About St. Mary of the Hill · Hubertus, Wisconsin
St. Mary of the Hill is a Roman Catholic parish in Hubertus, Wisconsin, located on the grounds of the Discalced Carmelite monastery and Basilica of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill. Founded in 1924 by Archbishop Sebastian Messmer to replace the fire-destroyed St. Augustine parish, the community has been shepherded by Carmelite priests (O.C.D.) for its entire history. After more than a century worshipping in borrowed and multipurpose spaces, the parish dedicated its first purpose-built church on December 14, 2025, and now serves approximately 500 families in the Kettle Moraine region of Washington County.
- Established
- 1924
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title Mary, Help of Christians / Our Lady of Holy Hill)
- Rector
- Fr. Jude Peters, O.C.D.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Hill offers the rare gift of a small, multigenerational Catholic community intimately tied to the Discalced Carmelite spirituality of Holy Hill, just a short walk from the Basilica and National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians. Parishioners are welcomed as they are, with daily Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday, weekend Masses in a brand-new dedicated church (dedicated December 2025), and a tight-knit family of about 500 households served by a Carmelite pastor. Active faith formation for children and youth, a St. Vincent de Paul conference, visitation ministry, music ministry, and outreach programs like a monthly food drive and Sunshine Ministry give every member a way to belong and serve.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Hill
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Wednesdays 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
- First Saturdays, May–October: Saturday 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Parish Identity and Carmelite Heritage
St. Mary of the Hill is a small Roman Catholic parish in Hubertus, Wisconsin, situated on the 435-acre grounds of Holy Hill, home of the Discalced Carmelite Friars and the Basilica and National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians. The Discalced Carmelite Order (O.C.D.) has provided the pastor since Archbishop Sebastian Messmer founded the parish on September 22, 1924, and the present pastor, Fr. Jude Peters, O.C.D., continues that Carmelite tradition of shepherding the community. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and identifies itself as 'Where You'll Find Grace,' welcoming all who come to celebrate, mourn, give thanks, ask questions, or pray.
- Founded September 22, 1924 by Archbishop Sebastian Messmer
- Pastored continuously by Discalced Carmelite friars from Holy Hill
- Part of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
- Pastoral identity: 'Where You'll Find Grace'
A Century of History (1924–2025)
St. Mary of the Hill was created in 1924 to receive the parishioners of nearby St. Augustine, whose stone church had burned on October 21, 1922, leaving only $5,000 in usable insurance. The first 16 families worshipped in the Carmelite monastery (the building now known as the Holy Hill Café) and later in the Chapel of St. Therese. In 1968 the parishioners bought ten acres of land from the Carmelites below the shrine church, and a parish center was built in the 1970s, which served as the worship space for nearly fifty years. The parish celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2014 and its Centennial on August 25, 2024, with an all-parish celebration. In 2023 the parish launched a $3.5 million capital campaign, broke ground in October 2024, and on December 14, 2025 — Gaudete Sunday — Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob dedicated the parish's first purpose-built church.
- Predecessor parish: St. Augustine, est. c. 1840; stone church burned Oct. 21, 1922
- Parish center built in the 1970s on 10 acres purchased from the Carmelites in 1968
- 90th anniversary celebrated in 2014; Centennial celebrated August 25, 2024
- New church designed by Groth Architects, seats ~300, built for $3.5 million
- Dedication: December 14, 2025 (Gaudete Sunday) by Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob
The New Church
St. Mary of the Hill's new church was designed by Groth Architects of Wisconsin and seats close to 300 people. The interior is shaped by its Carmelite heritage: a large mural behind the tabernacle depicts significant figures of Carmelite spirituality and the history of Holy Hill, including St. Augustine parishioners Franz Wier and his son-in-law Matthias Werner, who first placed a cross at the summit in the mid-19th century. The altar contains relics of Our Lady, Help of Christians (patroness of Holy Hill), St. John of the Cross, and Blessed Marie-Eugene of the Child Jesus. Many Carmelite friars concelebrated the dedication Mass, assisting Archbishop Grob in incensing the sanctuary and anointing the walls with chrism.
- Architect: Groth Architects (Wisconsin)
- Capacity: approximately 300
- Construction: October 2024 – November 2025; completed on time and on budget
- Dedication Mass presided by Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob
- Relics of Our Lady Help of Christians, St. John of the Cross, and Bl. Marie-Eugene of the Child Jesus in the altar
Parish Staff and Leadership
The parish is led by a Carmelite pastor and a team of lay staff handling ministry, music, formation, communications, finances, and facilities. The Pastoral Council, chaired by Kathy Schoenherr, serves in a consultative role to the pastor, developing the parish mission statement, engaging in pastoral planning, and recommending policy. Two elected trustees (Laurie Hilger and Art Noe) sit on the Council ex officio along with the pastor.
