About St. Jude the Apostle -Sacred Heart · Oshkosh, Wisconsin
St. Jude the Apostle Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, formed on July 14, 2007, by the merger of three south-side Oshkosh parishes: St. Vincent de Paul, St. John the Evangelist, and Sacred Heart. The combined parish worships at two historic churches — Sacred Heart Church on Knapp Street and St. Vincent Church on Oregon Street — while sharing a single parish office and school. Located within the Diocese of Green Bay, St. Jude's describes itself as a community united in faith in Jesus Christ and grounded in the traditions of the Catholic Church, proclaiming the Gospel and celebrating the sacraments.
- Established
- 2007
- Patron
- St. Jude the Apostle
- Rector
- Fr. Louis Golamari (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
St. Jude the Apostle offers the rare richness of a Catholic community shaped by three historic parishes united as one. Members enjoy Mass in two beautiful, historic churches (Sacred Heart and St. Vincent), a thriving parish school, a robust religious education program for grades 1–12, an active adult faith formation program with Bible studies and pilgrimages, and an extensive music ministry with adult, youth, and children's choirs. Add in ministries such as That Man Is You, the Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and outreach to Father Carr's Place 2B, and the parish offers something for nearly every age, interest, and stage of life.
Mass times at St. Jude the Apostle -Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 3:30 pm – St. Vincent Church
- First Friday of the month after the 7:30 am Mass – Sacred Heart Church
Adoration times
- Holy Hour at Sacred Heart Church – Thursday evenings (weekly; see parish calendar), 6:00 pm
- Divine Mercy Chapel at St. Mary Church (key-code access; contact parish office)
Parish History and Identity
St. Jude the Apostle Parish was formed on July 14, 2007, by the merger of three south-side Oshkosh parishes — St. Vincent de Paul, St. John the Evangelist, and Sacred Heart. Although loyalties to the three individual churches ran deep, the people joined together, remained faith-filled and forged ahead, producing an active and growing Catholic community within the Diocese of Green Bay. Of the three original worship sites, St. John was closed and sold, while Sacred Heart and St. Vincent remain as weekend and weekday worship sites. The parish's mission statement describes it as 'a community united in faith in Jesus Christ and grounded in the traditions of the Catholic Church,' embracing the continuation of Christ's mission through the proclamation of the Gospel and celebration of the sacraments.
- 2007 merger of St. Vincent, St. John the Evangelist, and Sacred Heart
- St. John closed and sold after merger
- Sacred Heart and St. Vincent still serve as worship sites
- Diocese of Green Bay parish
Sacred Heart Church (1906)
Sacred Heart Church was built in 1906 on the corner of 5th and Knapp Streets, with parishioners themselves digging the basement by hand. The building was designed so that the school occupied the first floor and the church proper the second — a practical arrangement common to parish-school complexes of that era. In 2003 the interior was again renovated, with many of the old marble elements brought back into use in new ways. After the 2007 merger, a meditation garden was added to the Sacred Heart grounds. The worship site, at 519 Knapp St, remains one of two locations where St. Jude the Apostle parishioners attend weekend Mass.
- Built 1906, corner of 5th and Knapp Streets
- Basement dug by hand by parishioners
- School on first floor, church on second
- Interior renovated 2003 with restored marble
- Meditation garden added post-merger
- Address: 519 Knapp St, Oshkosh, WI 54902
St. Vincent Church
St. Vincent Church, at 1225 Oregon Street, is the second of St. Jude's two remaining worship sites. After the 2007 merger it continued as a hub for the new parish, hosting Saturday Vigil Mass and one of the two Sunday Masses. It also serves as the location for Saturday confessions.
- Address: 1225 Oregon Street, Oshkosh, WI 54902
- Hosts Saturday 4:30 pm Vigil Mass
- Hosts Sunday 10:00 am Mass
- Saturday confessions at 3:30 pm
Clergy, Pastoral, and Support Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Louis Golamari as Parish Administrator, with Deacon Brad Gallenberg serving as Business Manager and part of the clergy team. Pastoral staff and support staff include a maintenance coordinator (Michael Cheskie), bookkeeper (Jan Fendt), and technology and communications coordinator (Caleigh Lippert). Adult Faith Formation is coordinated by Michael Wilms. Religious Education questions are directed to Courtney Foster at the parish office. The shared phone number for all parish contacts is (920) 235-7412.
- Fr. Louis Golamari – Parish Administrator ([email protected])
- Deacon Brad Gallenberg – Business Manager
- Michael Cheskie – Maintenance Coordinator
- Jan Fendt – Bookkeeper
- Caleigh Lippert – Technology and Communications Coordinator
- Michael Wilms – Adult Faith Formation
- Courtney Foster – Religious Education
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Jude's welcomes children and teens into a structured religious education program. Classes for grades 1–8 meet on Wednesdays, beginning September 9, 2026, for the 2026–2027 academic year, while high school classes begin Sunday, September 13. The cost is $70 per child, capped at $140 per family, and post-Confirmation high schoolers may attend free of charge. Adult Faith Formation offers Bible studies, bus pilgrimages, and ongoing formation programs, with Michael Wilms as the main contact.
