About St. Mary · Crivitz, Wisconsin
St. Mary Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Crivitz, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of Green Bay. It is one of three congregations united under the CWA Catholic Tri-Parish grouping that also includes St. Agnes in Amberg and St. Augustine in Wausaukee. The parish gathers at 808 Henriette Avenue for daily Mass, Saturday vigil and Sunday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and Reconciliation, and it serves the surrounding Marinette County Northwoods as a worship home and a hub for religious education.
- Established
- 1899
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. David Schmidt
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
St. Mary in Crivitz offers the classic rhythm of parish life — daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, a Saturday vigil and a Sunday morning Mass — along with weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Thursday afternoons and First Friday mornings, and Reconciliation before Mass and by appointment. Worship is supported by a Religious Education program coordinated by Jerry Nowak and a parish staff led by pastor Fr. David Schmidt, with a mission statement rooted in knowing the faith, living by truth and love, serving others, and teaching by example. Joining makes you part of a small, connected Northwoods Catholic community that also reaches out through the tri-parish cluster to Wausaukee and Amberg and to seasonal mission sites like the Chapel in the Woods at Caldron Falls.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 pm – 3:45 pm (St. Mary, Crivitz)
- 1st Friday 8:00 am (St. Mary, Crivitz)
- Always available by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm (St. Mary, Crivitz)
- 1st Friday 8:00 am – 9:00 am (St. Mary, Crivitz)
Parish Identity and Mission
St. Mary Parish in Crivitz identifies itself with a clear mission statement rooted in faith, service and example. The published mission reads: 'We the people of St. Mary Parish, brothers and sisters in Christ, accept as our mission: To know our faith, To live by truth and love, To serve the needs of others, To teach by example — And thereby strengthen and inspire our community.' The parish belongs to the Diocese of Green Bay and operates as the Crivitz member of the CWA Catholic Tri-Parish community.
- Mission: know the faith, live by truth and love, serve others, teach by example
- Member of CWA Catholic Tri-Parish (with St. Agnes, Amberg, and St. Augustine, Wausaukee)
- Diocese of Green Bay
History of St. Mary Parish
The parish traces its origins to the late 1890s Polish colonization of the Crivitz area. In 1896 a Russian-Polish priest recently exiled from the Czar helped plant a Polish colony at Ellis Junction, with plans for a church and a pastor at Crivitz Village. The church was dedicated in 1899 in the presence of Bishop Messmer, Father Kurzjeka and Father Looze, plus the Kosciusko Guards, with an estimated two hundred faithful standing outside because of the crowds. Disaster struck twice. In 1907 a fire destroyed St. Mary's along with a large portion of the village. The rebuilt church was again destroyed in 1962 when it was struck by lightning. After the second fire a new structure was erected one block north of the original site, and Father Burkhart became pastor of that building.
- 1896 – Polish colony planted at Ellis Junction by exiled Russian-Polish priest
- 1899 – Church dedicated with Bishop Messmer and Kosciusko Guards
- 1907 – Fire destroys St. Mary's and a large portion of Crivitz village
- 1962 – Lightning destroys the church again
- Father Burkhart becomes pastor of the new structure one block north of the original site
Sacraments and Sacramental Preparation
Sacramental preparation is coordinated at St. Mary in collaboration with the CWA tri-parish community. Religious Education, led by coordinator Jerry Nowak, supports families preparing children for First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation. Marriage preparation and Anointing of the Sick are arranged through the parish office by appointment.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation / First Communion
- Confirmation (tri-parish sacramental prep)
- Marriage preparation by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick / Reconciliation by appointment
Parish Staff and Leadership
St. Mary is served by a small staff that covers liturgy, religious education, finances and building care. The current pastor is Rev. David Schmidt, who also oversees the wider CWA tri-parish community.
- Rev. David Schmidt – Pastor
- Isabel Butnick – (parish staff)
- Victoria Mertens – Business Manager
- Jerry Nowak – Religious Education Coordinator
- Janet Yoder – Janitor
Religious Education and Faith Formation
Faith formation for children and families is coordinated through the parish's Religious Education program. The program works with families to prepare students for the sacraments and is part of the broader tri-parish sacramental preparation effort across Crivitz, Wausaukee and Amberg.
- Religious Education Coordinator: Jerry Nowak
- Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation
- Shared tri-parish programming with St. Agnes and St. Augustine
Outreach and Mission Sites
Beyond the parish church on Henriette Avenue, St. Mary reaches out through a seasonal mission site and shared tri-parish ministries. The Chapel in the Woods at Caldron Falls is a station church served from St. Mary, with 5:30 pm Mass continuing through September for campers, hunters and visitors on the Peshtigo River. The tri-parish cluster also operates shared ministries such as a food pantry and youth programs.
- Chapel in the Woods – Caldron Falls (Boat Landing Six, off Parkway Road)
- 5:30 pm Mass through September
- Shared tri-parish food pantry
- Shared tri-parish youth programs
Parish Office and Visiting
The parish office at 808 Henriette Avenue is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and on Friday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm (closed the First Friday of each month). Visitors and newcomers are encouraged to register as parishioners by calling, stopping in, or using the online registration form.
- Office: 808 Henriette Ave, Crivitz, WI 54114
- Mailing: PO Box 159, Crivitz, WI 54114
- Phone: 715-854-2501
- Mon–Thu 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Fri 9:00 am – 1:00 pm (closed 1st Friday)
- New parishioner registration available online and in person
CWA Catholic Tri-Parish Community
St. Mary is the Crivitz member of a tri-parish Catholic community known as CWA Catholic, which also includes St. Agnes in Amberg and St. Augustine in Wausaukee. The cluster shares sacramental preparation, certain ministries, and some administrative functions, and publishes a combined schedule of Masses, Reconciliation and Adoration across all three sites.
- St. Mary – Crivitz (808 Henriette Ave)
- St. Agnes – Amberg
- St. Augustine – Wausaukee (507 Church St, Wausaukee, WI 54177)
- Shared sacramental prep, youth programs, and food pantry
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Russian-Polish priest in exile (first pastor at Crivitz, circa 1896–1899)1896–c.1899
Helped plant the Polish colony at Ellis Junction; named to be first pastor of the Polish church at Crivitz Village.
- Father Burkhart
Became pastor of the new St. Mary's structure built one block north of the original site after the 1962 fire.