About St. Francis of Assisi - Grand site · Manitowoc, Wisconsin
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is a large Roman Catholic parish in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of Green Bay. Formed on July 1, 2005, it is the consolidation of what were once six separate Catholic parishes in the city — Holy Innocents, Sacred Heart, St. Andrew, St. Boniface, St. Mary, and St. Paul. Today it operates as one parish across three worship sites: the Grand Avenue site (1416 Grand Ave.), the Marshall Street site (1114 S. 21st St.), and the Waldo Boulevard site (1121 N. 14th St.). The parish is pastored by Fr. Doug LeCaptain with two parochial vicars, Fr. Jason Blahnik and Fr. Matthew Colle, and several deacons, and is affiliated with the regional Roncalli Catholic Schools system. With more than 3,000 registered families and roughly 9,500 active members, it is the dominant Catholic presence in Manitowoc and the lakeshore area.
- Established
- 2005
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Douglas (Doug) LeCaptain
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi offers the unusually rich liturgical life of a large parish — seven Sunday Masses plus a Saturday Vigil and daily Mass — across three historic worship sites in the City of Manitowoc, with weekly Confession, perpetual Adoration Monday through Thursday, and a weekly livestream on Facebook and YouTube. Membership comes with concrete opportunities to grow in faith at any age: a vibrant youth ministry (including an annual Steubenville conference trip), Vacation Bible School, 'Wake Up With Jesus' and 'Cooking, Crafts, & Songs' programs for grade-schoolers, RCIA for adults, a Spanish-language Mass at the Waldo site, and adult faith formation such as Thursday Morning Bible Study, 'Nights of Faith,' and the Women of Valor ministry. The parish also runs or hosts ministries of service — Prayer Shawl, Grief Ministry ('A New Day'), Catholic Charities Hope in Hand diaper and supply distribution, Calvary Catholic Cemeteries and Mausoleum, and an active volunteer corps — making it a place where families can pray, serve, and belong together.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi - Grand site
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Grand Site)
- Saturday 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM (Grand Site)
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM (Waldo Site)
Adoration times
- Monday 5:00 AM – 11:59 PM (Adoration Chapel, 1121 N. 14th St.)
- Tuesday 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM (Adoration Chapel)
- Wednesday 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM (Adoration Chapel)
- Thursday 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM (Adoration Chapel)
About St. Francis of Assisi Parish
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is the single Roman Catholic parish serving the City of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of Green Bay. It was formed on July 1, 2005 from the consolidation of the city's six historic Catholic parishes — Holy Innocents, Sacred Heart, St. Andrew, St. Boniface, St. Mary, and St. Paul — and now worships at three preserved church buildings: the Grand Avenue site, the Marshall Street site, and the Waldo Boulevard site. The parish's stated mission is to exist as a sacramental body of Christ, to love as Christ loved, by boldly proclaiming the faith, teaching youth, spreading the Gospel, and serving one another and the wider community. With more than 3,000 registered families and roughly 9,500 active members, it is one of the largest parishes in the diocese.
- Diocese: Green Bay
- Formed: July 1, 2005
- Predecessor parishes: Holy Innocents, Sacred Heart, St. Andrew, St. Boniface, St. Mary, St. Paul (all in Manitowoc)
- Pastor: Fr. Doug LeCaptain
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. Jason Blahnik, Fr. Matthew Colle
- Worship sites: Grand Avenue, Marshall Street, Waldo Boulevard
History: Six Parishes Become One (1850s – 2005)
Catholic life in Manitowoc dates to the 1850s, when the first Catholic parish was established in the city. Over the following 150 years, six distinct parishes grew up to serve the lakeshore community, each with its own church, school, and community identity. Faced with a priest shortage and declining Mass attendance, Bishop David Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay merged all six into a single new parish on July 1, 2005. At midnight, the bells of the city's Catholic churches rang out to mark the moment. The new parish was given the name of St. Francis of Assisi, and three of the original church buildings were retained as active worship sites.
- 1850s: first Catholic parish established in Manitowoc
- 1885: St. Boniface Church built
- July 1, 2005: midnight bells mark the merger of six parishes into one
- St. Boniface closed 2013; demolition scheduled
- 2025: 20th anniversary celebrated with '20-20-20' event series
20th Anniversary and the 'Rebuild My Church' Campaign
The parish marked its 20th anniversary in June–July 2025 with a '20-20-20 Parish Anniversary Celebration' — more than 20 events in 20 days to symbolize 20 years. The celebration opened with a kick-off Mass at the Waldo Boulevard site, concelebrated by the three current priests (Fr. Doug LeCaptain, Fr. Matthew Colle, Fr. Jason Blahnik) and former pastors including Bishop Daniel Felton of the Diocese of Duluth, Fr. Mark Mleziva, Fr. Dave Beaudry, Fr. Dave Pleier, Fr. Ben Johnson, and Fr. Richard Klingeisen. Fr. Michael Warden and Fr. Daniel Schuster were unable to attend. The same week, on June 17, 2025, the parish broke ground on a new 14,000-square-foot, one-story gathering center at the Grand Avenue site — funded through the parish's 'Rebuild My Church' campaign and the diocesan 'one by One' capital campaign — connected to the existing church by two handicap-accessible hallways and scheduled for completion by the end of January 2026.
