About St. James · Denmark, Wisconsin
St. James Catholic Church is a small rural parish in Cooperstown (Denmark), Wisconsin, founded in 1850 by Irish, Bohemian and German settlers in northern Manitowoc County. The parish is pastorally linked with St. Joseph Church in nearby Kellnersville under the leadership of Very Reverend Brian Belongia, and belongs to the Diocese of Green Bay. St. James serves over 300 registered households — about 1,000 parishioners — across the communities of Denmark, Maribel and the surrounding townships, and is recognized for its warm hospitality, active community outreach and strong faith-formation program for children and youth.
- Established
- 1850
- Patron
- St. James the Apostle
- Rector
- Very Reverend Brian Belongia
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
St. James is a small, warm rural parish where the pastor and deacon know families by name, Sunday hospitality is a point of pride, and parishioners stay active beyond the pews through the Knights of Columbus, local Lions Clubs and Denmark Connects. Faith formation for children and youth runs from elementary grades through Confirmation preparation, with RCIA/Adult Faith Formation for those exploring or returning to the Church. Outreach is concrete and local: a long-running Grief Support Group led by an Advanced Practice Social Worker, the Good Samaritan community cupboard, and other ministries through which members serve the wider Denmark–Maribel community.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- St. James does not have regularly scheduled confessions — contact Father Brian to arrange one
Adoration times
- St. James does not have regularly scheduled Adoration (Adoration is held at St. Joseph, Kellnersville on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 1:00–6:00 PM)
About St. James Parish
St. James Catholic Church sits in Cooperstown, in the northwest corner of Manitowoc County, midway between Green Bay and Manitowoc. Founded in 1850 by Irish, Bohemian and German settlers, it is one of the older Catholic communities in the county and is part of the Diocese of Green Bay. The parish is pastorally linked with St. Joseph Church in Kellnersville under Very Reverend Brian Belongia, with Deacon Dan Gray assisting. St. James is the spiritual home to over 300 registered households (about 1,000 parishioners) drawn from Denmark, Maribel and the surrounding townships.
- 300+ registered households, ~1,000 parishioners
- Diocese of Green Bay
- Pastor: Very Reverend Brian Belongia
- Deacon: Dan Gray
- Sister parish: St. Joseph, Kellnersville
Our History
A small log church was built on a Cooperstown hilltop in 1850, with a rectory added in 1854. The present parish name was given in 1871 when a larger 50-by-100-foot church with a 44-foot steeple was dedicated to St. James the Apostle (feast day July 25). Three disasters tested the community: an 1892 lightning strike, an 1893 tornado that destroyed the roof and interior, and a devastating 1914 fire that leveled both the church and school. Each time, the congregation rebuilt — the current brick church (with attached school, demolished in 1963) was completed after the fire, and a new brick rectory followed in 1920. Major milestones since include the 2000 sesquicentennial, a 2024 lift/elevator and parking-lot project, and the 2025 175th-anniversary Mass with Bishop David Ricken.
- 1850 — log church built on hilltop in Cooperstown
- 1854 — first rectory constructed
- 1871 — new church dedicated to St. James the Apostle
- 1882 — log church remodeled as the first St. James School
- 1892 — lightning strike damages the steeple
- 1893 — tornado destroys the roof and interior; rebuilt
- 1914 — fire demolishes church and school; rebuilt in brick
- 1920 — brick rectory built
- 1963 — brick school torn down
- 2000 — sesquicentennial: stained glass re-leaded, picnic, time capsule buried
- 2024 — lift/elevator installed; parking lot repaved
- July 27, 2025 — 175th anniversary Mass with Bishop Ricken
175th Anniversary Celebration (2025)
In 2025, St. James marked 175 years since its 1850 founding with a Mass and festivities on Sunday, July 27, 2025 — coinciding with the feast of St. James on July 25. Bishop David Ricken presided, opening with a welcome and reflection on the parish's roots among Irish, German, Bohemian and Polish families, drawing on Psalm 126:3. A Pastoral Leadership Plaque was unveiled listing all 41 pastors and administrators from 1850 to today, now displayed in the church entrance. A prayer booklet, "Voices of Faith, Inspired by St. James Parish Community, Cooperstown, Wisconsin, 1850–2025," was distributed, and a trivia game sent visitors through the cemetery (also dating to 1850) to answer questions about 20 notable burials.
