About St. Francis Xavier · De Pere, Wisconsin
Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Parish is the Catholic parish serving the eastside of De Pere, Wisconsin, a community along the Fox River in Brown County. The parish's threefold mission is to worship God through Jesus Christ, form disciples, and spread the Gospel in De Pere. It partners with neighboring St. Mary Parish to support Notre Dame of De Pere Catholic School (part of the GRACE system) and shares a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference with St. Mary. The parish is led by Fr. Jason Blahnik and a staff team of clergy, formation coordinators, and administrators.
- Patron
- St. Francis Xavier
- Rector
- Rev. Jason Blahnik
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
St. Francis Xavier is a welcoming eastside De Pere parish where Catholics, other Christians, and people of any background are invited to belong. The parish runs Discipleship Formation (religious education) for preschool through 11th grade, supports Notre Dame of De Pere Catholic School jointly with neighboring St. Mary Parish, operates a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference serving neighbors in the De Pere area, and offers three choirs plus other liturgical ministries for those who want to share their time and talent. Whether you are looking for weekend Mass, sacramental preparation for a child, or a place to serve, the parish has a clear entry point.
Mass times at St. Francis Xavier
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:00 am – 9:00 am
- Saturday 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm
Adoration times
- 2nd Tuesday of each month, 8:00 am – 7:00 pm (Eucharistic Adoration)
Welcome & Mission
St. Francis Xavier Parish describes itself as 'the Catholic parish for the eastside of De Pere' and 'a community of faith in God through Jesus Christ.' The parish states a clear threefold mission: worshiping God through Jesus Christ, forming disciples, and spreading the Gospel in De Pere. Its welcome is unusually broad: the parish invites 'Catholics. Christians. Non-Christians. Everyone of good will' to come and belong, with the hope that visitors will come to believe in the love God has for them in Jesus Christ.
- Identity: Eastside Catholic parish of De Pere, Wisconsin
- Threefold mission: worship, form disciples, spread the Gospel
- Welcome extended to Catholics, other Christians, non-Christians, and all people of good will
What to Expect at Mass
The parish's 'Come and Visit' page explains that Mass includes songs, the reading of the Word of God from the Bible, preaching, prayers, and Holy Communion. Visitors are told there will be sitting, standing, and kneeling, and are encouraged to sit toward the back and follow along if unsure what to do. Holy Communion is open to Catholics who have received their first Holy Communion; all are welcomed as part of the worshiping community.
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Rev. Jason Blahnik, who is listed as the parish administrator (functioning as pastor). The staff team published on the parish website includes coordinators of Discipleship Formation across grade levels, an Administrative Assistant, a Director of Communications and Technology, a Coordinator of Pastoral Care and Evangelization, a Parish Administrator, maintenance staff, and the principal of Notre Dame of De Pere Catholic School.
- Rev. Jason Blahnik — Parish Administrator (Pastor)
- Jean Vander Heiden — Coordinator of Discipleship Formation, Grades 6-8 and Confirmation
- Jane Charnetski — Coordinator of Discipleship Formation, Grades PK-5
- Lisa Kuhn — Coordinator of Discipleship Formation, 2nd Grade and Grades 9-10
- Ellen Moore — Coordinator of Pastoral Care and Evangelization
- Laura Keyser — Administrative Assistant
- Jonathan Lundquist — Director of Communications and Technology
- Tyler Derenne — Parish Administrator
- Pam McKeefry — (parish staff)
- Matt Hinz — Maintenance Supervisor
- Amberly Boeschinger — Maintenance Staff
- Molly Mares — Notre Dame of De Pere Principal
About Fr. Jason Blahnik
In a letter to Notre Dame of De Pere families, Fr. Jason describes himself as a Door County native and middle of three children who graduated from Gibraltar High School in 1998, then went on to the University of Arkansas and Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained a priest on January 3, 2009. He shares openly that he 'fell away from Jesus' in middle school and had a 'profound conversion to the Lord Jesus' in college, and previously served as a priest in Oshkosh, Lakewood, and most recently St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Manitowoc before coming to St. Francis Xavier in De Pere.
