About St. Mary · Waukesha, Wisconsin
St. Mary Parish (formally St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception) is a Roman Catholic parish in Waukesha, Wisconsin, founded in 1949 as the city's second Catholic parish. It is part of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and, since July 1, 2025, has been one of four worship sites of the merged Corpus Christi Parish, alongside St. Joseph, St. William, and St. John Neumann. The church at 225 S. Hartwell Avenue — a striking 1960s Contemporary building of Lannon stone and faceted glass — was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022 and is celebrated for its Conrad Pickel Studio stained glass.
- Established
- 1949
- Patron
- St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Fr. Matthew Widder
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. Mary offers a close-knit Catholic community on Waukesha's south side, anchored by a nationally recognized 1960s church whose Conrad Pickel faceted-glass wall and marble altar draw visitors well beyond the parish. Worshippers find a full sacramental life — daily Mass in English and Spanish, Eucharistic Adoration twice a week, regular Reconciliation, and Communion brought to the homebound and hospitalized. The parish's dozens of active ministries (Food Pantry, Loaves and Fishes, Stop Human Trafficking, Prayer Shawl, Christian Women, Men's Ministry, ACTS, Camino Neocatecumenal, and more) make it easy to put faith into action, and the recently merged Corpus Christi Parish keeps the St. Mary church open as one of four worship sites connected to Waukesha Catholic / Corpus Christi Parish School.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:00 PM (English) — at St. Mary Church
- Saturday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM — at St. William Church, 440 N. Moreland Blvd
- Communal Reconciliation Services offered during Advent and Lent on a rotating schedule among the four Catholic Community of Waukesha parishes
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:15 AM (English)
- Thursday 6:00 PM (English)
Parish History
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish was officially established in September 1949 as Waukesha's second Catholic parish, with Reverend John Voelker as founding pastor. The parish grew from a nucleus of south-side St. Joseph parishioners who had been attending Mass at the newly built Catholic Memorial High School Chapel, Our Lady of Fatima, since June 1949. A grade school began in CMH classrooms in fall 1949, and a 10-room school with convent and gym was dedicated in October 1953. Ground for the present church was broken December 8, 1963, and the building was dedicated by Archbishop William Cousins on January 24, 1965. The 1990s brought a major addition, and on January 23, 2000, Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland celebrated the parish's 50th anniversary. On July 1, 2025, the parish merged with St. Joseph, St. William, and St. John Neumann to form Corpus Christi Parish, of which St. Mary Church remains a worship site.
- Founded September 1949; charter January 1, 1950
- Founding pastor: Rev. John (later Monsignor) Voelker
- School dedicated October 24, 1953 (Archbishop Albert Meyer)
- Church groundbreaking December 8, 1963; dedicated January 24, 1965
- 25th anniversary celebrated February 1974
- 50th anniversary Mass with Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, January 23, 2000
- Merged into Corpus Christi Parish on July 1, 2025
Architecture & Historic Designation
St. Mary Catholic Church is an excellent and largely intact local example of 1960s Contemporary church architecture. The dramatic combination of Lannon stone and glass, together with a soaring, overhanging prow-like roofline sheltering a large wall of faceted and mosaic glass, defines the exterior. The complex — church, school/convent, and rectory — was added to the State Register of Historic Places on May 20, 2022, and to the National Register on November 3, 2022. The faceted glass wall, which cost $25,000 in 1964, was recently restored by Andrew Paremski of Enterprise Art Glass in Milwaukee.
- Architect (church): Wenzel, Zoller & Gunn, Inc. (Elm Grove)
- Architect (school/convent & rectory): John J. Flad & Associates (Madison)
- Stained glass: Conrad Pickel Studio — Conrad Pickel (faceted glass wall) and Donald Camplin (interior windows)
- Statuary: imported from Germany and carved by parishioner William Thalmayer (Budapest-born; Manitowoc Church Furniture Company)
- Listed on National Register of Historic Places, 11/03/2022
Clergy & Parish Staff
The Catholic Community of Waukesha is led by a team of priests assigned to serve all four worship sites of Corpus Christi Parish. Fr. Matthew Widder serves as pastor. He is assisted by associate pastors Fr. Jorge Perez, Fr. Dominic Lazzaroni, and Fr. Pat Heppe. Lay staff supporting Faith Formation include Julie Dennert (Child & Youth Ministry Associate) and Mary Thiel (Formation Associate), with finance and operations led by Kirsten Rose (Finance Manager).
