About St. Patrick · Green Bay, Wisconsin
St. Patrick's Oratory (formerly St. Patrick Parish) is a Roman Catholic parish located at 211 N. Maple Avenue on Green Bay's near west side. Originally founded in 1865–1866 as the first Irish settlement church on the west side of Green Bay, it has been served since 2014 by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, an international Society of Apostolic Life dedicated to celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass. The oratory offers daily and Sunday Masses, an extensive confession schedule, Eucharistic adoration, catechism classes, and a strong community of lay societies and apostolates within the Diocese of Green Bay.
- Established
- 1866
- Patron
- St. Patrick, patron of Ireland
- Rector
- Rev. Canon Antoine Boucheron, Rector
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
St. Patrick's Oratory offers a rare opportunity to experience the Traditional Latin Mass in Green Bay, celebrated daily and on Sundays by priests of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. The oratory combines reverent liturgy with rich parish life — daily Mass, an extensive confession schedule (every day of the week), Eucharistic adoration, catechism classes for children, and active lay societies such as the Legion of Mary, Confraternity of Christian Mothers, St. Joseph's Men's Group, Sursum Corda Young Adult Group, the Company of the Immaculate, and a Young Married Couples Group. Families and individuals seeking the beauty of the Church's traditional liturgy and a tight-knit Catholic community will find a welcoming spiritual home here.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 9:30 AM – 9:55 AM
- Monday: 7:05 AM – 7:35 AM
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
- Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 7:55 AM
- Thursday: 7:30 AM – 7:55 AM
- Friday: 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
- Saturday: 8:30 AM – 8:55 AM
- Also by appointment — call the Rectory at (920) 437-9660
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Holy Hour)
- Friday: 3:00 PM – 5:45 PM
History of St. Patrick's Parish and Oratory
St. Patrick's story begins in 1865 with the Irish Catholic families settling Green Bay's near west side. The original wood-frame church was dedicated on September 23, 1866, and within four years was doubled in size. The present brick Gothic Revival church, designed by architect C. C. Buck, was built in 1893–94 under Rev. Michael O'Brien. For 150 years the parish has been a spiritual anchor for Irish-rooted families on the west side. In 2014 the Diocese of Green Bay entrusted the historic church building to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest as the permanent home of the Traditional Latin Mass apostolate, and it became known as St. Patrick's Oratory.
- 1865–1866: Parish founded by Irish Catholic settlers
- 1870: Original church expanded and reoriented east
- 1893–94: Present brick Gothic Revival church built (architect C. C. Buck)
- 1917: Parish House at 211 N. Maple Avenue completed in 1921
- Early 1970s: St. Patrick Grade School closes after 70 years
- 1982: Fr. John O'Brien arrives; major building upgrades follow
- 1999: Msgr. Brian Coleman becomes Administrator; stained-glass windows restored
- 2014: Building assigned to Institute of Christ the King; renamed St. Patrick's Oratory
- 2015: Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) celebrated
- 2018: Interior transformed by Conrad Schmitt Studios
Clergy and Staff
St. Patrick's Oratory is led by Rector Canon Antoine Boucheron, a canon of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. Mary Roehrig serves as parish secretary. The oratory is served by canons of the Institute of Christ the King, an international Society of Apostolic Life of the Pontifical Right dedicated to the Traditional Latin Mass.
- Rev. Canon Antoine Boucheron, Rector
- Mary Roehrig, Secretary
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (920) 437-9660
- Fax: (920) 437-5154
Parish Societies and Lay Groups
A vibrant community of lay societies provides spiritual formation, fellowship, and apostolic outreach. The groups welcome new members seeking to live the Catholic faith in community.
- Legion of Mary
- Confraternity of Christian Mothers
- St. Joseph's Men's Group
- Sursum Corda – Young Adult Group
- The Company of the Immaculate
- Young Married Couples Group
- St. Theresa Women's Group
- St. Jerome Book Club
- Friends of St. Patrick's Oratory
- St. Michael's Patrol
Faith Formation and Catechism
Children's catechism classes meet weekly on Tuesdays, paired with the oratory's Holy Hour and evening Mass. Classes are designed to form young Catholics in the traditional faith and prepare them for the reception of the sacraments. Registration is available through the parish office.
