About St. Patrick · Menasha, Wisconsin
St. Patrick Catholic Community is a welcoming parish located on Doty Island at 324 Nicolet Boulevard in Menasha, Wisconsin, serving Menasha, Neenah, and the greater Fox Cities. Guided by the motto "Open Hearts and Helping Hands," the parish invites people of every background, age, and family situation to worship and grow in faith together. The community offers English and Spanish liturgies, a hearing loop in the church, and active outreach to neighbors in need. Whether you are a lifelong Catholic, returning to the Church, or simply seeking a spiritual home, St. Patrick's strives to be a place of welcome and belonging.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Fr. Tom Reynebeau
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
St. Patrick's offers a warm, inclusive community that lives out "Open Hearts and Helping Hands." With Masses in English and Spanish, a hearing loop, active outreach ministries, and programs for men, women, youth, and families, it is a parish where people of every background can find belonging and grow in faith.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- After each Sunday Mass
- By appointment with the parish office
- Communal celebrations during Advent and Lent
Adoration times
- First Friday of each month at 8:30 AM
How Did We Worship Prior to 1853?
Catholic worship in the area began around 1834 with traveling missionaries. In 1848, St. Malachy Mission was established to serve about twenty Catholic families on land near Clayton Road. Father Paul Farinacci was assigned in 1849, and the mission remained in use until 1857. A state historical marker now commemorates the mission and cemetery location.
A New Church, A New Name
Construction on the village's first Catholic church began in 1853 and was dedicated by Bishop Martin Henni as St. Charles Borromeo in 1857. After the church burned on March 2, 1882, parishioners rebuilt the present brick structure. The property was redeeded to the Diocese of Green Bay, and the church was dedicated as St. Patrick's Congregation on July 5, 1883.
A New Century, a New Look
In 1916 a tower was added to the church front. St. Margaret-Mary Parish in Neenah was established in 1933, with many St. Patrick's families as founding members. Under Father Joseph Ahearn, the old school was razed in 1940 and a new school was dedicated in 1941.
St. Patrick's Celebrates its Centennial
A 1953–1955 remodeling added a narthex and baptistery, remodeled the sanctuary, and installed a mosaic mural of 560,000 tessarae pieces behind the altar. New Stations of the Cross and side-altar statues were hand-carved by Italian artists. The bell tower was removed in 1956.
School Closes and Community Changes
Father Roy Geenen became pastor in 1986, during the parish's difficult decision to close St. Patrick's Grade School after 119 years. The building later housed Seton Catholic Middle School until it was razed beginning in 2016.
Preserving Our Heritage, Building Our Future
A 1998 capital campaign led to a major renovation and new construction, including accessible restrooms, a full-service kitchen, a gathering area, and Geenen Hall. Groundbreaking was April 21, 2002, and Bishop Robert Banks dedicated the renovated church on October 19, 2002.
Today and Beyond
St. Patrick's continues as a bilingual Catholic community on Doty Island, offering Mass in English and Spanish, faith formation, youth ministry, and outreach programs. The parish remains committed to welcoming all who seek God.
Cemetery Heritage
St. Patrick's historic cemetery, once called the Old Irish Cemetery, is located on a ridge at Green Bay and Ridgeway Roads in Neenah. St. Margaret's Cemetery on Oakridge Road was established in 1913 for parishioners of St. Patrick's and neighboring parishes.