About St. John Evangelist · Kohler, Wisconsin
St. John Evangelist is a Roman Catholic parish serving the Village of Kohler in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The parish grew out of a 1927 organizing meeting of thirty-six families, celebrated its first Mass in the local Recreational Hall in 1928, and was entrusted its first resident pastor in 1938. Today, in partnership with neighboring Blessed Trinity Parish in Sheboygan Falls, St. John Evangelist offers weekend and weekday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays, a robust faith-formation program, and a wide range of lay ministries. Its mission statement reads: 'As a Catholic Community, St. John Evangelist Parish of Kohler together praises God, grows in Christ, and carries the Holy Spirit forth in our community.'
- Established
- 1927
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Father Michael Lawinger
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. John Evangelist is a tight-knit parish where worship is centered on Christ and deeply rooted in the Eucharist — Sunday Mass at 8:30 AM is supplemented by weekday Mass, weekly Thursday Adoration from morning until Night Prayer and Benediction at 8:00 PM, and regular rosary before weekday Masses. Families are welcomed through a full faith-formation program (K through grade 12), the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium, and the inter-parish Catholic Life Center which hosts youth, family, adult, and senior programming. The parish also serves the wider Sheboygan community through the Human Concerns/Social Justice Committee, partnering with the Salvation Army food pantry, Salvatorian Mission Warehouse, Safe Harbor, and the Milwaukee Rescue Mission.
Mass times at St. John Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 2nd and 4th Saturdays: 3:00 PM
- Thursdays: immediately following the 7:00 AM Mass (until the line is complete)
Adoration times
- Thursdays: 7:30 AM to 8:00 PM, with Benediction and Night Prayers at 8:00 PM
Parish History
St. John Evangelist was born in May 1927 when thirty-six founding families, presided over by Anton Braun, organized to build a Catholic church in the Village of Kohler. Archbishop Sebastian Messmer approved the new parish late that year, and on the first Sunday of July 1928 around sixty families attended the first Mass in the village's Recreational Hall on a member-built altar. The parish grew steadily through the next decade, and on December 3, 1938 Archbishop Samuel Stritch laid the cornerstone of the present church, which was dedicated — with altar consecrated by Archbishop Moses Kiley — on September 22, 1940.
- Parish organized May 1927 — thirty-six founding families
- First Mass: first Sunday of July 1928, Kohler Recreational Hall
- Cornerstone laid December 3, 1938 by Archbishop Samuel Stritch
- Church dedicated September 22, 1940; Archbishop Moses Kiley presided
- 2010: $2.6 million renovation and Narthex addition
- 2017: Father Joseph Dominic (Pallotine, India) assigned as Parish Administrator
- 2025: Father Michael Lawinger appointed pastor of SJE and Blessed Trinity
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. John Evangelist is offered for children in kindergarten through grade 12, and is coordinated jointly with Blessed Trinity Parish. Children in grades K–6 meet on Wednesdays from 4:15 to 5:30 PM, while grades 7–12 meet from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. A summer Religious Education program also runs in mid-to-late June. Catechists and Safeguarding-cleared volunteers are recruited each year.
- Grades K–6: Wednesdays, 4:15–5:30 PM
- Grades 7–12: Wednesdays, 6:30–8:00 PM
- Summer RE Program (mid-to-late June, 8:30–11:30 AM)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Kate Boyce, Director)
- Pastoral Associate: Justin Spaeth
- Religious Education, Grades 7–12: Teresa Bettag, Director
- Younger grades contact: Natalie Kohlhagen via [email protected]
Catholic Life Center (Joint Ministry with Blessed Trinity)
After the 2013 closure of St. Mary School, the former school building was repurposed as the Catholic Life Center (CLC), now serving as the inter-parish hub for religious education, youth ministry, adult formation, and family, senior, and adult programming for both St. John Evangelist and Blessed Trinity. The CLC's mission is to 'engage and unite our inter-generational faith community in learning and fellowship.'
- Mary Waitkus — Catholic Life Center Director
- Sarah Murray — Catholic Life Center Family Ministry
- Intergenerational faith formation, adult and senior programming
- Sister site: Blessed Trinity Parish, Sheboygan Falls
Worship Schedule & Devotions
Sunday remains the center of parish life, with one Sunday morning Mass, supplemented by weekday Mass on Thursday morning and Friday lunchtime. Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday morning through the day closes with Night Prayer and Benediction at 8:00 PM.
- Sunday Mass: 8:30 AM
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 PM on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays
- Weekday Mass: Thursday 7:00 AM, Friday 12:10 PM
- Adoration: Thursdays 7:30 AM–8:00 PM
- Benediction & Night Prayers: Thursdays 8:00 PM
- Reconciliation: 2nd and 4th Saturdays 3:00 PM; Thursdays after 7:00 AM Mass
- Rosary: Wednesdays 6:40 AM, Thursdays 11:50 AM
Liturgy & Music
Liturgy and music ministry is led by Director Zach Holzer, supported by weekday organist Ginny Lorenz. The parish first installed a pipe organ in the 1960s, replacing the original electric organ, and Father Tom Lijewski (pastor 2001-2007) was an accomplished musician who played his own organ installed at the rectory.
