About St. Mary · Appleton, Wisconsin
St. Mary Parish is the oldest Roman Catholic parish in Appleton, Wisconsin, part of the Diocese of Green Bay. Organized in 1859 by Irish Catholic settlers, it was the first Catholic congregation in the city and the only one until 1866. More than 165 years later, the parish continues to serve downtown Appleton from its landmark 1874 brick church on South State Street, offering daily and weekend Masses, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation for children and youth, and a deeply rooted cemetery ministry. It remains a vibrant downtown parish led today by Father Bill Swichtenberg, pastor since 2014.
- Established
- 1859
- Patron
- Mary, Mother of Jesus (under the title "St. Mary of the Seven Dolors")
- Rector
- Father Bill Swichtenberg
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
St. Mary offers the rare combination of an historic downtown church (Appleton's oldest Catholic parish, founded 1859) and a vibrant, contemporary parish life. Parishioners worship in the beautifully maintained 1874 Gothic brick church and are nourished by daily noon Masses, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, weekly Adoration on Wednesday evenings, and a Rosary group. Children and youth grow in faith through the Beacon Faith Formation program (grades 1–12), and the parish supports families through sacramental prep, small groups, prayer chains, and a dedicated pastoral care ministry. With a warm welcome from staff like Nadine Duncan (Pastoral Care) and Lori Lavalle (Parish Vitality), newcomers can quickly plug into small groups, ministry teams, and the fellowship committee — making this a place where the legacy of 165 years of faith meets a living, active community.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00 AM in the Chapel
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration: Sunday 1:00 AM – 5:00 PM in the Church (Vespers & Benediction at 5:00 PM)
- Perpetual Adoration: Monday 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Tuesday 9:00 AM – Friday 5:00 PM in the St. Joseph Chapel
- Weekly Adoration: Wednesdays 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM in the Chapel
Parish History & Heritage
Organized by Fr. J. N. Pfeiffer and the Irish Catholics of Appleton in 1859, St. Mary Parish was the first Roman Catholic church in the city — and the only one until 1866. Mass had first been celebrated in the area in 1848 in the log home of pioneer Hippolyte Grignon, attracting Irish famine-era immigrants to the Fox River Valley. The cornerstone of the present brick church was laid in 1874, designed by local architect Thomas O'Keefe. Massive windstorms toppled the south steeple in 1923 and again in 1930; both steeples were eventually replaced with the lower parapets seen today. A 2018 renovation (about $450,000), the first since 1987, replaced lighting, restored wooden pews and laid new flooring.
- 1848: First Mass in Appleton celebrated in the Grignon log home
- 1859: Parish organized under Fr. J. N. Pfeiffer; frame church built
- 1860: Church dedicated to Mary under the title 'St. Mary of the Seven Dolors'
- 1864: First parochial school in Appleton opened at St. Mary's
- 1874: Present brick church built (architect Thomas O'Keefe)
- 1923 & 1930: Windstorms topple the south steeple; steeples later replaced with parapets
- 2018: $450,000 interior renovation completed
The Church Building
The current St. Mary Church is an Early Victorian Gothic Revival brick church at 312 South State Street, in the heart of Appleton's historic Old Third Ward. O'Keefe's symmetrical Gothic design is a well-preserved example of an early Gothic style popular before the more ornate High Victorian Gothic took hold in later Wisconsin church architecture. A two-story modern parish center is attached.
- Architectural style: Early Victorian Gothic Revival
- Construction: Brick, 1874
- Architect: Thomas O'Keefe
- Address: 312 S. State St., Appleton, WI 54911
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
The Beacon Faith Formation program serves children and teens from 1st through 12th grade, gathering on Wednesday evenings during the school year. The program name comes from the image of Jesus as the guiding light — the 'Beacon' that helps us find our way home and is sent out into the world.
- Grades 1–5: Wednesdays 4:45–6:00 PM
- Grades 6–12 (Edge & Life Teen model): Wednesdays 6:30–8:00 PM
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (ages 3–6): Sundays during 9:45 AM Mass
- First Reconciliation & First Communion preparation
- Confirmation program (with small-group leaders)
- Totus Tuus summer program
- Student service hours and scholarships
Adult Discipleship & Small Groups
Discipleship at St. Mary means letting Jesus shape how parishioners think, feel and live. A Strategic Discipleship Committee, formed out of the parish synod, builds a formational pathway toward missionary discipleship for all ages. Adult disciples can join small groups for prayer, faith-sharing and friendship, or get involved as Beacon catechists, core team members, or general support volunteers.
