About Sacred Heart of Jesus · Saint Francis, Wisconsin
Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Roman Catholic parish in St. Francis, Wisconsin, and the only Catholic church in the city. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and is currently part of the South Shore Catholic Parishes grouping, which serves Bay View, Cudahy, and St. Francis. The parish was founded in 1868 and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2018–2019. Its mission statement is 'to be the heart of Jesus… transforming the world.' Mass is offered Sunday morning and on Wednesday evenings, with reconciliation and Eucharistic adoration preceding the Wednesday Mass.
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Edward Sanchez (Shared Pastor, named June 8, 2025, by Archbishop Jeffrey Grob)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
Sacred Heart of Jesus is the only Catholic parish in the city of St. Francis and offers a close-knit, historic faith community dating to 1868. Worshippers gather for Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m. and Wednesday evening Mass at 6:00 p.m., preceded by Eucharistic adoration at 5:00 p.m. and followed by reconciliation at 5:15 p.m. — a simple, traditional rhythm centered on the Eucharist. Through the South Shore Catholic Parishes partnership, the parish shares clergy, formation, and worship resources with neighboring parishes, giving members access to a wider community while keeping the intimate character of St. Francis's only Catholic church.
Mass times at Sacred Heart of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:15 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 5:00 PM (before 6:00 PM Mass)
Parish Identity & Mission
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church is the only Catholic parish located in the city of St. Francis, Wisconsin. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and is part of the South Shore Catholic Parishes collaborative, which also serves Bay View, Cudahy, and the surrounding South Shore of Milwaukee. The parish's stated mission is 'to be the heart of Jesus… transforming the world.'
Founding & Early History (1844–1903)
The story of Sacred Heart of Jesus begins with the first settlers in the Bay View and St. Francis area in 1844. St. Francis Seminary was built in 1855 on land purchased from the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, and early parishioners attended Mass at the Seminary before the parish built its own church. In 1866 a small building on what is now the St. Thomas More High School campus (then the Pio Nono Campus) became the parish's first school. Father Kilian Flasch was appointed the first pastor in 1868, and by 1871 the parish had 65 families, with plans drawn up for the first church, which was completed in 1872. A new school building followed in 1873.
- 1844 first settlers
- 1855 St. Francis Seminary built
- 1866 first parish school
- 1868 Fr. Kilian Flasch first pastor
- 1872 first church completed
- 1876 first burial in present-day cemetery
- 1885 new church built for 125 families
- 1888 larger school and sisters' residence built
20th Century Growth (1904–1999)
Fr. Philip Klein began his pastorate in 1904 and led the parish for an extraordinary 52 years. Additional classrooms were added to the parish school during the 1930s, and in 1958 planning began for a new church, school, and rectory. In 1994 Alexandra Guiliano became the parish's first lay administrator — a notable development in parish leadership.
- 1904 Fr. Philip Klein begins 52-year pastorate
- 1930s additional school classrooms
- 1958 planning for new church, school, and rectory
- 1994 first lay administrator
Renovation, Senior Housing & 150th Anniversary (2001–2019)
Fr. Bob Surges became pastor in 2001. Under his leadership and the parish council's guidance, the parish eventually addressed financial strain after its school merged with neighboring schools to form St. Thomas Aquinas Academy. The parish sold its school-and-church property to MCZ Development Corporation of Chicago, which developed 68 one- and two-bedroom apartments on site — the Sacred Heart of Jesus Senior Apartments. Through a unique partnership, Sacred Heart retained 60% ownership of the original worship space, co-owning the remaining 40% with the senior apartments. The parish worshipped in borrowed spaces — including the sisters' Clare Hall and at Howard Village — from October 2010 until the renovation was completed in March 2012. The renovated church was dedicated on March 25, 2012, by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki, with liturgical design by Capuchin Fr. Mark Joseph Costello. In 2017 the parish commissioned new Sunrise/Sunset stained glass windows for the east and west walls, designed by Lisa Heideman of Studio 3 Art and Design and installed in 2018. The 150th anniversary was marked with an opening Mass on December 29, 2018, led by Auxiliary Bishop James T. Schuerman, and a closing Mass on December 29, 2019, celebrated by Archbishop Listecki.
- 2001 Fr. Bob Surges becomes pastor
- MCZ Development builds 68 senior apartments
- Parish retains 60% of original worship space
- March 25, 2012 renovated church dedicated by Archbishop Listecki
- 2018 Sunrise/Sunset windows installed
- 2018–2019 150th anniversary celebrated
Shared Pastorate & Pandemic Years (2020–2025)
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the parish to close in 2020; Fr. Arul Ponnaiyan kept parishioners connected through livestreamed Masses, adoration, and the rosary. On August 4, 2020, Fr. Arul was reassigned and Fr. Philip Schumaker was appointed Shared Pastor of Sacred Heart along with Immaculate Conception and St. Augustine Parishes. On November 1, 2023, Fr. Philip was reassigned and Fr. Edward Sanchez was named Shared Administrator of the tri-parishes. On June 8, 2025, Archbishop Jeffrey Grob named Fr. Edward Sanchez Shared Pastor of the parishes.
