About St. Joseph · Grafton, Wisconsin
St. Joseph Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish located at 1619 Washington Street in Grafton, Wisconsin, in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Its motto — 'The Hands of Christ…Open to All' — reflects a community that traces its roots to German Catholic immigrants of the 1840s and has grown into a thriving parish with a parish school (K3–Grade 8), lifelong faith formation for all ages, a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference with its own food pantry, and a sister-parish relationship with Los Toros in the Dominican Republic. The parish is led by Fr. Tim Schumaker, who was appointed Administrator in June 2024 and serves as Pastor.
- Established
- 1849
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Tim Schumaker
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. Joseph invites Catholics in the Grafton area into a parish that explicitly lives out its motto 'The Hands of Christ…Open to All.' Members find a full sacramental life — daily and weekend Mass, weekly Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, and weekday devotions — alongside a K3–Grade 8 parish school, lifelong faith formation from OCIA through adult Bible study, youth ministry (Edge, Life Teen, Confirmation), a robust St. Vincent de Paul conference with an on-site food pantry and thrift store in Port Washington, a sister-parish bond with Los Toros in the Dominican Republic, and active ministries for the sick, the grieving, and the homebound. It is a long-rooted community (founded 1849) that combines historic identity with the energy of a growing suburban parish.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 p.m.
- Wednesday: 5:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered at the parish; the parish hosts Eucharistic Adoration and Eucharistic Processions in connection with the U.S. National Eucharistic Revival (consult the parish bulletin for the current schedule).
Parish History — From 1849 to the Present
St. Joseph Parish was founded on November 7, 1849, when Catholic families in Grafton — led by missionary 'circuit riders' Fr. Joseph Salzmann and Fr. Joseph Sadler — gathered for a founding Mass at the Grafton Courthouse. Its roots reach back to the 1840s in nearby Town Ten, where the area's first Catholic church, St. Francis Xavier, had been established before the population shifted east into Grafton. A permanent stone church with a small wooden steeple was built in 1860 and named St. Joseph; lightning destroyed much of it in 1864, and a Bavarian mission society helped fund its rebuilding. The arrival of the railroad and industry in the 1880s spurred further growth, and in 1897 a larger church was built in a Western European architectural style with an ornately decorated interior. The current church was first used on Christmas Eve, 1968, and on March 19, 2001, Archbishop Rembert Weakland dedicated a major addition begun on the previous feast of St. Joseph (March 19, 2000). On November 10, 2024, the parish marked its 175th anniversary with the installation of a Holy Family statue, a memorial book, a video and a reception.
- Founded: November 7, 1849
- Founding priests: Fr. Joseph Salzmann and Fr. Joseph Sadler
- First permanent church: 1860 (stone with wooden steeple)
- Second church: 1897 (Western European style)
- Current church: first Mass Christmas Eve, 1968
- Major addition dedicated by Archbishop Weakland on March 19, 2001
- 175th anniversary celebrated November 10, 2024
Devotions and Prayer Life
The parish actively encourages a devotional life beyond Sunday Mass. Public devotions are offered after weekday Masses on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays: Mother of Perpetual Help on Tuesdays, the Litany of St. Joseph on Wednesdays, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet on Fridays. First Saturdays feature the Marian First Saturday devotion (Fatima tradition). The parish also teaches the Holy Rosary and offers novena resources including the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Divine Mercy Novena (typically prayed beginning Good Friday in preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday).
- Tuesday: Mother of Perpetual Help devotion
- Wednesday: Litany of St. Joseph devotion
- Friday: Divine Mercy Chaplet
- First Saturday: 8:30 a.m. Mass + First Saturday Marian devotion
- Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Divine Mercy Novena (Good Friday through Saturday after Easter)
- Holy Rosary resources
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Tim Schumaker, who was ordained a priest on May 15, 2021 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist by Archbishop Jerome Listecki. After three years as Associate Pastor at St. Dominic Parish in Brookfield, he was appointed Administrator of St. Joseph in June 2024. A full lay staff carries out the parish's ministries in formation, youth, stewardship, music, communications and administration.
- Fr. Tim Schumaker — Parish Pastor (ext. 103; [email protected])
- Lisa Jauron — Business Manager (ext. 102)
- Sheri Hanson — Pastoral Associate (ext. 175)
- Mandy Erskine — Parish Administrative Assistant (ext. 100)
- John Knetzger — Director of Child Ministry (ext. 104)
- KC Kranich — Director of Youth Ministry (ext. 107)
- Becky Meyer — Christian Formation Administrative Assistant (ext. 120)
- Madonne Rauch — Director of Stewardship (ext. 122)
- Bonnie Reineking — Communication Coordinator (ext. 121)
- Andy Smith — Director of Liturgical Music (ext. 106)
Lifelong Faith Formation
The parish describes Christian Formation as a 'womb to tomb' journey. Programs are organized across age groups with a mission to empower parents as primary teachers, form values rooted in Christian living, and teach Catholic tradition and Scripture. Financial hardship is not a barrier — arrangements can be made so 'ALL ARE WELCOME.'
