About St. Catherine of Alexandria · Milwaukee, Wisconsin
St. Catherine of Alexandria is a Roman Catholic parish in the Granville neighborhood of northwest Milwaukee, Wisconsin, often called "the historic church on the hill" and recognized as the second-oldest Catholic parish in the city. Founded in 1855 through a land donation by John P. and Catherine Klehr, the parish is now part of the Northwest Milwaukee Catholic Parishes (NWMCP) cluster alongside St. Bernadette and Our Lady of Good Hope. The parish is staffed by Salvatorian (SDS) clergy and serves roughly 660 members from about 350 families, offering Sunday and weekday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation for children and youth, a food pantry serving about 150 neighbors a month, and a Community Garden.
- Established
- 1855
- Patron
- St. Catherine of Alexandria
- Rector
- Fr. Joe Jagodensky, SDS (Parish Administrator appointed August 2020); the parish shares pastoral leadership across the Northwest Milwaukee Catholic Parishes cluster
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. Catherine of Alexandria is the "historic church on the hill" — Milwaukee's second-oldest Catholic parish, now part of a collaborative three-campus cluster (Northwest Milwaukee Catholic Parishes) that shares priests, staff, and ministries. Visitors are welcomed at Sunday 8:30 a.m. and Thursday noon Masses, can spend time in Eucharistic Adoration on the first Thursday of each month, and find a small community of about 350 families who sustain a food pantry serving roughly 150 neighbors a month, a Community Garden, combined faith formation for children and youth, and outreach programs. It's a parish proud of its 1855 roots, its Romanesque stone church with a one-of-a-kind loggia, and its commitment to making Christ visible on Milwaukee's changing northwest side.
Mass times at St. Catherine of Alexandria
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Most Saturdays, 3:00–3:30 PM, at Our Lady of Good Hope (cluster-wide schedule); contact the parish office to confirm; no reconciliation on Holy Saturday.
Adoration times
- First Thursday of each month at St. Catherine of Alexandria, 10:50 AM (cluster schedule; check bulletin or parish office to confirm).
History of St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish
St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish was founded in 1855 when John P. and Catherine Klehr donated land for a small stone church. The cornerstone was laid by Fr. Martin Kundig in May 1859, and (Arch)Bishop Henni formally dedicated the church on September 12, 1860. The parish's first pastor was Fr. Martin Weiss of St. Anthony in Fussville (Menomonee Falls); Fr. Ludwig Mueller, the second pastor, established the parish's first school. The Sisters of St. Agnes from Fond du Lac taught at the school from 1872 until 1901. Fr. Charles Shilling, the third pastor, built the rectory and became the parish's first resident pastor.
- Founded in 1855 through a land donation by John P. and Catherine Klehr
- Cornerstone laid May 1859 by Fr. Martin Kundig
- Church formally dedicated September 12, 1860 by (Arch)Bishop Henni
- Named for St. Catherine of Alexandria, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers
- Pastors from 1889 to 1954 also served the mission parish of St. James, Mequon
The 1921 Church Building and Architecture
After a 1919 fire caused by a defective stove pipe left much of the original church unusable, the parish built a new church/school/convent, salvaging what materials it could. Archbishop Sebastian Messmer laid the cornerstone on September 5, 1920, and Rt. Rev. Joseph Rainer, P.A., solemnly dedicated the new building on September 22, 1921. The building was designed in the Romanesque style and features an all-stone exterior. A signature architectural element is the loggia — the porch above the front entrance — which is the only one of its kind on any church building in Milwaukee. The altars, statues, and interior paint defined the church's appearance until a renovation in the early 1960s, with another major renovation under Fr. Jeff Prasser in the 1990s.
- Cornerstone laid September 5, 1920 by Archbishop Sebastian Messmer
- Building dedicated September 22, 1921 by Rt. Rev. Joseph Rainer, P.A.
