About St. Pius X · Appleton, Wisconsin
St. Pius X is a Roman Catholic parish in Appleton, Wisconsin, belonging to the Diocese of Green Bay and serving the Fox Valley. Established on September 4, 1957 by Bishop Stanislaus Bona from a founding community of about 400 families, it has grown into a parish of more than 2,100 families that today hosts an elementary school of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System (SFXSS) on its campus. The parish offers a full sacramental life — daily and weekend Masses in English with livestream, weekly Confession, a perpetual Divine Mercy Adoration chapel, robust faith formation for children through Confirmation, parish-based outreach (food pantry, St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, Elizabeth Ministries) and a wide range of liturgical ministries.
- Established
- 1957
- Patron
- St. Pius X (Pope St. Pius X)
- Rector
- Very Rev. James (Jim) Jugenheimer
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay (Catholic Diocese of Green Bay)
Why belong here
St. Pius X combines the daily rhythm of a large, well-staffed parish — multiple weekend and weekday Masses, weekly confession times, and a perpetual Adoration chapel — with the personal touch of small-group ministry and on-site Catholic schooling. Parishioners can grow in faith through RCIA, parish Bible studies, small groups, Totus Tuus summer catechesis, and dedicated formation for every grade from PreK through Confirmation, while serving the wider community through the parish food pantry, St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, Elizabeth Ministries and other outreach partners. With a welcoming pastor and deacons, an evangelization director, and a thriving calendar of community events, it is a parish designed to help families form, worship, and serve together.
Mass times at St. Pius X
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 4:30 PM – 5:20 PM
- Thursday: 7:20 AM – 7:50 AM
- 1st Friday: 5:00 PM – 5:50 PM
- Saturday: 8:40 AM – 10:00 AM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the Divine Mercy Adoration Chapel (access coordinated through the parish office at 920-733-0575 or [email protected])
Parish History & Patron
St. Pius X was canonically established on September 4, 1957 by Bishop Stanislaus Bona to serve the growing Catholic population of Appleton's west side. The patron, Pope St. Pius X (1835–1914), is celebrated on his feast day, August 21 — a date observed in the parish bulletin and reflected in the parish name on its signage, website, and communications.
- Founded September 4, 1957 by Bishop Stanislaus Bona, Diocese of Green Bay
- Original complex: 12 classrooms, parish offices, cafeteria, and temporary church designed to convert into six future classrooms
- Started with ~400 families; today more than 2,100 families
- Patron: Pope St. Pius X; Feast day August 21
Pastoral Leadership & Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. James (Jim) Jugenheimer, supported by a parochial vicar — Rev. Andrew Kurz is appointed Parochial Vicar effective July 1, 2026 (succeeding Rev. Juan Carlos Altamirano Herrera, who concludes June 30, 2026) — and two deacons, Robert (Bob) Seymour and Daniel (Dan) Zajicek. A full lay staff supports parish operations and faith formation, including a Business Manager, Pastoral Assistant, Music Director (position open April 2025), Communications/Media coordinator, Facilities Manager, and a complete faith-formation team.
- Pastor: Very Rev. James (Jim) Jugenheimer ([email protected], Ext. 301)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Andrew Kurz (effective July 1, 2026)
- Deacon Robert (Bob) Seymour (Ext. 327)
- Deacon Daniel (Dan) Zajicek (Ext. 328)
- Business Manager: Charlie Mares (Ext. 303)
- Parish Secretary: Donna Armstrong (Ext. 300)
- Bookkeeper: Kathie Reed (Ext. 302)
- Pastoral Assistant: Mary Wirth (Ext. 307)
- Music Director: John Popke (Ext. 309) — position actively recruited April 2025
- Communications/Media: Andrea Phillips (Ext. 304)
- Facilities Manager: Gerry Graphos (Ext. 308)
- Evangelization Director: Shileng Yang (Ext. 204, [email protected])
- Youth Ministry / Confirmation: Jennifer Buelow (Ext. 201)
- Middle/High School Formation: Kaethi Schommer (Ext. 202, [email protected])
- Elementary Coordinator: Erin Buchholtz (Ext. 206)
- Faith Formation Secretary: Shirley Riley (Ext. 200)
Historic Pastor: Rev. Ronald A. Colombo
Rev. Ronald A. Colombo was appointed pastor of St. Pius X in 1980 and shepherded the parish for eleven years before being reassigned to Holy Family Parish in Marinette in 1990 and becoming its pastor in 1991. Ordained by Bishop Aloysius J. Wycislo at Corpus Christi Parish in Sturgeon Bay on May 14, 1972, Fr. Colombo went on to long service in the Denmark-area parishes and retired in 2014. He entered eternal life on September 16, 2023 at the age of 77.
