About St. Agnes · Butler, Wisconsin
St. Agnes Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Village of Butler, Wisconsin, on the northern edge of the Milwaukee metro area where Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Menomonee Falls, and Brookfield meet. Founded in 1914 and dedicated in December 1915, it belongs to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and is served today by a parish school (K3–8) and a Christian Formation program for public-school children. Guided by the motto 'prayer, scholarship and dedication,' St. Agnes is widely known throughout the Archdiocese as a 'tithing parish' that has practiced stewardship of time, talent and treasure since the late 1980s.
- Established
- 1914
- Patron
- St. Agnes
- Rector
- Rev. Carlos Londoño
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. Agnes offers a complete Catholic life in one village campus: weekend and daily Mass in English, weekday Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays in the Resource Center Chapel, a Food Pantry serving the Butler community for over thirty years, a St. Vincent de Paul conference for emergency assistance, and a parish school serving K3 through eighth grade alongside a Family Formation program for public-school children. The parish is known across the Archdiocese as a pioneer of tithing-based stewardship, replacing constant fund-raising with reliable support for ministry. With active liturgical, formation, youth, and outreach programs — plus a Grief Ministry, Altar Society, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and altar servers — new parishioners find multiple ways to belong, serve, and grow.
Mass times at St. Agnes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (except 1st Saturday)
- 1st Saturday after the 8:15 a.m. Mass
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursdays 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. in the Resource Center Chapel
Welcome & Identity
St. Agnes Parish is a Roman Catholic community in the Village of Butler, Wisconsin, on the north side of the Milwaukee metro area. Its mission statement reads: 'Guided by the Holy Spirit, Saint Agnes Catholic Parish and School invites everyone to a deeper encounter with the transforming love of God through sacraments, prayer, and discipleship.' The parish serves Catholic families in Butler, Brookfield, Menomonee Falls, Milwaukee and Wauwatosa, and is staffed by a parish office, a K3–8 school, and a Christian Formation program for public-school children.
- Mission: encounter the transforming love of God through sacraments, prayer, and discipleship
- Members drawn from Butler, Brookfield, Menomonee Falls, Milwaukee and Wauwatosa
- Pastored by Rev. Carlos Londoño as of June 2026
Parish History
The parish was organized in May 1914 by Archbishop Sebastian G. Messmer to serve Catholic families growing in 'New Butler' around the new railroad yards, with Father Joseph Delaney as first pastor and the Clarke family's land gift. A barracks church was raised in a single day in 1914 and the permanent brick church was dedicated December 19, 1915. From the very start — when Agnes Clarke taught at the school and played the organ — stewardship of time, talent and treasure has shaped parish life.
- 1914: Parish organized under Archbishop Messmer; Father Delaney first pastor; Clarke family donates land
- 1915: Brick church dedicated December 19; school opens in a local hotel
- 1921–1926: Sisters of Mercy teach at the school
- 1928: Four Notre Dame sisters arrive
- 1934: School closes during the Great Depression
- 1942: Father Gabriel Hafford reopens the school; stained-glass windows donated
- 1948–1951: Parish doubles in size in the postwar boom
- 1963: School enrollment reaches nearly 1,000
- 1970: First Parish Council organized after Vatican II
- 1979: Original brick church razed for parish activity center
- 1989: Tithing concept introduced (5% parish / 5% charities)
- 2013: Finance Committee becomes Finance Council
- 2015: Centennial of St. Agnes celebrated
- 2023: Fr. Sergio Rodriguez arrives
- 2025: Fr. Sergio Rodriguez installed as pastor
- June 2026: Fr. Carlos Londoño becomes pastor
St. Agnes School
St. Agnes Parish School is a Catholic school serving K3 through 8th grade at 12801 W. Fairmount Avenue, and it shares the parish campus. School hours run 7:40 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. with office hours 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The school participates in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program and Wisconsin Parental Choice Program and offers organized athletics for students in 4th through 8th grade in collaboration with other nearby Catholic schools.