- Sunday, July 27, 2025 anniversary Mass
- Presided by Bishop David Ricken
- Pastoral Leadership Plaque listing 41 pastors since 1850
- "Voices of Faith, 1850–2025" prayer booklet
- Cemetery trivia game honoring 20 gravesites
Notable Sons of the Parish
St. James has a remarkable vocational legacy: seven men who grew up in the parish have been ordained to the priesthood, and two have been ordained to the diaconate.
- Priests: Francis Steinbrecher, Eugene Geimer, Lambert Scanlon, Francis Geimer, Bernard Geimer, William O'Brien, Frank Dewane
- Deacons: Clarence Naidl, Daniel Gray (currently serving the parish)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish supports spiritual growth at every age, from young children through adults. Church Time takes place during Sunday Mass for the youngest, a structured Religious Education program serves children in grades 1 through 11, and Adult Faith Formation / RCIA (OCIA) welcomes inquirers and returning Catholics. Sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation flows through these programs.
- Church Time (during Sunday Mass)
- Religious Education, grades 1–11
- Sacrament preparation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation)
- Adult Faith Formation / RCIA (OCIA)
Grief Support Ministry
An ongoing Grief Support Group is offered at St. James for those mourning the loss of a loved one. Sessions typically meet every other month, with dates and times announced on the parish website and in the bulletin; both in-person and Zoom attendance are available. The ministry is free and requires no registration. Facilitator Tom Bekkers, MSW, APSW, brings more than 35 years of professional counseling experience and is co-author of "The Widower's Toolbox."
- Meets every other month (dates posted on the website and in the bulletin)
- In-person and Zoom options
- Facilitator: Tom Bekkers, MSW, APSW
- Contact for Zoom link: 920-660-8066
- Free, no registration required
Outreach, Community & Parish Life
St. James parishioners are active beyond the church walls, volunteering through the Knights of Columbus, local Lions Clubs and Denmark Connects, and supporting the Good Samaritan community cupboard. Parish committees and the Worship & Decorating Committee provide ways to serve inside the parish, while liturgical ministry at Mass is coordinated through Sacristan Monica Winnekens.
- Knights of Columbus
- Local Lions Clubs
- Denmark Connects
- Good Samaritan community cupboard
- Worship & Decorating Committee
- Liturgical ministry (contact Sacristan Monica Winnekens)
Contact & Location
Parish offices are open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Mailing and physical address, phone, fax, and email are listed below; Fr. Brian and Deacon Dan can also be reached directly by cell phone or email.
- Address: 18228 CTH R, Denmark, WI 54208
- Parish phone: (920) 863-2585
- Fax: (920) 863-5445
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Pastor email: [email protected] — cell (920) 272-8172
- Deacon Dan Gray — home (920) 863-2820, cell (920) 246-4155, [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Augustin Lang1865–1867
First resident priest after the parish was served by missionary priests from Manitowoc and Francis Creek
- Rev. William Mahoney1867–1868
Succeeded Father Lang
- Rev. Eusebius Henzle1868–1870
Died February 20, 1870 while serving the parish
- Rev. James Gauche1870–1873
Later of De Pere; served during construction of the 1871 church
- Rev. August Rossochowitz1876–1884
An exile from Germany
- Rev. J. A. Duermeyer1884–1887
- Rev. John H. Holzknecht1887–1892
- Revs. F. X. Steinbrecher and F. W. Geier1892
Shared duties briefly
- Rev. John D. Schwartzmeyer1892–1895
- Rev. G. J. Pellegrin1895–
Belgian-born linguist and St. Francis Seminary graduate, extraordinary attainments