St. Mary

Welcome & Identity

The official website introduces St. Mary as a parish that 'has served the Lake Michigan community of Algoma and surrounding area since 1860.' Whether you are a life-long Algoma resident, new to the area, or 'just passing through,' visitors are welcomed to join the congregation in celebrating 'love of God and faith in our Risen Lord Jesus Christ.' The parish logo and homepage emphasize the iconic steeple and the Ahnapee River bluff setting.

History of St. Mary Parish

Founded in 1860 by German and Bohemian immigrants, St. Mary was given its first resident priest in 1869. The current brick church was completed in 1904 and its ornately carved altars and stained-glass windows depicting the Seven Sacraments have been central to parish life ever since. In June 2019 a team of steeplejacks cleaned, re-shingled, re-trimmed and repainted the famous steeple so it could continue to be a beacon for miles around. The parish has moved in and out of formal pastoral links with Holy Rosary Parish in Kewaunee, with leadership under successive priests including Fr. William Swichtenberg, Fr. John Becker, Msgr. Jim Dillenburg, Fr. Ron Colombo, Rev. Andrew Kurz, and now Rev. Timothy Machila, OFM Conv.

• 1860 — Parish organized by German and Bohemian immigrants.
• 1869 — First resident priest assigned.
• 1904 — Present brick church completed.
• 2005 — Linked with Holy Rosary (Kewaunee) under Fr. William Swichtenberg.
• 2014 — Deacon Chuck Agnew appointed Pastoral Coordinator.
• June 2019 — Steeple restoration completed.
• 2023–24 Directory — Administered by Rev. Andrew Kurz, with Deacon Dennis Sutter.
• July 1, 2025 — Rev. Timothy Machila, OFM Conv., appointed Administrator.

Architecture & Sacred Art

The sanctuary is described as 'traditional style' by visiting pilgrims, with intricately carved main and side altars. Visitors consistently highlight the stained-glass windows, whose iconography depicts the Sacraments, as the building's most beautiful interior feature.

• Tall brick steeple — Algoma landmark.
• Ornate carved main altar and two side altars.
• Stained-glass windows depicting the Seven Sacraments.
• Steeplejacks' restoration work, June 2019.

Clergy & Staff

Pastoral leadership currently rests with Rev. Timothy Machila, OFM Conv., as Administrator (effective July 1, 2025), with Deacon Dennis Sutter assisting. Parish operations are coordinated by Administrative Assistant Susan Dean; faith-formation contact is Austin Rahill. The Diocese of Green Bay 2023–24 Directory lists the parish office phone as 920-487-5005 and the religious education office at 920-487-5004.

• Administrator: Rev. Timothy Machila, OFM Conv.
• Deacon: Dennis Sutter
• Lay Pastoral Associate / RE Contact: Austin Rahill
• Administrative Assistant: Susan Dean
• Linked parish: Holy Rosary, Kewaunee.

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Religious education is administered from the parish office at 214 Church Street, with Austin Rahill serving as the primary contact (920-487-5004; [email protected]). The program prepares children for the sacraments and continues the parish's nearly 165-year tradition of catechesis begun with its German and Bohemian founders.

• RE Office: 214 Church St., Algoma, WI 54201.
• RE Phone: 920-487-5004.
• Contact: Austin Rahill ([email protected]).

Parish Life & Community Events

St. Mary is well known across Algoma and the Door Peninsula for its signature community-building events. The parish Facebook page and the Algoma Chamber list the Fall Festival (held in November with dinner, silent and live auctions, a kids' bucket raffle, Cash Raffle sales, bingo and live music) and a Lenten Fish Fry & Trout Boil series (Fridays in February and March) sponsored by the Catholic Order of Foresters and Thrivent Financial. Knights of Columbus and Buildings & Grounds committees provide ongoing volunteer leadership.

• Fall Festival — November (dinner, auctions, raffles, bingo, live music by Jennifer Highland).
• Lenten Fish Fry & Trout Boil — Fridays in February & March, dine-in / takeout / drive-up.
• Knights of Columbus / Catholic Order of Foresters — parish fundraisers.
• Buildings & Grounds committee.
• Pastoral Council meetings.

Sacraments & Devotions

Beyond daily Mass, the parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church: weekly Confession, Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays, Sunday Rosary before Mass, and preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage and Anointing of the Sick through the parish office. Reconciliation and Adoration times are posted prominently on the homepage alongside Mass times.

• Baptism — contact parish office.
• First Eucharist / First Reconciliation — through Religious Education.
• Confirmation — through Religious Education.
• Marriage — contact parish office.
• Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office.
• Sunday Rosary — 7:45 AM.

Contact & Visit

Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish by phone at 920-487-5005, by email at [email protected], or through the website at stmarysalgoma.com. The church is located at 118 Church Street on the Ahnapee River bluff in Algoma (mail and the Religious Education office use 214 Church Street, Algoma, WI 54201-1035). A weekly bulletin and parish calendar are published on the website so visitors can plan around Mass, Confession, Adoration and parish events.

• Parish Office: 920-487-5005.
• Religious Education: 920-487-5004.
• Email: [email protected].
• Website: https://stmarysalgoma.com/.
• Bulletin and calendar published online.