About St. Andrew · Verona, Wisconsin
St. Andrew Catholic Church is a parish church in Verona, Wisconsin, founded in 1917 to serve the spiritual needs of Catholic families and the patients at the nearby Dane County Hospital. Today it is part of Divine Mercy Parish (formerly St. Christopher Catholic Parish, formed in 2010 by the merger of the Verona and Paoli churches), which unites St. Andrew in Verona, St. William in Paoli, and St. Maria Goretti in Madison within the Diocese of Madison. The parish worships at 301 North Main Street in Verona, offering daily Mass, a robust 24-hour First Friday Eucharistic Adoration vigil, and Confession multiple times a week, all rooted in its mission to 'meet Christ, follow Christ, and bear Christ.'
- Established
- 1917
- Patron
- St. Andrew the Apostle (patron of the parish church; founded by Father Andrew Mason)
- Rector
- Msgr. Kevin Holmes (Pastor of Divine Mercy Parish, which includes St. Andrew)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Madison
Why belong here
St. Andrew offers the rhythm of small-town Catholic life with the resources of a multi-site parish — a tight Verona worship community, six weekly Masses plus a Saturday Vigil, Confession four days a week, and a full 24-hour First Friday Eucharistic Adoration vigil right at the Verona church. Active young-adult gatherings, a music ministry recruiting cantors and instrumentalists, RCIA and faith formation, charitable outreach such as the parish's sister-parish relationship with St. Hermine's Home in India, and a clear parish mission to 'meet Christ, follow Christ, bear Christ' make it a welcoming place both for longtime Verona families and newcomers.
Mass times at St. Andrew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM (also 9:00 – 10:00 AM per third-party listing, 30 minutes before the 9:30 AM Mass)
- Wednesday: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Saturday: 8:45 AM – 10:00 AM (except on the Saturday following First Friday)
- Saturday: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (30 minutes before the 5:00 PM Vigil Mass)
Adoration times
- Saturday: 8:45 AM – 10:00 AM (except on the Saturday following First Friday)
- First Friday of each month — 24-Hour Eucharistic Adoration Vigil at St. Andrew, 8:45 AM Friday through 7:45 AM Saturday
- First Friday — 'Cor ad Cor' adoration/holy hour for Young Adults typically rotating between St. Maria Goretti and St. Andrew, often 7:00 PM
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Andrew is one of three worship sites of Divine Mercy Parish in the Diocese of Madison — alongside St. William in Paoli and St. Maria Goretti in Madison — formed under the Diocese's 'Into the Deep' pastoral planning (Pastorate 20). The parish mission is the simple formula: 'Meet Christ. Follow Christ. Bear Christ.' Under that mission the parish envisions four core spiritual needs for every person: encounter with Jesus, accompaniment on the spiritual journey, community in the Body of Christ, and living the Church's mission.
- Parish Mission: Meet Christ · Follow Christ · Bear Christ
- Parish Vision: encounter, accompaniment, community, mission
- Sites: St. Andrew (Verona), St. William (Paoli), St. Maria Goretti (Madison)
History of St. Andrew, Verona
St. Andrew Parish was founded in 1917 when Father Andrew Mason gathered about 26 Catholic families, motivated in large part by the spiritual needs of patients at the Dane County Hospital on the eastern edge of Verona. The first church was built at 133 N. Main Street and dedicated within a year, with Father James Nellen as the first resident pastor. Through the Great Depression and World War II the small but faithful congregation kept the church alive through donated labor and talent. The current church was begun in September 1925 (cornerstone laid then, first Mass celebrated Christmas Day), replacing the original 1917 building, which was eventually razed in 1969.
- Founded 1917 by Fr. Andrew Mason
- First resident pastor: Fr. James Nellen
- Second church opened Christmas 1925
- St. William became a 'mission' of St. Andrew in 1925
St. Andrew School
St. Andrew School was built jointly with neighboring St. William Parish in 1956, opened for classes in 1958 to 88 students, and was taught by Dominican nuns from Racine. Enrollment peaked around 176 students before parish demographics shifted; school-age Catholic students in the Divine Mercy pastorate today are served by St. Maria Goretti Catholic School in Madison.
- School built 1956
- Opened 1958 with 88 students
- Peak enrollment ~176 students
- Taught by Dominican sisters from Racine
Merger into St. Christopher & Divine Mercy Parish
On the direction of Bishop Robert C. Morlino and in collaboration with parishioners, St. Andrew and St. William officially merged in 2010 to form St. Christopher Catholic Parish, with Father William Vernon shepherding the transition. Pastors Father John Sasse (2017–2020) and Father Robert Butz (2020–2023) followed; in 2023, under the Diocese of Madison's 'Into the Deep' pastoral reorganization, the parish was rebranded as Divine Mercy Parish (Pastorate 20) and joined with St. Maria Goretti in Madison, with Msgr. Kevin Holmes installed as pastor.
