About Ss. Cyril and Methodius · Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Ss. Cyril & Methodius Parish is a Catholic community at 822 New Jersey Avenue in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, founded in the early 20th century by Croatian and Slovenian immigrants seeking a place to worship in their native language. Today it is one of three parishes in the Sheboygan South Catholic Parishes (with Immaculate Conception and St. Peter Claver), serving its members from the historic 'Church on the Hill' under the pastoral care of Fr. Paul Fliss and Associate Pastor Fr. Kenneth Anyanwu. The parish preserves a strong Slavic Catholic heritage — including Greendale Cemetery (Zelina Dolina), Slovenian-cast bells, and a Romanesque Revival church designed by Foeller & Schober — while remaining an active, English-language parish rooted in faith formation, the sacraments, and outreach.
- Established
- 1910
- Patron
- Saints Cyril and Methodius
- Rector
- Fr. Paul Fliss
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
Ss. Cyril & Methodius is a welcoming Catholic parish with deep roots in the Croatian and Slovenian immigrant story of Sheboygan, but it is very much a living, active community today. Sunday Mass is offered in English, the parish is part of the Tri-Parish Faith Communities with a shared Director of Faith Formation, Adult Ministry, music programs, and RCIA, and families can send their children to Christ Child Academy, the tri-parish Catholic school on Henry Street. Visitors and parishioners are warmly invited to participate in Mass, reconciliation on Saturday mornings, faith formation from 4K through Confirmation, the Christian Formation, Human Concerns, and Stewardship Commissions, and ministry opportunities listed in the parish Ministry Guide.
Mass times at Ss. Cyril and Methodius
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:45 AM (Ss. Cyril & Methodius)
Our Parish Story — A Century of Faith
Ss. Cyril & Methodius grew out of the hopes of Croatian and Slovenian immigrants in early-1900s Sheboygan. Father James Cherne answered a published plea for a Slovenian-speaking priest, the cornerstone was laid on September 18, 1910, and the first Mass was celebrated on Palm Sunday, April 9, 1911. The parish grew around its 'Church on the Hill,' added a school in 1923, purchased cemetery and picnic grounds in 1921, and marked its 100th anniversary in 2010. It now serves as one of three parishes in the Sheboygan South Catholic Tri-Parish Faith Communities.
- Cornerstone laid September 18, 1910
- First Mass on Palm Sunday, April 9, 1911
- Bells cast in Ljubljana and blessed by Archbishop Sebastian G. Messmer on November 2, 1913
- School opened September 11, 1923 (closed 1991)
- 100th anniversary celebrated in 2010
- Joined the Tri-Parish Faith Communities under Fr. Paul Fliss in February 2014
Architecture & Building
The church is a Romanesque Revival building designed by the Green Bay firm of Foeller & Schober and constructed of rock-faced concrete block, completed in 1911 at an estimated cost of $30,000. Its central front belltower is topped by an onion dome, and the entrance features three portals opening into a one-story vestibule. Main-level windows are round-arched stained-glass openings, with side walls delineated by buttressing. The associated two-story school was built in 1923 and the Contemporary-style rectory in 1967 (designed by Lawrence E. Bray & Associates). The church was designated a Sheboygan County Landmark in 1980.
- Architect: Foeller & Schober (Green Bay)
- Carpentry: Frank Geib
- Style: Romanesque Revival; rock-faced concrete block
- Central belltower with onion dome
- Sheboygan County Landmark, 1980
Greendale Cemetery (Zelina Dolina)
In 1921, the parish purchased land on the west side of Sheboygan for a cemetery and picnic grounds. Today, Greendale Cemetery (Zelina Dolina) is the final resting place for over 750 members of the parish's Croatian and Slovenian families. A chapel was dedicated at the cemetery in 1981, and a Cemetery Crucifixion Group was added and blessed by Fr. Richard Fleischman in 1990. John Jacobchick serves as the Greendale Cemetery Sexton.
- Acquired in 1921
- 750+ Croatian and Slovenian burials
- Cemetery chapel dedicated 1981
- Crucifixion Group blessed 1990 by Fr. Richard Fleischman
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Paul Fliss (Pastor, ext. 106, [email protected]) and Fr. Kenneth Anyanwu (Associate Pastor, ext. 107, [email protected]), with the diaconal ministry of Deacon John Gavin and Deacon Rich Gulig. Lay staff serve across the tri-parish community in faith formation, music, administration, and facilities.
- Fr. Paul Fliss — Pastor
- Fr. Kenneth Anyanwu — Associate Pastor
- Deacon John Gavin
- Deacon Rich Gulig
- Marge Ausloos — Director of Administration & Operations
- Eric Rudd — Director of Faith Formation
- Kym Leibham — Director of Adult Ministry
- Christy Kempke — Parish Secretary
- Nancy Siporski — Bookkeeping Assistant
- Tom Halbach — Facilities Manager & Holy Cross Cemetery Sexton
- Monica Virant — Music Director (SSCM)
- John Jacobchick — Greendale Cemetery Sexton
- John Arndt, Matt Johnson, Larry Thill — Building and Grounds
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Southside Catholic Parish Faith Formation Office coordinates programs for children, youth, and adults across Ss. Cyril & Methodius, Immaculate Conception, and St. Peter Claver. Programming is overseen by the Christian Formation Commission and includes Religious Education (Grades 4K–8), High School Faith Formation / Confirmation Preparation (Grades 9–11), Family Formation, Adult Formation, Special Needs Ministry, and RCIA. Eric Rudd serves as Director of Faith Formation and Kym Leibham as Director of Adult Ministry. The Faith Formation Office is located next to Ss. Cyril and Methodius church and is open 8 AM–4 PM Monday–Thursday and 8 AM–noon on Friday.
