About St. Mary's Roman Catholic Oratory · Wausau, Wisconsin
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Oratory (formally St. Mary's Oratory of the Immaculate Conception) is a public oratory in Wausau, Wisconsin, served by the canons of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest for the Diocese of La Crosse. It is housed in a stunning 1892 neo-Gothic church — once the "mother parish" of Wausau's German-speaking Catholics — that was gutted by fire in 1953 and lavishly restored before being consecrated by then-Bishop (later Cardinal) Raymond L. Burke on May 31, 2003. The Oratory celebrates the sacred liturgy exclusively in the traditional Latin rite in implementation of Pope Benedict XVI's motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, offering daily Mass, daily confession, Adoration, and a full catechetical program for children and adults. It is also the first United States foundation of the Sister Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus, whose convent — the Convent of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary — adjoins the parish.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Canon Luke Zignego (Rector)
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers the rare gift of the complete traditional Latin liturgy — sung High Mass with a professional sacred-music program, daily Low Mass, daily Confession, and all-day Adoration on First Fridays — celebrated by resident canons of the Institute of Christ the King for the Diocese of La Crosse. A full program of catechism (three levels for children plus a monthly adult theology class), an adult choir and children's choir, and dedicated youth and young-adult groups make it a vibrant place to form the whole family in the faith. It is also the spiritual home of the Sister Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus in the United States, whose convent adjoins the Oratory, drawing faithful from across Wisconsin and beyond.
Mass times at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Oratory
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before every Mass except the 7:00 AM Sunday Mass
- Sunday: 8:00–8:30 AM and 10:00–10:30 AM
- Monday: 5:30–6:00 PM
- Tuesday: 7:30–8:00 AM
- Wednesday: 7:30–8:00 AM
- Thursday: 5:30–6:00 PM
- Friday: 7:30–8:00 AM (and 5:30–6:00 PM on First Fridays)
- Saturday: 7:30–8:00 AM (and 9:30–10:00 AM on First Saturdays)
- By appointment at any other time
Adoration times
- Thursday: Benediction following the 6:00 PM Mass
- First Friday: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the 8:00 AM Mass, all-day Adoration, Benediction at 5:00 PM
History of St. Mary's Oratory
St. Mary's is the oldest Catholic church building in Wausau and traces its roots to the German-speaking Catholic settlers who founded a parish in the city several decades before 1892, originally worshipping in a log cabin church. The present noble neo-Gothic edifice was built in 1892 and served as the Catholic "mother" parish of Wausau, with German-language sermons continuing into the 1930s. In 1953, a devastating fire completely destroyed the interior; the church was rebuilt in a more modern style while retaining its neo-Gothic exterior and stained-glass windows depicting the life of the Virgin Mary. After several Wausau parishes merged and the church was left unoccupied, in 1999 Bishop Raymond L. Burke of La Crosse entrusted St. Mary's to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. The Scholz Family Foundation obtained a long-term lease and funded a complete restoration; Bishop Burke consecrated the restored church on May 31, 2003, and shortly thereafter elevated it to the status of a public Oratory in the Diocese of La Crosse, where it continues to serve as the canonical home of the traditional Latin rite.
- 1892 — present church built in neo-Gothic style
- Originally the German-speaking 'mother parish' of Wausau
- 1953 — fire destroys the interior; church rebuilt in a more modern style
- 2017 — 125th anniversary of the church building
- 1999 — Bishop Burke entrusts St. Mary's to the Institute of Christ the King
- May 31, 2003 — Bishop (later Cardinal) Burke consecrates the restored church
- Elevated to a public Oratory without geographical boundaries
Architecture & Sacred Art
The 1892 building is one of the most exquisite examples of neo-Gothic architecture in Wisconsin. After the 1953 fire destroyed the interior, it was restored in the more modern style of the era. The Institute's 1999–2003 restoration brought it back to an even greater splendor than its original beauty: American and European artists, craftsmen and architects collaborated on an authentic High Gothic interior featuring painted rib vaults, three altarpieces reproducing original works of art from the fifteenth-century Blutenburg Chapel in Bavaria, and a high-altar statue of the Madonna and Child dating to the 1480s — just before the discovery of the Americas. New, traditionally carved statues of the Apostles complete the interior decoration, while the tasteful stained-glass windows retained from the 1950s renovation depict the life of the Virgin Mary.
