About St. Patrick · Cottage Grove, Wisconsin
St. Patrick Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of Madison. Founded in 1883, it served the small village of Cottage Grove just east of Madison for well over a century with weekend Masses, faith formation, music ministry, and a strong tradition of Eucharistic Adoration. In May 2025, Bishop Donald J. Hying decreed that St. Patrick be merged with Christ the King Parish in McFarland and Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Monona into the new Stella Maris Parish, and the historic St. Patrick Church building continues to be used as a worship site within that merged community under pastor Father Eric Sternberg.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- Saint Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Eric Sternberg
- Diocese
- Diocese of Madison
Why belong here
St. Patrick has been the spiritual home of Cottage Grove Catholics since 1883, offering the full rhythm of parish life: Vigil and Sunday Mass, weekday Mass with the rosary, regular Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays, and Confession several days a week. The parish runs faith formation for children and families, a music ministry led by a director of music, and a caring community that welcomed new members and walked with families through mission weeks and medical hardships. Today, as a worship site of Stella Maris Parish, it joins that same Cottage Grove Catholic community to Christ the King in McFarland and Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monona — sharing priests, deacons, and resources across three communities while keeping the familiar St. Patrick Church on North Main Street as a place to pray.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:20 AM – 9:00 AM
- Monday: 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM
- Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM
- Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM
- Saturday: 3:20 PM – 4:00 PM
- or by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration, as listed on the 2020 parish bulletin)
Parish Identity & Worship Site
St. Patrick Parish was established in 1883 in the village of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, east of Madison, and is named for Saint Patrick, the fifth-century Romano-British missionary and patron of Ireland. As of May 31, 2025, the parish is canonically merged with Christ the King Parish in McFarland and Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Monona into a single new entity, Stella Maris Parish, in the Diocese of Madison. The historic St. Patrick Church building at 434 North Main Street remains an active weekend worship site of the merged parish, served by the clergy of Stella Maris.
- Patron: Saint Patrick
- Feast Day: March 17
- Diocese of Madison
- Worship site of Stella Maris Parish
Sacramental Life
Sacraments are arranged through the parish office. Baptisms are scheduled by appointment with a required preparation meeting; couples contact the office at least six months before their wedding for Marriage preparation; Reconciliation is offered several times each week; and Anointing of the Sick is available on request for serious illness and is celebrated communally on the first Friday at morning Mass.
- Baptism by appointment with preparation meeting
- Reconciliation: Tue–Fri 7:30 AM, Thu 6:00–6:30 PM, Sat 4:00–4:40 PM, or by appointment
- Marriage: contact parish office at least six months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick: by request; communal on the first Friday at morning Mass
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish has long invested in faith formation for children and families. As of 2020 the Directors of Faith Formation were Kristia Loeder and John Walsh III, reachable through the parish office. Their work includes preparation for the sacraments as well as ongoing religious education for the parish's children, who may also attend the parish school at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monona within the merged Stella Maris community.
- Directors of Faith Formation: Kristia Loeder, John Walsh III
- Contact: [email protected]
Music Ministry & Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. Patrick is led by the Director of Music, who also serves as bulletin editor, ensuring that the music and the printed worship aids for each Mass work together. As of the 2020 bulletin, Shawn Perkins held this combined role.
- Director of Music & Bulletin Editor: Shawn Perkins
- Contact: [email protected]
Parish Staff & Office
The parish is supported by a small staff plus lay ministry coordinators. The 2020 bulletin lists a parish secretary (Sue Mabie) and a coordinator for the Luke House outreach ministry (Bernice Thering). Since the 2025 merger, sacramental and pastoral care is shared across the Stella Maris pastorate under pastor Father Eric Sternberg and parochial vicars Fathers Mark Foley and Matthew Pearson.
- Pastor (2020): Rev. Brian Dulli
- Secretary: Sue Mabie ([email protected])
- Luke House contact: Bernice Thering, 608.837.8220
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9 AM–12 PM
Clergy of Stella Maris Parish (2025)
With the May 31, 2025 canonical merger, the priests and deacons of Stella Maris Parish — which includes St. Patrick Church in Cottage Grove — come from across the three original communities. Bishop Donald J. Hying installed Father Eric Sternberg as the first pastor on July 13, 2025. He is assisted by two parochial vicars, a permanent deacon, and a transitional deacon.
- Pastor: Rev. Eric Sternberg (installed July 13, 2025)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Mark Foley
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Matthew Pearson
- Permanent Deacon: Jeff Bond
- Transitional Deacon: Casey Cooney (ordained May 16, 2025)
Parish Mission & Adult Evangelization
St. Patrick has invested in adult evangelization through parish missions. In early 2020 the parish hosted 'Surge of the Heart,' a mission led by nationally known Catholic speaker and best-selling author Jon Leonetti, announced in the March 1, 2020 parish bulletin.
- Surge of the Heart Parish Mission with Jon Leonetti (2020)
Outreach & Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is woven into daily parish life. The parish has a Luke House ministry coordinator (Bernice Thering) and gathers around families facing serious medical diagnoses, as seen in 2020 when the bulletin highlighted support for the Harrah family after a permanent medical diagnosis. Anointing of the Sick is offered on request and celebrated communally on the first Friday at morning Mass.
- Luke House outreach ministry
- Pastoral care for ill parishioners
- Communal Anointing of the Sick on the first Friday at morning Mass
Becoming a Member & Contact
New parishioners are warmly welcomed. Registration is handled by contacting the parish office during office hours (Monday–Thursday, 9 AM–12 PM) by phone at (608) 839-3969, by email, or via the website. The parish mailing address is PO Box 400, Cottage Grove, WI 53527.
- Address: 434 N Main St, PO Box 400, Cottage Grove, WI 53527
- Phone: (608) 839-3969
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9 AM–12 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Chad Droessler
Parochial administrator of the Stella Maris Pastorate (St. Patrick/Christ the King/Immaculate Heart of Mary) before being reassigned to the St. Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate in Janesville.
- Rev. Brian Dulliat least 2020
Pastor of St. Patrick Parish as shown on the March 1, 2020 parish bulletin; oversaw faith formation, music, and weekly Thursday Eucharistic Adoration.
- Rev. Eric Sternberg2025–present
Former pastor of St. Paul Parish, Madison; named first pastor of Stella Maris Parish at its canonical establishment May 31, 2025 and installed July 13, 2025 by Bishop Donald J. Hying.