About St. Margaret Mary · Milwaukee, Wisconsin
St. Margaret Mary is a Catholic parish on the west side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded in 1955 and devoted in a special way to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and is one of several parishes served collaboratively by its clergy alongside nearby Blessed Savior and the Northwest Milwaukee Catholic Parishes. Located at the corner of 92nd & Capitol, the campus includes a church, school, parish center, gym, rectory, and large parking lot. Worship includes weekend and weekday Mass, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, and devotions such as the Rosary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help novena, and the Litany of the Sacred Heart.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Patrick (Pat) Nelson, SDS
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. Margaret Mary is a friendly, diverse faith community on Milwaukee's west side with deep roots in Sacred Heart devotion and a tradition of strong Catholic schooling. Worship here goes beyond weekend Mass: parishioners gather for Eucharistic Adoration (especially on First Fridays and in quarterly all-afternoon Thursdays), our devotions to the Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, weekly Bible Study, and a flourishing Music Ministry. The parish runs an associated Catholic school, an active Faith Formation program for children preparing for First Eucharist and Confirmation, parish-led outreach through the Human Concerns Commission, and parish leadership opportunities through the Pastoral Council — making it a place where newcomers can quickly plug into prayer, formation, and service.
Mass times at St. Margaret Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Saturday 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Adoration times
- Every First Friday, after the 8:15 a.m. Mass
- 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. every Thursday in March, June, September, and December
Parish History
Founded in 1955 under Father Raymond Vint, the parish first worshipped at Divine Savior High School until its first church was completed in April 1957. The school opened in September 1959, the rectory followed in 1958, and a convent for the teaching Sisters of St. Agnes arrived in 1962. The current church was dedicated with its first Mass on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, June 17, 1977. The parish marked its 50th anniversary in 2005 — the same year it named its hall for Father Robert Sampon — and entered a collaborative era in 2018 when Fr. Patrick Nelson was appointed Administrator, becoming Pastor in 2020.
- Founded: June 1, 1955
- First church: April 1957
- School opened: September 1959
- Convent built: 1962
- Present church dedicated: June 17, 1977 (Feast of the Sacred Heart)
- 1992: Convent converted into Parish Center, named for Sr. Maureen Courtney
- 2002: Church renovation
- 2005: 50th Anniversary; Sampon Hall dedicated
- 2017: Parish enters collaborative model with Blessed Savior and Northwest Milwaukee Catholic Parishes
Mission, Vision & Campus
St. Margaret Mary exists to promote devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to further the Love of Christ through catechesis, sacrament, education, and invitation, and to gather others to that Sacred Heart. The parish envisions itself as a diverse faith community marked by spiritual vitality, shared stewardship of prayer, ministry, and finance, lifelong education, and collaboration for evangelization and social justice.
- Located at the corner of 92nd & Capitol Drive
- Easy access from I-41/45 via the Capitol Drive exit
- Large parking lot
- Church at the west side of campus
- Parish Center (connected to the school) directly east of the church
- Rectory faces 92nd Street (pastor's residence)
- Gym and basement hall along 92nd Street
Pastoral Staff
St. Margaret Mary is collaboratively pastored. Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS, serves as Pastor across St. Margaret Mary, Blessed Savior, and the Northwest Milwaukee Catholic Parishes. Associate Pastors Fr. Mark Payne and Fr. Francis Assisi Sebamalai serve the same cluster. Permanent Deacon Tony Dompke staffs the parish office Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., assisting with sacraments, faith formation, and funeral planning. Brother Joe Pense, SDS — a former community-mental-health professional — ministers to homebound parishioners, leads Bereavement Ministry, and welcomes anyone wanting a listening companion.
- Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS — Pastor
- Fr. Mark Payne — Associate Pastor (Marquette-educated, former Norbertine, ordained 1994)
- Fr. Francis Assisi Sebamalai — Associate Pastor (Sri Lankan, PhD from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross)
- Deacon Tony Dompke — Permanent Deacon (ordained September 2024)
- Br. Joe Pense, SDS — Pastoral Associate
Parish Office & Support Staff
Supporting the clergy and ministries is a small but dedicated administrative team. Neal Bardele directs parish music and is a graduate of StMMP grade school himself, with additional training at Marquette and UW–Madison; he also performs across southeastern Wisconsin as a jazz pianist. Donica Lintner serves as Executive Secretary, joining the staff in April 2024. Dale Mayer leads Building & Grounds (listed with another name — Dain Mayer — on the staff page) to keep the busy campus running smoothly.
