About St. Anthony on the Lake · Pewaukee, Wisconsin
St. Anthony on the Lake is a welcoming Catholic parish and school community in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, belonging to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Founded in 1918 as a mission church for Catholics living around Pewaukee Lake, it has grown into a vibrant parish of more than 1,000 families served by a pastor, two assisting priests, three deacons, a Catholic school (3K–8th grade), an award-winning Lifelong Faith Formation program, and an extensive music and outreach ministry. Its mission — Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Seek the Lost, Commit to worship and lifelong faith formation, and Serve others in need — is lived out through daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, OCIA (formerly RCIA), and five long-term Partners in Mercy including St. Vincent de Paul and a sister parish in Peru.
- Established
- 1918
- Patron
- St. Anthony
- Rector
- Very Rev. Anthony (Tony) Zimmer
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. Anthony on the Lake combines the warmth of a Lake Country parish with the resources of a full Catholic school (3K–8) and an award-winning Lifelong Faith Formation program for every age. Daily and weekend Masses are complemented by daily Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel, a strong music ministry (children's, youth, and adult choirs), and a vibrant outreach network — St. Vincent de Paul, Family Promise of Waukesha, MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary, People's Table, and a sister-parish relationship with Santisimo Sacramento in Peru — giving every household concrete ways to live the Gospel and serve the wider community.
Mass times at St. Anthony on the Lake
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 p.m. in the Reconciliation Chapel
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday: following 7:30 a.m. Mass until 8:00 p.m. (Eucharistic Chapel)
- Thursday: following 7:30 a.m. Mass until 8:00 p.m. (Eucharistic Chapel)
- Wednesday: until 2:00 p.m.
- Friday: until 2:00 p.m.
- Special Adoration offered periodically (see parish calendar)
- IGNITE: Intergenerational Family Adoration
Parish History
St. Anthony on the Lake traces its roots to June 30, 1918, when Fr. Eugene Rudge celebrated the first Mass at the Auer Park home of Mary Siegfried with 46 worshipers. A 'mission church' built in 1920 was relocated and enlarged in 1936 and named St. Anthony after a statue donated by Dr. Anthony J. Taugher. The parish school opened in 1959 under Fr. William Loesch, and the current church was dedicated September 5, 1999. The parish celebrated its Golden Jubilee as a full-fledged parish in 2005–2006.
- 1918: First Mass celebrated by Fr. Eugene Rudge
- 1920: Mission church built at Angela Road & Louis Avenue
- 1936: Church moved, enlarged, and named St. Anthony
- 1957: Ground broken for school on Hwy SS property
- 1959: School opens for grades 1–6
- 1999: Current church dedicated (Sept. 5)
- 2002: Fellowship Hall, kitchen, classrooms, school remodel complete
- 2005–2006: Golden Jubilee celebrated; new mission statement adopted
- 2006–2007: Total Family Program Catechesis embraced parish-wide
Parish Mission
The parish mission — Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Seek the Lost. Commit to worship and lifelong faith formation. Serve others in need. — is reinforced each year by a parish theme. The 2025–2026 theme is 'Open the Door' from Revelation 3:20: 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock.'
- Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Seek the Lost
- Commit to worship and lifelong faith formation
- Serve others in need
Liturgical Schedule & Prayer
Weekend Masses are offered Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30, 9:00 (livestreamed), and 10:45 a.m. Weekday Masses are celebrated Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 7:30 a.m., with a Wednesday 7:45 a.m. School Mass and a Friday 7:30 a.m. Communion Service. Holy Days: 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 7:30, 9:00 (livestreamed), 10:45 a.m.
- Weekday Masses Mon/Tue/Thu 7:30 a.m.; Wed 7:45 a.m. School Mass
- Friday: 7:30 a.m. Communion Service
- Holy Days: 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- Reconciliation: Saturday 4:00 p.m. or by appointment
- Prayer Line: [email protected] or 262-691-1173
Music & Liturgy Ministry
Directed by Vincent LaTona (Director of Music and Liturgy) and Julie Farrell (Children's Choir Director), the music program supports multiple choirs serving the parish school and weekend liturgies.
- Adult Choir
- Parish Youth Choir (grades 3–8) — Lessons and Carols, First Communion Mass
- Teen Choir
- St. Anthony Youth Music Ministers
- Vincent LaTona — [email protected], 262-691-2774
- Julie Farrell — [email protected]
St. Anthony on the Lake Catholic School
The parish school is dedicated to excellence in a Christ-centered education, serving students in 3K through 8th grade. 8th grade was added in 2002. The school day runs 7:25 a.m. (tardy bell) through 2:30 p.m. dismissal.
- Grades served: 3K through 8
- Principal: Mr. Arthur Scheuber (and Principal Van Hulle referenced on the school page)
- School Office Hours: 7:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Phone: 262-691-0460
- School Administrative Assistant: Rebekah Jacunski
- Motto drawn from St. Anthony: 'Let your words teach and your actions speak.'
Lifelong Faith Formation
The Lifelong Faith Formation department offers an award-winning Family Program for children in 3K through Grade 11 (Sunday morning or Monday evening, twice a month October through March), sacramental preparation, and adult formation opportunities such as Bible studies and faith-sharing groups.
