About St. Joseph · Appleton, Wisconsin
St. Joseph Parish is a Catholic faith community in the heart of downtown Appleton, Wisconsin, founded in 1867 by German-speaking settlers and staffed by Capuchin Franciscans since 1877. The parish shares its historic church building on West Lawrence Street with generations of Fox Valley Catholics and continues to serve the surrounding community through daily and weekend Masses, faith formation, devotions, and outreach programs such as the weekly Grab and Go community meal. As a parish of the Diocese of Green Bay, St. Joe's combines a deep 19th-century immigrant heritage with active contemporary ministry to parishioners of all ages in the greater Appleton/Fox Cities area.
- Established
- 1867
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Raymond Stadmeyer, OFM Cap
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay (Vicariate IV – Fox Valley)
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers a rare combination: a Capuchin-staffed, downtown Appleton parish with deep 19th-century roots, weekday noon Masses in the heart of the week, and a Saturday 4:00 pm livestream for the homebound. Active parishioners can pray with the Prayer Warriors on Tuesday mornings, adore the Eucharist on Wednesdays and First Fridays, serve the hungry through the Tuesday Grab and Go community meal in the Great Hall, and bring their children through a full Pre-K through high school faith formation and sacramental preparation program rooted in the Finding God curriculum. It is a parish where history, daily devotion, and hands-on outreach genuinely intersect.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 9:00 AM (Private Reconciliation)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM (Prayer for Peace Adoration)
- Friday: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM (First Friday of every month)
History of St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph Parish was established on March 19, 1867 — the Feast of Saint Joseph — when Bishop John Martin Henni of Milwaukee formally authorized the German-speaking Catholics of Appleton to form their own national parish, separating from the Irish-led St. Mary's. The Saint Joseph Society bought land on what is now West Lawrence Street, and a former Jefferson schoolhouse was cut in half and rolled down the street to serve as the first church. Father Uhlemayer celebrated the inaugural Mass on October 18, 1868, Bishop Melcher dedicated the building on December 13, 1868, and Fr. Joseph Nussbaum became the first resident pastor on February 25, 1869. By 1872 the present brick church was built under Fr. Ferdinand Stern, and in 1877 Fr. Didacus Wendle became the first Capuchin Franciscan pastor, beginning a Capuchin presence that has continued for nearly 150 years.
- 1867 – Parish authorized by Bishop Henni on the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19).
- 1868 – First Mass celebrated October 18; church dedicated by Bishop Melcher December 13.
- 1869 – Fr. Joseph Nussbaum arrives as first resident pastor.
- 1870 – School opened in the church basement under Fr. Stern.
- 1872 – Present brick church completed (100 × 50 ft, 150-ft steeple).
- 1877 – First Capuchin pastor (Fr. Didacus Wendle); Capuchins remain to this day.
- 1878 – 20 acres purchased along the Fox River for St. Joseph Cemetery.
- 1992 – 125th anniversary celebrated.
- 2016–17 – 150th Jubilee year closes with Mass and Bishop Ricken on March 19, 2017.
Clergy & Staff
St. Joseph Parish is pastored by Capuchin Franciscans and currently listed in the Diocese of Green Bay directory under Rev. Raymond Stadmeyer, OFM Cap, with Deacon Mark Farrell assisting. Parish business is coordinated through the office under Administrative Assistant Dana Schmidt.
- Pastor: Rev. Raymond Stadmeyer, OFM Cap
- Deacon: Mark Farrell
- Admin Assistant: Dana Schmidt ([email protected])
Pastor History
The parish's published history lists more than 30 pastors since 1868. The early pastors were diocesan priests; from Fr. Didacus Wendle (1877) onward the parish has been entrusted to the Capuchin Franciscans. In modern times the parish was led by Fr. Larry Abler (2003–2010), Fr. James Leary (2010–2021) — who shepherded the 150th Jubilee — and Capuchins Fr. Gerry Pehler (2021–2022), administrator Fr. Raja Selvam (2022–2023), and the current pastor Rev. Raymond Stadmeyer, OFM Cap.
- Fr. Joseph Nussbaum (1868–1870) — first resident pastor
- Fr. Ferdinand Stern (1870–1877) — built the present church
- Fr. Didacus Wendel (1877–1879) — first Capuchin pastor
- Fr. Larry Abler (2003–2010)
- Fr. James Leary (2010–2021) — 150th Jubilee
- Fr. Gerry Pehler, OFM Cap (2021–2022)
- Fr. Raja Selvam (2022–2023) — administrator
- Rev. Raymond Stadmeyer, OFM Cap — current pastor
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
St. Joseph Parish runs a full Pre-K through high school Children's Faith Formation program (CFF) running October through May, using the Finding God curriculum from Loyola Press. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion is a two-year series begun in 1st grade; Confirmation preparation is a 7th–9th grade program meeting three Sundays a month. An adapted Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC) is offered for older youth seeking Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation at Easter.