- Director of Liturgy and Music: Zach Holzer
- Weekday Organist: Ginny Lorenz
- Pipe organ (installed 1960s under Father Charles Neu)
Volunteer & Liturgical Ministries
The parish welcomes lay people of all ages into liturgical roles. Ushers greet and guide the Communion procession; Greeters welcome parishioners and visitors at the door; Lectors proclaim the readings (open to anyone in Grade 5 and older with training); Eucharistic Ministers distribute Holy Communion (open to anyone Confirmed and older); Altar Servers assist the priest (open to anyone who has received First Communion, with siblings allowed to serve together).
- Ushers — contact Parish Office (452-9623)
- Greeters — Judy Grey (452-0609)
- Lectors — Parish Office, Grade 5+
- Eucharistic Ministers — Connie Katchkey (452-0609) or Parish Office
- Altar Servers — Parish Office, after First Communion
- Catechists — [email protected] or Parish Office
Outreach & Social Justice
The Human Concerns/Social Justice Committee coordinates the parish's outreach to the broader Sheboygan community and beyond, partnering with several local agencies. Co-Chairs Jack/John Egan and Sharon Reilly lead the committee with members drawn from both parishes.
- Salvation Army Food Pantry, 710 Pennsylvania Ave, Sheboygan
- Salvatorian Mission Warehouse, 1303 Milwaukee Dr, New Holstein
- Milwaukee Rescue Mission (meal service Wednesdays 4:00–6:00)
- Safe Harbor of Sheboygan (skilled volunteer help)
- Shipping aid to Third World countries
Men's and Youth Ministry
The parish supports both men's and youth spiritual life. That Man is You!, a men's fellowship program, meets Saturdays at 7:00 AM at Blessed Trinity Parish. The Youth Group gathers teens for faith, fellowship, and service across both parishes; specific activities are posted to the parish calendar and youth communications.
- That Man is You — Saturdays 7:00 AM at Blessed Trinity
- Youth Group — see parish calendar for activities
- Pastoral Council youth representatives: Mason K. (BT) and Siena M. (BT)
Pastoral Council & Governance
St. John Evangelist and Blessed Trinity share a single joint Pastoral Council, which advises the pastor and assists in planning the mission and life of both parishes. Officers include a chair, vice chair, trustee treasurer, and secretary, with elected members-at-large from each parish plus two youth representatives.
- Chair: Sarah Schueffner (BT)
- Vice Chair: Rich Michaletz (SJE)
- Parish Administrator: Father Michael Lawinger
- Trustee Treasurer: Rob Wenberg (SJE) & Jim O'Neill (BT)
- Pastoral Council Secretary: Al Mayer (BT)
Getting Involved & Newcomers
Newcomers are warmly welcomed at St. John Evangelist. Volunteers of every age and background are invited to participate in liturgical roles, faith-formation catechesis, social-justice outreach, and parish committees. Weekly bulletins, calendars, and pastoral-council minutes are posted online, and the parish maintains a YouTube channel with formation and announcement videos.
- Parish office phone: (920) 452-9623
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 7:00 AM–4:00 PM; Fri 7:00–11:00 AM
- YouTube: youtube.com/@st.johnevangelistkohler6253
- Bulletin & calendar: stjohnkohler.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Goesl (with a Capuchin Father from Mt. Calvary)1928-1938
Alternated celebrating Sunday Mass for ten years before a resident pastor was appointed.
- Father John Carroll1938-1948
First resident pastor; oversaw groundbreaking (1939), cornerstone laying (1938), and dedication of the church (Sept. 22, 1940).
- Father John Risch1948-1957
Came from Lake Church; oversaw completion of the stained-glass windows and the start of the envelope system in 1948.
- Father Francis Shea1957-~1958
Succeeded Father Risch; left after only 14 months for St. Patrick's, Racine.
- Father William Coxafter Father Shea
Came to St. John's from St. Patrick's, Fond du Lac.
- Father Charles Neu1960s
Oversaw major improvements: pipe organ, chapel renovations, statues, sanctuary carpet, parking lot, landscaping.
- Father Paul Lippert1971 (briefly)
Served as administrator for about a month.
- Father Louis J. Wilimek1971-2001
Installed February 1971; Silver Jubilee of Ordination celebrated May 1975; retired 2001, died 2015.
- Father Tom Lijewski2001-2007
Accomplished musician who brought his own organ into the rectory; presided over the parish's 75th Anniversary in 2002.
- Father Bob (Robert) Lotz2007-2017
Appointed June 19, 2007 as pastor of St. John Evangelist and Blessed Trinity; led the 2010 $2.6M renovation/addition project.
- Father Joseph Dominic2017-2025
Pallotine priest from India; assigned June 2017 as Parish Administrator after Father Bob retired.
- Father Michael Lawinger2025-present
Appointed pastor of Blessed Trinity and St. John Evangelist effective June 1, 2025; ordained at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in 2021.