St. John Neumann

History of St. John Neumann Parish

St. John Neumann was canonically established by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in March 1981 after St. Mary Parish petitioned for relief from overcrowding. Reverend Michael Neuberger was appointed founding pastor on July 1, 1981 and celebrated the parish's first Mass on September 13, 1981 in the gym of Rose Glen School, where the community worshipped for six years. The Archdiocese purchased 24 acres at the present State Road 59 site in January 1982, but slow growth in the area postponed construction. Approval to build came in 1986; construction ran through the summer of 1987, and the first Mass in the new church was celebrated on November 29, 1987 — exactly six years after that first Mass at Rose Glen. Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland formally dedicated the parish on November 29, 1981 (the founding anniversary).

• Canonically established: March 1981
• First pastor: Rev. Michael Neuberger (appointed July 1, 1981)
• First Mass: September 13, 1981 at Rose Glen School
• First Mass in new church: November 29, 1987
• Formal dedication by Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland

Parish Name and Patron

The parish is named for St. John Neumann (1811–1860), a Redemptorist missionary who immigrated from Bohemia, served immigrants in the United States, and in 1852 was appointed the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia. As bishop, he organized the first diocesan Catholic school system in the United States, increasing parish schools in the diocese from one to roughly 200, and promoted the Forty Hours Devotion. He died suddenly on a Philadelphia street on January 5, 1860, was beatified in 1963, and was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1977. His memorial is celebrated in the Roman calendar on January 5, and he is the patron saint of Catholic education.

• Patron: St. John Neumann
• Feast Day: January 5
• Patronage: Catholic Education

A Community Marked by Loss and Devotion

During the early building campaign, the parish lost founding staff member Reverend John Eagan, the weekend visitor and 'help-out priest' who was diagnosed with advanced cancer and died on Palm Sunday 1987. The chapel on the St. John Neumann campus is named in his honor, and remains home to the cluster's Perpetual Adoration Chapel, where parishioners and visitors keep watch before the Blessed Sacrament day and night.

Catholic Community of Waukesha / Corpus Christi Parish

On July 1, 2017, St. John Neumann joined St. Joseph, St. William, and St. Mary parishes as part of the Catholic Community of Waukesha, a single pastoral team led by a pastor with associate pastors serving all four worship sites. Each parish retains its own parish council, trustees, and financial records. On July 1, 2025, the four parishes were canonically merged into a single parish, Corpus Christi Parish, with Archbishop Emeritus Jerome E. Listecki having selected the name from three finalists (Blessed Carlo Acutis, St. Maximilian Kolbe, and Corpus Christi). The four existing worship sites — including St. John Neumann at 2400 W. State Road 59 — remain open, and the Waukesha Catholic School System was renamed Corpus Christi Parish School.

• Catholic Community of Waukesha formed: July 1, 2017
• Merger into Corpus Christi Parish: effective July 1, 2025
• Current pastor: Rev. Matthew Widder (with associate pastors Fr. Jorge Perez and Fr. Dominic Lazzaroni)

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith Formation for children, youth, and adults across the cluster is led by Erin Erickson (Director of Formation/Youth Ministry Coordinator), Peggy Lanser (Adult and Family Ministry Coordinator), Mary Thiel (Formation Assistant), and Julie Dennert (Child & Youth Ministry Associate). Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is coordinated cluster-wide, and the cluster's Waukesha Catholic School System (now Corpus Christi Parish School) serves K3 through Grade 8 across the St. William and St. Mary campuses.

• Director of Formation / Youth Ministry Coordinator: Erin Erickson
• Adult and Family Ministry Coordinator: Peggy Lanser
• Child & Youth Ministry Associate: Julie Dennert
• Formation Associate: Mary Thiel
• Sacramental Coordinator: Wanda Roth
• Sacrament of First Holy Communion celebrated on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi

Hispanic Ministry

The cluster's Hispanic Ministry is directed by Mario Perez (Director) and Rosana Perez (Hispanic Ministry Coordinator) and serves Spanish-speaking parishioners across all four parishes, including a Spanish-language Mass livestreamed on the Catholic Community of Waukesha YouTube channel.

Liturgy & Music

Liturgy and music across the cluster is led by Bob Gallagher, Director of Music & Liturgy, and Karen Flesses, Associate Director of Liturgy and Music. The team coordinates music and liturgical ministries at each of the four worship sites, supporting the weekend and weekday Mass schedules at St. John Neumann.

Pastoral & Societal Ministry (Outreach)

Pastoral and societal ministry is led by Janet Yahnke, Director of Societal & Pastoral Ministry and Human Resources, who also serves as Bereavement Coordinator. The Compassionate Card Ministry sends cards to parishioners who are homebound or in need of encouragement, and the cluster's outreach welcomes anyone seeking support.

• Director of Societal & Pastoral Ministry & HR: Janet Yahnke
• Compassionate Card Ministry — contact [email protected]
• Bereavement ministry offered cluster-wide

Parish Leadership & Pastoral Council

The cluster's citywide Pastoral Council is composed of the pastor (Fr. Matthew Widder), the associate pastors, three at-large members from each of the four parishes, and two trustees from each parish. St. John Neumann's trustees are John MacGregor and Robin Wiedenhoeft, with council members Timothy LeRoy, Mike DuPont, and Rudy Spiering. The Pastoral Council meets on the third Wednesday of the month, currently at the Vercelli House on the St. William campus, and parishioners are encouraged to attend.

• St. John Neumann Trustees: John MacGregor, Robin Wiedenhoeft
• St. John Neumann Council Members: Timothy LeRoy, Mike DuPont, Rudy Spiering
• Council meets third Wednesday of the month at the Vercelli House

Parish Staff and Operations

Cluster operations are led by Nick Sanders, Chief Operating Officer, with Wanda Roth as Sacramental Coordinator, Debbie Buchert and Michelle Herbner in Finance, Cassie Duck as Communications Manager, Pat Sennott as Events & IT Manager, Andy Dejewski as Facilities Manager, and Tony Gorzalski in maintenance. The parish office (the Vercelli House at 440 N. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha) is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm; the main phone line is 262-922-9285.

• Chief Operating Officer: Nick Sanders
• Sacramental Coordinator: Wanda Roth
• Communications Manager: Cassie Duck
• Facilities Manager: Andy Dejewski
• Office: Vercelli House, 440 N. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha
• Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Getting Involved

Parishioners can get involved in many ways across the Catholic Community of Waukesha: by committing to a weekly hour of Perpetual Adoration at the St. John Neumann chapel; by joining the Compassionate Card Ministry; by serving as a liturgical minister at Mass; by enrolling children in faith formation and the parish school; or by joining the Pastoral Council, which holds open meetings at the Vercelli House on the third Wednesday of each month.