- Family Program — Sunday morning or Monday evening
- First Reconciliation & First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Adult Faith Formation (Bible studies, faith-sharing groups)
- Maureen Michaels — [email protected], 262-691-9170
- Tasha Baures — Faith Formation Director of Child, Youth and Family Ministry, Grades 1–8
- Michelle Lukas — Coordinator of First Reconciliation, First Communion and Family Ministry
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults prepares adults — and adapted processes prepare children and youth ages 7–18 — for full initiation into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil, including the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist.
- Adults age 18+ (unbaptized, other Christian, or Catholic seeking full initiation)
- Children and youth ages 7–18
- OCIA Dismissals during Lent
- Contact: Al McCauley, 262-691-9170 x1142, [email protected]
Pastoral Care Ministries
Pastoral care reaches parishioners in times of crisis, illness, and grief. The St. Vincent de Paul chapter at St. Anthony provides emergency financial and nutritional assistance to those in need.
- St. Vincent de Paul — emergency/crisis support
- Funeral Mass and services coordination
- Contact: [email protected] or 262-691-1173
Community Outreach — Partners in Mercy
The parish concentrates its outreach through five long-term 'Partners in Mercy,' combining financial support, service, advocacy, and strategic partnerships to address homelessness, hunger, and poverty locally and in Peru.
- St. Vincent de Paul — donations collected in the North parking lot bin or financial help
- Family Promise of Waukesha — meals/groceries for families avoiding homelessness
- MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary — bedding, clothing, household items; volunteering
- People's Table (Milwaukee) — stocking and providing food for the pantry
- Santisimo Sacramento (Piura, Peru) — sister parish, Family-to-Family program, mission trips
- Respect Life Committee — partnerships with Wisconsin Right to Life and Life's Connection
- Lake Country Caring — annual 'Undie 500' campaign
- Garden of Hope — summer volunteer planting/weeding/harvesting
Human Concerns Committee
Guided by Luke 4:18, the Human Concerns Committee builds relationships and grows in faith by promoting peace and justice and serving Christ in others in accord with Catholic Social Teaching.
- Coordinator: Terry Robinson — [email protected], 262-691-1173 X1119
- Chair: Kate Burke
- Parish Council Liaison: Craig Colopy
- Members: Cindy Bauer, Clare Dundon, Janet Edwards, Robin Gleason, Marianne Miller, Kathy Waters
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, two assisting priests, three deacons, a pastoral associate, and a large lay staff spanning faith formation, music, liturgy, school, stewardship/communications, facilities, technology, and administration.
- Very Rev. Anthony (Tony) Zimmer — Pastor
- Fr. Ken Knippel — Assisting Priest
- Fr. Ted Lawson, C.Ss.R. — Assisting Priest
- Deacon Mike Finely
- Deacon John Murray
- Deacon Dennis Petrie
- Dr. Kathie Amidei — Pastoral Associate, Parish Leadership Team
- Matt Losiniecki — Director of Adult Faith Formation
- Maureen Michaels — Faith Formation Director of High School and Family Ministry
- Tasha Baures — Faith Formation Director of Child, Youth and Family Ministry, Grades 1–8
- Michelle Lukas — Coordinator of First Reconciliation, First Communion and Family Ministry
- Debbie Kusch — Coordinator of Family Program
- Lea Boyd — Faith Formation Support
- Vincent LaTona — Director of Music and Liturgy
- Julie Farrell — Children's Choir Director
- Chris Jaskie — Director of Technology
- Taylor Baar — Director of Stewardship and Communications
- Ann Grunwaldt — Director of Administrative Services
- Ben Zimmer — Facilities Manager
- Al McCauley — OCIA contact
- Terry Robinson — Human Concerns Coordinator
- Mr. Arthur Scheuber — Principal
- Mrs. Renee Gallagher — School
- Lisa Diebold — School
- Rebekah Jacunski — School Administrative Assistant
Visit, Contact & Live Streaming
Parishioners and visitors who cannot attend in person can watch the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass live on Facebook or the parish Vimeo channel; recent services are also archived there. Parish Office Hours are Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed Fridays in summer).
- Address: W280N2101 Prospect Avenue, Pewaukee, WI 53072
- Parish Phone: 262-691-1173 (Fax 262-691-7376)
- School Phone: 262-691-0460
- Faith Formation Phone: 262-691-9170
- Email: [email protected]
- Live-streamed Mass: Sundays 9:00 a.m. on Facebook and Vimeo
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Eugene Rudge1918
Celebrated the first Mass on June 30, 1918, at the Auer Park home of Mary Siegfried.
- Fr. J.J. Barbian
Pastor during 1936 when the mission church was moved 150 feet, enlarged, and named St. Anthony.
- Fr. Anthony Makowski1943–1951
- Fr. Sylvester Peters1951–1955
- Fr. William Loesch1955–1966
Broke ground for the school building in 1957; school opened 1959.
- Fr. George A. Etzel1966–1967
- Fr. Linus L. Schmelzer1967–1994
Longest-serving pastor to date; oversaw 1991 kindergarten addition and 1994 convent-to-parish-center conversion.
- Fr. R. Thomas Venne1994–2004
- Fr. Joseph Hornacek2004–2010
- Fr. Daniel Volkert2006–2009
- Very Rev. Anthony Zimmer2010–present
Ordained May 17, 1986; previously served St. James (Franklin), St. John Vianney (Brookfield), Pius XI High School, and St. Charles Borromeo.