About St. John the Evangelist · Greenfield, Wisconsin
St. John the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic parish in Greenfield, Wisconsin, a southwestern Milwaukee suburb, in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Founded in 1916 in a former synagogue on 9th and Mineral Street, the parish relocated in 1967 to its present 28.5-acre campus at 8500 West Cold Spring Road after the construction of I-94 forced the move. The parish is best known in the area for its Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel (24 hours a day, seven days a week), its livestreamed Masses, and an active K4-8 parish school that schedules weekly Mass, monthly Prayer Pods, and Eucharistic Adoration for its students.
- Established
- 1916
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Very Rev. Michael Merkt
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic Eucharistic community that explicitly commits itself to stewardship, lifelong Christian formation, and modeling Catholic values in partnership with families. The parish offers an unusually rich devotional life: nine weekly Masses (including a Saturday Vigil), Friday and Saturday confessions, and a Perpetual Eucharist Adoration chapel open around the clock. It runs a K4-8 parish school, a youth religious education program for grades 1–11 (with Confirmation preparation), adult faith formation and OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for newcomers, and a beloved annual summer festival that has raised more than $70,000 each year for parish causes since 1968. Since May 2020 the parish has livestreamed its Masses and now also livestreams its adoration chapel 24/7.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday after the 8:00 a.m. Mass (around 8:30 a.m.)
- Saturday after the 8:00 a.m. Mass (around 8:30 a.m.)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (enter via the south doors of the Church)
History of St. John the Evangelist
St. John the Evangelist was born on April 26, 1916, when Fr. Mark Pakiz, with the blessing of Archbishop Sebastian Messmer, purchased a former synagogue at 4th Ave. and Mineral Street (later 9th and Mineral) for $5,500. Until 1929 it was a mission of St. Mary Help of Christians in South Milwaukee; after Fr. Pakiz's death, Rev. Wencelaus Solar, O.S.B., and Msgr. August Breig split the congregation into two independent parishes. Subsequent decades brought a 1938 rectory and a 1952 parish hall, and in 1952 the Archdiocese entrusted St. John's to the Slovenian Franciscan Fathers (O.F.M.) from Lemont, Illinois. In 1965, with the construction of I-94 forcing displacement, Archbishop William E. Cousins approved the move of the parish to 84th and Cold Spring Road, where 28.5 acres were bought for $90,000. While the new church was built, Mass was held every Sunday at the Mellody Bar on Hwy 100 and Layton from January 1966 to June 25, 1967. The parish's grade school opened in September 1968 (originally three grades, first graduating class in 1974), and the first parish festival was held that summer. After pastor Fr. Lawrence Grom, O.F.M., died in 1991, the Franciscan order—facing its own priest shortage—returned St. John's to the Archdiocese in 1992. Fr. Richard Talaska became pastor with Fr. Richard Verberg as associate, serving until their 2008–2009 retirements. They were followed by Fr. Quentin Heck (2008–2009), Fr. Richard Verberg as temporary administrator (2009), Fr. Daniel Volkert (2009–2012), and finally Fr. Michael Merkt, who was appointed administrator in 2012 and installed as pastor in 2013.
- 1916 — Fr. Mark Pakiz founds the parish in a former synagogue, $5,500
- 1929 — Mission becomes a separate parish under Solar, O.S.B. and Msgr. Breig
- 1938 — New rectory built
- 1952 — New parish hall; parish entrusted to Slovenian Franciscan Fathers of Lemont, IL
- 1965 — Archbishop Cousins approves relocation to 84th & Cold Spring Rd.; 28.5 acres purchased for $90,000
- 1966–1967 — Sunday Mass held at the Mellody Bar, Hwy 100 and Layton
- June 25, 1967 — First Mass in new church
- 1968 — Grade school opens (first class graduates 1974); first parish festival raises $9,000
- 1970s–1980s — Expansion of rectory, narthex, choir loft, tower, and school (K5 classroom, music and computer rooms, gym)
- 1991 — Death of Fr. Lawrence Grom, O.F.M.; Franciscans return parish to Archdiocese
- 1992–2008 — Fr. Richard Talaska serves as pastor; Fr. Richard Verberg as associate
- 2008–2012 — Frs. Heck, Verberg (admin), and Volkert
- 2012–2013 — Fr. Michael Merkt appointed administrator, then installed as pastor (continuing today)
Our Staff
The parish team is led by pastor Very Rev. Michael Merkt, supported by Deacon Steve Pemper, and a six-member lay and school leadership staff. The parish office can be reached at 414-321-1965.
- Pastor — Very Rev. Michael Merkt
- Deacon — Steve Pemper
- Director of Administrative Services — Denise Kasulke
- Director of Liturgy & Music — Karen Schulteis
- Director of Lifelong Faith Formation — John Paul Shimek ([email protected])
- Bookkeeper and Buildings & Grounds Coordinator — George Pitman
- Parish Secretary — Jan Sadlon
- School Principal — Ben Oberdorf
- Parish Office: 414-321-1965
- School Office: 414-321-8540
- Faith Formation Office: 414-321-8922
St. John the Evangelist School
St. John the Evangelist School, founded in 1968 (with its first graduating class in 1974), serves children from K4 through 8th grade on the parish campus. Principal Ben Oberdorf leads a staff that includes a Spanish teacher, a music teacher, a learning resource coordinator, art and academic support, marketing and staff support, and grade-level teachers for K4, K5, Grades 1, 2, and Grade 8 (middle school science and religion). The school's stated identity is "a community modeling and nurturing Catholic values and academic excellence in partnership with families." Faith is woven through the school day. Students in grades 4K–8 attend a weekly Mass planned by a different grade each week, with weekly prayer services and school-wide rosaries led by National Junior Honor Society members. Eucharistic Adoration is offered for grades 5K–8 multiple times per week or month depending on grade, the school prays the Stations of the Cross each Friday during Lent, and grades 3–8 receive Reconciliation twice a year. Other distinctive faith activities include monthly Prayer Pods that mix ages 4K–8 for activities, prayer, and treats like Resurrection Rolls; a May Crowning prayer service; preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion; Junior Lector (grades 5–8) and Altar Server (grades 4–8) programs; Schoenstatt Girls Groups; Saint of the Day reflections; and an All Saints Day Mass in which students dress as their chosen patron saint.
