About St. Dennis Parish · Madison, Wisconsin
St. Dennis Parish is a Catholic parish located on Madison's east side at 505 Dempsey Road, founded in 1956 to serve the growing east-side neighborhoods after World War II. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Madison and is home to St. Dennis School, a 4K–8th grade Catholic elementary school opened in 1960 under the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa. In February 2025, St. Dennis was canonically merged with neighboring St. Peter Parish to form Queen of Apostles Parish; the historic churches keep their original names as worship sites within the new merged parish, and the Dempsey Road campus continues to host Masses, faith formation, and the parish school.
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- St. Denis (Dionysius), first Bishop of Paris and martyr; the parish name also honors Dennis Dempsey, father of property donor Esther Dempsey
- Rector
- Rev. Gary Krahenbuhl (installed March 23, 2025 as pastor of the merged Queen of Apostles Parish; previously Parochial Administrator of St. Dennis)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Madison (now worship site of Queen of Apostles Parish, a 2025 canonical merger of St. Dennis and St. Peter Parishes, both in Madison, WI)
Why belong here
St. Dennis welcomes newcomers as part of a roughly 2,500-family Catholic community on Madison's east side that gathers around a 1956-built chapel, the larger 1983 sanctuary and St. Dennis School (K4–8). The parish offers daily and weekend Mass with a Sunday sign-language interpreter and livestream, weekend Confession, a worship group and Adult Praise Choir, faith formation for children and adults, an Extended Care program, and active outreach rooted in its mission of Reverence, Love, Service, Discipleship and Community — all on a single, accessible Dempsey Road campus.
Mass times at St. Dennis Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:30–9:30 am (St. Dennis worship site)
- Tuesday 4:00–4:50 pm (St. Peter worship site)
- Also available by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 4:00 pm (at the St. Peter worship site of Queen of Apostles Parish)
Parish Identity & Mission
Saint Dennis Parish, founded June 1, 1956 by Bishop William O'Connor, is a Catholic community on Madison's east side whose mission rests on five pillars: Reverence, Love, Service, Discipleship and Community. The parish proclaims itself a place 'where Christ is fully present, where his work is evident, and his compassion is always apparent,' welcoming both longtime members and newcomers who are looking for a spiritual home.
- Mission pillars: Reverence, Love, Service, Discipleship, Community
- Welcoming message from Fr. Gary Krahenbuhl on the parish homepage
- Watch the weekly homily video from Fr. Gary and Fr. Michael online
History of St. Dennis Parish
St. Dennis was founded in 1956 to serve the post-WWII Baby Boom on Madison's east side, on 11.5 acres donated by Miss Esther Dempsey in memory of her father, Dennis Dempsey. A temporary steel chapel that December still stands as the chapel, sacristy and Fellowship Hall; the larger permanent church was dedicated in 1983 and the Parish Center added in 1999. In 2018 the sanctuary was renovated and re-aligned under the Centered On Christ campaign.
- 1956 — Parish founded by Bishop William O'Connor; temporary steel chapel dedicated
- 1960 — St. Dennis School opens under the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa (Sept. 7)
- 1983 — Permanent church dedicated
- 1999 — Saint Dennis Parish Center added
- 2016 — Centered On Christ fundraising campaign launched
- 2018 — Renovated church re-opens, theme 'Centered On Christ'
- 2023 — Parish assigned to Queen of Apostles Pastorate (July)
- 2025 — Canonically merged with St. Peter Parish to form Queen of Apostles Parish (Feb. 22)
St. Dennis School
Saint Dennis School, located at 409 Dempsey Road on the parish campus, opened September 7, 1960 under the leadership of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa. It serves students in 4K through 8th grade and is affiliated with the National Catholic Educational Association. The school remains a central part of parish life and faith formation, continuing the parish's mission of religious education across generations.
- Address: 409 Dempsey Rd., Madison, WI 53714
- Phone: (608) 246-5121 / (608) 246-5137 (office)
- Grade span: 4K (PK) through 8th grade
- Affiliation: Roman Catholic; NCEA member
- Extended Care Program: before- and after-school, non-school days, and summer care; director Christi Stutz, (608) 235-5905
- Summer Extended Care field trips include Henry Vilas Zoo, Madison Children's Museum, Vitense Golfland, Pump It Up and Little Amerricka
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Dennis offers daily Mass Monday through Friday, a Saturday vigil, and two Sunday Masses. The 8:30 am Sunday Mass includes an American Sign Language interpreter, and the 10:30 am Sunday Mass is livestreamed on Facebook with closed captioning for those at home.