- 20-20-20 celebration: 20+ events in 20 days
- Groundbreaking for 14,000 sq ft gathering center: June 17, 2025
- Projected completion: end of January 2026
- Includes new gathering space, meeting rooms, and attached parish office
- Funded by 'Rebuild My Church' and diocesan 'one by One' campaigns
Worship Sites (Three Churches, One Parish)
St. Francis of Assisi worships at three historic sites within the city of Manitowoc. The Grand Site (1416 Grand Avenue) hosts daily 6:45 AM Mass Monday–Friday, Sunday 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM, and Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM, and is the site of the new gathering center under construction. The Marshall Site (1114 S. 21st Street) is home to a 9:00 AM Sunday Mass. The Waldo Site (1121 N. 14th Street) hosts the most liturgies: 4:00 PM Saturday Vigil, 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, and 6:30 PM Sunday Masses, an 8:15 AM Mass on Tuesdays and Fridays, a 5:00 PM Tuesday Mass, and the parish's weekly 12:00 PM Spanish-language Mass. The parish also maintains the Calvary Catholic Cemeteries and Mausoleum, with a monthly Mass celebrated there.
- Grand Site — 1416 Grand Avenue, Manitowoc
- Marshall Site — 1114 S. 21st Street, Manitowoc
- Waldo Site — 1121 N. 14th Street, Manitowoc (includes Adoration Chapel and Spanish Mass)
- Calvary Catholic Cemeteries and Mausoleum (separate ministry)
Liturgical Ministries (How to Serve at Mass)
St. Francis of Assisi runs a full complement of lay liturgical ministries at all three sites. Hospitality Ministers greet, seat, and direct the assembly, assist with the collection and communion procession, and tidy up after Mass. Lectors proclaim the Word of God and are invited to a training session before being commissioned. Eucharistic Ministers (commissioned, confirmed parishioners) help distribute Holy Communion. Sacristans prepare the bread, wine, books, and vessels for each Mass. Altar Servers (5th grade and older) assist the priest and deacon, with a separate track of Funeral Altar Servers open to children in grade 5 or older and to adults. Training and mentoring are provided for all liturgical roles.
- Hospitality Ministers
- Lectors (with required training)
- Eucharistic Ministers (commissioned after training)
- Sacristans (with training and mentoring)
- Altar Servers (5th grade and older)
- Altar Servers — Funerals (5th grade+ or adult)
Faith Formation: Children, Youth, and Adults
Faith formation at St. Francis of Assisi runs from pre-school through adulthood. Elementary Religious Education is led by Chris Kouba, with programs such as 'Wake Up With Jesus!' (children in grades 1–5) and 'Cooking, Crafts, & Songs' (grades 2–5) meeting at the St. Joseph House (former Waldo Rectory). The annual Vacation Bible School takes place at the end of July — most recently themed 'Scuba' for kids entering K–5, with teen volunteers from incoming 6th grade and older. The Youth Ministry team, led by Elizabeth Gruenke, supports middle school (Edge) and high school programs, Confirmation preparation (Dianne Vadney), and an annual Steubenville Rochester Catholic Youth Conference trip. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is offered through the volunteer office. For adults, the parish hosts a Thursday Morning Bible Study, 'Nights of Faith,' and the Women of Valor Ministry, which meets monthly at the Emmaus House Damascus Center on the Waldo Campus.
- Elementary Religious Education — Chris Kouba
- Wake Up With Jesus! (grades 1–5)
- Cooking, Crafts, & Songs (grades 2–5)
- Vacation Bible School 'Scuba' — late July
- Youth Ministry — Elizabeth Gruenke (Edge middle school, high school, Steubenville trip)
- Confirmation preparation — Dianne Vadney
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — Jacqueline Welsh
- RCIA — contact parish office
- Thursday Morning Bible Study & Nights of Faith
- Women of Valor Ministry (monthly, Emmaus House)
Discipleship, Hospitality, and Hispanic Ministry
Under Fr. Doug LeCaptain, the parish has identified Discipleship, Hospitality, and Hispanic Ministry as its three core growth priorities, with dedicated staff for each. The Discipleship and Hospitality team, led by Andy Schmidt (Discipleship & Hospitality Manager), works out of the Emmaus House on the Waldo Campus and the parish's transformed Waldo Rectory, with the goal of making every parishioner and visitor feel welcomed and formed as a disciple. Hispanic Ministry, led by Rosa Huizar, is supported by a Sunday 12:00 PM Spanish Mass at the Waldo Site, bilingual liturgical resources (including a bilingual Order of Celebrating Matrimony and the Order of Christian Funeral Rites in Spanish on the parish wish list), and outreach to Manitowoc's Spanish-speaking community.