- Pastor: Fr. Jude Peters, O.C.D.
- Pastoral Assistant: Jacqui Madden (ext. 2)
- Secretary: Mary Whelan (ext. 3)
- Youth Minister: Grace Marie Westhoff (ext. 4)
- Child Minister: Melinda Diels (ext. 4)
- Communication Coordinator: Mary Grosel (ext. 7)
- Music Coordinators: Annie Fredrickson and Val Bauer (ext. 8)
- Bookkeeper: Carla Dal Santo (ext. 6)
- Maintenance: Paul Stephans and Patrick Madden (ext. 5)
- Cemetery Sexton: Kenny Gengler (ext. 5)
- Visitation Ministry: Kathy Schoenherr and Kathy Parker (ext. 3)
- Trustees: Laurie Hilger and Art Noe
- Pastoral Council Chair: Kathy Schoenherr
Pastoral Council and Parish Committees
A network of standing committees cares for the spiritual, material, and community life of the parish. Each committee is led by parishioners and works with the pastor to discern needs and recommend action.
- Pastoral Council — Chair: Kathy Schoenherr; meets regularly to advise pastor
- Finance Council — Chair: Mark Grosel; meets six times a year on Monday evenings
- Parish Planning — Chair: Paul Stephans; meets monthly on the 1st at 4:00 PM
- Prayer and Worship — Chair: Dick Clement
- Human Concerns — meets virtually; contact chair for information
- Christian Formation — Chairs: Melinda Diels and Grace Marie Westhoff; meets 3rd Thursday at 6:30 PM
Faith Formation for Children and Youth
The Christian Formation Committee provides lifelong catechesis for the parish, with dedicated ministry to children and youth. The committee is co-chaired by Child Minister Melinda Diels and Youth Minister Grace Marie Westhoff, and oversees sacramental preparation, CCD-style religious education, and youth programming.
- Child Minister: Melinda Diels (ext. 4)
- Youth Minister: Grace Marie Westhoff (ext. 4)
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation
- Lifelong learning programs for all ages
Music and Liturgy
Music at St. Mary of the Hill is coordinated by Annie Fredrickson and Val Bauer, who support the parish's weekend and holy day liturgies as well as special celebrations including the new church dedication and the Centennial Mass.
- Music Coordinators: Annie Fredrickson and Val Bauer (ext. 8)
- Supports Sunday 7:00 AM and 9:30 AM Masses, Saturday 4:00 PM Vigil, and Wednesday 6:00 PM Mass
- Music for holy days, First Saturday Devotion, and special parish celebrations
Outreach, Human Concerns, and St. Vincent de Paul
The Human Concerns Committee is responsible for the justice and outreach dimensions of parish life. It allocates a percentage of parish receipts — set aside through tithing — to outside organizations addressing poverty, hunger, homelessness, and injustice. The parish also co-sponsors a St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) conference with nearby St. Gabriel Parish, in which Vincentians make confidential home visits to those seeking assistance and pray with them. Additional ongoing outreach includes a monthly food drive, an annual winter drive, a baby collection, and a Sunshine Ministry that reaches out to parishioners in need of encouragement.
- Human Concerns Committee — fulfills the justice and charity mission of the parish
- Outreach Fund — a set-aside percentage of total parish receipts distributed to outside organizations
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference — joint with St. Gabriel Parish; meets 1st and 3rd Mondays at 6:30 PM at St. Gabriel
- SVdP contact: Barb Schultz, 262-670-8517
- Monthly Food Drive
- Winter Drive
- Baby Collection
- Sunshine Ministry — Rita Pruski, 262-707-1877
Visitation Ministry
The Visitation Ministry brings Communion, prayer, and the pastoral care of the parish to those who cannot easily attend Mass. Coordinated by Kathy Schoenherr and Kathy Parker, the ministry reaches the homebound, those in hospitals, nursing homes, and others who appreciate a parish connection during illness or convalescence.
- Coordinators: Kathy Schoenherr and Kathy Parker (ext. 3)
- Visits to the homebound, hospitals, and nursing homes
- Prayer and Communion brought to those unable to attend Mass