- Neal Bardele — Director of Music (since 2011; StMMP grade school alumnus)
- Donica Lintner — Executive Secretary
- Building & Grounds team keeping the campus in shape
Devotions & Devotional Life
St. Margaret Mary nurtures a rich devotional life befitting its Sacred Heart patroness. The Rosary is prayed before Tuesday and Thursday morning Masses and after weekend Masses. Tuesdays close with the Our Lady of Perpetual Help novena, and Thursdays close with the Litany of the Sacred Heart. Bible Study meets Tuesday evenings in Sampon Hall from September through early February, and the parish gathers Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. for the Emmaus 90 Watch Party.
- Rosary before Mass (Tue/Thu) and after Mass (Sat/Sun)
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help — Tuesdays after Mass
- Litany of the Sacred Heart — Thursdays after Mass
- Tuesday-night Bible Study — Sampon Hall, September 8 – February 9
- Emmaus 90 Watch Party — Thursdays, 7:00 p.m.
St. Margaret Mary Catholic School
St. Margaret Mary Catholic School shares its campus with the parish and continues a tradition stretching back to 1959. The school partners with parents and guardians to prepare students for a holy and successful future through academic excellence, faith formation, moral development, and service to others, with a values-driven, standards-based core curriculum. Neal Bardele, the parish's Director of Music, is a graduate of StMMP grade school — a testament to the school's long-standing impact.
- Mission: preparing students for a holy and successful future
- Pillars: academic excellence, faith formation, moral development, service
- Continuous operation since 1959 (originally staffed by Sisters of St. Agnes)
- Connected to the Parish Center on the east side of campus
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Margaret Mary is described as a lifelong process, beginning at baptism and continuing throughout life. The parish offers Faith Formation classes preparing children and teens for the sacraments of First Holy Eucharist and Confirmation, a Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) for younger children, and communal learning opportunities for adults through Bible Study in Sampon Hall. A joint Faith Formation Committee (with neighboring Blessed Savior) advises staff on sacramental preparation and adult/family ministry.
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW)
- Faith Formation classes preparing for First Holy Eucharist and Confirmation
- Tuesday-night Bible Study for adults (Sampon Hall)
- Joint Faith Formation Committee with Blessed Savior Parish
Outreach & Human Concerns
The Human Concerns Commission (HCC) organizes the parish's outreach to a wide variety of neighbors in the Milwaukee area who are struggling at the margins of society — helping with food, housing, fellowship, employment search, education, tax services, and the unique needs of expectant mothers and the elderly. Bereavement ministry, especially under Br. Joe Pense, complements this work by walking with those who have lost a loved one.
- Human Concerns Commission (HCC)
- Outreach to those on the margins of society
- Services for expectant mothers and the elderly
- Bereavement Ministry led by Br. Joe Pense, SDS
Pastoral Council & Leadership
Parishioners shape the mission of St. Margaret Mary through the Pastoral Council, which consults with the pastor in planning pastoral activity. By structure it operates with four standing commissions — evangelization and formation; worship; human concerns; and stewardship — each of which may establish its own committees or ministry teams. Parish trustees of the parish corporation also serve on the council by virtue of their office.
- Evangelization & Formation commission
- Worship commission
- Human Concerns commission
- Stewardship commission
- Parish trustees sit on the council by virtue of office
Visit & Contact
Parishioners, visitors, and seekers are warmly welcomed — the official site invites newcomers to introduce themselves after Mass and to join the parish family. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The parish can always be reached by phone and supports messages through its online contact form.
- 3970 N. 92nd St., Milwaukee, WI 53222-1301
- Phone: 414-461-6073
- Office hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Deacon Tony in the office Mon–Fri, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Raymond Vint1955–January 1982
Founding pastor; led parish from establishment until retirement; original church later converted to gym and named for him.
- Father Robert Sampon1982–1994
Succeeded Fr. Vint; church hall named for him in 2005 in recognition of his service.
- Father Ralph Gross1994–2006
Oversaw the 2002 church renovation and the parish's 50th Anniversary in 2005.
- Father Vince Kobida2006–2012
- Father Michael LightnerJune 2012–June 2017
Served as Administrator.
- Father Michael BarrettJuly 2017–
Appointed Temporary Administrator.
- Father Patrick Nelson, SDSJuly 2018–present
Appointed Administrator July 2018; became Pastor May 2020; now serves collaboratively with Blessed Savior and the Northwest Milwaukee Catholic Parishes.