- Discipleship & Hospitality Manager — Andy Schmidt
- Discipleship base — Emmaus House (Waldo Campus) and transformed Waldo Rectory
- Hispanic Ministry Coordinator — Rosa Huizar
- Spanish-language Sunday Mass — 12:00 PM, Waldo Site
- Bilingual sacramental resources (Matrimony, Funerals)
Parish Staff, Deacons, and Offices
St. Francis of Assisi is served by three priests and a substantial lay staff, all coordinated through the parish office at 601 N. 8th Street, Manitowoc. The clergy team is Fr. Doug LeCaptain (Pastor), Fr. Jason Blahnik (Parochial Vicar), and Fr. Matthew Colle (Parochial Vicar). Deacons include Alan Boeldt, Mark LeGreve (who also serves as Business Manager), Michael (Mike) Dolezal, and Robert Beehner. The 2023–24 diocesan directory also lists Michael Jerger as Pastoral Associate and Stephen DCamp as a contact for Liturgy and Baptism. The current bulletin names additional staff including Jami Duvall (Liturgy Coordinator), Dan Berres (Music Coordinator), Elizabeth Gruenke (Youth Ministry Coordinator), Deanne Kuenzi (Accounting), Connie Heinzen (Communications / Pastor Support), Amanda Bergel (Family Services), Rosa Huizar (Hispanic Ministry), Andy Schmidt (Discipleship / Hospitality), Jacqueline Welsh (Volunteer Coordinator / CGS), and parish administrative assistants Jenny Rotter, Angela Schneider, and Sara Tuma. Cathy Buchner coordinates the annual parish picnic.
- Pastor — Fr. Doug LeCaptain
- Parochial Vicars — Fr. Jason Blahnik, Fr. Matthew Colle
- Deacons — Alan Boeldt, Mark LeGreve (Business Manager), Mike Dolezal, Robert Beehner
- Liturgy Coordinator — Jami Duvall
- Music Coordinator — Dan Berres
- Youth Ministry — Elizabeth Gruenke
- Elementary Religious Ed — Chris Kouba
- Confirmation / VBS — Dianne Vadney
- Volunteer Coordinator / CGS — Jacqueline Welsh
- Discipleship & Hospitality — Andy Schmidt
- Hispanic Ministry — Rosa Huizar
- Family Services — Amanda Bergel
- Communications / Pastor Support — Connie Heinzen
- Accounting — Deanne Kuenzi
- Parish Office: 601 N. 8th Street, Manitowoc, WI 54220 — (920) 684-3718
Sacraments
St. Francis of Assisi celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Reconciliation is offered weekly (see schedule above) and by appointment. Parents should contact the parish office to arrange Baptisms. Couples seeking Marriage are asked to contact the parish office well in advance; a bilingual Order of Celebrating Matrimony is used for Hispanic couples. Anointing of the Sick is offered in a communal celebration three times a year, with individual anointing available on request; parishioners are asked to notify the office of family members or friends who are homebound, hospitalized, or in care facilities so that priests and Eucharistic ministers can bring Communion and the sacrament to them. Adults seeking to become Catholic are invited to inquire about the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
- Reconciliation (Confession) — weekly and by appointment
- Baptism — contact parish office
- Marriage — contact parish office; bilingual rite for Hispanic couples
- Anointing of the Sick — communal 3x/year; individual on request
- Pastoral Care of the Sick / Homebound
- RCIA — contact parish office
Outreach, Charity, and Community Life
Beyond worship and formation, the parish runs a broad outreach and community-life program. The Prayer Shawl Ministry gathers monthly (e.g. Tuesday evenings) to pray over and distribute hand-made shawls to those in need of comfort. 'A New Day' is a recurring grief-support group meeting on Wednesday afternoons. Catholic Charities 'Hope in Hand' distributes totes of diapers, wipes, and hygiene items to local families in need. The Women of Valor Ministry gathers women of all ages for service, study, and fellowship. An annual Parish Picnic (most recently Saturday, August 9) is a flagship community event coordinated by Cathy Buchner, and the parish Raffle Calendar awards $25 and $50 prizes daily, with checks mailed to winners and names posted in the bulletin and on the website. The parish also operates Calvary Catholic Cemeteries and Mausoleum and partners with the Knights of Columbus and St. Clare Society on shared projects.
