About St. Charles · Hartland, Wisconsin
St. Charles Parish and School is a thriving Roman Catholic community in Hartland, Wisconsin, in the heart of Lake Country between Pewaukee Lake and North Lake. First gathered in 1863, the parish today includes over 2,700 households and roughly 8,000 congregants, and it serves as a regional center of Catholic life and education. Under the long-time pastoral leadership of Fr. Ken Omernick, who also serves as pastor of nearby St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, the parish is committed to its mission of helping parishioners Meet Christ, Know Christ, Love Christ, and Serve Christ. The parish operates St. Charles Parish School (PreK3–Grade 8) and an extensive faith-formation program that together educate over 1,000 children each year. Most recently, St. Charles opened a new 1,100-seat church on April 6, 2024, completing phase two of its multi-year Cornerstone Project capital campaign.
- Established
- 1863
- Patron
- St. Charles Borromeo
- Rector
- Fr. Ken Omernick
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. Charles is a vibrant, growing parish that combines a deep liturgical life with active outreach and a strong parish school. With over 2,700 households, daily Mass and a robust Sunday schedule, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in a dedicated chapel, more than forty Small Groups for men, women, young adults, and couples, and a Catholic school that has grown by more than 30% since 2020-2021, there are many ways for newcomers to encounter Christ and build community. The parish also runs an extensive outreach network — a St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, meal service at Hope Center, Rosemary's Mission, the Ronald McDonald House, and a Dominican Republic medical mission — so members can put faith into action close to home.
Mass times at St. Charles
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel, Monday 5:00 AM through Saturday 10:00 AM
- Chapel exterior door is locked 10:00 PM – 5:00 AM; registered adorers receive an access code
Parish Overview & Mission
St. Charles Parish & School in Hartland, Wisconsin is a vibrant Roman Catholic community of more than 2,700 households and roughly 8,000 congregants. The parish's mission is to help parishioners Meet Christ, Know Christ, Love Christ, and Serve Christ through worship, formation, and service. Together, the parish school and Religious Education program educate and evangelize over 1,000 parish children every year. The parish also shares pastoral leadership with St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish in North Lake, both under Fr. Ken Omernick.
- 2,700+ households / ~8,000 congregants
- Founded 1863; new church dedicated April 6, 2024
- Pastor: Fr. Ken Omernick
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Aaron Siehr
Parish History
First gathered in 1863 on Hill Street near the present-day St. Charles Cemetery, the community built its first church in 1908 under Fr. Charles Keyser. After serving as a mission of St. Mary's and then St. Clare in North Lake, St. Charles became its own parish with Fr. Francis McGarry as its first resident pastor in 1950. The current Renson Road campus — church, school, and convent — opened in 1957, with the school staffed by the Sisters of the Precious Blood beginning in 1959. Generations of pastors expanded and remodeled the buildings through Vatican II, the 1993 sanctuary renovation blessed by Auxiliary Bishop Richard Sklba, and most recently the Cornerstone Project, which brought a new 1,100-seat church and a Perpetual Adoration Chapel in 2024.
- 1863: First gathered on Hill Street
- 1908: Original church completed
- 1916: Became a mission of St. Clare, North Lake
- 1950: Fr. Francis McGarry becomes first resident pastor
- 1957: New church and school open on Renson Road
- 1959: School opens staffed by Sisters of the Precious Blood
- 1980: Mortgage burned
- 1982: Diamond Jubilee; bell and name plate from 1908 church blessed
- 1993: Sanctuary expansion blessed by Bishop Richard Sklba
- 2002: Borromeo Room and Holy Family Recreation Center added
- 2009: Fr. Ken Omernick appointed pastor
- 2016: Cornerstone Project capital campaign launched
- April 6, 2024: New 1,100-seat church dedicated
The Cornerstone Project
Launched in 2016 as THE CORNERSTONE PROJECT — Answering Christ's Call, this multi-phase campus expansion raised more than $18 million from parishioners. Phase I opened in fall 2017 with three new classrooms, a dedicated STEM lab, a concession stand, new bathrooms, and a new entrance and vestibule to the gym. Phase II was the April 6, 2024 dedication of the new 1,100-seat church, including a Bride's Room, Ministries Room, and Perpetual Adoration Chapel. Phase III renovated existing spaces for the school community and was scheduled to wrap up by August 2025.
- Phase I: 2017 — classrooms, STEM lab, gym entrance
- Phase II: 2024 — new church, Bride's Room, Ministries Room, Perpetual Adoration Chapel
- Phase III: school-space renovations
Worship & Prayer Schedule
St. Charles offers an unusually rich daily and weekly worship schedule, with daily Mass Monday through Saturday at 8:30 AM and a Sunday schedule of four Masses including a Sunday-evening Praise & Worship Mass. A dedicated Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is open from 5:00 AM Monday through 10:00 AM Saturday, and the church building is open for private prayer Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Weekday Mass: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM (6:30 AM added in Advent & Lent)
- Saturday: 8:30 AM Morning Mass and 5:00 PM Vigil Mass
- Sunday: 7:00, 9:00, 11:00 AM, and 6:00 PM Praise & Worship Mass
- Rosary: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM; first Saturday after daily Mass
- Morning Prayer: Mon–Fri 7:30 AM; Saturday 8:00 AM
- Mother of Perpetual Help Devotions: Tuesday after 8:30 AM Mass
Sacrament of the Sick
The Anointing of the Sick is celebrated during the 8:30 AM Mass on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of every month. In an emergency outside office hours, the parish office voicemail provides instructions to reach Fr. Ken Omernick or Fr. Aaron Siehr directly.