- Strategic Discipleship Committee (monthly Monday evenings)
- Small groups for adults — see Small Group Calendar
- Beacon Catechist (Wednesdays 4:45–6:00 PM)
- Beacon Core Team for middle & high school (Wednesdays 6:30–8:00 PM)
- Beacon Confirmation small-group leaders
- Beacon General Support Team
- Discipleship pathway for all ages
Pastoral Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Father Bill Swichtenberg, who has served as pastor since 2014. A scientist-turned-priest who worked at the Appleton Institute of Paper Chemistry before his 1983 ordination, Fr. Bill describes his role as 'a good shepherd — sometimes out in front, sometimes in the middle, sometimes in the rear.' He is supported by a dedicated lay staff, deacons, and musicians.
- Fr. Bill Swichtenberg — Pastor (since 2014; cell 920-422-4316)
- Deacon Gerry
- Nadine Duncan — Director of Pastoral Administration & Pastoral Care
- Andrew Reimer — Minister of Adult Disciples (joined January 2026)
- Tracy Turba — Minister of Young Disciples
- Lori Lavalle — Minister of Parish Vitality
- Tom Walter — Director of Liturgical Music (with the parish since 2003)
- Brian Dresang — Business Administrator
- Pastoral Leadership Council
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
Through the Pastoral Care office (Nadine Duncan and Andrew Reimer), the parish accompanies those preparing for marriage, presenting babies for baptism, grieving the loss of a loved one, or exploring becoming Catholic. Funeral Masses are offered at the church with a livestream option. Outreach extends to the homebound, elderly and those in need — including an emerging health and wellbeing ministry.
- Baptism (infant)
- Marriage preparation
- First Communion & First Reconciliation
- Confirmation
- Anointing of the Sick / Pastoral Care
- Funeral Liturgy with livestream option
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic (year-round inquiry)
- Grief support and prayer chain
St. Mary Cemetery
A walk through St. Mary Cemetery — among pines and cedars some older than the cemetery itself — is one of the best ways to grasp the parish's 165-year legacy of faith and love. The cemetery continues to serve families of all faiths with traditional burials, cremation options and a columbarium. Among those at rest are the parents of U.S. Senator Joseph R. McCarthy, and the Senator himself on a bluff overlooking the Fox River. A 1927 stone bridge, a Veterans Memorial, roads in the oldest sections, and grounds equipment are all part of ongoing stewardship projects supported by a $15,000 matching grant.
- 165-year legacy; pioneers & immigrants rest here
- Traditional burial, cremation burial, and columbarium niches
- Up to 4 cremation burials on a single full-size grave (with 'second rights')
- Joseph R. McCarthy buried on a bluff overlooking the Fox River
- Chapel available for committal services
- Current capital needs: 1927 stone bridge repair, redesigned Veterans Memorial, new tractor, road repaving, monument straightening
Parish Mission & Vision
St. Mary Parish describes its discipleship journey in four movements: Exploring (seeking Christ with an open heart), Trusting (creating spaces where trust can grow), Awakening (discovering and cultivating the Holy Spirit's gifts), and Empowering (being sent out to share Christ's love). The parish emphasizes abundant hospitality, faith-formation for every age, and missionary discipleship reaching beyond the parish walls.
- Exploring
- Trusting
- Awakening
- Empowering
Support, Fellowship & Communications
Parishioners and visitors can stay connected through a weekly bulletin, weekly homily email from Fr. Bill, the parish calendar, prayer chain, and social media presence. The parish supports online giving through Faith Direct and a text-to-give option, and offers a New Member Registration link on the website. Fellowship events — including Coffee & Donuts after Sunday morning Masses — are coordinated through the Fellowship Committee under the Minister of Parish Vitality.
- Weekly bulletin (PDF online)
- Weekly Homily email from Fr. Bill
- Parish Calendar of events
- Prayer Chain (submit requests)
- Faith Direct online giving
- Text to give: 920-294-1189
- New Member Registration
- Fellowship Committee — Abundant Hospitality
- Social: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Louis Dael1860–1867
First resident priest; established the first parochial school in Appleton (1864).
- Fr. Wilkinsc. 1867–1868
Succeeded Fr. Dael; served about one year.
- Fr. Walsh1868
Remained only a few months.
- Fr. Verberk1868–1872
Pastor during era of German Catholic separation and St. Joseph's founding.
- Fr. Bill Swichtenberg2014–present
Current pastor; ordained in 1983; previously a researcher at the Appleton Institute of Paper Chemistry.