- Fr. Matthew Widder — Pastor
- Fr. Jorge Perez — Associate Pastor
- Fr. Dominic Lazzaroni — Associate Pastor
- Fr. Pat Heppe — Associate Pastor
- Julie Dennert — Child & Youth Ministry Associate (ext. 2304, [email protected])
- Mary Thiel — Formation Associate (ext. 2000, [email protected])
- Kirsten Rose — Finance Manager (262-922-9285 x1201, [email protected])
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
Child Faith Formation for pre-school and school-age children in grades K3–5 is offered to enhance what is learned at home, helping children develop a basic understanding of Catholic teaching. Sacramental Preparation is a two-year program: children typically complete one full year of religious education and are then prepared in second grade to receive First Reconciliation (around January) and First Communion (in Spring). Public-school and Catholic-school children celebrate the sacraments together. Older children (age 8+) who have not been baptized prepare through the Rites of Initiation adapted for children, coordinated through the Adult and Family Coordinator.
- Child Faith Formation, grades K3–5
- Sacramental Preparation (First Reconciliation & First Communion) — two-year program
- Vacation Bible School
- Rite of Christian Initiation adapted for children (ages 8+)
- Contact: Julie Dennert, [email protected]; Mary Thiel, [email protected]; 262-922-9285
Parish Ministries & Service
St. Mary has an unusually broad ministry roster, reflecting its long-established culture of lay involvement. Outreach ministries include a Food Pantry, Loaves and Fishes, a Stop Human Trafficking Ministry, Blood Drive Committee, Communion Ministry to the Homebound & Hospital, and a Health Ministry. Spiritual and prayer support is offered through the Ministry of Praise, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Christian Women, Men's Ministry, ACTS retreats, and the Camino Neocatecumenal. Parish operations are supported by the Finance Council, Stewardship Committee, Buildings and Grounds Committee, Multimedia Committee, Office Volunteers, and the SCRIP gift-card fundraising program.
- Outreach: Food Pantry, Loaves and Fishes, Stop Human Trafficking, Blood Drive, Communion to Homebound & Hospital, Health Ministry
- Prayer & Formation: Ministry of Praise, Prayer Shawl, Christian Women, Men's Ministry, ACTS, Camino Neocatecumenal
- Liturgical: Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers, Prayer and Worship Committee
- Operations: Finance Council, Stewardship, Buildings and Grounds, Multimedia, Office Volunteers, SCRIP, Finance and Investment Committee, Human Concerns Commission
The Cluster & Corpus Christi Parish Merger
Since 2017, the four Catholic parishes of Waukesha — St. Mary, St. Joseph, St. William, and St. John Neumann — have shared a single team of priests serving as one Catholic Community. Fr. Matthew Widder led the next step, formally petitioning Archbishop Listecki to merge the four parishes. Archbishop Emeritus Listecki selected the name "Corpus Christi Parish" from three options. At the stroke of midnight on July 1, 2025, the four parishes officially became Corpus Christi Parish in a prayerful transition at the St. John Neumann Adoration Chapel, with the parish priests offering a solemn prayer and consecration. All four church buildings remain open as worship sites, and the Waukesha Catholic School System is now Corpus Christi Parish School.
- Cluster model with shared priest team since June 30, 2017
- Petition submitted by Fr. Matthew Widder to Archbishop Listecki
- Name "Corpus Christi Parish" selected by Archbishop Emeritus Listecki
- Effective date: July 1, 2025
- Four worship sites: St. Mary, St. Joseph, St. William, St. John Neumann
- School system now Corpus Christi Parish School
Contact, Office & Visiting
Parish offices are operated out of the Vercelli House, 440 N. Moreland Blvd, Waukesha, WI, open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The St. Mary church building remains at 225 S. Hartwell Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53186. General inquiries can be sent to [email protected] or directed to 262-922-9285. The 1998–1999 addition added an elevator-accessible north entrance, making the church complex accessible to those with mobility needs.
- Parish address: 225 S. Hartwell Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53186
- Office (Vercelli House): 440 N. Moreland Blvd, Waukesha — Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
- Phone: 262-922-9285
- Email: [email protected]
- Accessibility: elevator access to narthex via north entrance
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John (later Monsignor) Voelker1949 – August 1959
Founding pastor; oversaw early parish and school growth, then appointed pastor of St. Catherine Parish, Milwaukee.
- Rev. Robert EndersAugust 1959 – c. 1989
Led parish through construction of the 1964 church and its 1965 dedication; celebrated the 25th anniversary Mass in February 1974.
- Rev. Michael NewmanJuly 1989 – June 2000
First assignment as pastor; launched major 1996–2000 building campaign and addition.
- Rev. Brian MasonJune 2000 – June 2005
Led a second capital campaign that retired the parish debt early; later became Associate Vicar for Clergy.
- Rev. Jim VolkertJune 2005 – 2010
Led a pilgrimage to Italy; reassigned in 2010 to St. Mary Immaculate Conception, Burlington.
- Rev. Howard HaaseJune 2010 – June 2017
Granted a second term in 2016; helped create the cluster/team priest model serving all four Waukesha parishes.
- Rev. Matthew Widder2017 – present
Current pastor; led the four-parish cluster into the July 1, 2025 formation of Corpus Christi Parish.