About St. Katherine Drexel Parish · Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
St. Katharine Drexel Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, belonging to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Formed in 2003 from the merger of three historic Beaver Dam parishes — St. Michael (Madison St.), St. Patrick (Maple Ave.), and St. Peter (Spring St.) — the community now worships in the former St. Peter's church on South Spring Street. The parish is named for St. Katharine Drexel, the Philadelphia heiress-turned-religious sister who devoted her life to Native Americans and African Americans and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000. Today the parish serves a multilingual flock with weekend Masses in English and Spanish, runs St. Katharine Drexel School, and operates a wide network of formation, outreach, and liturgical ministries alongside five affiliated Dodge County parishes.
- Established
- 2003
- Patron
- St. Katharine Drexel (St. Katherine Drexel)
- Rector
- Father Will Arnold
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. Katharine Drexel is a welcoming, family-oriented parish that worships in two languages and walks with parishioners from baptism through adulthood. Families can enroll their children in the parish school or K-7 faith formation program, adults can grow through RCIA, Bible study, and small groups, and the broader community is served through the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, Loaves and Fishes community meals, the Right to Life and Pregnancy Support Center, communion to the homebound, prison ministry, and a Knights of Columbus council. With daily Mass, Friday Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction, and a deep bench of liturgical volunteers, the parish offers a full Catholic life in the heart of Beaver Dam.
Mass times at St. Katherine Drexel Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 12:00–1:00 PM at St. Katharine Drexel Parish
- Friday 5:30–6:30 PM at St. Katharine Drexel Parish
- Saturday after 9:00 AM Mass at St. John the Baptist, Clyman
Adoration times
- Friday 9:00 AM through 6:45 PM (Benediction at 6:45 PM) at St. Katharine Drexel Parish
About the Parish
St. Katharine Drexel Parish describes itself as a family-oriented, cooperative and caring Catholic community of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee rooted in three earlier Beaver Dam parishes that merged in 2003. Its stated mission is 'We live by the Eucharist, Prayer, Works of Mercy, Formation of Faith,' and its vision is 'Inspired by the Holy Spirit, we follow Jesus to the Father in Heaven.' The parish invites visitors and members to get involved through organizations, choirs, and parish ministries, framing participation as a way to help build the Kingdom of God.
- Mission: Eucharist, Prayer, Works of Mercy, Formation of Faith
- Vision: Following Jesus to the Father in Heaven
- Welcomes members, guests, and newcomers
Parish Patron: St. Katharine Drexel
The parish takes its name from St. Katharine Drexel, who was born into a wealthy Philadelphia family but devoted her life and fortune to the poor, especially Native Americans and African Americans. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2000, and her feast day is celebrated on March 3. The parish explicitly embraces her example of outreach to those in need as part of its identity.
- Canonized October 1, 2000 by Pope John Paul II
- Feast day: March 3
- Model of missionary outreach to Native Americans and African Americans
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a three-priest team supported by a deacon and a robust lay staff. Father Will Arnold is the Pastor; Father Thomas Naidu and Father Nick Dhein serve as Associate Pastors. Deacon Paul Kennedy assists with ministry. Pastoral Council Chair John Leiting leads the council; Peter Laning is Director of Administrative Services and Stewardship; Kristin Adsit directs Liturgy and Music; Jennifer Weiss directs Youth & Young Adult Ministries; Chris Brooks is the school principal. Trustees Ed Cody and John Bowser (Sacristan) round out the leadership, with parish secretary Peggy Hess, bookkeeper Rose Klavekoske, and additional staff Sarah O'Brion, Angela Zwald, and Jennifer Sekel.
- Pastor: Fr. Will Arnold (ext. 302)
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Thomas Naidu (ext. 309)
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Nick Dhein (ext. 305)
- Deacon: Paul Kennedy
- Pastoral Council Chair: John Leiting
- Director of Administrative Services & Stewardship: Peter Laning
- Director of Liturgy & Music: Kristin Adsit
- Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries: Jennifer Weiss
- School Principal: Chris Brooks
- Trustees: Ed Cody and John Bowser
Faith Formation (Religious Education)
The Faith Formation program serves children from Kindergarten through 8th grade and is run on Wednesday evenings from 6:15–7:30 PM in the school gym, with age-specific breakout sessions in the school and church. Sacramental preparation (First Reconciliation and First Eucharist) is a parent-partnership model requiring attendance at sessions, retreats, and parent meetings. Curriculum includes the Word of Life series (St. Augustine Press) for younger grades and a two-year middle-school scripture rotation covering the four major sections of the Old and New Testaments. Formation is offered in both English and Spanish.