- Daily Mass — Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 8:00 am; Wed 8:30 am (with Rosary before each)
- Saturday vigil — 4:00 pm
- Sunday — 8:30 am (sign-language interpreter) and 10:30 am (livestream)
- Livestream Mass link on Facebook with closed captioning
Sacraments
Reconciliation is offered weekly at St. Dennis and at the merged parish's St. Peter worship site, as well as by appointment. For Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and adult faith formation (OCIA/RCIA), parishioners are invited to contact the parish office directly.
- Confession — Saturday 8:30–9:30 am (St. Dennis); Tuesday 4:00–4:50 pm (St. Peter site); by appointment
- Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
- OCIA / adult faith formation — inquiries to the parish office
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical music at St. Dennis is led by the Worship Group and the Adult Praise Choir. The Adult Praise Choir (10–15 voices) sings regularly at the 8:30 am Sunday Mass, performing SATB choral repertoire alongside traditional and contemporary works. A part-time Choir Director position is posted through the Diocese of Madison, with resumes directed to the Director of Liturgy.
- St. Dennis Worship Group — instrumentalists and vocalists leading music at Masses and events
- Adult Praise Choir — 10–15 voices, sings at 8:30 am Sunday Mass; SATB repertoire
- Choir Director (part-time, posted via Diocese of Madison careers) — contact Andrew Kem, Director of Liturgy
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Leadership
St. Dennis is served today as a worship site of Queen of Apostles Parish. Fr. Gary Krahenbuhl, who had been assigned as Parochial Administrator in 2023, was installed by Bishop Donald J. Hying as the founding pastor of the merged parish on March 23, 2025, at a Mass in St. Dennis Church. Fr. Joseph Michael Tarigopula serves as Parochial Vicar, and Deacon David Hendrickson continues his parish deacon assignment. Retired priests Fr. William Nolan and Fr. Michael Resop assist with Masses.
- Pastor — Rev. Gary Krahenbuhl
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Joseph Michael (Michael) Tarigopula
- Deacon — David Hendrickson
- Retired priests assisting — Rev. William Nolan; Rev. Michael Resop
- Director of Liturgy — Andrew Kem
- Parish office — (608) 246-5124, [email protected]
Becoming a Parishioner / Getting Involved
St. Dennis welcomes new parishioners, returning Catholics, and visitors looking for a spiritual home. The parish website invites newcomers to 'reach out to me, or Fr. Michael, any staff member or a fellow parishioner with your questions, needs or gifts to share.' Music, faith formation, school, Extended Care, and outreach ministries are all ways to get involved.
- Contact: [email protected] or (608) 246-5124
- Liturgical ministries — Worship Group, Adult Praise Choir, sign-language ministry
- School and Extended Care volunteering
- Faith formation — children, OCIA/RCIA for adults
Merger into Queen of Apostles Parish (2025)
As part of the Diocese of Madison's 'Into the Deep' strategic-planning process, St. Dennis Parish and St. Peter Parish were canonically merged on February 22, 2025 to form Queen of Apostles Parish. The historic church buildings keep their original names as worship sites, and St. Dennis School remains part of the new parish. Bishop Donald J. Hying installed Fr. Gary Krahenbuhl as pastor at a Mass at St. Dennis on March 23, 2025, with Fr. Michael Tarigopula as Parochial Vicar and Deacon David Hendrickson continuing his assignment.
- Decree issued by Most Rev. Donald Hying, Bishop of Madison
- Effective February 22, 2025
- Fr. Gary Krahenbuhl installed as pastor, March 23, 2025
- St. Dennis School included in the new parish
- Worship sites retain 'St. Dennis' and 'St. Peter' names
- Combined information hub: qoap.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Niglis1956–1981
Founding pastor; led the parish from the temporary steel chapel through its first quarter-century.
- Rev. Delbert Klink1981–1994
Served during the dedication of the larger permanent church in 1983.
- Rev. Kent Schmitt1994–2013
Oversaw the 1999 addition of the Parish Center and continued growth of the parish.
- Rev. Randy Timmerman, VF2013–2023
Led during the 'Centered On Christ' renovation campaign completed in 2018.
- Rev. Gary Krahenbuhl2023–present
Assigned as Parochial Administrator in 2023; installed as founding pastor of merged Queen of Apostles Parish, March 23, 2025.