- Grades served: K4 through 8
- Principal: Ben Oberdorf (joined SJE in 2021–22)
- Weekly Mass for grades 4K–8
- Eucharistic Adoration for grades 5K–8 multiple times per week/month
- Junior Lector Program (grades 5–8)
- Altar Server Program (grades 4–8)
- Schoenstatt Girls Groups
- National Junior Honor Society leadership
- Monthly Prayer Pods (mixed-age 4K–8)
- May Crowning and Stations of the Cross in Lent
- Reconciliation twice per year, grades 3–8
- Service hour requirements, grades 5–8
Lifelong Faith Formation
Lifelong Faith Formation at St. John the Evangelist follows the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' framework of integrating faith with everyday life through study, prayer, community, and service. The parish offers an Adult Faith Formation program and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for newcomers inquiring about the Catholic faith, as well as ongoing enrichment for all adults.
- Adult Faith Formation program
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Director of Lifelong Faith Formation: John Paul Shimek
- Faith Formation Office: 414-321-8922
Youth Religious Education and Confirmation
The Youth Religious Education program for the 2025–2026 academic year serves students in Grades 1–8, with a separate Confirmation track for Grades 9–11. Online registration is available through the parish website; mid-year enrollments are directed to John Paul Shimek at [email protected]. Two printable calendars—one for Grades 1–8 and one for Grades 9–11/Confirmation—outline the meeting schedule for the year.
- Grades 1–8 Faith Formation
- Grades 9–11 Confirmation preparation
- Online registration portal
- Contact: John Paul Shimek, [email protected]
- Faith Formation Office: 414-321-8922
Worship Life and Devotions
Beyond Sunday Mass and the perpetual Adoration chapel, St. John the Evangelist's devotional life centers on Eucharistic devotion, Confession on Friday and Saturday mornings, livestreamed worship, and special seasonal devotions at the parish school such as May Crowning and the Stations of the Cross. Vacation Bible School is an annual summer offering (most recently June 15–19, 9:00 a.m. to noon) and Masses continue every weekday, providing a steady rhythm of prayer for the parish community.
- Perpetual Adoration chapel open 24/7
- Confession after the 8:00 a.m. Mass on Fridays and Saturdays
- Daily Mass at 8:00 a.m., Monday through Saturday
- May Crowning (school)
- Stations of the Cross each Friday in Lent (school)
- Vacation Bible School (annually)
- 24/7 Adoration livestream
Parish Festival and Community Life
The parish festival is one of St. John the Evangelist's longest-running traditions. First held in the summer of 1968, it raised $9,000 in its inaugural year to launch the parish school. The festival continues today and raises more than $70,000 annually, funding parish causes and the school. It is the spiritual and social heart of parish life each summer, drawing generations of founding, relocating, and current families together on the Cold Spring Road campus.
- First held 1968 — raised $9,000
- Continues today as an annual summer event
- Currently raises over $70,000 each year
- Family-friendly community gathering on the parish grounds
Mission and Identity
St. John the Evangelist describes itself in formal terms as "a Roman Catholic Eucharistic community faithful to the values and traditions of the Church." The parish commits itself to living the faith every day, embracing stewardship, and being nurtured by continuous Christian formation. Its partnership with families—especially through the parish school—is central to that identity, as is its dedication to Eucharistic devotion through perpetual Adoration.
- "a Roman Catholic Eucharistic community faithful to the values and traditions of the Church"
- Stewardship
- Continuous Christian Formation
- Faith–family partnership (school motto)
Getting In Touch and Visiting
Visitors and parishioners are welcome to contact the parish, school, or faith formation office directly during office hours. The parish is recognized as part of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, where the parish is listed among Archdiocesan churches with Mass, confession, and Adoration times published.
- Parish: 414-321-1965
- School: 414-321-8540
- Faith Formation: 414-321-8922
- Address: 8500 W. Cold Spring Rd., Greenfield, WI 53228
- Diocesan listing: archmil.org/places/st-john-the-evangelist-greenfield
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Mark Pakiz1916–(d. 1929)
Purchased the former synagogue in 1916; founding pastor; served until his death in 1929.
- Rev. Wencelaus Solar, O.S.B. and Msgr. August Breig1929–(later)
Helped divide St. John's and St. Mary Help of Christians into two separate parishes.
- Slovenian Franciscan Fathers (O.F.M.) of Lemont, IL1952–1992
Archdiocese entrusted the parish to the Franciscans in 1952; they returned it to the Archdiocese in 1992.
- Fr. Lawrence Grom, O.F.M.1980–1991
Pastor since 1980; died in the fall of 1991.
- Fr. Richard Talaska1992–2008
First archdiocesan pastor after the Franciscans returned the parish in 1992.
- Fr. Richard Verberg1992–2009
Associate Pastor 1992–2008; Temporary Administrator 2009.
- Fr. Quentin Heck2008–2009
- Fr. Daniel Volkert2009–2012
- Fr. Michael Merkt2012–present
Appointed administrator in 2012; installed as pastor in 2013.