About St. Mary · Bear Creek, Wisconsin
St. Mary Parish in Bear Creek, Wisconsin is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Green Bay, sharing a pastor and pastoral staff with neighboring St. Rose Parish in Clintonville under the umbrella known as SSRM Parishes. The parish is served at 301 W. Tielky Street in Bear Creek and offers Mass in both English and Spanish, with a weekly Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m. and a Tuesday evening Mass. The parish is best known in the wider community for hosting the St. Mary's Sauerkraut Festival, a tradition begun in 1965 and recognized as one of the oldest sauerkraut-themed parish festivals in the country. The parish is currently administered by Conventual Franciscan Father Simon Minyati, OFM Conv., with Deacon Paul Brulla assisting.
- Established
- circa 1869 (parish described as '150 years old' in 2019 reporting)
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Simon Minyati, OFM Conv. (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
St. Mary offers a small-town Catholic home in rural Bear Creek with the traditional sacraments celebrated reverently and a vibrant parish life rooted in prayer, service and lifelong learning. Weekend and weekday Masses are celebrated in both English and Spanish (a Sunday-evening Spanish Mass is offered at sister parish St. Rose in Clintonville), and parishioners can prepare for the sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick and RCIA through Father Simon and the parish staff. The parish is also home to one of the oldest Catholic sauerkraut festivals in the country — a beloved fundraiser and community gathering that has drawn generations of families together since 1965.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- St. Mary's: Sunday after 10:30 Mass or by appointment
- Communal celebrations are offered during Advent and Lent
Our Parishes
St. Mary in Bear Creek and St. Rose in Clintonville form the joint 'SSRM Parishes' community, sharing one pastor, one staff and one bulletin. Their shared mission is 'to offer every person in the communities of Bear Creek & Clintonville a life-changing encounter with the person of Jesus,' and their shared vision is to be 'missionary disciples striving to lead all people to the Kingdom of God.'
- Mission: fostering households and communities of discipleship through the mission and ministry of the Catholic Church
- Vision: missionary disciples striving to lead all people to the Kingdom of God
- Parish Office: 140 Auto Street, Clintonville, WI 54929
- Main phone: (715) 201-9913
Baptism
Parents wishing to have their child baptized are asked to contact Father Simon to make arrangements. Baptisms are usually not celebrated during Lent.
Confirmation
Confirmation is celebrated for high-school students after appropriate preparation. Adult parishioners seeking Confirmation should contact the parish office for more information.
Christian Marriage
Christian Marriage is celebrated for couples who demonstrate an active practice of the Catholic faith. Engaged couples should contact Father Simon for Marriage Preparation and to schedule their wedding at St. Mary's or St. Rose.
RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Adults and children over the age of seven seeking full membership in the Catholic Church are prepared in the RCIA tradition and received at the Easter Vigil. Contact the parish office for more information.
Pastoral Care, Anointing & Bereavement
Parishioners who are sick, homebound or in a nursing home may receive Holy Communion brought to them by contacting the parish office. The parish also offers Anointing of the Sick and bereavement visits after a death.
- Communion for the sick/homebound: call (715) 201-9913
- Anointing / emergency sick calls: call Father Simon at any time, (715) 201-9913
- Bereavement: notify the parish office at the time of death
Faith Formation
Faith formation is offered through two parish roles: a Coordinator of Elementary Faith Formation and a Coordinator of High School and Adult Formation. Together they support sacramental preparation, ongoing faith learning, and adult discipleship for both St. Mary and St. Rose parishes.
- Elementary Faith Formation — coordinator reachable at (715) 201-9913
- High School and Adult Formation — coordinator reachable at (715) 201-9913
- RE Office: 140 Auto Street, Clintonville, WI 54929
Cemeteries
Both SSRM parishes maintain their own Catholic cemeteries. St. Mary Cemetery in Bear Creek is overseen by sexton Bill Klegin.
- St. Mary Cemetery — Sexton Bill Klegin — (920) 982-3354
- St. Rose Cemetery — Sexton Teri Braun — (715) 823-6762
Parish Hall Rental
St. Mary's Parish Hall is available for rental; inquiries are handled by Terry Mares.
- St. Mary Parish Hall Rental — Terry Mares — (715) 823-4398
St. Mary's Sauerkraut Festival
Since 1965, the parish has hosted the St. Mary's Sauerkraut Festival, founded by then-pastor (later Auxiliary Bishop) John B. Grellinger to retire the debt from a new school built in 1960 and convent renovations. The festival began as a one-day event and grew into a multi-day celebration featuring sauerkraut dinners (hot dogs with kraut, kraut hot dish, kraut salad, kraut cupcakes), raffles, auctions, car shows, cabbage bowling, a parade and live music. It is recognized as one of the oldest Catholic sauerkraut festivals in the country and remains the parish's signature fundraiser.
- Founded 1965, ten weeks after Father Grellinger's June 18, 1965 arrival
- Originally grew out of the area's sauerkraut heritage ('cabbage is king')
- Expanded from a one-day to a multi-day event
- Longtime volunteer and historian Bill Klegin has attended all 55+ festivals
New Here? — Joining the Parish
Anyone interested in joining St. Mary's or St. Rose parish family is invited to call the office at (715) 201-9913 or stop by the Parish Office at 140 Auto Street in Clintonville. Visitors are warmly welcomed at Mass and encouraged to introduce themselves to Father Simon.
- Office phone: (715) 201-9913
- Office address: 140 Auto Street, Clintonville, WI 54929
- Mass locations: St. Mary's, Bear Creek and St. Rose, Clintonville
Parish Staff & Contacts
SSRM Parishes is staffed by Conventual Franciscan Father Simon Minyati (Administrator), assisted by Deacon Paul Brulla and Deacon Emeritus Thomas Jozwiak, with a pastoral associate and a full parish-office team.
- Rev. Simon Minyati, OFM Conv. — Administrator — Office (715) 201-9913 Ext. 103; Rectory (715) 460-3304
- Deacon Paul Brulla — (715) 526-9268
- Deacon Emeritus Thomas Jozwiak
- Sr. Pauline Feiner, SDS — Pastoral Associate
- Shelly Borlen — Administrative Assistant / Pastoral Care Minister
- Laurie Perkins — parish staff
- Tonya Branstrom — Associate Bookkeeper
- Kellie Zahn — Coordinator of Elementary Faith Formation
- Lisa Olmsted — Coordinator of High School and Adult Formation
- Bulletin submissions: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Simon Minyati, OFM Conv.current
Administrator of SSRM Parishes (St. Rose, Clintonville and St. Mary, Bear Creek); Conventual Franciscan.
- Rev. Jack Mullarkey
Listed as 'Priest Celebrant' in a February 17, 2019 parish bulletin.
- Rev. Tim Shillcox, O. Praem.appointed July 2019
Norbertine Father appointed pastor of St. Mary (along with St. Rose, Clintonville); mentioned during 2019 Sauerkraut Festival coverage.
- Bishop John B. Grellingerappointed pastor June 18, 1965
Founded the St. Mary's Sauerkraut Festival ten weeks after arriving; later Auxiliary Bishop of Green Bay (1899–1984).