St. Anthony the Hermit

About St. Anthony the Hermit Parish

St. Anthony the Hermit Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, part of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The parish proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ, forms disciples of all members, and sends them out to make new disciples — calling them to encounter Jesus through worship, prayer, the sacraments, and fellowship. The parish celebrates the beautiful traditions of the Church and offers many opportunities for spiritual growth through Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, daily Mass (Monday–Friday), confession, and youth and adult formation groups. Msgr. Ross Shecterle has been the parish administrator since June 2017 while also serving neighboring St. Mary, Mother of God.

Parish History

St. Anthony the Hermit is one of the oldest parishes in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The community traces its origin to Christmas Eve 1844, when Fr. Martin Kundig celebrated midnight Mass in a log outbuilding on the Castenholz farm. The first frame church was dedicated January 17, 1846, on the feast of the parish's patron, and served about 30 German-Catholic families in the unincorporated community of Fussville. Over the next 175+ years the parish built three successive churches, established a parish school, and adapted to the changing community around it — most recently through a 2006 renovation that preserved the original Lannon-stone walls and a partnership that brought Chesterton Academy of Milwaukee onto the campus in 2020.

• 1844 — Fr. Martin Kundig celebrates first midnight Mass in a Castenholz outbuilding
• 1846 — First church dedicated Jan. 17; Fr. Anton Maria Meyer first pastor
• 1854–1864 — Fr. Martin Weiss builds second log church and 1855 school/convent (School Sisters of Notre Dame)
• 1867 — Third church (Lannon stone) dedicated under Fr. Ludwig Mueller; cost $23,000
• 1905 — St. Mary Catholic Church built nearby; St. Anthony enrollment drops from 250 to under 100 families
• 1949 — Fr. Joseph P. Reichling begins major expansion
• 1953 — New parish school built (School Sisters of St. Francis); expanded 1958
• 1958 — Village of Menomonee Falls annexes Fussville
• 2006 — Major church renovation preserving the three Lannon-stone walls and ornate altar
• 2017 — Parish school closes; Msgr. Ross Shecterle becomes administrator of both parishes
• 2020 — Chesterton Academy of Milwaukee moves into the former school building
• 2024 — Parish retires the $2 million renovation debt
• 2025 — Wisconsin State Historical Marker dedicated; parish twinning launched with St. Catherine, Bethlehem

The Church on the Hill: Architecture & Renovations

The present church is built around the original 1867 Lannon-stone walls, which were preserved as anchors during a major 2006 expansion under the theme 'Welcoming the Future and Embracing the Past.' The Archdiocese of Milwaukee suggested the expansion to relieve Mass overcrowding; parishioners, including descendants of founding families, insisted that as much of the old church be retained as possible. The renovation blew out one wall to create a larger, open sanctuary but kept the three fieldstone walls as anchors, retained the ornate altar, and repurposed the marble from the original side altars into the bases of the statues of Mary and St. Anthony. Light fixtures were converted into votive candles. Stained glass windows set in the preserved stone walls depict the story of Christ's salvation. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Parish Staff & Leadership

St. Anthony the Hermit and St. Mary, Mother of God share a single pastor and central administrative staff under the direction of Msgr. Ross Shecterle (ordained May 17, 1986). Fr. Matthew Ferch serves as Associate Pastor for both parishes. Three deacons — Dcn. Jim Goetter, Dcn. Kevin Kalnins, and Dcn. Mike Reesman — assist with pastoral care. The shared staff includes Ellen Schlosser (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Coordinator), Skyler Moyer (Director of Formation), Kristen Kubisiak (Director of Communication), Gina Franz (IT Coordinator), Rebecca Gill (Wedding & Baptism Coordinator), Tyler Parent (Director of Administrative Services), D'Ann Fisher (Executive Assistant), Gail Shinkle (Office Manager at St. Anthony), and Tim Galligan (Buildings & Grounds). Larry Claas serves as sexton for the St. Anthony cemetery. The Director of Music position at St. Anthony is currently open.

• Msgr. Ross Shecterle — Pastor
• Fr. Matthew Ferch — Associate Pastor
• Dcn. Jim Goetter, Dcn. Kevin Kalnins, Dcn. Mike Reesman — Deacons
• Ellen Schlosser — Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Coordinator
• Skyler Moyer — Director of Formation
• Kristen Kubisiak — Director of Communication
• Rebecca Gill — Wedding & Baptism Coordinator
• Tim Galligan — Buildings & Grounds
• Larry Claas — Cemetery Sexton (St. Anthony)
• Director of Music — Open position

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith formation at St. Anthony is offered in partnership with St. Mary Parish and emphasizes parents as the first teachers of the faith. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), a Montessori-based Catholic faith formation program, is offered at three levels: Level 1 (ages 3–6), Level 2 (ages 6–9), and Level 3 (ages 9–12), in a specially prepared atrium at the St. Therese Formation Center on the St. Anthony campus. Middle- and high-school catechesis takes place on Sunday mornings from 10:45 AM to 12:00 PM at St. Mary's Parish School. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion is also provided, along with adult and family formation.

• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — Levels 1, 2, 3
• Middle & High School catechesis (Sunday mornings)
• First Reconciliation & First Communion preparation
• Adult & Family Formation
• Contact: Ellen Schlosser (CGS) / Skyler Moyer (other formation)

Youth & Young Adult Ministries

The parish offers a robust calendar of activities for young people. The Youth Group (Grades 7–12) meets on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month from 6:00–8:00 PM in the St. Therese Formation Center at St. Anthony, beginning with prayer — sometimes in the St. Joseph Perpetual Adoration Chapel — and continuing with friendship, games, and fellowship in the lower-level Youth Room. Amici Dei, the parish young adult group for men and women ages 18–32, meets at 7:00 PM on the 1st and 3rd Fridays in the lower level of the St. Therese Formation Center. Chesterton Academy of Milwaukee students, who live on campus, also attend daily 8 AM Mass at St. Anthony.

• Youth Group (Grades 7–12): 2nd & 4th Fridays, 6–8 PM, St. Anthony
• Amici Dei (Ages 18–32): 1st & 3rd Fridays, 7 PM, St. Anthony
• Daily 8 AM Mass attended by Chesterton Academy students

Outreach: Society of St. Vincent de Paul

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) is a primary outreach ministry of the parishes, meeting neighbors in moments of crisis with compassion, dignity, and practical support. The most common and urgent requests are for housing assistance (rent and utilities to prevent eviction or shutoff), and SVDP is often the only organization able to step in with direct, timely financial help. Volunteers also connect individuals with community resources such as the Menomonee Falls Food Pantry, FoodShare, and ADRC. In the past fiscal year alone, SVDP helped 110 households in the community. The work is supported through Poor Boxes in each parish, the Giving Tree (donated gift cards for groceries, gas, and household essentials), and monetary donations.

• Housing (rent/utility) assistance — primary need served
• Connections to Menomonee Falls Food Pantry, FoodShare, ADRC
• Giving Tree (gift card donations)
• Poor Boxes in each parish
• 110 households served in the most recent fiscal year
• Contact: [email protected] or (262) 251-0220

Bethlehem Ministry — Parish Twinning with St. Catherine, Bethlehem

St. Anthony and St. Mary Parishes have entered into a parish twinning relationship with St. Catherine's Roman Catholic Parish in Bethlehem, in response to the Church's call to global solidarity. The partnership grew out of a freshman chemistry lab friendship at the University of Notre Dame between Kolbe Schlosser (of Wisconsin) and Iskandar Salameh (of Bethlehem). Together the parishes share prayer intentions, student partnerships, choir exchanges, occasional homilies and reflections, an annual Advent charitable project, and plans for pilgrimages and cultural exchanges. The parishes also participate annually in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee's Missionary Cooperation Plan; the most recent appeal supported St. Catherine Parish.

• Shared prayer intentions
• Student partnerships and choir exchanges
• Annual Advent charitable project
• Future pilgrimages and cultural exchanges
• 2025 MCP appeal supported St. Catherine Parish

Sacraments

Baptism, Marriage, First Reconciliation, and First Communion are coordinated through the parish office. Rebecca Gill serves as Wedding & Baptism Coordinator for both St. Anthony and St. Mary. Confession is offered Monday through Friday at 5:00 PM. Anointing of the Sick and other rites are available by contacting the parish office.

• Baptism — Rebecca Gill, [email protected]
• Marriage — Rebecca Gill, [email protected]
• First Reconciliation / First Communion — through formation program
• Confession — Monday–Friday 5:00 PM
• Anointing of the Sick — by request through parish office

Music & Liturgy

St. Anthony's liturgical celebrations emphasize the beautiful traditions of the Catholic Church, including ad orientem Mass on Mondays and Fridays, Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the St. Joseph Chapel, and traditional sung worship. The Director of Music position at St. Anthony is currently open; at the partner parish of St. Mary, Carrie Froelich serves as Director of Liturgy and Music and Anna Wozniak directs the choir.

• Ad orientem Mass on Monday & Friday
• St. Joseph Perpetual Adoration Chapel
• Director of Music (St. Anthony) — Open Position
• Shared Choir resources with St. Mary Parish (Anna Wozniak, Choir Director)

Cemetery & Buildings

St. Anthony maintains a parish cemetery, with Larry Claas serving as Sexton (phone 262-253-0244). The parish campus includes the historic church, the St. Therese Formation Center (with CGS atrium, Youth Room, and Amici Dei meeting space in the lower level), the St. Joseph Perpetual Adoration Chapel, and the former parish school building now leased to Chesterton Academy of Milwaukee. Tim Galligan serves as Manager of Buildings & Grounds for the shared parish campus.

• St. Anthony Cemetery — Sexton: Larry Claas, (262) 253-0244
• St. Therese Formation Center (CGS atrium, Youth Room)
• St. Joseph Perpetual Adoration Chapel
• Former school building now home to Chesterton Academy of Milwaukee
• Buildings & Grounds Manager: Tim Galligan

Getting Involved / New Parishioners

Parishioners can get involved in faith formation, youth and young adult ministries, the St. Vincent de Paul outreach, the Bethlehem twinning, Eucharistic Adoration as a Guardian or Substitute Adorer, and a variety of liturgical and building ministries. Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed; parishioners are encouraged to register with the parish to make their membership official.

• Become a Guardian or Substitute Adorer (AdorationPro)
• Join a ministry — SVDP, Bethlehem, CGS, Youth Group, Amici Dei
• Register as a new parishioner through the parish office