About St. John · Seymour, Wisconsin
St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic community located at 915 Ivory Street in Seymour, Wisconsin, within the Diocese of Green Bay. Founded in 1869 when local Catholics purchased an abandoned log schoolhouse for worship, the parish was formally established in 1874 with the dedication of its first church under the patronage of St. John the Baptist. The parish marked its 150th anniversary in 2024 with a special Mass and a 'Tales from the Passed' cemetery walk honoring the pioneers buried in the adjoining parish cemetery. Today the parish offers weekend and weekday Masses, religious education for children and youth, adult faith formation, a Be Frienders visitation ministry, and outreach to local charities including St. Vincent de Paul and an AIDS orphanage in Thailand.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Fr. Sengole Dass (current pastor referenced in 2025–2026 liturgical schedules and council photos)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is a small, generational parish where most members still know each other by name, set on a single block of Ivory Street in Seymour with its church, school building, rectory, and 1876 cemetery. It offers the full rhythm of Catholic life — weekday and weekend Mass, Saturday confession, a Saturday Holy Hour of Adoration, Bible study, faith formation for preschool through 11th grade, and a Be Frienders visitation ministry for the homebound and those in crisis. The community is rooted in family faith and small-town outreach, actively supporting the local St. Vincent de Paul Society, Mother and Unborn Baby Care in Appleton, Community 2000 on campus, and an AIDS orphanage in Thailand called Sarnelli House — making it a good fit for Catholics who want a parish that is both traditionally devotional and personally connected.
Mass times at St. John
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 pm (and by appointment)
Adoration times
- Holy Hour of Adoration (Saturday) — exact weekly time not listed on public site; see 'Schedules' / 'Dynamic Catholic' pages
About St. John the Baptist Parish
St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish in Seymour, Wisconsin, is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Green Bay. The community began in 1869 when local Catholics bought an abandoned log schoolhouse for worship, and the first church was dedicated under the patronage of St. John the Baptist in 1874. The present church was built in 1974 during the parish's centennial year and remodeled in 2008. The parish identifies its mission with John 1:29 — pointing others to Jesus as the Lamb of God — and seeks to grow in faith through worship, formation, and service.
- Patron: St. John the Baptist
- Diocese: Green Bay
- Address: 915 Ivory Street, Seymour, WI 54165
- Phone: (920) 833-6140
- Office Hours: Mon–Thurs 8:00 am–3:00 pm
History of the Parish
The parish's founding story stretches back to 1869 and includes three successive church buildings, more than a century of Catholic schooling, and an enduring parish cemetery. Key milestones include the 1874 dedication of the first church by Father Edmund Walsh, the 1875/76 appointment of Rev. Roman Scholter as the first resident pastor, the construction of a new church in 1900 and a rectory in 1910, the 1974 building of the present church under Msgr. Jim Dillenberg (dedicated 1975 by Bishop Aloysius J. Wycislo), the 2008 interior remodel, and the 150th anniversary celebration in 2024. The parish school closed in 2006.
- 1869 — Catholics buy an abandoned log schoolhouse for worship and instruction.
- 1872 — Community requests a full-time priest and permission to build a church.
- 1874 — First church built; dedicated by Father Edmund Walsh under the patronage of St. John the Baptist.
- 1875/76 — Rev. Roman Scholter becomes the first resident pastor; school, rectory, and enlarged church built under his tenure.
- 1877 — School Sisters of Notre Dame begin teaching at the parish school (succeeding the Ursuline Sisters).
- 1900 — A second, larger church is built.
- 1910 — New rectory constructed.
- 1974 — Current church built during Msgr. Jim Dillenberg's pastorate and the parish centennial.
- 1975 — Bishop Aloysius J. Wycislo dedicates the new church.
- 2006 — Parish school closes after more than a century of operation.
- 2008 — Interior of the church remodeled.
- Sept. 8, 2024 — 150th anniversary Mass and dinner.
- Sept. 28, 2024 — 'Tales from the Passed' cemetery walk honors parish pioneers.
Sacraments
St. John the Baptist prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation, healing and service. Baptism requires preparation for both parents and godparents, with at least three months' notice to the parish office. Reconciliation is offered weekly on Saturday afternoons. The Anointing of the Sick is available on request, and First Communion, Confirmation and Marriage preparation are arranged through the parish office.
- Baptism — preparation required; contact the office at least 3 months in advance
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:00 pm
- Sacrament of the Sick (Anointing) — by request
- First Communion and Confirmation — via Religious Education
- Marriage — preparation required; contact the parish office
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at St. John the Baptist spans preschool through 11th grade and includes parallel adult formation opportunities. The Religious Education program meets on Wednesday evenings during the school year, with younger grades gathering in the school building and high-school youth meeting twice a month. A 'Children of God' class is offered for Pre-K and Kindergarten children during the 10:00 am Sunday Mass.