- Grades 1–8 RE: Wednesdays beginning Sept 9, 2026
- High School RE: Sundays beginning Sept 13, 2026
- $70/child, $140/family max
- Adult Faith Formation – Bible studies, pilgrimages
- OCIA sponsor program for adults entering the Church
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Music is central to parish worship at St. Jude the Apostle, with choirs for adults, youth, and children, plus opportunities for cantors and instrumentalists. Liturgical roles also include lectors, Communion ministers, altar servers (youth and adult), sacristans, altar linen and vessel ministers, and Art & Environment. Livestreaming assistants help extend Mass online for the homebound and those who cannot attend in person.
- Adult Choir
- Youth Choir
- Children's Choir
- Cantors and Instrumentalists
- Lectors and Communion Ministers
- Altar Servers (youth and adult)
- Sacristans
- Altar Linen & Vessel Ministry
- Art & Environment
- Livestreaming Assistants
Prayer and Pastoral Outreach
A robust network of prayer and outreach ministries supports parishioners and the wider community. Marian Prayer gatherings, a prayer chain, and the Legion of Mary (meeting Tuesdays at 1:30 pm) sustain devotional life. Men's spirituality is nurtured through the That Man Is You (TMIY) program. Pastoral care extends to homebound and hospitalized parishioners through the Communion to the Homebound ministry, complemented by a Care Ministry for the bereaved and those facing illness.
- Marian Prayer gatherings
- Prayer chain
- Legion of Mary – Tuesdays 1:30 pm
- That Man Is You (TMIY) – men's spirituality
- Adoration Chapel (Divine Mercy Chapel, St. Mary)
- Communion to the Homebound/Hospitalized
- Care Ministry (bereavement, illness)
Social Outreach and Community Life
St. Jude the Apostle extends its mission beyond the parish walls through the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Knights of Columbus, and partners locally with Father Carr's Place 2B, a well-known Oshkosh assistance organization. The parish also has a strong tradition of community-building events: an annual Volunteer Dinner, parish festivals, a parish picnic, Senior Young-at-Heart potluck, and Coffee & Donut Sundays. During EAA AirVenture week the parish runs an EAA food booth and helps with EAA housing/hospitality — a distinctly Oshkosh form of outreach.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Knights of Columbus
- Father Carr's Place 2B
- EAA food booth and housing/hospitality
- Farmers' Market booth and bakers
- Parish festivals and picnic
- Coffee & Donut Sundays
- Annual Volunteer Dinner
- Senior Young-at-Heart Potluck
St. Vincent School
St. Vincent School is the parish school associated with St. Jude the Apostle, located at 1207 Oregon St., Oshkosh. The school stems from the historic Sacred Heart school tradition and provides Catholic elementary education for parish families. Volunteer opportunities at the school include preschool teacher/aide roles.
- Address: 1207 Oregon St., Oshkosh, WI 54902
- Catholic parish elementary school
- Volunteers include preschool teachers and aides
Getting Involved — Volunteer Opportunities
St. Jude runs a Volunteer Interest Form where parishioners can sign up across five broad categories: Liturgical Ministry, Welcome Ministry (greeters, ushers, funeral bereavement), Catholic Religious Education (catechist, aide, youth minister), Prayer and Pastoral Outreach (prayer chain, Marian prayer, Legion of Mary, TMIY, care ministers), Social Outreach (St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, Father Carr's), and Social Events (potlucks, festivals, coffee and donuts). Other opportunities include Front office assistant, Building & Grounds, Church opener, Babysitting, the Caring for God's Creation Committee, and the parish's signature EAA Food Booth and EAA Housing/Hospitality during AirVenture week.
- Liturgical Ministry
- Welcome Ministry
- Catholic Religious Education (catechists, aides)
- Prayer and Pastoral Outreach
- Social Outreach (SVdP, Knights, Father Carr's)
- Social Events (festivals, picnic, coffee & donuts)
- EAA Food Booth & Housing/Hospitality
- Building & Grounds, Front Office, Caring for God's Creation Committee
Visiting and Contact
St. Jude the Apostle welcomes new visitors and makes it easy to register, request sacramental forms, or simply visit the parish library. The parish office — at 1025 W. 5th Avenue, next to Sacred Heart Church — is the central point of contact for all parish business. Because the parish worships at two sites (Sacred Heart on Knapp Street and St. Vincent on Oregon Street) plus a separate office building, the website's 'I'm New Here' and 'Church Locations' pages help newcomers find their way.
- Parish Office: 1025 W. 5th Avenue, Oshkosh, WI 54902
- Phone: (920) 235-7412
- Sacred Heart Church: 519 Knapp St, Oshkosh, WI 54902
- St. Vincent Church: 1225 Oregon St, Oshkosh, WI 54902
- 'I'm New Here' page for first-time visitors