- Religious Education (Grades 4K–8)
- High School Faith Formation / Confirmation (Grades 9–11)
- Family Formation
- Adult Formation
- Special Needs Ministry
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Christian Formation Commission — meets 3rd Thursday, 6–8 PM at St. Peter Claver
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults prepares adults to become Catholic Christians and to receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. The program is supported by an RCIA Core Team, RCIA Dismissal Leaders, and RCIA Sponsors, and is overseen by Fr. Kenneth Anyanwu. Formation sessions take place twice a month for about 1.5 hours on a weeknight or on Sundays after Mass depending on the needs of the ministry.
- RCIA Core Team — meets 1st Tuesday, 5–6:30 PM, Aug–May
- RCIA Dismissal Leaders — lead reflections during the dismissal portion of Mass
- RCIA Sponsors — accompany participants and attend RCIA Rites and the Easter Vigil
Hmong Community & Ministries
The tri-parish community includes a Hmong Catholic community served through the Hmong Commission, which meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6 PM for about an hour at St. Peter Claver. A Hmong-language Mass is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of each month at 11:00 AM at St. Peter Claver (no Hmong Mass in July). Ministries include Hmong Catholic Evangelization and Formation, Hmong Catholic Leadership Formation, Hmong Funeral Ministry, and Hmong RCIA Ministry.
- Hmong Commission — meets 3rd Thursday at 6 PM at St. Peter Claver
- Hmong Catholic Evangelization and Formation
- Hmong Catholic Leadership Formation
- Hmong Funeral Ministry
- Hmong RCIA Ministry
- Hmong Mass — 3rd Sunday at 11:00 AM at St. Peter Claver (none in July)
Pastoral Council & Commissions
Parish governance is supported by an advisory Pastoral Council that works closely with the pastor, together with four standing commissions: Christian Formation, Human Concerns, Stewardship, and the Hmong Commission. The Pastoral Council includes at-large members selected through a discernment-based nomination process, serving three-year terms with a two-term limit, drawn broadly from the tri-parish community.
- Pastoral Council — tri-parish advisory body to the pastor
- Christian Formation Commission
- Human Concerns Commission — meets 3rd Thursday at 6 PM at St. Peter Claver
- Stewardship Commission (Tri-Parish Stewardship Commission)
- Hmong Commission
Human Concerns & Outreach
The Human Concerns Commission serves the needs of people in the broader community, promoting outreach to local and international peace and justice issues and writing bulletin articles to promote outreach topics. Volunteers share a passion to help those in need and meet on the third Thursday of the month at 6 PM for about an hour at St. Peter Claver, with additional time in the community.
- Local outreach initiatives
- International peace and justice awareness
- Bulletin articles promoting outreach topics
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at Ss. Cyril & Methodius is led by Music Director Monica Virant. Across the tri-parish, music is coordinated by Frederick Strassburger (Director of Music & Liturgy, St. Peter Claver) and Judy Wilsing (Music Director, Immaculate Conception).
- Monica Virant — Music Director, Ss. Cyril & Methodius
- Frederick Strassburger — Director of Music & Liturgy, St. Peter Claver
- Judy Wilsing — Music Director, Immaculate Conception
Christ Child Academy School
The tri-parish Catholic elementary school, Christ Child Academy, is the merged school of the former Ss. Cyril & Methodius, St. Peter Claver, and Immaculate Conception parish schools. It is led by Principal Mark Ruedinger and serves families across Sheboygan's south side.
- Principal: Mark Ruedinger
- Address: 2722 Henry Street, Sheboygan, WI 53081
- School Office: 920-459-2660
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: ChristChildAcademy.com
Contact, Office & Visiting
The tri-parish mailing address is 1439 S. 12th Street, Sheboygan, WI 53081. The main parish office number is 920-457-1077, and the after-hours sacramental emergency line is 920-918-7021. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00–4:00 PM, and Friday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM (closed Saturday and Sunday). Visitors are invited to reach out during office hours for sacramental needs, parish registrations, Mass intentions, or general questions.
- Main Office: 920-457-1077
- After-Hours Sacramental Emergency: 920-918-7021
- Parish Office: 1439 S. 12th Street, Sheboygan WI 53081
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8 AM–noon & 1–4 PM; Fri 8 AM–noon
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Pastor's email: [email protected]
- Associate Pastor's email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. James Cherneearly 1900s
Slovenian-speaking priest who answered the call in the Slovenian newspaper Amerikanski Slovenec and helped found the parish.
- Fr. Richard Fleischman
Blessed the Cemetery Crucifixion Group in 1990.
- Fr. Paul Fliss2014–present
Appointed Pastor of the Tri-Parish Faith Communities on Sheboygan's south side in February 2014.
- Fr. Subi2019–2023
Joined from India as Associate Pastor in December 2019; became Pastor of St. John the Baptist in Plymouth and St. Thomas Aquinas in Elkhart Lake in 2023.
- Fr. Kenneth Anyanwu2023–present
Newly ordained priest who succeeded Fr. Subi as Associate Pastor.