- 2020 livestream ministry began
- 2020 Fr. Philip Schumaker appointed Shared Pastor
- 2023 Fr. Edward Sanchez named Shared Administrator
- 2025 Fr. Edward Sanchez named Shared Pastor
Sacraments & Devotions
The parish celebrates the Eucharist on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, with Eucharistic adoration preceding the Wednesday Mass and reconciliation offered both before and by appointment. Funerals have historically been hosted at neighboring parishes during renovation periods; the parish has its own cemetery in continuous use since 1876.
- Sunday and Wednesday Masses
- Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration
- Wednesday Reconciliation (and by appointment)
- Parish cemetery (in use since 1876)
Parish Cemetery
Sacred Heart of Jesus has maintained a parish cemetery since 1876. In 1888, deceased parishioners originally buried on the grounds of St. Francis Seminary were reinterred in the parish cemetery, which remains the parish's burial ground today.
- First burial in 1876
- 1888 reinterment from Seminary grounds
Clergy, Deacons & Staff
Fr. Edward Sanchez was named Shared Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 8, 2025, by Archbishop Jeffrey Grob. The parish shares worship, formation, and administrative staff with neighboring parishes through the South Shore Catholic Parishes collaborative. Past deacons include Deacon Al Foeckler (2015–2016), Deacon Tom Fogarty (2016–2018), and Deacon Pat LaPointe (assigned 2018). Alexandra Guiliano served as the parish's first lay administrator in 1994.
- Fr. Edward Sanchez — Shared Pastor (since June 8, 2025)
- Fr. Carmelo Giuffre — Pastor of South Shore Catholic Parishes
- Fr. Michael Courchaine — Associate Pastor
- Deacon Pat LaPointe
- Paul Weisenberger — Shared Director of Worship (IC/SA/SHJ)
- Joshua Moore — Shared Director of Formation
- Lisa Lopez — Administrative Assistant (IC/SA/SHJ)
- Shared Director of Administration (Mueller)
South Shore Catholic Parishes Collaboration
Since 2020 Sacred Heart of Jesus has shared clergy and staff with neighboring parishes through the South Shore Catholic Parishes grouping, which serves Bay View, Cudahy, and St. Francis. The shared parishes include the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Nativity of the Lord, St. Augustine, St. Paul, and St. Veronica. A shared parish office is located at 2530 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207, while each church retains its own worship address.
- Immaculate Conception (Bay View)
- Nativity of the Lord (Cudahy)
- St. Augustine (Milwaukee)
- St. Paul (South Milwaukee)
- St. Veronica (South Milwaukee)
- Shared office: 2530 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Contact & Visiting
The church address is 3635 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue, St. Francis, WI 53235. The parish phone is (414) 489-2806 and email is [email protected]. The renovated church campus (dedicated 2012) shares its site with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Senior Apartments and includes accessibility features such as an access ramp from the entrance foyer down to the worship level.
- Church: 3635 S Kinnickinnic Ave, St. Francis, WI 53235
- Phone: (414) 489-2806
- Email: [email protected]
- Shared office: 2530 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
- Accessibility ramp at entrance foyer
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Kilian Flasch1868
First pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus.
- Fr. Philip Klein1904–1956
Extraordinarily long pastorate of approximately 52 years.
- Fr. Bob (Robert) Surges2001–2011
Led early planning for the parish renovation; retired October 2011.
- Fr. Jan Kieliszewski2012
Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Nativity of the Lord Parishes; renovated church dedicated during his tenure.
- Fr. Arul Ponnaiyan2016–2020
Arrived from Holy Apostles Parish in New Berlin as parish administrator for Sacred Heart and St. Paul; installed as Pastor on August 17, 2019; provided livestream Masses, adoration, and rosary during the 2020 COVID-19 shutdown; reassigned August 4, 2020.
- Fr. Philip Schumaker2020–2023
Appointed Shared Pastor of Sacred Heart along with Immaculate Conception and St. Augustine Parishes on August 4, 2020; reassigned November 1, 2023.
- Fr. Edward Sanchez2023–present
Named Shared Administrator of the tri-parishes on November 1, 2023; named Shared Pastor on June 8, 2025, by Archbishop Jeffrey Grob.