About St. Matthew · Wausau, Wisconsin
St. Matthew Parish is a Catholic parish on the west side of Wausau, Wisconsin, founded in 1958 to serve the city's growing western neighborhoods. A parish of the Diocese of La Crosse, it offers Mass in both English and Spanish, runs a robust religious education program for grades K–10, and is known for its rich Eucharistic Adoration tradition (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) along with a Healing Service. The parish is housed in a striking mid-century church whose interior design is built around the literal meaning of 'tabernacle' — a place where God tents among his people — with tall pillars evoking the tent poles of the Ark of the Covenant.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- St. Matthew the Apostle
- Rector
- The Very Rev. Sebastian Kolodziejczyk
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse
Why belong here
St. Matthew is a bilingual, mid-century Catholic parish that takes its Eucharistic devotion seriously — Adoration is offered three days a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) with Evening Prayer, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and Benediction on Wednesdays and Fridays. It runs a Family Formation religious education program for grades K–10, an OCIA process for adults seeking to enter the Church, a 20-week parish Bible study, and a Healing Service. Mass is celebrated in English and Spanish, and the parish serves the west side of Wausau with an active pastoral care team, choir, and ministries that include faith formation for every age.
Mass times at St. Matthew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before every Mass
- Saturday 3:00 pm – 4:20 pm
Adoration times
- Monday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Wednesday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (with Evening Prayer, Divine Mercy Chaplet & Benediction at ~4:30 pm)
- Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (with Evening Prayer, Divine Mercy Chaplet & Benediction at ~4:30 pm)
Parish History
St. Matthew Parish was established in July 1958 by Bishop John P. Treacy of the Diocese of La Crosse as Wausau expanded westward, with Fr. Bernard O. McGarty appointed as founding pastor. The first Mass was celebrated August 3, 1958 in the Wausau Auto Auction building owned by the Bembinster family, with about 325 people in attendance; Christmas Masses that year were held in the Youth Building at Marathon Park. Around 180 families worshipped at the Auto Auction for two years until the school (completed 1960) and church (dedicated by Bishop Treacy on November 5, 1961) were ready. A convent followed in 1965; a gymnasium and cafeteria were added in 1979–1980; the school became St. Matthew Middle School in 1986 and served until 2010. In 2015 the Locus Angelorum gathering space — with handicap-accessible restrooms, a bridal room, air conditioning, and stained-glass angel windows — was completed.
- Founded July 1958 by Bishop Treacy; founding pastor Fr. Bernard O. McGarty
- First Mass August 3, 1958 at Wausau Auto Auction (Bembinsters)
- School completed 1960; church dedicated November 5, 1961
- Bell Tower added ~1963
- Convent built December 1965; gym/cafeteria 1979–1980
- School became St. Matthew Middle School in 1986; closed as a Catholic school in 2010
- Locus Angelorum gathering space completed 2015
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is currently served by The Very Rev. Sebastian Kolodziejczyk as Pastor (appointed in 2022 from Holy Family Parish in Arcadia). Deacon John McDonnell and Deacon Tom Tierney assist at the parish. Dorothy Giallombardo leads Pastoral Care and serves as Choir Director, with June Pritzl assisting with Pastoral Care / Home Visits. Joy Orozco serves as Parish Secretary, Director of Religious Education, and Hispanic Ministry coordinator. Jerry Grunow is Finance Director; Rosemary Butzen (Beever) is Bulletin Editor; Jason Seliger oversees Buildings & Grounds.
- Pastor: The Very Rev. Sebastian Kolodziejczyk
- Deacon John McDonnell
- Deacon Tom Tierney
- Pastoral Care & Choir Director: Dorothy Giallombardo
- Pastoral Care: June Pritzl
- Parish Secretary / DRE / Hispanic Ministry: Joy Orozco
- Finance Director: Jerry Grunow
- Bulletin Editor: Rosemary Butzen (Beever)
- Buildings & Grounds: Jason Seliger
Religious Education & Family Formation
St. Matthew's Religious Education Program exists to help every member of the family become the future saints God created them to be. The program has three goals: to empower parents as primary educators of their children in the Faith (evangelization); to help parents and children learn the teachings of Jesus and His Church (catechesis); and to instill a desire to share that relationship with others (discipleship). The program serves children in homeschool, private, and public schools.
