About Saints Peter and Paul · Green Bay, Wisconsin
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church is a parish of the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay located on the northeast side of Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the corner of University Avenue and Baird Street. Originally founded as a Belgian-heritage parish, it has become a vibrant, culturally diverse community that today counts English- and Spanish-speaking faithful as its two major language groups, along with members of many other ethnic and racial backgrounds. The parish offers weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, an active faith-formation program, and the Christ the King Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel — open 24 hours a day — and is pastored by Fr. José López Vargas.
- Established
- 1875
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul
- Rector
- Rev. José López Vargas
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
Ss. Peter and Paul offers a rare combination in Green Bay: a bilingual (English/Spanish) Catholic community where longtime Belgian-rooted families and newer Hispanic parishioners worship side by side, a full Sunday schedule with three weekend Masses (including two in Spanish), and the Christ the King Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel — a 24/7 prayer space. Throw in an active faith-formation program for children and adults (including RCIA / 'Becoming Catholic'), a strong liturgical-arts ministry with sacristans, servers (Knights of the Altar), and a girls' altar server guild (Maidens of the Altar), the World Apostolate of Fatima devotion, and ministries to the homebound — and you have a parish that welcomes anyone curious about the Catholic faith or simply looking for a praying community on Green Bay's northeast side.
Mass times at Saints Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:00–7:25 AM (before Spanish Mass)
- Sunday 9:00–9:25 AM (before English Mass)
- Sunday 11:30–11:55 AM (before Spanish Mass)
- Saturday 3:30–4:00 PM (before Vigil Mass)
- 1st Saturday 8:00–8:25 AM
- 1st Friday 5:30–5:55 PM
- Tuesday 8:00–8:20 AM (before Mass)
- Wednesday 8:00–8:20 AM and 5:30–6:25 PM (Spanish)
- Thursday 8:00–8:20 AM
- Friday 8:00–8:20 AM
- 30 minutes before each Mass during the Holy Rosary (Confesiones en Español: 30 minutos antes de cada misa durante el Santo Rosario)
Adoration times
- Christ the King Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel — open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (24/7), except for annual maintenance over the Easter Triduum. Committed adorers sign in via an iPad at the chapel. Door code available from the parish office (920.435.7548).
About Ss. Peter and Paul
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church sits on the northeast side of Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the intersection of University Avenue and Baird Street. A member of the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, it is one of the older parishes in the city, founded in 1875 by Belgian immigrants who settled on this side of town. Today the parish describes itself as a vibrant and culturally diverse Catholic community, with English and Spanish as its two principal languages and members drawn from many ethnic and racial backgrounds. The parish office staff and Hispanic ministry work together so that the same liturgical, formation, and pastoral offerings are available in both languages.
- Corner of University Avenue and Baird Street, NE Green Bay
- Parish of the Diocese of Green Bay
- Originally a Belgian-heritage parish (founded 1875)
- Today bilingual: English and Spanish, with members of many ethnic backgrounds
Parish History
Ss. Peter and Paul was established in 1875 as one of the wave of ethnic Catholic parishes that arose across the young Diocese of Green Bay after 1868. Belgian immigrants — both Flemish and Walloon — settled on Green Bay's northeast side and built a parish church to serve as their cultural and spiritual center. The diocese's own archives list the parish in the 'ethnic parishes serve immigrant population' roll call alongside St. Willebrord (Dutch, 1864), St. Patrick (Irish, 1865), and St. Mary of the Angels (Polish, 1898). Over the 20th century, English gradually replaced the original languages and intermarriage began to blend communities, a transformation the diocese explicitly notes: 'Over time, the use of English and intermarriage blended these once-distinct communities.' By the early 21st century the parish had evolved into a bilingual community where Belgian-rooted families worship alongside newer Hispanic arrivals and others. The parish's current public-facing history, visible on its own About Us page, emphasizes continuity and openness: 'Originally a parish made up almost entirely of people of Belgian ancestry, today we are a diverse parish, including two major language groups; English and Spanish, and people of many ethnic and racial backgrounds. We rejoice in this diversity, as we manifest the universal nature of our Catholic Faith.'
- 1875 — founding year per Diocese of Green Bay history
- Mid-to-late 19th-century Belgian (Flemish/Walloon) immigration to Green Bay's northeast side
- One of the founding ethnic parishes of the Diocese of Green Bay (est. 1868)
- 20th-century transition from Belgian-language parish to English-dominant parish
- 21st-century growth of Hispanic ministry and Spanish-language Masses
Parish Staff and Key Volunteers
The parish is served by a pastor, two deacons, religious sisters, and a strong lay staff. Fr. José López Vargas is the current pastor; he is assisted by Deacon Dave Parker and Deacon Chuck Agnew. Sr. Marta Cruz coordinates Faith Formation, supported by Sr. Jhoana Castellanos (and later Sr. Sofia Ruiz as assistant coordinator). Ashley Reif directs the Sacred Music program, María Tinoco serves the Hispanic Ministry and the Spanish-language office line, Ivette Hinestroza is Parish Office Manager, and Juanita Fiscal serves as Parish Communications and Mission Coordinator. Michael Lee is Parish Sacristan and head of Knights of the Altar; Scott and Cynthia Stillwell direct the Maidens of the Altar; Cindy Parent coordinates the Adoration Chapel; and Jose Beltran leads Maintenance. The parish is also led by lay trustees (Treasurer Liliana Ramirez, Secretary Don Patz), Finance Council Chair Will Casey, and Pastoral Council Chair Adam Parker.
