About St. Francis Borgia - North Church · Cedarburg, Wisconsin
St. Francis Borgia Catholic Parish is a Catholic community in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, part of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The parish operates from two campuses — the North Church at 1375 Covered Bridge Road, used for most weekend liturgies and the parish school, and the historic 1870 South Church in downtown Cedarburg at N44 W6055 Hamilton Road, which hosts daily Mass and Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. The parish was founded in 1844 by the Jesuit missionary Fr. Martin Kundig and today is served by Fr. Patrick Burns, with a K-8 school, faith formation for all ages, OCIA/RCIA, vibrant liturgical ministries, and outreach to Milwaukee's inner city.
- Established
- 1844
- Patron
- St. Francis Borgia
- Rector
- Fr. Patrick Burns
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. Francis Borgia offers two worship sites — the spacious North Church for weekend Masses and the historic 1870 South Church with daily Mass and 24-hour Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration — so parishioners can pray in settings suited to their week. A parish Catholic school (3K–8th grade) sits on the same North Campus as the church office and Christian Formation programs, making it easy for families to grow in faith together. With active liturgical ministries, RCIA/OCIA, youth and child formation, and a long-running Inner City Ministry that delivers clothing and toiletries to Milwaukee shelters like Repairers of the Breach and House of Peace, the parish gives all ages a way to belong, serve, and encounter Christ.
Mass times at St. Francis Borgia - North Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday at North Church: 9:00 – 9:30 AM
- Monday at South Church: 8:45 AM
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday at South Church: 7:45 AM
- Thursday at North Church: 5:00 – 6:00 PM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at the South Church (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
- Doors open to the public from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily
- Adoration begins after morning Mass Monday through Saturday and continues until 9:00 PM; all day Sunday from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM
History of St. Francis Borgia Parish
St. Francis Borgia's story stretches back to 1844, when Fr. Martin Kundig, a Jesuit missionary, founded a log cabin chapel on Pioneer Road for the mostly Irish Catholic settlers of the Cedarburg area. A larger frame church replaced the log chapel in 1852, and in 1870 the congregation built the stone church that still stands today as the South Church in downtown Cedarburg. As the parish grew through the 20th century, Fr. Leo Zingsheim arrived as pastor in 1943, built the parish school in 1951, and in 1970 founded the Church of the Divine Word north of Five Corners to relieve overcrowding. In 1999, facing a worsening priest shortage, the two parish councils asked Archbishop Weakland to merge the parishes; the merger took effect in 2001/2002, with the Divine Word church becoming the North Church and Fr. George Gajdos the first pastor of the combined parish. Archbishop Timothy Dolan appointed Fr. Tom Eichenberger in 2003, and the parish continued to grow — adding the Marianne Huiras organ renovation at the North Church in 2005, and a new Education & Activity Center on the North Campus in 2014–2015. Fr. Patrick Burns became administrator in 2017 and pastor in 2018, and under his leadership the parish established perpetual adoration in 2020 and completed a major restoration of the historic South Church in 2024.
- 1844 — Parish founded by Fr. Martin Kundig, SJ, in a log cabin chapel on Pioneer Road
- 1852 — Log chapel replaced by a larger frame church
- 1870 — Stone church built at Hamilton Road and Washington Avenue (today's South Church)
- 1943 — Fr. Leo Zingsheim appointed pastor
- 1951 — Parish school built on Hamilton Road
- 1970 — Church of the Divine Word built north of Five Corners
- 1999 — Merger of St. Francis Borgia and Divine Word approved by Archbishop Weakland
- 2001/2002 — Merged parish begins worshiping at the North Church (former Divine Word) and the South Church
- 2003 — Fr. Tom Eichenberger appointed pastor by Archbishop Dolan
- 2005 — North Church renovated (Marianne Huiras Memorial Organ, new Blessed Sacrament Shrine, altar, ambo)
- 2014–2015 — New Education & Activity Center built and dedicated on the North Campus
- 2017 — Fr. Patrick Burns appointed parish administrator
- 2018 — Fr. Patrick Burns named pastor
- 2020 — Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration established at the South Church
- 2024 — Major interior restoration of the South Church completed and dedicated by Archbishop Listecki
Our Parish Properties
St. Francis Borgia Parish serves Cedarburg from two distinct campuses — the North Church on Covered Bridge Road, which is the larger church used for weekend liturgies, weddings, and funerals, and the historic South Church in downtown Cedarburg, which hosts daily Mass and Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. The North Campus also houses the parish office, Saint Francis Borgia Catholic School, and Christian Formation programs.
- St. Francis Borgia — North Church: 1375 Covered Bridge Road, Cedarburg, WI 53012 (main worship site, weekend Masses, weddings, funerals)
- St. Francis Borgia — South Church: N44 W6055 Hamilton Road, Cedarburg, WI 53012 (historic 1870 stone church; daily Mass; Perpetual Adoration)
- Parish Office — located at the North Church campus
- Cemetery — on Pioneer Road, across from the original log chapel site
Priests & Clergy
The parish is currently served by Fr. Patrick Burns, who was appointed administrator in June 2017 and named pastor in December 2018. Fr. Patrick grew up in Fox Point and Mequon, studied philosophy at Loyola University in Chicago, and completed his Master of Divinity at Sacred Heart School of Theology / St. Francis de Sales Seminary in Milwaukee. He was ordained in May 2013, served his first assignment at St. Charles Parish in Hartland, and joined St. Francis Borgia as associate pastor in 2016 before stepping into his current role.
