About St. Eugene · Fox Point, Wisconsin
St. Eugene Congregation is a Catholic parish in Fox Point, Wisconsin, on Milwaukee's North Shore, belonging to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Founded in 1957 by Father William H. Mackin and named for Pope St. Eugene I (the baptismal patron of Pope Pius XII), the parish is built on seven acres of land that had been purchased three decades earlier by Father Peter Dietz of nearby St. Monica Parish. The parish identifies itself as a stewardship community centered on discipleship, prayer, scripture, Mass, evangelization, and service, and today it is served by a pastor, an associate pastor, a parish school (St. Eugene School), and a range of faith-formation programs for children, middle-schoolers, and adults.
- Established
- 1957
- Patron
- Pope St. Eugene I
- Rector
- Rev. Jonathon A. Schmeckel
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. Eugene is a stewardship parish where parishioners are invited to share their time, talent, and treasure in a close-knit North Shore Catholic community. Families with school-age children can enroll at St. Eugene School, while children in public school can grow in faith through Sunday School (K4–5th), middle-school small groups (6th–8th), and youth ministry. Adults can become Catholic through the parish's RCIA process, join the music and liturgy program, or serve the broader community through parish service ministries — all grounded in the parish's call to witness God's love and build a more just society.
Mass times at St. Eugene
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 3:00–4:00 PM
- Friday 6:30–7:30 AM
- Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
History of St. Eugene Parish
St. Eugene was founded in 1957 by Father William H. Mackin on seven acres of land purchased three decades earlier by Father Peter Dietz of St. Monica Parish. With 377 families, no money, and only the rented 1888 Fox Point Meeting House as a worship space, parishioners transformed the building in a week and celebrated the first Mass there on July 14, 1957. A successful pledge drive funded construction of a new church, school, hall, and Sisters' quarters, with groundbreaking on June 1, 1958.
- Land purchased late 1920s by Fr. Peter Dietz of St. Monica Parish
- Parish founded June 1957 by Fr. William H. Mackin
- Named for Pope St. Eugene I, patron of Pope Pius XII
- First Mass celebrated July 14, 1957 in the rented 1888 Fox Point Meeting House
- Ground broken June 1, 1958 for new church, school, hall, and Sisters' quarters
- Construction cost estimated at $550,000 with $215,000 needed to begin
- Parish identity rooted in stewardship: 'Stewardship built this parish.'
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Eugene is served by Rev. Jonathon A. Schmeckel as Pastor and Fr. Tonny Kizza as Associate Pastor. The parish and school staffs include directors of religious education, child & family ministry, youth ministry, music & liturgy, advancement and enrollment, finance and human resources, administrative services, maintenance, and marketing & communication. Joyce Swietlik serves as Director of Religious Education and is the contact for adults interested in becoming Catholic.
- Rev. Jonathon A. Schmeckel — Pastor (7 years a priest, 2 years at St. Eugene)
- Fr. Tonny Kizza — Associate Pastor (M.Div., St. Francis de Sales Seminary)
- Joyce Swietlik — Director of Religious Education (RCIA contact)
- Matt Zembrowski — Director of Music & Liturgy
- Jeanette Lambrecht — Associate Director of Child & Family Ministry
- Rachel Butargabe — Associate Director of Youth Ministry
- Sue Devine — Director of Administrative Services
- Athena Boos — Associate Director of Finance & Human Resources
- Tracy Stettler — Director of Maintenance
- Clare Parulski — Marketing & Communication
St. Eugene School
St. Eugene School is the parish's K4–8th grade Catholic elementary school, located on the parish campus on Milwaukee's North Shore in Fox Point. The school's mission statement says: 'Within a Catholic community, St. Eugene School helps children grow in faith, character, and service, builds a foundation of academic excellence, and promotes the development of the whole child.' Guided by the motto 'Guiding hearts, growing minds,' the school integrates faith formation with academic excellence, leadership opportunities, and service.
- K4–8th grade Catholic school on the parish campus
- Mission: grow in faith, character, and service; foundation of academic excellence
- Motto: 'Guiding hearts, growing minds'
- Director of Learning Support: Lisa Badran
- STEAM Director and Algebra: Sharon Webster
- Director of Advancement and Enrollment: Emily Fleisch
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish offers faith formation for children whose families are parishioners of either St. Eugene or neighboring St. Monica Parish. Programs include Sunday School for grades K4–5, Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (primarily for 2nd graders), and Middle School Youth Ministry for grades 6–8.