- Family Formation (grades K–6) — 1st Wednesday of the month, dinner at 5:30 pm, class 6:00–7:00 pm
- Middle School Program (grades 7–8) — 2nd Wednesday of the month, 6:00–7:15 pm
- Confirmation Program (grades 9–10) — 2nd Wednesday of the month, 6:00–7:15 pm
- Spanish-language track available
- Catechists and substitutes always needed (tuition waived for catechists)
- Safe Environment Training required annually for all enrolled families
Adult Formation & OCIA
Adult Formation at St. Matthew provides ongoing evangelization, formation, and catechesis for the adults of the parish. OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the process by which an unbaptized person enters the Catholic Church through Baptism, or a baptized Christian comes into full communion through Confirmation and Eucharist. Sessions are led in English by Fr. Sebastian (once a week, 90 minutes) and in Spanish by Joy Orozco. The process typically lasts about 9 months and culminates at the Easter Vigil. Each year the parish also offers a 20-week Bible study on a different part of Scripture (recently Jeff Cavins' Gospel of Matthew), held in two time slots in Emily's Room in the Angelorum, with small-group Bible studies also meeting in parishioners' homes.
- OCIA — weekly 90-minute sessions, English with Fr. Sebastian, Spanish with Joy Orozco
- Easter Vigil reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and/or Eucharist
- 20-week parish Bible study (daytime and evening sessions)
- Small-group Bible studies meeting in parishioners' homes
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. For Baptism, families begin by calling the Parish Office to speak with Joy Orozco, who handles preliminary paperwork and refers them to Deacon Tom and Kris Tierney for the English Baptism Prep Class (a Spanish class is also offered with Joy). Confirmation preparation begins in 9th grade and concludes at the end of 10th grade; it is required not only for Religious Education students but also for homeschooled teens and students at Newman Catholic Schools. Couples preparing for Matrimony must contact Fr. Sebastian at least six months before the planned wedding date. Anointing of the Sick and Reconciliation (Confession) are offered per the parish schedule.
- Baptism (English & Spanish prep classes)
- Confirmation (grades 9–10)
- Eucharist (First Communion sacramental fee applies)
- Reconciliation — 30 minutes before every Mass and Saturdays 3:00–4:20 pm
- Matrimony — 6-month prep process
- Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano)
St. Matthew has a vibrant Hispanic Ministry. Mass in Spanish is celebrated every Sunday at 12:00 noon. Religious Education is offered in Spanish for students in grades K–10, with OCIA in Spanish facilitated by Joy Orozco. The parish bulletin publishes a significant portion of its content bilingually, and the Hispanic Ministry shares news of the parish's Spanish-language Mass intentions, devotions, and family programs. Pastors of the parish have traditionally also served as chaplain to the Hispanic community in the Wausau area.
- Spanish Mass: Sunday 12:00 pm
- Religious Education (K–10) in Spanish
- OCIA in Spanish with Joy Orozco
- Bilingual parish bulletin
Parish Life, Outreach & Groups
Parish life at St. Matthew extends well beyond the sanctuary. Pastoral Care staff visit the homebound and assist with funerals; the parish Choir is directed by Dorothy Giallombardo; the Men's Club meets in the school building; and the Peacemakers Quilters gather in the Parish Center. The parish also supports the Jubilee House Free Community Meal. The parish building complex — anchored by the tabernacle-themed church and the Locus Angelorum gathering space — also includes the original school (now leased to Faith Christian Academy) and the former convent, which now serves as the Parish Center with offices and meeting rooms.
- Pastoral Care / Home Visits
- Parish Choir (Dorothy Giallombardo, director)
- Men's Club
- Peacemakers Quilters
- Jubilee House Free Community Meal
- Parish Center (former convent) for meetings and offices
Architecture & Facilities
The church building is mid-century contemporary, designed around the literal meaning of 'tabernacle' — a place where God tents among his people. The tall interior pillars evoke the tent poles of the Ark of the Covenant, and the angled ceiling represents folds of tent material. A Bell Tower was added roughly two years after the church was built. In 2015 the Locus Angelorum gathering space was added on the front of the church, providing a new gathering area, handicap-accessible restrooms, a bridal room, and the long-awaited air conditioning to the church; its stained-glass angel windows are visible from 28th Avenue in winter.
- Tabernacle-themed interior (pillars, tent-fold ceiling)
- Bell Tower added ~1963
- Locus Angelorum addition completed 2015
- Stained-glass angel windows
- Air conditioning, handicap-accessible restrooms, bridal room
- Former school leased to Faith Christian Academy
- Original convent repurposed as Parish Center
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Bernard O. McGarty1958–
Founding pastor appointed by Bishop Treacy in July 1958; led the parish from the Wausau Auto Auction days through the construction of the school and church dedicated November 5, 1961.
- Rev. Robert C. Thornuntil 2022
Granted senior priest status in 2022 after serving as pastor and chaplain to the Hispanic community in the Wausau area.
- Rev. Sebastian Kolodziejczyk2022–
Previously pastor of Holy Family Parish in Arcadia and dean of the Arcadia Deanery; appointed pastor of St. Matthew and Hispanic chaplain in 2022.