- Children's Catechism Classes: Tuesdays
- Schedule: 4:00 PM Holy Hour, 5:00 PM Mass, 6:00 PM class
- Registration available online or at the parish office
- Catechesis for the reception of converts into the Catholic Church
Sacraments
The oratory administers all the usual sacraments and, by the privilege granted by Bishop Zubik in 2005, keeps its own registers for all sacraments including marriages. Mass Intentions are accepted, with a recommended stipend of $20 per Mass in the Diocese of Green Bay. Families may submit up to 15 Mass Intentions per year.
- Baptism
- Marriage (oratory keeps its own sacramental registers)
- Penance / Confession (daily)
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reception of converts
Becoming a Registered Member
New parishioners are warmly welcomed. Registration forms are available online, at the parish office, or by email. The parish office encourages all members to keep contact information up to date, especially when relocating or changing phone numbers or email addresses.
- Registration available online via the parish website
- Paper registration forms available at the scrip table
- Registration requests by email: [email protected]
- Contact the parish office to update existing information
The Building and Its History
The historic church building is an 1893–94 brick Gothic Revival structure designed by architect C. C. Buck, with a separate 1921 Georgian Revival Parish House next door designed by Foeller, Schober, and Stephenson. Inside, fourteen stained-glass windows, wood pews, a high vaulted ceiling, and marble flooring at the altar are treasured features. In October 2018, the oratory engaged Conrad Schmitt Studios to transform the previously whitewashed interior into an environment more aligned with the Institute's mission of beauty in worship.
- Built 1893–94, brick Gothic Revival
- Architect: C. C. Buck
- Adjacent Parish House: 1921, Georgian Revival (Foeller, Schober, Stephenson)
- 14 stained-glass windows (restored under Msgr. Brian Coleman)
- 2018 interior renovation by Conrad Schmitt Studios
Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest
St. Patrick's Oratory is an apostolate of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, a Society of Apostolic Life of the Pontifical Right. The Institute's mission is to honor Our Lord Jesus Christ by restoring Catholic life and culture through the reverent celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass, formation of altar servers, catechism, reception of converts, and devotion to Our Lady. Its presence in Green Bay began in 1998 and was elevated to an Oratory in 2005 with the perpetual privilege of keeping sacramental registers.
- Society of Apostolic Life of the Pontifical Right
- Mission: 'In Corde Ecclesiae' — in the Heart of the Church
- Green Bay apostolate began 1998 under Fr. Gregory Mikula
- Elevated from Chapel to Oratory in May 2005 by Bishop David Zubik
- Relocated to St. Patrick's Church in 2014 by Bishop David Ricken
- Renamed St. Patrick's Oratory in October 2014
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael O'Brien1893–94 (church built)
Oversaw construction of the existing brick Gothic Revival church
- Father John O'Brien1982–1999
Upgraded buildings, paved the parking lot, landscaped the grounds, built a handicapped-accessible ramp entrance, installed central A/C, and erected a new steeple
- Msgr. Brian Coleman1999–
Succeeded Fr. O'Brien as Administrator; oversaw rejuvenation and repair of all 14 stained-glass windows
- Fr. Gregory Mikula1998–
Institute of Christ the King priest in charge of the Green Bay apostolate
- Canon Andreas Hellmann2000–
Newly ordained ICRSP priest who arrived to serve the growing faithful
- Canon Jean-Marie Moreau2004–
Became rector of the Traditional Latin Mass Apostolate after 13 years in the Institute's Gabon mission
- Canon Denis Buchholz2008–2009; spring 2016–
Served twice as rector
- Canon Andreas Hellmann (return)–September 28, 2014
Returned to serve as rector; then transferred to the Institute's Bavarian apostolates
- Canon Denis Buchholz (return)spring 2016
Returned as rector until appointed to care pastorally for the Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus in Switzerland
- Canon Antoine Boucheron2016–present
Appointed to continue serving the faithful at St. Patrick's Oratory