- 2010 merger of St. Andrew + St. William ⇒ St. Christopher Parish
- Fr. William Vernon (2009–2017), Fr. John Sasse (2017–2020), Fr. Robert Butz (2020–2023)
- 2023: pastorate reorganized as Divine Mercy Parish (Pastorate 20)
- Current pastor: Msgr. Kevin Holmes
Music Ministry
The Divine Mercy Parish Music Ministry invites cantors, singers, organists, and instrumentalists of all experience levels to serve the parish liturgy. Director of Sacred Music Marco Di Lenola welcomes both seasoned musicians and anyone with a good musical ear willing to commit.
- Director: Marco Di Lenola
- Roles: cantors, singers, organists, instrumentalists
Young Adults
A dedicated Young Adults group meets regularly for faith and fellowship. On First Fridays they join St. Andrew's 24-hour Adoration vigil from 7:00–8:00 PM (no talk, no Confessions), and then head to the Draft House for a social. Their signature 'Cor ad Cor' (Heart-to-Heart) evenings combine Eucharistic Adoration, reflection, and community, with the venue rotating between St. Maria Goretti and St. Andrew.
- First Friday Adoration + Draft House social
- Cor ad Cor evenings (monthly)
- Adoration from 7–8 PM at St. Andrew on First Fridays
St. Hermine's Home — Sister Parish Outreach
St. Christopher/Divine Mercy Parish has adopted St. Hermine's Home for the Destitute in Tamil Nadu, India, as a sister parish. The Home was initially established for survivors of the December 2004 tsunami and today serves about 50 orphaned girls and abandoned elderly and disabled adults; parishioner contributions help with food, clothing, school, and medical needs. Donations can be made by check to St. Christopher Catholic Parish with a note designating St. Hermine's Home.
- Sister parish: St. Hermine's Home, Tamil Nadu, India
- Founded after Dec. 2004 tsunami
- Serves ~50 orphaned girls and abandoned elders/disabled adults
- Donations via check payable to St. Christopher Catholic Parish
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Faith Formation, Religious Education, and preparation for the sacraments of First Communion, Confirmation, and Baptism are coordinated across the Divine Mercy Parish sites. Adults seeking to become Catholic are welcomed through the parish RCIA program; couples should contact the parish office to begin marriage preparation; the Anointing of the Sick is available through the pastors on request.
- Faith Formation / Religious Education
- RCIA for adults
- First Communion & Confirmation preparation
- Baptism, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick by request through the parish office
Visiting St. Andrew
St. Andrew Church is located on North Main Street in downtown Verona at 301 N. Main Street, Verona, WI 53593. Parishioners are invited to stop by the office, call (608) 845-6613, or write to [email protected] for information on registration, sacraments, or getting involved.
- Address: 301 N. Main St., Verona, WI 53593
- Phone: (608) 845-6613
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: divinemercymadison.org (formerly saintchristopherparish.com / pastorate20.org)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Andrew Masoncirca 1917
Organized the founding Catholic families of St. Andrew; the parish patron was named in his honor.
- Fr. James Nellen1918 onward
First resident pastor of St. Andrew Parish.
- Fr. Joseph Webber
Early pastor in the first decades of the parish.
- Fr. John Risch
Early pastor.
- Fr. Anthony Hermann
Early pastor.
- Fr. Lawrence Keppler
Early pastor.
- Fr. Joseph Brechtl
Early pastor in the mid-20th century.
- Fr. Thomas Massion1970s
Pastor during the 1970s.
- Fr. Eugene Bauhs1970s onward
Co-guided parish in the 1970s; later also ministered at St. William from 1970.
- Msgr. Delbert Schmelzerc. 1981–2001
Shepherded St. Andrew (and St. William) for twenty years until his retirement in 2001.
- Fr. John Stillmank2001–2003
Appointed pastor in 2001.
- Fr. Dave Timmerman2003–2009
Served as pastor from 2003 to 2009.
- Fr. William Vernon2009–2017
Oversaw the 2010 merger creating St. Christopher Catholic Parish; continued as pastor until 2017.
- Fr. John Sasse2017–2020
Pastor of the merged parish.
- Fr. Robert Butz2020–2023
Pastor of St. Christopher / Divine Mercy Parish.
- Msgr. Kevin Holmes2023–present
Current pastor of Divine Mercy Parish (Pastorate 20).