- Adult Ministry: OCIA, Scripture Study, Women's Group, Monday Adult Formation ('The Chosen' on Monday nights), Men's Group
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd K4–K5
- Child Ministry Grades 1–5
- First Reconciliation and First Communion in Grade 2
- Middle School Ministry — Edge (Grades 6–8)
- High School Ministry — Life Teen (Grades 9–10) and Confirmation (Grade 11)
- Young Adult Ministry — Grade 12 and adults in their 20s/30s
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Adults interested in joining the Catholic Church are supported through prayer, instruction, personal reflection and faith sharing as they journey toward the Sacraments of Initiation. OCIA classes meet twice a month on Sunday mornings from 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
- Contact: Sheri Hanson, Pastoral Associate (ext. 175; [email protected])
St. Joseph Parish School (K3–Grade 8)
St. Joseph Parish School (SJPS) integrates Catholic identity with rigorous academics. Religion is part of the daily curriculum along with daily prayer and weekly Masses or prayer services. Beyond core subjects, students receive instruction in music, handwriting/cursive, technology, art, physical education and Spanish; the school also offers STEM, choir, all-school concerts, a buddy program, an annual musical (Grades 3–8), piano lessons, field trips, 1:1 iPad/Chromebook technology, and advanced math and language arts opportunities. SJPS meets Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation (WRISA) standards and is fully accredited for the 2025–2026 school year. Students who meet income and residency requirements may qualify for free tuition through WPCP. Annual service projects include Thanksgiving baskets for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, handmade blankets for Children's Hospital patients, a winter coat and clothing drive for Mr. Bob's Under the Bridge, and middle-school students contribute over 400 service hours each year to organizations including Balance Inc., St. Ben's, and neighbors in need.
- Phone: (262) 375-6505 ext. 0
- Email: [email protected]
- Grades K3–8
- Fully accredited by WRISA for 2025–2026
- Free tuition available through WPCP for qualifying families
Outreach and Human Concerns
St. Joseph's outreach flows through the Human Concerns Committee, which prayerfully discerns and supports an array of organizations. The parish views outreach as the practice of 'looking beyond yourself to the people around you and sharing the love of Christ as you serve and connect with your community.'
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference — person-to-person help with food, rent, utilities, medications, budgeting, transportation; on-site food pantry
- SVDP Thrift Store in Port Washington (in partnership with five other parish conferences)
- Ministers of Care — Communion visits to the homebound, assisted-living, Lasata, Aurora Medical Center (Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun mornings)
- St. Ben's Meal Program, Milwaukee — meal prepared and served on the first Friday of each month
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — monthly on the 3rd Thursday (no meetings in summer)
- Los Toros, Dominican Republic — sister-parish solidarity and mission support
- Drives for Repairs of the Breach, Family Promise, McCannon Brown Center, and House of Peace
Stewardship, Giving and Parish Life
St. Joseph encourages parishioners to take seriously the scriptural call to give back to God through Sacrificial Giving (tithing of time, talent and treasure), a practice introduced at the parish in 1983. Online Giving is available, and a Parish Council with its committees provides consultation and consensus for the pastoral staff. Parish emails go out on Thursdays and Sundays; the parish bulletin is available digitally.
- Online Giving available via parish website
- Parish emails distributed Thursdays and Sundays
- Parish Council and committees guide parish consultation
- Sacrificial Giving (tithing) program since 1983
- Office hours: Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the full sacramental life of the Church. Baptisms are held on the 2nd Sunday of the month after parent preparation sessions; First Reconciliation and First Communion are prepared in Grade 2; Confirmation is prepared in Grade 11. OCIA welcomes unbaptized adults and those entering full communion. Anointing of the Sick and Communion to the homebound are brought by Ministers of Care.
- Baptism: 2nd Sunday of the month (parent prep required)
- First Reconciliation & First Communion: Grade 2
- Confirmation: Grade 11
- OCIA: adults seeking initiation or full communion
- Anointing of the Sick and homebound Communion via Ministers of Care
- Matrimony: contact the parish office
Joining the Parish
Newcomers are warmly welcomed under the parish motto 'Open to All.' To register, stop in the parish office Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., call (262) 375-6500 ext. 122, or join online through the parish website.
- In-person: Parish Office, Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Phone: (262) 375-6500 ext. 122
- Online: 'To Join Online' link on the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Salzmann1849 (founding)
One of two founding 'circuit rider' missionary priests who guided the founding of the parish on November 7, 1849.
- Fr. Joseph Sadler1849 (founding)
Co-founder of the parish alongside Fr. Salzmann.
- Fr. William (Rev.)1860–1865 (first resident pastor per 1896 history)
Built the 1860 stone church; resigned in late 1865.