About St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception · Portage, Wisconsin
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic parish in Portage, Wisconsin, listed as the oldest church in the Diocese of Madison, with roots reaching back to 1833. It is today a faith community of the Saint John Henry Newman Pastorate (a six-church merged parish canonically established on August 16, 2025) and shares its ministry and mission with its mission church, St. Mary Help of Christians in Briggsville. The parish operates St. Mary Catholic School (3K through Grade 8), runs lifelong faith formation programs, hosts weekly Masses in Portage and Briggsville, and livestreams Sunday Mass online through the Saint John Henry Newman website.
- Established
- 1833 (parish origins); 1859 (church dedicated to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception under its current name)
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of her Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Rev. Randy Timmerman (Pastor of Saint John Henry Newman Parish; installed September 14, 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Madison (within the Saint John Henry Newman Pastorate, a six-church merged parish established August 16, 2025)
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception offers weekly Saturday evening and Sunday morning Mass in Portage plus a Sunday morning Mass at its mission church, St. Mary Help of Christians, in Briggsville — plus daily Mass on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Parishioners can grow in faith through Portage Faith Formation programs, Vacation Bible School, and the parish school, St. Mary Catholic School (3K through Grade 8). The parish livestreams its Sunday Mass online, runs PushPay online giving, and gathers annually for BEST FEST, while sharing its mission with five neighboring faith communities through the newly formed Saint John Henry Newman Pastorate.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
History of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Portage is the oldest church in the Diocese of Madison. Its roots stretch back to 1833, when the Dominican priest Rev. Samuel Mazzuchelli arrived to work with the Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) Indians and built the parish's first church that same year. A second church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, followed in 1851, and the parish welcomed its first resident pastor, Rev. James Roche, in 1852. After a third church was built in 1854 and sold to a local Baptist congregation in 1857, the property changed hands back to the Catholics, who completed the existing foundation and dedicated it to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in 1859 — the name the parish carries today.
- 1833 — Rev. Samuel Mazzuchelli, O.P., arrives; first church built.
- 1851 — Second church dedicated to St. Bartholomew.
- 1852 — First resident pastor, Rev. James Roche.
- 1854 — Third church built.
- 1857 — Property sold to a local Baptist congregation, then back to the Catholics.
- 1859 — Present church completed and dedicated to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception.
Saint John Henry Newman Pastorate Merger (2025)
On August 16, 2025, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception was canonically merged with five neighboring faith communities — St. Mary Help of Christians (Briggsville), St. Andrew (Buffalo Township), St. John the Baptist (Montello), St. Mary of the Most Holy Rosary (Pardeeville), and Good Shepherd (Westfield) — into the new Saint John Henry Newman Parish in the Diocese of Madison, which also includes St. Philomena National Shrine. Bishop Donald J. Hying formally installed Fr. Randy Timmerman as the merged parish's first pastor on September 14, 2025, during Mass at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
- Six churches, one school (St. Mary School, Portage), and one national shrine (St. Philomena) now form the Saint John Henry Newman Pastorate.
- Installation Mass for Fr. Randy Timmerman held at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Portage.
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. Sanctus Ibe and Fr. Savio Yerasani; Deacon Steve Letourneaux.
St. Mary Catholic School
The parish is home to St. Mary Catholic School in Portage, a 3K through Grade 8 Catholic elementary school that serves families across the Saint John Henry Newman Pastorate. The school is led by Principal Josh Schuenemann and includes a full teaching staff, a school secretary, food service team, and maintenance staff.
- Principal: Josh Schuenemann ([email protected]; 608-742-4998)
- Pastor and chaplain: Fr. Randy Timmerman
- Grades offered: 3K, 4K, Kindergarten, and Grades 1–8
- School website: stmaryportage.org
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish supports faith formation for parish youth and families through its Portage Faith Formation program and the parallel Briggsville Faith Formation program at the mission church. Annual Vacation Bible School is also offered. The parish runs a shared Faith Formation coordinator (position currently being filled) for the Saint John Henry Newman Pastorate, with formation assistants serving Good Shepherd and St. John the Baptist.
- Portage Faith Formation
- Briggsville Faith Formation
- Vacation Bible School
- Faith Formation assistants serving Good Shepherd (Westfield) and St. John the Baptist (Montello)
Pastoral Staff & Parish Office
Pastoral care and parish business are coordinated through the parish office staffed by Fr. Randy Timmerman (Pastor), parochial vicars Fr. Sanctus Ibe and Fr. Savio Yerasani, Deacon Steve Letourneaux, Business Manager / Director of Liturgy Steve Zoulek, Bookkeeper Greg Rybarczyk, secretaries Annette Dolgner and Lucy Williams, and office assistant Kris Radtke (the primary point of contact for parish questions, ext. 211).
- Pastor: Fr. Randy Timmerman ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Sanctus Ibe ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Savio Yerasani ([email protected])
- Deacon: Steve Letourneaux
- Business Manager / Director of Liturgy: Steve Zoulek
- Bookkeeper: Greg V. Rybarczyk (608-742-6998 ext. 204)
- Secretaries: Annette Dolgner; Lucy Williams
- Office contact: Kris Radtke (608-742-6998 ext. 211)
Online Giving & Parish Communications
The parish uses PushPay as its secure online giving platform for one-time and recurring donations. Parishioners can also follow the parish on Facebook at facebook.com/stmaryoftheimmaculateconception and access bulletins, daily readings, calendars, recordings of Mass, and other resources from the parish homepage.
- Online giving: PushPay
- Facebook: facebook.com/stmaryoftheimmaculateconception
- Quick links: Mass Times, Bulletins, Daily Readings, St. Mary School, Calendar, Faith Formation pages, Recorded Mass
Parish Events & Community Life
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception fosters community life through signature events and ongoing parish activities. BEST FEST is a centerpiece of the parish calendar, and the Vacation Bible School program gathers children and families each summer. Sunday Mass is livestreamed for those at home, and a Volunteer & Donate page on the parish website invites parishioners to share their time and talent.
- BEST FEST (annual parish festival)
- Vacation Bible School
- Livestreamed Sunday 10:00 AM Mass
- Volunteer & Donate opportunities listed on the parish website
Getting in Touch
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone at 608-742-6998 (with extensions for staff listed on the Saint John Henry Newman website) or by email at [email protected]. The office can assist with sacrament preparation, parish registration, faith formation enrollment, and general questions. The church is located at 307 W. Cook Street, with a mailing address of 309 W. Cook Street, Portage, WI 53901.
- St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception — 307 W. Cook St. (church); 309 W. Cook St. (mailing)
- Mailing: Portage, WI 53901
- Phone: 608-742-6998
- Email: [email protected]
- Mission church: St. Mary Help of Christians, N565 County Rd. A, Briggsville, WI 53920 (608-981-2282)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Samuel Mazzuchelli, O.P.1833
Dominican missionary who arrived in 1833 to serve the Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) Indians; built the first church that same year.
- Rev. James Roche1852
First resident pastor of the parish.