- Sunday School for students in 4K–5th grade
- Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist
- Middle School Youth Ministry for grades 6–8
- Classes use Loyola Press 'Finding God' curriculum and 'God Made the World' for 4K
- Sacrament Class uses 'God's Gift' and the Blessed series from Dynamic Catholic
- Catechists receive full tuition waiver for K4–Confirmation
- Safe Environment Education, background checks, and Code of Ethical Standards required for volunteers
Sunday School (Grades K4–5th)
Sunday School is held 9:00–10:00 AM on Sundays at St. Monica School (5635 N. Santa Monica Boulevard, Whitefish Bay), with classes meeting three out of four Sundays a month and taught by volunteer catechists. The program uses Loyola Press 'Finding God' curriculum (and 'God Made the World' for 4K) and 'God's Gift' plus the Blessed series from Dynamic Catholic for 2nd-grade sacramental preparation. First Reconciliation for 2nd graders is typically celebrated in January and First Eucharist in late April or early May.
- When: Sundays 9:00–10:00 AM
- Where: St. Monica School, Whitefish Bay
- Curriculum: Loyola Press 'Finding God' and 'God's Gift'; Dynamic Catholic Blessed series for sacraments
- First Reconciliation celebrated in January
- First Eucharist celebrated in late April or early May
Middle School Youth Ministry (Grades 6–8)
For the 2025–2026 year, middle-school small groups meet twice a month at multiple times and locations — including Wednesday evenings at St. Monica, Friday afternoons at St. Eugene, and Sunday mornings at both parishes — so families can pick a time that fits their schedule. The new curriculum for 2025/26 uses 'Word of Life' by the Augustine Institute and Ignatius Press, with all middle-schoolers studying Salvation History. Small-group leaders and snack coordinators are needed, and leaders receive a full tuition waiver for their children.
- Meets twice a month at St. Eugene and St. Monica
- Wednesday 6:00–7:00 PM at St. Monica
- Friday 4:30–5:30 PM at St. Eugene
- Sunday 9:00–9:30 AM at St. Eugene; 9:30–10:30 AM at St. Monica
- Curriculum: 'Word of Life' by Augustine Institute / Ignatius Press (new for 2025–26)
- Small-group leaders receive full tuition waiver for their children
Becoming Catholic (RCIA) & Adult Faith
Adults interested in becoming Catholic are welcomed into the parish's RCIA process through Joyce Swietlik, Director of Religious Education, who can be reached at [email protected] or 414-420-6165. The parish frames its overall Catholic identity around stewardship — sharing time, talent, and treasure — and developing discipleship through prayer, scripture, Mass, evangelization, giving, and service, both locally and internationally.
- RCIA contact: Joyce Swietlik, [email protected], 414-420-6165
- Stewardship parish identity
- Discipleship through prayer, scripture, Mass, evangelization, giving, and service
Service Ministries & Outreach
The parish maintains a Service Ministries page inviting parishioners to live out their faith by serving locally and around the world. St. Eugene's identity statement names 'compassionate care of all God's children' and working prophetically 'to build a more just and equitable society' as central to its mission.
- Service Ministries ministry page
- Local and international outreach
- Compassionate care of all God's children
- Work for a more just and equitable society
Visiting & Contact
St. Eugene Congregation is located at 7600 North Port Washington Road, Fox Point, WI 53217. The parish office is open Tuesday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, and can be reached at 414-918-1100 or [email protected]. Sacramental emergencies and Anointing of the Sick are available 24 hours a day at 414-332-1576, ext. 9.
- Address: 7600 North Port Washington Road, Fox Point, WI 53217
- Phone: 414-918-1100
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tuesday–Thursday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sacramental emergencies: 414-332-1576, ext. 9 (24 hours)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Peter Dietzlate 1920s
Pastor of St. Monica Parish who purchased the seven acres that would become St. Eugene.
- Father William H. Mackin1957–
Founder of St. Eugene; arrived in 1957 to build the new parish and led construction of church, school, hall, and Sisters' quarters beginning June 1, 1958.