch at Cedar Spring Golf Course followed the liturgy. As part of the sesquicentennial, parishioners were invited to write a memory or a phrase on a heart-shaped slip of paper at the church entrance; the hearts were then sealed inside a time capsule. A new Holy Family statue was also blessed at the Mass in honor of Fr. Hoffmann, a gift from the Hoffmann family.
- 150th anniversary Mass — Sunday, June 16, 2024
- Main celebrant: Bishop David Ricken, Diocese of Green Bay
- Concelebrants: Fr. Charles Hoffmann, Fr. Matthew Rappl, Fr. Xavier Santiago
- Anniversary brunch held at Cedar Spring Golf Course, Manawa
- Heart-shaped memory slips sealed in a parish time capsule
- Holy Family statue blessed and gifted by the Hoffmann family
Three Priest-Sons of the Parish
Sacred Heart is the home parish of three priests whose vocations grew out of this Waupaca County community. Fr. John Quigley, Norbertine Fr. Gerald Nolan, and Fr. Charles 'Charlie' Hoffmann each grew up here. Fr. Hoffmann, the most recently celebrated of the three, was baptized at Sacred Heart and was ordained for the Diocese of Green Bay on June 1, 1963. He returned to Sacred Heart the following day for his Mass of thanksgiving, with his younger brother John serving as altar server. He went on to serve as longtime pastor in Antigo and continues to return for family funerals, weddings, and milestone liturgies.
- Fr. John Quigley — priest-son of the parish
- Norbertine Fr. Gerald Nolan — priest-son of the parish; known to Fr. Hoffmann from his college days at St. Norbert College
- Fr. Charles 'Charlie' Hoffmann — ordained June 1, 1963; Mass of thanksgiving at Sacred Heart, June 2, 1963; longtime pastor in Antigo
Parish Staff & Administration
The parish is administered by Fr. Krishnarao 'Kris' Mekala, a member of the Missionaries of Faith congregation, who was appointed Parish Administrator by Bishop David Ricken effective July 1, 2023. Fr. Mekala also serves SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Weyauwega, reflecting a model of priestly collaboration common in rural parts of the diocese. Parishioner and staff member JoAnn Schuelke serves in a combined role as bookkeeper, Religious Education Director, and parish administrative assistant.
- Fr. Krishnarao 'Kris' Mekala — Parish Administrator (Missionaries of Faith), appointed 7/1/2023
- JoAnn Schuelke — Bookkeeper, Religious Education Director, and Parish Administrative Assistant
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education has been a constant at Sacred Heart across the decades. Longtime parishioner Jim Quinn, a retired Manawa middle school principal who began attending the parish in 1973, recalls teaching religious education in the furnace room of the church basement in earlier decades. Today, parish faith formation is coordinated by JoAnn Schuelke, who combines the director role with her administrative duties.
- Religious Education program for parish youth
- Classroom-style faith formation rooted in current events and Catholic teaching
- Coordinated by JoAnn Schuelke
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Sacred Heart has a long-standing tradition of volunteer-led liturgical music. Retired teacher and parishioner Jim Quinn organized the choir for Christmas Masses during his years as a vocal music teacher, and many of the parish's musicians have been active since the 1960s. The parish also relies on lay lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and ushers to serve each Mass.
- Parish choir with a tradition of volunteer musicians dating to the 1960s
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Ushers
Parish Leadership Councils
Lay leadership plays an active role at Sacred Heart through its elected and appointed councils. Jim Quinn has served as both chair of the Parish Council and chair of the Finance Council, and Pat Hoffmann currently serves on the Finance Council. These councils support the pastor and parish administrator in the temporal and spiritual stewardship of the parish.
- Finance Council — current chair: Jim Quinn; member Pat Hoffmann
- Parish Council — past chair Jim Quinn
Sacraments
Sacred Heart celebrates the regular sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. Sunday and weekday Masses are the center of parish sacramental life, with Reconciliation offered before Sunday Mass. Baptisms, marriages, and the Anointing of the Sick are arranged through the parish office.
- Eucharist — Sunday 8:00 AM; Wednesday & Friday 9:00 AM
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Sunday 7:15–7:45 AM
- Baptism — by arrangement with the parish office
- Marriage — by arrangement with the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — by request
Visit, Contact & Directions
Sacred Heart welcomes visitors and returning parishioners to its worship and community life in Manawa. The parish office can be reached by phone during business hours, and the parish maintains an active Facebook page with news, bulletins, and updates. From the highway, take Hwy. 54 to County B, then north into Manawa to reach the church at 614 South Bridge Street.
- Address: 614 South Bridge Street, Manawa, WI 54949
- Phone: (920) 596-3323
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://sacredheartmanawa.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SacredHeartManawa/
- Driving directions: Hwy. 54 to County B, then north into Manawa
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Francis Steinbrecher1894 (incorp.)
First resident pastor; led construction of the current church and incorporation of the parish on April 14, 1894.
- Fr. Gerald Ilk
Former pastor; his funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr. Charles Hoffmann at Sacred Heart.
- Fr. Matthew Rappl
Former pastor; concelebrated the 150th anniversary Mass on June 16, 2024.
- Fr. Xavier Santiago
Former pastor; concelebrated the 150th anniversary Mass on June 16, 2024.
- Fr. Krishnarao "Kris" Mekala2023–present
Missionaries of Faith; appointed Parish Administrator by Bishop David Ricken effective July 1, 2023; also serves SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Weyauwega.