- Romanesque architectural style
- All-stone exterior; only church in Milwaukee with a loggia above the front entrance
- Early-1960s renovation; 1990s renovation led by Fr. Jeff Prasser (1992–2006)
Recent History and the Northwest Milwaukee Catholic Parishes
In July 2006 Archbishop Timothy Dolan appointed Debra Hintz as parish director — the Milwaukee Archdiocese title used for lay or deacon leaders serving during a priest shortage. In 2007 the parish offices moved from classrooms in the school into the second-floor space above the Granville Room. In July 2009 St. Catherine School merged with Our Lady of Good Hope and St. Bernadette schools to form Northwest Catholic School, which in 2016 joined the archdiocesan Seton Catholic Schools network. In July 2014 the Christian Formation programs of the three parishes merged and moved to St. Catherine's campus. In August 2020 Archbishop Jerome Listecki appointed Fr. Joe Jagodensky, SDS, as parish administrator. Today the parish has about 660 members from approximately 350 families.
- July 2006: Debra Hintz appointed parish director by Archbishop Dolan
- May 2007: Parish offices moved above the Granville Room
- July 2009: St. Catherine School merged into Northwest Catholic School
- 2014: Christian Formation programs of three parishes merged at St. Catherine
- 2016: Northwest Catholic School joined Seton Catholic Schools
- August 2020: Fr. Joe Jagodensky, SDS, appointed parish administrator
- Today: ~660 members from ~350 families
Mass and Sacraments at St. Catherine
St. Catherine of Alexandria celebrates Sunday Mass at 8:30 AM and Thursday Mass at 12:00 PM (noon), with an additional noon Mass on the first Friday of each month. The sacrament of Reconciliation is offered most Saturdays from 3:00 to 3:30 PM at Our Lady of Good Hope as part of the cluster schedule, with no reconciliation on Holy Saturday. The Anointing of the Sick is offered after each Mass on the fourth full weekend of each month. Cluster-wide special Masses include Praise Masses on the second full weekend of each month (except during Lent) and a monthly Hmong Mass at 9:00 AM on the Sunday of the fourth full weekend at St. Bernadette.
- Sunday Mass: 8:30 AM (English)
- Thursday Mass: 12:00 PM (English)
- First Friday Mass: 12:00 PM (English)
- Reconciliation: most Saturdays 3:00–3:30 PM at Our Lady of Good Hope
- Anointing of the Sick: after each Mass on the fourth full weekend
- Praise Masses: second full weekend of each month (except during Lent)
- Hmong Mass: 9:00 AM Sunday on the fourth full weekend at St. Bernadette
Parish Staff and Leadership
St. Catherine of Alexandria is part of the Northwest Milwaukee Catholic Parishes (NWMCP), which shares pastoral and administrative staff across three campuses. The cluster's pastor is Fr. Mark Payne; Fr. Francis Assisi Sebamalai serves as associate pastor; and Br. Joe Pense, SDS, serves as pastoral associate. Mary Dahl is the pastoral minister for St. Catherine, Mark Mrozek is Director of Liturgy & Music, Diane Govern is Director of Finance, Jim Neuner is Director of Administrative Services, Simon Biagui is Director of Evangelization & Discipleship, Sue Riedijk is administrative assistant, Theresa Moniot Olivares is senior administrative assistant, Margaret Thorn is administrative assistant, and Phillip Aller is facilities manager.
- Fr. Mark Payne — Pastor (NWMCP)
- Fr. Joe Jagodensky, SDS — Parish Administrator, St. Catherine
- Fr. Francis Assisi Sebamalai — Associate Pastor
- Br. Joe Pense, SDS — Pastoral Associate
- Mary Dahl — Pastoral Minister
- Mark Mrozek — Director of Liturgy & Music
- Diane Govern — Director of Finance
- Jim Neuner — Director of Administrative Services
- Simon Biagui — Director of Evangelization & Discipleship
- Sue Riedijk — Administrative Assistant
- Theresa Moniot Olivares — Senior Administrative Assistant
- Margaret Thorn — Administrative Assistant
- Phillip Aller — Facilities Manager
Parish Ministries and Outreach
St. Catherine of Alexandria sustains a variety of ministries rooted in service to the parish and its neighborhood. The parish food pantry serves roughly 150 residents each month, and a Community Garden with 16 raised beds sits on donated property just south of the parish. A Health + Wellness Ministry is led by Parish Nurse Linda Radder, who also organizes visits to the sick, elderly, and homebound. Other active groups include Liturgical Ministry, Music Ministry (looking for instrumentalists), the St. Vincent de Paul Committee, Youth Ministry, and Christian Formation for children and youth. The parish shares many of these efforts with its cluster partners, St. Bernadette and Our Lady of Good Hope.