- Pre-K & Kindergarten – meets during 9 AM Mass (must be potty trained; contact Meredith Wright).
- 1st Grade Sacramental Prep (Year 1 of 2) – Sundays 10:15–11:00 AM, Parish Center.
- 2nd Grade Sacramental Prep (Year 2 of 2) – Sundays 10:15–11:00 AM; Reconciliation in early winter, First Communion in late spring.
- 3rd & 4th Grade Faith Formation – one Sunday per month on Zoom.
- 5th & 6th Grade Faith Formation – in person two Sundays a month; focuses on scripture and moral formation prior to Confirmation prep.
- 7th–9th Grade Confirmation Preparation – three Sundays a month, Social Hall classrooms.
- RCIC (Adapted for Children) – for older youth seeking full initiation at Easter.
Outreach & Community Life
Faith at St. Joe's is lived out in the surrounding neighborhood. The parish hosts Grab and Go, a weekly community meal served every Tuesday from 12:30 to 3:00 PM in the Great Hall. The annual Fall Festival and raffle, planned by a dedicated Raffle Committee, brings parishioners together each year for fellowship and fundraising. The parish also livestreams its Saturday Vigil Mass so that the homebound, the sick, and those traveling can remain connected.
- Grab and Go community meal – Tuesdays 12:30–3:00 PM, Great Hall
- Fall Festival Raffle Committee
- Saturday 4:00 PM Mass livestream on YouTube
- Parish office open Monday–Thursday 9–3 and Friday 9–12
St. Joseph Cemetery
St. Joseph Cemetery is a separately incorporated Catholic cemetery founded on September 1, 1878, when the parish purchased 20 acres along the Fox River. Originally developed in the spirit of the rural-cemetery movement, the now 38-acre grounds feature well-kept lawns, elegant statues, a water fountain, flower beds, and a picturesque lannon-stone chapel, and are overseen by a local board of directors. Early cemetery records were kept entirely in German; from 1909 onward they were maintained in English. Many founding parishioners of St. Joseph Church are buried here.
- Founded September 1, 1878 (20 acres on the Fox River).
- Now 38 acres with lannon-stone chapel and water fountain.
- Records in German until 1909, then English.
- Operated independently of the parish by a local board of directors.
- Website: stjosephcemetery.us
Parish School & Catholic Education
St. Joseph's parish school was opened by Fr. Ferdinand Stern in the church basement in 1870 and taught first by the Sisters of St. Agnes, then by the Sisters of Notre Dame, until the school closed in the late 1970s. Today parish children attend St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System (SFXSS), the consolidated Catholic school system serving the Appleton area.
- Parish school founded 1870 in the church basement.
- Taught by Sisters of St. Agnes, then Sisters of Notre Dame.
- School closed in the late 1970s.
- Today: St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System (SFXSS).
Visit & Contact
St. Joseph Parish is located in downtown Appleton at 404 W. Lawrence Street. Parishioners and visitors are welcome at weekend and weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, confession, and parish events. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM to noon, or by appointment with staff.
- Address: 404 W. Lawrence St., Appleton, WI 54911-5817
- Phone: 920-734-7195
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9–3, Fri 9–12 (or by appointment)
- Facebook: facebook.com/stjosephappleton
- YouTube & Instagram: @st_joseph_appleton
- Listed as 'Special Needs Accessible' in the diocesan directory.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Nussbaum1868–1870
First resident pastor of the parish.
- Fr. Ferdinand Stern1870–1877
Built the present church (1872) and founded the parish school.
- Fr. Didacus Wendel1877–1879
First Capuchin Franciscan to serve as pastor, beginning the Capuchin tradition.
- Fr. Bonaventure Frey1879–1882
- Fr. Francis Haas1882–1885
- Fr. Bernadine Schmitz1885–1888
- Fr. Pacificus Berlemann1888–1889
- Fr. Lawrence Henn1889–1891
- Fr. Honoratus Schmidt1891–1894
- Fr. Timothy Grossman1894–1897
- Fr. Ignatius Ulrich1897–1900
- Fr. Larry Abler2003–2010
- Fr. James Leary2010–2021
Led the yearlong 150th Jubilee celebration culminating in a March 19, 2017 Jubilee Mass with Bishop Ricken.
- Fr. Gerry Pehler, OFM Cap2021–2022
34th pastor of St. Joseph Parish; a Capuchin who joined the order in 1969 and was ordained in 1988.
- Fr. Raja Selvam2022–2023
Administrator (about seven months); from the Diocese of Sivagangai, India; completed doctoral studies in Media Evangelization at Catholic Theological Union while at St. Joe's.
- Rev. Raymond Stadmeyer, OFM Cap2023–present (per 2023–24 Diocesan Directory)
Current pastor; Capuchin Franciscan.