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- A New Day — Grief Ministry Group
- Catholic Charities Hope in Hand (diapers, wipes, hygiene)
- Women of Valor Ministry
- Annual Parish Picnic (coordinator: Cathy Buchner)
- Parish Raffle Calendar (daily $25 / $50 prizes)
- Calvary Catholic Cemeteries and Mausoleum
- Knights of Columbus, St. Clare Society (partner organizations)
Schools: Roncalli Catholic Schools
St. Francis of Assisi families feed into Roncalli Catholic Schools, the unified Catholic school system serving the Manitowoc area, whose central office is at 1408 Waldo Blvd., Manitowoc. The system is led by President John Stelzer and includes Roncalli Elementary School (1408 Waldo Blvd., Principal Adrienne Lundy), a middle school (Principal Steve Thiele), and Roncalli High School (Principal Fran Peter). Together with the neighboring parishes of St. Peter the Fisherman and St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Francis of Assisi is part of the diocesan 'one by One' capital campaign, whose centerpiece is a planned new $20 million K-8 school building shared with the broader Catholic community.
- Roncalli Catholic Schools — President John Stelzer
- Central office: 1408 Waldo Blvd., Manitowoc — (920) 682-8801
- Roncalli Elementary School — Principal Adrienne Lundy — (920) 683-6880
- Roncalli Middle School — Principal Steve Thiele
- Roncalli High School — Principal Fran Peter
- 'one by One' capital campaign — $20M new K-8 school
Communications and Media
The parish maintains an active media presence. The 4:00 PM Saturday Vigil and the daily weekday Masses are livestreamed on the parish Facebook page, with recordings posted to Facebook and YouTube. The parish publishes a regular bulletin ([email protected]) and runs 'Humbly Speaking,' a parish podcast. An annual Parish Raffle Calendar tracks daily winners in the bulletin, on the website, and on Facebook. The website at sfamanitowoc.org also hosts an online calendar of parish events, online giving, and registration for Vacation Bible School, youth ministry activities, and other programs.
- Livestream — 4:00 PM Saturday Vigil and weekday Masses (Facebook)
- Recordings — SFA Parish YouTube channel and Facebook page
- Humbly Speaking — parish podcast
- Weekly bulletin — [email protected]
- Parish Raffle Calendar (daily winners posted online and in bulletin)
Parish Picnic and Annual Events
The Parish Picnic is one of the signature annual gatherings of St. Francis of Assisi, most recently held on Saturday, August 9, with volunteer sign-ups and coordination handled by Cathy Buchner. Other annual and recurring events include Vacation Bible School (late July, most recently 'Scuba'), the Summer Play at the Park (Wednesday mornings in summer), Summer Family / Youth / Children's Ministry newsletters, the Steubenville Rochester youth conference trip (mid-July), Saints of Summer programming, and the 20-20-20 celebration (in 2025). The 'Rebuild My Church' and 'one by One' capital campaigns have also generated regular parish-wide communications, prayer gatherings, and groundbreakings.
- Annual Parish Picnic (August)
- Vacation Bible School (late July)
- Summer Play at the Park (Wednesday mornings, summer)
- Steubenville Rochester youth trip (July)
- Saints of Summer programming
- Family / Youth / Children's Ministry summer newsletters
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Bishop Daniel Felton
Former pastor of St. Francis of Assisi; now Bishop of the Diocese of Duluth; concelebrated the 20th anniversary Mass in June 2025.
- Fr. Michael Warden
Former pastor; unable to attend 20th anniversary Mass.
- Fr. Daniel Schuster
Former pastor; unable to attend 20th anniversary Mass; later (per 2023-24 diocesan directory) assigned as pastor of St. Mary, Luxemburg.
- Fr. Mark Mleziva
Former pastor; concelebrated the 20th anniversary Mass in 2025.
- Fr. David (Dave) Beaudry
Former parochial priest; concelebrated the 20th anniversary Mass.
- Fr. David (Dave) Pleier
Former parochial priest; concelebrated the 20th anniversary Mass.
- Fr. Ben Johnson
Former parochial priest; concelebrated the 20th anniversary Mass.
- Fr. Richard Klingeisen
Former parochial priest; concelebrated the 20th anniversary Mass.
- Fr. Doug LeCaptain
Current pastor, leading the 20th anniversary celebration and 'Rebuild My Church' / 'one by One' campaigns.