- Fr. Patrick Burns — Pastor (ordained 2013; at St. Francis Borgia since 2016; pastor since 2018)
- Andrew Beine — Summer Seminarian
Faith Formation
The parish's faith formation programs serve the whole family — adults, youth, and children — with the conviction that 'each human heart seeks to be known and loved because we were created to be in relationship with God.' Programs are based at the North Campus, alongside the parish school.
- Adult Formation (ages 18+)
- Youth Ministry (grades 6–11)
- Child Ministry (3K–grade 5)
Becoming Catholic (OCIA / RCIA)
St. Francis Borgia has run the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA, now called OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) since 1988, when the process was instituted for use in all U.S. parishes. Each year the parish welcomes new Catholics into full communion at the Easter Vigil. The process begins with informal inquiry meetings in August and September, followed by regular gatherings October through April, learning about prayer, the sacraments, the saints, and the life of the Church.
- Open to unbaptized adults, Christians baptized in another tradition seeking Communion and Confirmation, and baptized Catholics who have not yet received Communion or Confirmation
- Non-baptized children over age 7 may also participate
- Confirmed Catholic sponsors accompany candidates through the journey
- Contact: parish office at 262-377-1070 or send email via the website
St. Francis Borgia Catholic School
Founded in 1951 and now located on the North Campus since 2015, St. Francis Borgia Catholic School serves children from 3K through 8th grade with an average enrollment of about 270 students. The school integrates Catholic faith into all curricular areas, integrates Spanish in grades 4–8, and offers Adoration for grades 3–8 and weekly Mass planned in part by the students themselves. Tuition is the same for parishioners and non-parishioners, and the school is accredited by the Wisconsin Religious and Independent School Accreditation (WRISA) organization.
- Educates children 3K–8th grade
- Averages approximately 270 students
- Catholic identity: Christ in the classroom, daily prayers, Adoration for grades 3–8, weekly Mass with student planners
- Spanish integrated into the 4th–8th grade curriculum
- Supports educational programs for students with learning differences
- Same tuition rates for parishioners and non-parishioners
- Accredited by WRISA
- Principal’s vision: 'Enter to learn. Go forth to serve Christ.'
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners of all ages can take an active role in the celebration of the Mass and the care of the worship space. Liturgical ministries include both service during Mass and behind-the-scenes work that keeps the church beautiful and welcoming.
- Mass Servers — open to youth grades 4 and up
- Hospitality Ministries — greeters and ushers
- Lectors — proclaim the readings and offer the petitions
- Environment Committee — linen ministry, church dusters, flowers and decorations
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) — at Mass and at nursing home / care facilities
- Funeral Mass Ministry — parish adults who serve as altar servers at Masses of Christian Burial
- Liturgical Music — choirs and musical accompaniment for the liturgy
Outreach: Inner City Ministry
St. Francis Borgia's Inner City Ministry collects gently-used clothing and toiletry items from parishioners and delivers them to shelters and ministries in Milwaukee's inner city. Drop-offs are accepted at a shed on the Covered Bridge Road side of the North Church parking lot, open 24/7.
- Drop-off shed on the east (Covered Bridge Road) side of the North Church parking lot — open 24/7
- Donations delivered to Repairers of the Breach, House of Peace, and McCannon Brown Homeless Sanctuary in Milwaukee
- Items should be packed in bags labeled for men, women, or children
- Please do not bring donated items into the church
Becoming a Member
St. Francis Borgia welcomes new members to a parish with deep Cedarburg roots stretching back to 1844. The North Campus brings together the church, parish office, school, and Christian Formation on one site, while the historic South Church on Hamilton Road remains an integral part of parish life for daily Mass and perpetual adoration.
- Parish rooted in Cedarburg since 1844
- Two worship campuses — North Church and South Church
- Catholic school, faith formation, and OCIA all available on the North Campus
- Contact the parish office at 262-377-1070 to join or learn more
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Martin Kundig, SJ1842–
Jesuit missionary and founder of the parish; rode on horseback to minister to scattered Irish Catholic settlers and helped establish worship in a log cabin chapel on Pioneer Road in 1844.
- Fr. Leo Zingsheim1943–
Built the parish school on Hamilton Road in 1951 and was founding pastor of the Church of the Divine Word in 1970.
- Fr. Ed Wawrzyniakowskipre-2002
Pastor of historic St. Francis Borgia parish at the time of the merger with Divine Word.
- Fr. George Gajdos2002–2003
First pastor of the merged St. Francis Borgia Parish after the 2001/2002 merger of St. Francis Borgia and Divine Word.
- Fr. Tom Eichenberger2003–2017
Appointed pastor by Archbishop Timothy Dolan in June 2003.
- Fr. Patrick Burns2017–present
Appointed parish administrator in June 2017 and named pastor in December 2018.