- Sessions Wednesdays 6:15–7:30 PM
- K–5 uses the Word of Life series (St. Augustine Press)
- Two-year middle school scripture rotation
- Sacramental prep is parent/child partnership
- Required retreats for Reconciliation and Eucharist
- Faith Formation available in English and Spanish
St. Katharine Drexel School
St. Katharine Drexel School (skds.org) is a Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, located on the parish campus at 503 S. Spring St., Beaver Dam. The school partners with the parish in faith formation and service and depends on significant parent/guardian volunteer involvement. Volunteer opportunities range from classroom and lunch-room help to athletics, Home and School Association, Scrip, tutoring, and parish-level service such as catechesis and Parish Council.
- Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
- Located at 503 S. Spring St., Beaver Dam
- Faith & Service programming
- Volunteers required to complete Safeguarding All God's Family training and a criminal background check
Outreach & Social Ministry
St. Katharine Drexel's social ministry is organized through the Human Concerns Committee and a wide array of hands-on ministries. The parish sponsors a St. Vincent de Paul Conference and Food Pantry (St. Katharine Drexel Conference of SVdP), supports Loaves and Fishes — an ecumenical free community meal — and sustains ministries to the homebound, those in prison, and grieving parishioners. Right to Life and the Pregnancy Support Center extend the parish's pro-life mission, while Catholic Women and the Prayer Shawl Ministry provide fellowship and care.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society & Food Pantry
- Loaves and Fishes community meal
- Communion to the Homebound
- Prison Ministry
- Grief Support Group
- Right to Life / Pregnancy Support Center
- Catholic Women
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
Liturgical & Music Ministries
The parish's Liturgy and Worship Committee, under the Director of Liturgy and Music, supports a robust offering of liturgical ministries. Volunteers serve as Lectors, Altar Servers, Hospitality/Ushers, Sacristans, Cantors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Art and Environment caretakers, and Church Cleaning teams. Music is provided by the Adult Choir, Funeral Choir, Children's Choir, Cantors, and Instrumentalists. Eucharistic Adoration is offered all day Friday with Benediction at 6:45 PM.
- Lectors, Altar Servers, Hospitality/Ushers
- Sacristans, Cantors, Extraordinary Ministers
- Adult, Funeral, and Children's Choirs
- Art and Environment / Church Cleaning
- Friday Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction
Parish Councils & Committees
Parish life is shepherded by several councils and committees that advise the pastor and implement the parish mission. The Pastoral Council provides overall pastoral direction; the Finance Council advises on temporal matters; the Stewardship Committee promotes intentional Christian stewardship; the Buildings and Grounds Committee oversees facilities; and the Lifelong Faith Formation and Evangelization Committee supports catechesis and evangelization. Fundraising and cemetery committees round out parish governance.
- Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
- Stewardship Committee
- Buildings and Grounds Committee
- Lifelong Faith Formation and Evangelization Committee
- Cemetery committee / Ed Cody (Cemeteries)
Affiliated Parishes in Western Dodge County
Since a pastoral reorganization under the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, St. Katharine Drexel is affiliated with five other Catholic communities in western Dodge County. The three priests of St. Katharine Drexel — Fr. Will Arnold (Pastor) and Associate Pastors Fr. Thomas Naidu and Fr. Nick Dhein — share pastoral responsibility across this grouping. The parish's website lists all six worship sites and their addresses.
- St. Columbkille, Elba — W10802 County Road TT, Columbus, WI 53925
- St. John the Baptist, Clyman — 714 Church Street, Clyman, WI 53016
- Holy Family, Reeseville — 304 Prairie Street, Reeseville, WI 53579
- St. Joseph, Waupun — 118 West Main Street, Waupun, WI 53963
- Annunciation, Fox Lake — 305 W Green Street, Fox Lake, WI 53933
Visit, Register & Contact
The parish's 'I'm New Here' page invites newcomers to weekend Mass, lists service times, and offers online registration. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–3:30 PM and Friday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM, with the parish office at 408 S. Spring Street. Messages can be directed to specific staff via the website's contact form, with the general inbox at [email protected] and the main phone line at 920-887-2082 (fax 920-885-7602).
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–3:30 PM; Fri 8:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Parish office: 408 S. Spring St., Beaver Dam, WI 53916
- Phone: 920-887-2082; Fax: 920-885-7602
- Email: [email protected]
- Online registration available for new parishioners