- Principal: Ms. Rachel Kolbeck
- Director of Admissions / Choice Administrator: Mrs. Amy Retzer
- Phone: 262-781-4996
- Grades K3–8
- Athletics for grades 4–8
- Participates in Milwaukee & Wisconsin Parental Choice Programs
- Founded September 1915 — first teachers Agnes Clarke and Jessie Hayes
Christian Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Christian Formation & Evangelization office runs a Family Formation program for parish children who attend public or non-Catholic schools. Using texts approved by the Church, parents and students study doctrine, creeds, moral values, scripture, sacraments, the liturgical seasons, Mary, and the saints, with catechesis designed to prepare children for the sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation. Family Formation and High School classes meet Sundays 9:00–10:15 a.m., while Confirmation class meets Sundays 6:00–7:30 p.m.
- Coordinator: Shelly Fellin (Ext. 103, [email protected])
- Admin Assistant: Peggy Ferch (Ext. 111, [email protected])
- Youth Minister: Michele Matthews (Ext. 237, [email protected])
- Phone: 262-781-6998
- Family Formation Sundays 9:00–10:15 a.m.
- Confirmation class Sundays 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Parishioners at St. Agnes have multiple ways to live out stewardship. The St. Vincent de Paul Society, organized in 1957, offers person-to-person emergency help with food, clothing, furniture, household items, housing and utilities, and points neighbors toward government agencies. The parish Food Pantry has been in continuous operation for more than thirty years and is open Mondays 12:00–2:00 p.m. and 5:00–6:30 p.m. Liturgical roles are filled by altar servers, Eucharistic ministers, lectors (Ministers of the Word), and Ministers of Hospitality (ushers), while the Altar Society cares for altar linens, baptismal gowns, vigil lights, and funeral receptions. The Grief Ministry accompanies bereaved parishioners and hosts an annual December Mass and breakfast for those who have lost a loved one.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (since 1957) — person-to-person emergency aid
- Food Pantry — Mondays 12:00–2:00 and 5:00–6:30 p.m.; supported by Butler postal carriers, fire and police departments, library, school, scouts and parish groups
- Grief Ministry — monthly meetings, annual December memorial Mass and breakfast
- Altar Servers — training for school and Christian Formation students
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Ministers of the Word (Lectors)
- Ministers of Hospitality (Ushers)
- Altar Society — altar linens, baptismal gowns, vigil lights, funeral catering
Stewardship & Tithing
Stewardship of time, talent and treasure is foundational at St. Agnes. In 1989 the parish introduced a tithing model asking parishioners to return the first 10% of their income to God — 5% directed to the parish and 5% to other charities — which replaced the tradition of fund-raising with a stable source of income for ministry. St. Agnes is regularly cited across the Archdiocese of Milwaukee as a 'tithing parish' and as a model for other parishes to follow. The parish renewed this commitment at its 2015 Centennial.
- Tithing model adopted in 1989 (5% parish / 5% other charities)
- Cited by the Archdiocese as a model 'tithing parish'
- Centennial stewardship renewal in 2015
Community Life & Festival
The annual St. Agnes Parish Festival, typically held in mid-August, brings the parish community together with live music (Road Crew, Cherry Pie), a giant rummage sale, basket raffles and silent auctions, a beer garden, free bingo, kids' games and inflatables, a Sam Beres Walk/Run, an outdoor Sunday Mass, and food by the Butler Volunteer Fire Department, food trucks and a bake sale. The parish also maintains active 'Out & About' adult fellowship programs, a Vacation Bible School, and ongoing events like Motherís Day roses, restaurant nights supporting Pro-Life Wisconsin, and clothing drives for First Communion, Confirmation, and Prom.
- Annual Parish Festival (mid-August)
- Live music, raffles, beer garden, kids' games and inflatables
- Outdoor Sunday Mass and Sam Beres Walk/Run
- Mother's Day Roses, Restaurant Nights, Vacation Bible School
- Clothing drives supporting First Communion, Confirmation, and Prom
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Delaney1914–
First pastor; appointed when Archbishop Messmer organized the new parish.
- Rev. Gabriel Hafford
Reopened St. Agnes School in 1942; oversaw construction of a four-room school and stained-glass donations.
- Rev. Mark Brandl
Pastor of St. Agnes for eight years; later pastor of the three Northside parishes of Sheboygan, currently at Sacred Heart, Horicon.
- Rev. Sergio Rodriguez2023–2026
Joined the parish in 2023 and was installed as pastor in 2025.
- Rev. Carlos LondoñoJune 2026–
Current pastor, appointed by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee effective June 2026.