- Food Pantry (serves ~150 residents/month)
- Community Garden (16 raised beds, added 2018)
- Health + Wellness Ministry (Parish Nurse Linda Radder)
- Liturgical Ministry
- Music Ministry
- St. Vincent de Paul Committee
- Youth Ministry
- Christian Formation (children and youth)
- Visits to the sick, elderly, and homebound
Faith Formation and Christian Education
Christian Formation at St. Catherine has been a cluster-wide effort since July 2014, when the programs of St. Catherine, St. Bernadette, and Our Lady of Good Hope merged and moved to St. Catherine's campus, bringing all grade-school and high-school students together. The parish's own school, established as early as 1865 under Fr. Ludwig Mueller, merged in July 2009 with Our Lady of Good Hope and St. Bernadette schools to form Northwest Catholic School. Northwest Catholic School became part of the archdiocesan Seton Catholic Schools network in 2016. A private City School also operates on the St. Catherine campus.
- Parish school dates to 1865 under Fr. Ludwig Mueller
- Sisters of St. Agnes taught at the school 1872–1901
- July 2009: St. Catherine School merged into Northwest Catholic School
- 2014: Christian Formation merged across three parishes at St. Catherine
- 2016: Northwest Catholic joined Seton Catholic Schools
Support, Stewardship, and Getting Involved
Parishioners can support St. Catherine of Alexandria through WeShare online giving (recurring or one-time donations via checking, credit, or debit card), mailed quarterly envelopes, and gift cards (Menards, BP/Citgo, Amazon, and grocery cards). The parish also welcomes donations of physical items such as stamps and printer paper. Volunteering is actively encouraged: the parish seeks teachers, chaperones (Safe Environment program required), musicians, and skilled volunteers for painting, computer tech support, and cooking/baking. The St. Vincent de Paul Committee and the food pantry are ongoing outreach ministries that depend on parishioner involvement.
- WeShare online giving
- Quarterly mailed donation envelopes
- Gift cards accepted: Menards, BP/Citgo, Amazon, grocery stores
- Volunteers needed for teaching, chaperoning (Safe Environment required), music
- Skilled volunteers sought: painting, computer tech support, cooking/baking
- St. Vincent de Paul Committee
- Food Pantry volunteers
Contact, Location, and Practical Information
St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish is located at 8661 North 76th Place, Milwaukee, WI 53223, on a hill in the Granville area of the city's northwest side. The parish phone line is (414) 365-2020 and the general email is [email protected]. Individual staff can be reached by extension through the Northwest Milwaukee Catholic Parishes cluster offices. Mass is celebrated Sundays at 8:30 AM and Thursdays at 12:00 PM, with First Friday and special Masses as noted in the parish schedule.
- Address: 8661 North 76th Place, Milwaukee, WI 53223
- Phone: (414) 365-2020
- Email: [email protected]
- Cluster extension lines connect to specific staff
- Located in the Granville neighborhood of northwest Milwaukee
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Martin Weissfounding era (from 1855)
Pastor of St. Anthony, Fussville (Menomonee Falls) and the first pastor of St. Catherine; guided construction of the small stone church.
- Fr. Ludwig Muellersecond pastor
Took the steps that began the parish's first school.
- Fr. Charles Shillingthird pastor
Built the rectory and served as the parish's first resident pastor.
- Fr. Jeff Prasser1992–2006
Led a major church renovation; moved daily Mass to the Granville Room and Sunday liturgy to the gym during construction.
- Debra Hintz2006–
Appointed by Archbishop Timothy Dolan as parish director (the archdiocesan lay/deacon leadership role used during the priest shortage).
- Fr. Joe Jagodensky, SDSAugust 2020–
Appointed parish administrator by Archbishop Jerome Listecki.