- Pastor: Rev. José López Vargas
- Deacons: Dave Parker, Chuck Agnew
- Faith Formation: Sr. Marta Cruz (Coordinator); Sr. Jhoana Castellanos / Sr. Sofia Ruiz (Assistant)
- Sacred Music: Ashley Reif
- Parish Office Manager: Ivette Hinestroza
- Hispanic Ministry / Español: María (Maria Theresa) Tinoco
- Parish Communications & Mission: Juanita Fiscal
- Maintenance Coordinator: Jose Beltran
- Sacristan & Knights of the Altar: Michael Lee
- Maidens of the Altar: Scott & Cynthia Stillwell
- Adoration Chapel Coordinator: Cindy Parent
- Pastoral Council Chair: Adam Parker
- Finance Council Chair: Will Casey
- Trustees: Liliana Ramirez (Treasurer), Don Patz (Secretary)
Becoming Catholic (RCIA) and Adult Sacraments
Adults interested in the Catholic faith are invited into the parish's RCIA program — the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The parish explains that joining RCIA does not commit anyone to becoming Catholic; it is a process of exploration and education for the unbaptized, for those baptized in another Christian tradition who wish to enter into full communion, and for Catholics who were baptized but never received the other initial sacraments. An adult Confirmation class is available for those baptized Catholic who are missing only Confirmation. Adults aged 18 and older in need of any sacrament are encouraged to contact the parish office to design a Faith Formation plan.
- RCIA — for the unbaptized, other Christians, and under-formed Catholics
- Adult Confirmation class
- Spanish-language support through Hispanic Ministry
Faith Formation and Educación Religiosa
Ss. Peter and Paul runs a full Faith Formation program (religious education) for children, paralleled by Educación Religiosa for Spanish-speaking families. Registration, calendars, and required health/educational release forms are published on the parish website each year. The program is coordinated by Sr. Marta Cruz and supported by Sr. Jhoana Castellanos (and later Sr. Sofia Ruiz). Families looking to register can download forms from the parish site or call the Faith Formation Office (920-437-0651 / [email protected]). The parish emphasizes Safe Environment compliance for all volunteers working with minors.
- Faith Formation (children's religious education)
- Educación Religiosa (Spanish-language track)
- Registration forms and annual Faith Formation Calendar published online
- Safe Environment program
Liturgical Ministries
The parish relies on a wide range of lay liturgical ministers to support its bilingual Sunday and weekly schedule. These include Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Greeters, Ushers, and two altar-server guilds: the Knights of the Altar (boys and young men) under Sacristan Michael Lee, and the Maidens of the Altar (girls and young women) under Scott and Cynthia Stillwell. Sacred Music is coordinated by Ashley Reif, and the parish has its own parish sacristan team to prepare the liturgies. The World Apostolate of Fatima devotion is also active at the parish.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Greeters
- Ushers
- Knights of the Altar (altar servers)
- Maidens of the Altar (girls' altar servers)
- Sacred Music
- World Apostolate of Fatima
Pastoral Care and Outreach
Pastoral care of the homebound, elderly, and hospitalized is provided through the parish's Ministry of Care/Homebound volunteer network, with Eileen Agnew as a volunteer assistant. María Tinoco serves as the parish's Hispanic Ministry contact, and the parish maintains a dedicated Spanish-language office line (920-432-1321) in addition to the main office line (920-435-7548). The parish's About Us page frames outreach as part of what it means to be a 'culturally diverse Catholic Faith Community,' and welcomes anyone — Catholic or curious — to call or visit.
- Ministry of Care / Homebound visits (Eileen Agnew, volunteer assistant)
- Hispanic Ministry — María (Maria Theresa) Tinoco
- Dedicated Spanish-language parish office line: 920-432-1321
- Office Assistant & Janitorial: Debbie Lemmen
Visiting Ss. Peter and Paul
The parish is at 720 North Baird Street, Green Bay, WI 54302, on the northeast side of the city at the intersection of University Avenue and Baird Street. Visitors are warmly invited — the pastor's greeting on the homepage explicitly invites people to call (920.435.7548) or, better still, to come visit in person. Parking is on site; an accessibility-friendly entry can be arranged by calling the parish office. Saturday Vigil, Sunday, and weekday Mass schedules (English and Spanish) are listed above, and Reconciliation is available before every Mass and at additional times throughout the week. The Christ the King Perpetual Adoration Chapel is open around the clock.
- Address: 720 N. Baird Street, Green Bay, WI 54302
- Parish Office: 920-435-7548
- Parish Office (Español): 920-432-1321
- Faith Formation Office: 920-437-0651
- Confession before every Mass; Spanish confessions during the Holy Rosary 30 minutes before Mass
- Christ the King Perpetual Adoration Chapel — 24/7
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. P. PerninSeptember 1875 onward
Early pastor; took charge of SS. Peter and Paul Parish a month after Fr. De Kelver was reassigned; oversaw growth of the school and properties. (Reference is via 1880s-era diocesan source.)