St. Mary

About St. Mary Parish

Welcome to our community! St. Mary, Mother of God Parish was established in 1905. The parish is a vibrant, welcoming community in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, located in the heart of downtown Menomonee Falls, WI. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry out our mission to 'Love God above all else. Love neighbor as self. Go, make disciples,' and our vision to 'Live Jesus.' Our parish's history remains an integral part of our identity as we continue our devotion to St. Mary, Mother of God, and reconsecrate ourselves and our parish to our Blessed Mother every year. Our liturgical celebrations give honor and glory to God through the beautiful traditions of the Church. We strive to offer many opportunities for spiritual growth through Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (made possible through our collaboration with St. Anthony), confession, and daily Mass (Tuesday-Friday), as well as youth and adult formation groups. Msgr. Ross Shecterle has been our administrator since June 2017, while also serving St. Anthony the Hermit. We also are proud to provide Catholic education through St. Mary Parish School. St. Mary Parish School has a rich history within the community of Menomonee Falls. Over 30,000 students have graduated from the school during its 100-plus-year history.

History

Over one hundred years ago, God called the men and women in Menomonee Falls to journey to Him as a community of faith. Shepherded by Christ, these Catholics took matters into their own hands and ventured into Milwaukee to speak with the archbishop. Permission was granted for the establishment of a new church. The laying of the St. Mary, Mother of God Parish cornerstone marks a historical time. Villagers broke ground in November 1904 and, over the winter months, hammered and chiseled their way through 3 feet of limestone. To ensure the work continued, the villagers held a bazaar, which netted about $3,000. Buoyed by the increased financial support, the workmen completed the foundation by early Spring of 1905. The construction of the church proper rapidly proceeded as the design of the new worship space took shape. A festival-like atmosphere surrounded the laying of the cornerstone on May 28, 1905. More than 600 people participated in the festivities. To commemorate this event, several articles were placed on the cornerstone. In 1906, the faith community was officially named St. Mary and placed under the powerful patronage of God's own Mother. The name that was used from that time into the early 1970s was St. Mary, Mother of God. After the 1970s, the church's name was often abbreviated to St. Mary's. In 2014, then-pastor Fr. John Burns started the reconsecration to our Blessed Mother and recharged the commitment to the patroness, St. Mary, Mother of God.

Ministries & Services

The parish offers a wide range of ministries and services to support spiritual growth and community engagement. These include Grief Support Ministry, St. Vincent de Paul Society, OCIA, Women’s Faith Study Group, and Amici Dei Young Adult Group. Regular events include weekly Masses, confession, and Eucharistic Adoration. The parish also provides sacramental preparation and adult faith formation.

• Grief Support Ministry Meeting
• St. Vincent de Paul Society Meetings
• OCIA Meeting
• Women’s Faith Study Group
• Amici Dei Young Adult Group

Sacraments

St. Mary Parish offers all seven sacraments: Baptism, The Eucharist, Reconciliation, Confirmation, OCIA/Adult Faith Formation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick & Last Rites. Sacramental preparation is available for all ages, and the parish provides ongoing formation for adults and youth.

• Baptism
• The Eucharist
• Reconciliation
• Confirmation
• OCIA/Adult Faith Formation
• Marriage
• Anointing of the Sick & Last Rites

Faith Formation

The parish offers a variety of faith formation programs for all ages, including OCIA for those preparing for baptism or confirmation, adult faith formation, and youth groups. The parish also provides resources for spiritual growth through daily Mass, confession, and Eucharistic Adoration.