- Offered 2nd and 4th Fridays at 8:30 AM Mass
- Also by appointment with the priests
- Emergency contact via parish office voicemail
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
St. Charles runs a coordinated catechetical program across the parish school and Religious Education, reaching more than 1,000 children each year. Children's formation uses the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) atrium model for ages 3K–5th Grade. Middle-school students are served through EDGE, and high-schoolers through Life Teen, which includes preparation for Confirmation during junior year. Adult formation includes RCIA, Adult Confirmation, small faith-sharing groups, and the New Heights Small Group Summit.
- CGS (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd) ages 3K–5th Grade
- EDGE middle-school youth ministry
- Life Teen high-school ministry with Confirmation for juniors
- RCIA and Adult Confirmation
- Family Ministry
- Adult Discipleship & Small Groups (40+ groups)
St. Charles Parish School
Located at 526 Renson Rd, Hartland, WI, St. Charles Parish School serves students in PreK3 through Grade 8 and educates over 370 children each year. Enrollment has grown by more than 30% since the 2020-2021 school year, and the school has received the Exemplary Recognition academic award from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee — one of only a handful of Catholic schools in southeast Wisconsin to hold that distinction. Extracurriculars include basketball, volleyball, soccer, the school choir, Math Club, and an annual spring musical.
- PreK3 – Grade 8
- ~370+ students
- Principal: Dan Garvey
- Athletics: basketball, volleyball, soccer
- Annual Gala and 25th Annual Golf Outing (June 1 at Ironwood) are key fundraisers
- Home & School Association (HSA) supports the school community
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music is described as an integral part of worship at St. Charles, with congregational singing encouraged at every Mass and a robust Music Ministry including the Children's Choir and a Sunday-evening Praise & Worship Mass at 6:00 PM. Liturgical lay ministers — lectors, Eucharistic ministers, servers, greeters, and sacristans — are recruited, trained, and scheduled by the Director of Liturgy, Elizabeth Thompson, M. Div.
- Liturgical Music Department
- Children's Choir
- Praise & Worship Mass Sunday evenings
- Liturgical ministries: lectors, Eucharistic ministers, servers, greeters, sacristans
Outreach & Charitable Works
The parish operates an extensive Outreach Services Team that brings volunteers together for service in and beyond Hartland. Locally, St. Charles runs the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry on the church grounds, serves monthly meals at The Hope Center and Rosemary's Mission in Waukesha, prepares and delivers meals for Juno House and Sentry House, and partners with St. Anthony's/People's Table on Milwaukee's south side. Internationally, a Core Team of medical professionals leads mission trips to La Sagrada Familia in the Dominican Republic.
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry (Tuesdays + 2nd/4th Tuesday evenings)
- Circle of Love Christmas Giving Tree
- Elizabeth Ministry (pregnancy and loss support)
- Knights of Columbus; Respect Life Ministry
- Hope Center, Rosemary's Mission, Ronald McDonald House
- Knitting Ministry (Wednesdays 10:00 AM, Borromeo Hall)
- Dominican Republic medical mission team
Clergy & Staff
Parish leadership includes the Pastor, Fr. Ken Omernick; Associate Pastor, Fr. Aaron Siehr; School Principal, Dan Garvey; Director of Operations, Mike Cattani; Director of Worship, Celia Meyers; Director of Finance & HR, Allison Caswell; Director of Communications & Stewardship/Advancement, Elizabeth Thompson (M. Div.) serves as Director of Liturgy. The pastor's office can be reached at 262-367-0800.
- Pastor: Fr. Ken Omernick
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Aaron Siehr
- School Principal: Dan Garvey
- Director of Operations: Mike Cattani
- Director of Worship: Celia Meyers
- Director of Finance & HR: Allison Caswell
- Director of Communications & Stewardship / Advancement Officer
- Director of Liturgy: Elizabeth Thompson, M. Div.
Plan a Visit & Become a Parishioner
All are welcome to attend Masses at St. Charles. Newcomers are encouraged to register as parishioners and to explore Small Groups, the Music Ministry, Religious Education programs, or one of many volunteer opportunities. Parking is available in the northeast and west lots behind the building, accessible from Renson Road or Circle Drive.
- Daily Mass and Sunday Mass schedule published online
- Small Groups for men, women, young adults, and couples
- Volunteer opportunities across ministries
- Music Ministry welcomes new voices
- Parish office: 262-367-0800, [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Charles Keyser1906–1908 (directed original construction; served as a mission of St. Mary's)
Directed the planning and construction of the original 1908 church.
- Fr. Leo Scheuerell1916
Appointed pastor of St. Clare in North Lake; St. Charles became a mission of St. Clare.
- Fr. Louis Zirbes1917–1950
Pastored both St. Clare and St. Charles; installed electrical lighting, central heating, water/sewer, and expanded Sunday Masses from one to four.
- Fr. Francis McGarry1950–
First resident pastor of St. Charles; oversaw the 1957 construction of the new church and school on Renson Road.
- Fr. John CullenEarly 1960s–1964
- Fr. Felix Taterczynski1964–
Third resident pastor; expanded the school to all eight grades and remodeled the sanctuary.
- Fr. Robert Graves1970–
Implemented Vatican II reforms; lay involvement in liturgy, all-lay school staff, Parish Council established, mortgage burned in 1980.
- Fr. Michael Grellinger1985–
Pastored during rapid growth that led to the 1993 sanctuary expansion.
- Fr. Tom Demse1996–
Appointed pastor by the Archbishop in 1996.
- Fr. Ken OmernickJune 2009–present
Current pastor; also pastor of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish since January 2018; oversaw the Cornerstone Project and 2024 new church.