About St. Jerome · Columbus, Wisconsin
St. Jerome Parish is a Catholic community of approximately 425 families located at 1550 Farnham Street in Columbus, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of Madison. The parish serves the rural Columbia County community with weekend and weekday Masses, a parish school (St. Jerome School, 4K–8th grade), an active altar society, faith formation for children and youth, and a lively calendar of adoration, bingo, rummage sales, and parish picnics. Since December 2023, St. Jerome has been united with St. Olaf (DeForest), St. Patrick (Doylestown), St. Joseph (East Bristol), St. Thomas (Poynette), and St. Joseph (Rio) into the new merged Nativity of the Lord Parish. Worship continues to be celebrated regularly at the St. Jerome church building in Columbus.
- Established
- Mid-19th century (parish claims 'over 150 years of history'); present church building completed 1972
- Patron
- St. Jerome (patron of Scripture scholars and Doctors of the Church)
- Rector
- Fr. Grant Thies (Parochial Administrator of the Nativity of the Lord pastorate that includes St. Jerome, as listed in 2023 parish bulletins)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Madison (since Dec. 20, 2023 part of the merged Nativity of the Lord Parish)
Why belong here
St. Jerome welcomes Catholics and newcomers into a faithful rural community with more than 150 years of history. Worship is offered several times a week in a single-story brick church attached to St. Jerome School, and the parish supports families through faith formation for children and youth, a parish school serving 4K–8th grade, weekly Eucharistic Adoration with confessions, a Rosary group, an active Altar Society, and outreach like the parish rummage sale and parish picnic. As part of the new Nativity of the Lord merged parish, St. Jerome remains a worship site within a larger family of six Catholic communities across Columbia and Dane counties.
Mass times at St. Jerome
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM (at St. Jerome)
- Wednesday 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM (at St. Jerome)
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (during Adoration)
- First Friday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (at St. Jerome)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (with Rosary and Benediction; confessions during adoration)
- Sunday evening 5:00 PM – Rosary, Adoration and Benediction (as scheduled in bulletins)
- First Friday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
About St. Jerome Parish
St. Jerome Parish is a Catholic community of about 425 families in Columbus, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of Madison. The parish proclaims itself 'a vibrant community brought together by faith, Eucharist, and Jesus Christ,' committed to Christ's mandate to make disciples 'in our distinct communities, by our words and more importantly by our example.' The parish has worshipped in Columbus for more than 150 years, and since December 20, 2023 has been part of the newly merged Nativity of the Lord Parish, which unites St. Jerome with five other worship sites in Columbia and Dane counties.
- Address: 1550 Farnham Street, Columbus, WI 53925
- Phone: (920) 623-3753
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.SJColumbus.org
- Parish size: ~425 families
- Language: English
- Rite: Roman-Latin (Diocese of Madison)
History & Architecture
The Catholic presence in Columbus that became St. Jerome Parish has continued for more than 150 years. The current school/church complex — a Contemporary-style, single-story brick and reinforced-concrete building with a flat roof and bands of fixed windows — was designed by the Madison architectural firm Gausewitz & Cashin. The school was built first in 1958, a freestanding convent followed in 1962, and the church was added onto the west end of the school in 1972. The Wisconsin Historical Society maintains the property record as 'St. Jerome R.C. School/Church Complex' (HI230144).
- Architects: Gausewitz & Cashin (Madison)
- School built: 1958
- Convent built: 1962
- Church added: 1972
- Wall material: brick; structure: reinforced concrete
- Footprint: irregular, single-story, faces east onto WIS-89/Farnham St
- Status: not listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Nativity of the Lord Parish Merger (2023)
Effective December 20, 2023, the Diocese of Madison merged six previously independent churches — St. Jerome (Columbus), St. Olaf (DeForest), St. Patrick (Doylestown), St. Joseph (East Bristol), St. Thomas the Apostle (Poynette), and St. Joseph (Rio) — into the new Nativity of the Lord Parish. St. Jerome School remains the parish grade school. Fr. James Leeser was named pastor, with Fr. Joji Reddy Thirumalareddy and Fr. Bala Kasipogu serving as parochial vicars. The merger followed the diocesan 'Into the Deep' pastoral planning initiative announced by Bishop Donald Hying.
