About St. Anthony · Milwaukee, Wisconsin
St. Anthony Parish is a Roman Catholic parish located at 1711 South 9th Street on Milwaukee's historic Near Southside, founded in 1872 by German immigrant families and now serving a multicultural, bilingual (English/Spanish) community. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and currently shares pastoral staff with neighboring St. Hyacinth Parish in a linked bi-parish arrangement. Its limestone German Gothic Revival church, constructed beginning in 1877, is a contributing structure within the West Mitchell Street Commercial Historic District and remains an active center of worship, formation, and outreach.
- Established
- 1872
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Fabian Rodas, FMM (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. Anthony welcomes parishioners into a historic 1872 German Gothic Revival limestone church on Milwaukee's Near Southside that today is a thriving bilingual (English and Spanish) community in the heart of the Mitchell Street neighborhood. The parish offers daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic adoration, regular confession, faith formation for children through St. Anthony School and its religious education program, and the close-knit fellowship of two parishes that share staff and ministries. Whether you are seeking a quiet weekday Mass, sacramental preparation, a Catholic school for your children, or a multicultural Catholic home, St. Anthony's offers a long-standing place of prayer and service.
Mass times at St. Anthony
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM (English and Spanish) / Lunes a Viernes de 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM
Adoration times
- Thursday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Spanish) / Hora Santa en Español
Parish History
St. Anthony Parish traces its roots to the spring of 1872, when about 150 German Catholic families separated from Holy Trinity Parish at South 4th and West Bruce Streets to form a new mission church on Milwaukee's south side. Under the leadership of Father Anton Decker, a first church was built that same fall, and work on the present limestone Gothic Revival church began in 1877. The building was first used for worship in 1882; interior work continued to about 1890 when altars, organ, and other appointments were installed. The meticulously crafted limestone walls reflect the building tradition of the predominantly Catholic southern regions of Germany, from which many of the original parishioners came. In 1903 the tower was extended to add a belfry; in 1910 Kirchhoff & Rose of Milwaukee designed the sanctuary extension and sacristies; and in 1948 the front vestibule was lowered.
- Founded spring 1872 by ~150 families from Holy Trinity Parish
- Father Anton Decker, founding pastor
- First church built fall 1872
- Present limestone church begun 1877, used for worship 1882, interior completed c. 1890
- Architect: Naescher and Heer of Dubuque, IA (original); Kirchhoff & Rose (1910 sanctuary)
- Tower/belfry extended 1903; vestibule lowered 1948
Architecture and Historic Designation
St. Anthony's limestone church is described by the Wisconsin Historical Society as 'meticulously crafted German Gothic Revival' and one of the rare opportunities in the United States to experience this style in stone. The walls reflect a regional German Catholic building tradition in which stone — readily available in the southern, predominantly Catholic parts of Germany — was the preferred material. Construction stretched over nearly a decade because quarrying the local stone proved more costly and labor-intensive than the founders anticipated. The building is a contributing structure of the West Mitchell Street Commercial Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 9, 2018, and the State Register on May 18, 2018.
- Style: Early German Gothic Revival
- Wall material: locally-quarried limestone
- Architects: Naescher and Heer (Dubuque, IA); Kirchhoff & Rose (1910 sanctuary)
- Notable features: tall bell tower (extended 1903), sanctuary extension (1910), Gothic ornamentation, dramatic vaults and altars
- Contributing structure of West Mitchell Street Commercial Historic District (NRHP 2018)
Faith Formation and St. Anthony School
Faith formation at St. Anthony is coordinated by the Director of Religious Education, Sr. Carmelita de Anda, and is closely linked with St. Anthony School, a parish Catholic school serving PreK through Grade 8. The school's administrative office is located at 1727 S. 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204 (phone 414-384-6612), and its president is Dr. Rosana Mateo, Ph.D. Together, the parish religious education program and the school offer Catholic formation in both English and Spanish for the children and families of the Near Southside.
- Director of Religious Education: Sr. Carmelita de Anda
- St. Anthony School (PreK–8), 1727 S. 9th St., 414-384-6612
- School President: Dr. Rosana Mateo, Ph.D.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) faith formation
Clergy, Staff, and Parish Leadership
Pastoral care at St. Anthony is provided by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM), whose members serve as Parochial Administrator and Parochial Vicars. The parish is linked with neighboring St. Hyacinth Parish in a bi-parish arrangement, sharing clergy, deacons, and administrative staff. Three deacons assist the priests, and a Bi-Parish Business Administrator and Parish Council support the work of the community.
- Parochial Administrator: Rev. Fr. Fabian Rodas, FMM
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Fr. Jaime Charuc, FMM; Rev. Fr. Milton Herrera, FMM
- Deacons: Rev. Mr. Carlos Cornejo, Rev. Mr. Henry Reyes, Rev. Mr. Rogelio Macias
- Bi-Parish Business Administrator: Ms. Martha Andrade
- Parish Council Chairperson: Peter Yank (St. Anthony); Trustees Francisco Saldivar (Secretary) and Chris Callen (Treasurer)
Parish Office and Contact
The parish office is located at 1711 S. 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed from 12:00 to 1:00 PM (Lunes a Viernes de 9 AM a 5 PM – Cerrado de 12 PM a 1 PM). The parish phone is 414-645-1455 (fax 414-645-1456, cell 414-374-2344) and the general email is [email protected].
- Address: 1711 S. 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204
- Phone: 414-645-1455
- Email: [email protected]
- Hours: Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM (closed 12–1 PM)
Bilingual and Multicultural Community
Originally a German immigrant parish, St. Anthony has grown over more than 150 years into a multicultural, bilingual community. Most Masses and many ministries are offered in both English and Spanish, and the parish's website and bulletin provide content in both languages. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and shares pastoral and administrative resources with the neighboring St. Hyacinth Parish.
- Bilingual worship: English and Spanish
- Bi-parish collaboration with St. Hyacinth
- Part of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Anton (Antonius) Decker1872–
Founded and led the parish in 1872; oversaw construction of the first church that same year and the start of the present limestone church in 1877.