- Ordained: January 3, 2009
- Previous assignments: Oshkosh, Lakewood, St. Francis of Assisi Manitowoc
- Personal: Door County native; enjoys reading, board games; Brewers, Packers, and Arkansas Razorbacks fan
Becoming Catholic & Joining the Parish
St. Francis Xavier invites newcomers to register with the parish and explains what parish membership means: a parish is 'made up of the people of a geographical area which is entrusted to a priest or parish leader for the salvation of souls,' with mutual responsibilities between parishioners and the parish. The Joining the Parish page is staffed by Laura Keyser ([email protected], 920-336-1813). The parish also offers OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) for those becoming Catholic, with non-Catholic adults typically received into full communion at the Easter Vigil.
- Parish Registration Contact: Laura Keyser, [email protected], 920-336-1813
- OCIA / Becoming Catholic for adults
- Adult First Holy Communion: contact Fr. Jason Blahnik ([email protected])
Discipleship Formation (Religious Education)
The Discipleship Formation program is described as 'experiential and engaging at the appropriate developmental level for young people from pre-school through 11th grade.' It is the parish's religious education program for children attending public school, and augments formation for those attending Catholic school (from both St. Mary and St. Francis Xavier Parishes). The parish follows the curriculum, sacramental-preparation, and safe-environment guidelines of the Diocese of Green Bay.
- Coordinator, Grades PK-5: Jane Charnetski ([email protected])
- Coordinator, Grades 6-8 and Confirmation: Jean Vander Heiden ([email protected])
- Coordinator, 2nd Grade and Grades 9-10: Lisa Kuhn ([email protected], 920-337-2330)
- Time commitment: classes of 60–90 minutes per week, mid-October through mid-April
- Volunteer roles: catechists, aides, hall monitors, greeters
Music & Liturgical Ministries
The parish describes its Music Ministry as 'essential to good Eucharist' and notes it is 'blessed to have a couple of musicians as well as three choirs.' A general 'Ministries at the Mass' interest form invites parishioners to sign up for liturgical roles; no prior expertise beyond the ability to sing is required for the choirs.
- Music Ministry: musicians and three choirs
- General 'Ministries at the Mass' lay ministry sign-up available via parish form
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
St. Francis Xavier shares a Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) conference with neighboring St. Mary Parish. Founded in 1833, SVdP is a worldwide lay-Catholic organization devoted to serving the poor, suffering, and deprived. The De Pere conference helps neighbors primarily in the De Pere area and extends help to parts of Brown County where the local parish does not have its own SVdP conference. The conference meets monthly for 90 minutes at St. Mary Catholic Church following the 8:30 am Mass on the 3rd Thursday of the month, with additional time for periodic home visits.
- Shared conference with St. Mary Catholic Church
- Meeting: monthly, 90 minutes, at St. Mary following 8:30 am Mass, 3rd Thursday of the month
- Service area: De Pere and parts of Brown County
Notre Dame of De Pere Catholic School
St. Francis Xavier shares responsibility with neighboring St. Mary Parish for supporting Notre Dame of De Pere Catholic School, part of the GRACE (Green Bay Area Catholic Education) system of nine Green Bay-area Catholic schools. Notre Dame of De Pere offers classes from preschool through 8th grade, with a focus on individualized learning. Weekly Masses with the students are celebrated at St. Francis Xavier Parish, and sacramental preparation is implemented through the child's family parish.
- Shared sponsorship: St. Francis Xavier and St. Mary Parishes
- Part of the GRACE (Green Bay Area Catholic Education) system
- Grades served: Preschool through 8th
- Weekly school Masses held at St. Francis Xavier
- Principal: Molly Mares
Deep Roots on the Fox River
Although the parish itself does not publish a founding date, the name 'St. Francis Xavier' connects the parish to the very origins of Catholicism in the De Pere area. In 1671 the Jesuit missionary Father Claude Allouez established the Mission of St. Francis Xavier on the rapids of the Fox River near present-day De Pere — the rapids that gave the city its French name, 'Rapids des Pères.' A larger chapel (about 70 by 40 feet, seating 600) was completed in 1684 under Father Verboort, and the mission served explorer Nicolas Perrot as a base in the 1680s. It was destroyed in an Iroquois attack in 1687, and Catholic life in the area lay dormant for nearly a century before being revived in the 1800s and eventually organized into the Diocese of Green Bay in 1868.
- 1671: Mission of St. Francis Xavier founded by Fr. Claude Allouez on the Fox River rapids
- 1684: Larger chapel built under Fr. Verboort (70'×40', ~600 seats)
- 1687: Mission destroyed in an Iroquois attack
- 1868: Diocese of Green Bay established by Pope Pius IX
- The parish carries the historic patron forward as the eastside Catholic parish of De Pere