- Religious Education: Grades 1–8, Wednesdays 6:15–7:15 pm
- High School Youth Ministry: Grades 9–11, twice monthly Wednesdays 6:15–7:15 pm
- Children of God: Pre-K and Kindergarten during 10:00 am Sunday Mass
- Adult Bible Study: weekly one-hour discussion-based sessions
- Family Faith Formation Grant Program: parish-funded grants for faith-building workshops and retreats
Parish-Wide Ministries and Outreach
Beyond worship and formation, the parish operates a network of lay ministries and supports several charitable causes. The Be Frienders Ministry sends trained lay visitors to those experiencing life transitions or crisis. The Parish Council, Finance Council and Worship Committee guide parish life, while Christian Women and Money Counters keep the parish running. Outreach extends to the local St. Vincent de Paul Society, Mother and Unborn Baby Care (Vida Support Services) in Appleton, Community 2000 (located on parish grounds), and Sarnelli House, an AIDS orphanage in Thailand.
- Be Frienders Ministry — visitation to homebound; contact Jim Wurl, 833-7734
- Parish Council
- Finance Council
- Worship Committee
- Christian Women
- Money Counters
- Liturgical Ministries (scheduled online)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (local conference)
- Mother and Unborn Baby Care / Vida Support Services, Appleton
- Community 2000 (on-campus charitable organization)
- Sarnelli House — AIDS orphanage in Thailand
Parish Staff and Leadership
The parish is currently served by Fr. Sengole Dass as pastor, who appears in current Parish Council, Finance Council and Worship Committee photos on the parish website and is the author of recent liturgical ministry letters. The parish also has a deacon (Deacon Rich, referenced in altar-server correspondence) and a parish staff reachable through the parish office Monday through Thursday.
- Fr. Sengole Dass — Pastor
- Deacon Rich — referenced in liturgical ministry letter to altar servers
- Parish Council, Finance Council, and Worship Committee — lay leadership
St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery
The parish cemetery, located at 1166 Ivory Street in Seymour, was established in 1876, with the first two burials taking place in 1877. It contains the graves of many founding Catholic families of the Seymour area and remains an active cemetery. The iron perimeter fence was refurbished during Fr. Bob Kabat's tenure as pastor, and the steel 'St. John's Catholic Cemetery' sign was designed and built as a donation by parishioner Don Vanden Heuvel. In 2024 the cemetery was the focus of the 'Tales from the Passed Cemetery Walk,' an event held in connection with the parish's 150th anniversary.
- Address: 1166 Ivory Street, Seymour, WI 54165
- Established: 1876 (first burials 1877)
- Iron fence refurbished under Fr. Bob Kabat
- Steel sign donated by parishioner Don Vanden Heuvel
- Featured in 2024 'Tales from the Passed' 150th-anniversary cemetery walk
I'm New — Visiting and Joining the Parish
Visitors are warmly welcomed at St. John the Baptist. Mass times and confession schedule are listed above; children are welcome to remain with parents during Mass and a 'baby room' is available when needed. During the religious education year a Children of God class for Pre-K and Kindergarten meets during the 10:00 am Sunday Mass in the school building, so younger children do not need to remain in the pew if they prefer. Newcomers wishing to register, schedule a baptism, or arrange marriage preparation are encouraged to call the parish office at (920) 833-6140 during office hours.
- Children may stay with parents; a 'baby room' is available
- Children of God class for Pre-K and K during 10:00 am Mass
- Office: (920) 833-6140 — Mon–Thurs 8:00 am–3:00 pm
- Address: 915 Ivory Street, Seymour, WI 54165
Links of Interest
The parish curates a list of external Catholic links for parishioners and visitors, including the Diocese of Green Bay, MassTimes.org for travel planning, Mother and Unborn Baby Care, Vida Support Services, the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment, New Advent, and the New Community Shelter.
- Diocese of Green Bay — gbdioc.org
- MassTimes.org — masstimes.org
- Mother and Unborn Baby Care / Vida Support Services — fvmubc.org
- National Committee for a Human Life Amendment — nchla.org
- New Advent — newadvent.org
- New Community Shelter
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Edmund Walsh1874
Dedicated the first church and placed it under the patronage of St. John the Baptist; not a resident pastor.
- Rev. Roman (Romanus) Scholter1875/1876 – c. late 1870s
First resident pastor. Built school, rectory, enlarged the church; school served by Ursuline Sisters with ~80 students.
- Msgr. Jim Dillenberg1972 – 1980
Led construction of the current (1974) church during the parish centennial; Bishop Wycislo dedicated the new church in 1975.
- Fr. Leonard Evers1980 – 1989
Appointed pastor of St. John the Baptist in Seymour in 1980; ministered for nine years before being appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Shawano. Later served St. Mary of the Lake, Lakewood, and St. Martin of Tours, Cecil. Died February 2017.
- Fr. Bob Kabatlater 20th/early 21st c. – c. 2010s
Served as pastor at St. John the Baptist in Seymour; led the refurbishment of the iron fence at the parish cemetery. Now pastor at St. Matthew Parish in Allouez.
- Fr. Sengole Dasspresent (2025–2026)
Current pastor; appears on Parish Council, Finance Council and Worship Committee in current photos and 2025–2026 liturgical ministry letters to volunteers.