- Neo-Gothic exterior (1892)
- High Gothic interior restoration completed 2003
- Altarpieces reproduced from the 15th-century Blutenburg Chapel, Bavaria
- Madonna and Child statue on the high altar dating to the 1480s
- Stained-glass windows (1950s) depicting the life of the Virgin Mary
- Painted rib vaults and traditionally carved statues of the Apostles
Clergy & Leadership
St. Mary's Oratory is served by the resident canons of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. The current Rector is Rev. Canon Luke Zignego, with Rev. Fr. William Evans serving as Priest in Residence. Rev. Canon Matthew Talarico is the Provincial of the Institute in the United States. The canons resident at St. Mary's assure the daily celebration of Holy Mass and the Divine Office, as well as providing daily confession and faith formation for children and adults. The Oratory continues to enjoy the blessing and fatherly support of Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, who consecrated the church in 2003.
- Rev. Canon Luke Zignego — Rector
- Rev. Fr. William Evans — Priest in Residence
- Rev. Canon Matthew Talarico — U.S. Provincial, Institute of Christ the King
- Rev. Canon Aaron Huberfeld — former Rector, now Vice Provincial
Sacred Music Program
Recognizing the priority of the sacred liturgy, St. Mary's maintains an excellent choral and sacred-music program directed by Mr. Patrick Burkhart, Director of Sacred Music. The program supports the sung High Mass on Sundays, the Low Mass with organ at 8:30 AM, and a children's choir that rehearses on Wednesdays alongside children's catechism classes.
- Mr. Patrick Burkhart — Director of Sacred Music
- Adult Choir
- Children's Choir (Wednesdays)
- Sung High Mass (Sunday 10:30 AM) and Low Mass with organ (Sunday 8:30 AM)
- Contact: [email protected]
Faith Formation & Catechism
The Oratory provides a robust faith-formation program for the whole family. Children's catechism is offered on Wednesdays at 4:00 PM (October through May) in three levels using classic Catholic catechetical texts, and a monthly adult Theology Class rounds out the formation. The work of passing on the faith to the next generation is advanced through dedicated youth groups for boys and girls, as well as a young-adults group.
- Children's Catechism — Wednesdays 4:00 PM (Oct.–May)
- Level 1 (ages 6–9): Baltimore Catechism 1
- Level 2 (ages 10–13): Catechism for the Catholic Parochial Schools of the United States
- Level 3 (ages 14–17): Catechism of St. Pius X
- Adult Catechism (Theology Class) — once monthly (see bulletin)
- Young Adults Group
- Youth Groups for boys and girls
Sister Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus
The Sister Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus have established their first United States foundation in Wausau, Wisconsin, in the Convent of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary adjoining St. Mary's Oratory. Their contemplative presence is integral to the life of the Oratory and the Institute of Christ the King's U.S. apostolate. Donations may be directed specifically to the convent by selecting "St. Mary's Oratory — Wausau" in the Institute's donation tab.
- First U.S. foundation of the Sister Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus
- Convent of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Located in Wausau alongside St. Mary's Oratory
- Donations can be made via the Institute website, selecting 'St. Mary's Oratory — Wausau'
First Fridays & First Saturdays
The Oratory gives particular solemnity to First Fridays and First Saturdays, devotions long associated with reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. First Fridays combine Rosary and Confessions with a Low Mass, all-day Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Benediction, and a closing High Mass. First Saturdays feature a High Mass followed by a Marian Procession.
- First Friday: 7:30 AM Rosary & Confessions, 8:00 AM Mass, all-day Adoration, 5:00 PM Benediction, 6:00 PM High Mass
- First Saturday: 9:30 AM Confessions, 10:00 AM High Mass followed by Procession
Contact, Address & Visit
St. Mary's Oratory is located at 325 Grand Avenue in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin (mailing address: 408 Seymour Street, Wausau, WI 54403). The Oratory office can be reached at (715) 842-9995 (emergency line: 920-595-0778) or by email at [email protected]. The Oratory remains open daily for prayer. Weekly bulletins — including Mass intentions, calendar of events, and announcements — are published and archived on the official website.
- Address: 325 Grand Avenue, Wausau, WI 54403
- Mailing: 408 Seymour Street, Wausau, WI 54403
- Phone: (715) 842-9995
- Emergency: (920) 595-0778
- Email: [email protected]
- Open daily for prayer
- Weekly bulletins archived online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Canon Aaron Huberfeld
Former Rector; later Vice Provincial of the Institute of Christ the King in the United States. Led the annual Lourdes & Fatima pilgrimage with Cardinal Burke from Wausau.
- Rev. Canon Luke ZignegoPresent
Current Rector of St. Mary's Oratory.