- Effective December 20, 2023
- Pastor: Fr. James Leeser
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. Joji Reddy Thirumalareddy, Fr. Bala Kasipogu
- Includes St. Jerome School (Columbus)
St. Jerome School
St. Jerome School is a parish Catholic grade school located at 1550 Farnham Street in Columbus, offering 4K through 8th grade. As part of the new Nativity of the Lord Parish, it remains the regional parish school serving children of the merged communities. The school's offices and principal work in close coordination with the parish administrative offices. Prior bulletins note a Capital Campaign that funded a new EPDM roof for the school (built 1958), expected to last 25–30 years.
- School phone: (920) 623-5780
- Website: www.SJColumbus.org/school
- Grades: 4K–8
- Principal: Adrienne Van Norman (as of 2022–2023)
- School Secretary: [email protected]
- New roof project funded through 'United in Faith, Moving Forward in Hope' Capital Campaign
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish supports faith formation for children and youth through weekly Sunday-morning classes (Faith and Life textbook for grades 1, 3, 4, and 5; sacramental preparation in 2nd grade), sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion, ongoing youth group activities including bonfires, hikes, and service projects, and preparation for Confirmation. Bulletins invite parishioners 'including teens starting at 7th grade' to consider helping with formation ministries.
- Faith and Life curriculum (grades 1, 3, 4, 5)
- Sacramental prep (First Reconciliation & First Communion, grade 2)
- Confirmation preparation
- High school youth events: bonfires, hikes, service nights
- Adult faith formation opportunities (parish-wide discussions)
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. Jerome's runs a busy calendar of ministries led by parish staff and volunteers. The Altar Society cares for the sacred linen and altar furnishings; the Rummage Sale Committee organizes a popular annual fundraiser; Bingo nights bring the parish family together; and a volunteer-run parish picnic each summer celebrates the parish community. The parish also partners with FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) for college outreach. Above all, the parish maintains a careful Mass Intentions program, with many weekday openings for the faithful to request Masses for loved ones.
- St. Jerome Altar Society (contact: [email protected])
- Rummage Sale Committee (volunteers, including teens 7th grade and up)
- Bingo nights (Saturday evenings per bulletin)
- Parish Picnic (summer, with Mass of Thanksgiving at 11 AM)
- FOCUS missionary visits (college outreach)
- Mass Intentions (online and in-person requests)
- Capital Campaign 'United in Faith, Moving Forward in Hope'
Sacraments
Through the new Nativity of the Lord Parish, St. Jerome continues to offer the full sacramental life of the Church: Baptism, First Reconciliation and First Communion (typically in 2nd grade), Confirmation, Matrimony (by appointment with the parish office), Anointing of the Sick, and Funeral Liturgies. Adults seeking initiation can enter OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults).
- Baptism — prepare by contacting the parish office
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — typically 2nd grade
- Confirmation — youth program
- Matrimony — by appointment with the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — by request
- Funeral Liturgies
- OCIA (RCIA) — adult initiation
Office Hours, Staff & Contact
The parish office operates on a reduced summer schedule (Tuesday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Friday 9:00 AM – 12:00 noon) with closures on major holidays. Day-to-day parish operations are staffed by Parochial Administrator Fr. Grant Thies, parish secretary Teresa Miller, finance chair Roger Sneath, and pastoral chair Jon Olson, with St. Jerome School led by Principal Adrienne Van Norman.
- Parochial Administrator: Fr. Grant Thies ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. Sanctus Ibe; Fr. Bala Kasipogu
- Parish Secretary: Teresa Miller ([email protected])
- Finance Chair: Roger Sneath
- Pastoral Chair: Jon Olson
- Business Admin: Kris Radtke ([email protected])
- DRE/Pastorate 17 Admin Assistant: CJ Grahn
- Office: (920) 623-3753