- Pastored St. Pius X 1980–1990/91 (~11 years)
- Later served Holy Family (Marinette), St. James (Cooperstown), All Saints (Denmark), and others
- Entered eternal life Sept. 16, 2023
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates all seven sacraments, with easy parish-office entry points for Baptism, Marriage preparation, and homebound visits. Baptism preparation includes monthly classes (first Tuesday of the month) for first-time parents; expectant parents are encouraged to call as soon as the pregnancy is known.
- Baptism — call the parish promptly; monthly Baptism class on the first Tuesday
- Reconciliation — weekly schedule (see above)
- Eucharist — at every Mass; home Communion available for the sick
- Confirmation — via Youth Ministry / Family Discipleship
- Marriage — preparation through the parish
- Anointing of the Sick / homebound visits — contact the priests or deacons
Children & Youth Faith Formation
Children and youth ministries serve parish families from PreK through Grade 11, including a dedicated Confirmation track and high-school youth group. The parish also hosts the summer Totus Tuus catechetical camp (a week of prayer, skits, songs, games, and the Sacraments led by young Catholic adults) and offers Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for younger children.
- Grades PreK–5 Faith Formation
- Grades 6–8 Faith Formation
- Grades 9–11 Faith Formation (Confirmation prep)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Youth Group
- Totus Tuus Summer Camp (Day Camp grades 1–6; Evening Camp grades 7–12)
Adult Faith Formation & Small Groups
Adults grow in faith through parish Bible studies, small groups rooted in the 'Reach More' missionary-discipleship training, the RCIA process for those exploring the Catholic faith, the SEARCH retreat experience, and online resources such as Formed.org. The 'How Can I Learn More About the Catholic Faith?' page lists both at-home resources (Catechism, Compendium, Ascension Presents / Fr. Mike Schmitz, Catholic Answers) and parish-based options.
- Parish Bible Study (contact Mary Wirth)
- Small Groups & Reach More Training (contact Director of Evangelization Shileng Yang)
- RCIA (contact Deacon Bob Seymour)
- SEARCH retreats
- Formed.org digital content
Liturgical Ministries
A wide range of liturgical-service roles invites parishioners into the Mass — from behind-the-scenes sacristan work and altar serving during Mass, to welcoming at the door, proclaiming the Word, or distributing Holy Communion. Training is provided for all roles; altar-server training is open to any parishioner third grade or older who has received First Holy Eucharist.
- Art & Environment Team (decorates the worship space seasonally)
- Sacristans (set-up and clean-up)
- Altar Servers (with summer Altar Server Training Camp)
- Lectors (Ministry of the Word)
- Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion
- Ministers of Hospitality: Greeters and Ushers
Outreach & Parish Partners
St. Pius X has a strong culture of service to those in need, both through the parish's own ministries and through lay-led partner organizations. Practical help (food pantry, small home repairs, prayer shawls, bereavement support, maternity support) is paired with spiritual help (Healing Ministry) and parish-community life (parish picnic, BINGO, senior gatherings, marriage and young-adult groups).
- Food Pantry
- Jesus Helping Hands (home repairs)
- Beyond Grief (bereavement support)
- Healing Ministry
- Elizabeth Ministries (maternity support)
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Knights of Columbus
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Catholic Daughters
- Covenant of Love (married couples' monthly date night)
- Young Adults
- Carefree Years (monthly Senior Gathering)
Catholic School on Campus
St. Pius X hosts an elementary campus of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System (SFXSS), a regional Catholic school system shared among the Fox Valley parishes of the Diocese of Green Bay. Hosting SFXSS on site is consistent with the parish's founding vision as an education-minded community built originally around classrooms and a cafeteria.
- St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System (SFXSS) — elementary campus on the St. Pius X site
- Shared regional Catholic school system for Appleton Catholic families
Diocese, Vicariate & Mission
St. Pius X is part of the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, within Vicariate III — Fox Valley. The parish shares the diocese's renewed focus on 'forming missionary disciples,' and the parish statement 'As a Parish, we are Forming Disciples, sent on mission, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ' echoes Bishop Ricken's diocesan mission of 'helping more people discover, follow, worship and share Jesus in the places we live, work and pray.'
- Diocese of Green Bay, Vicariate III – Fox Valley
- Parish mission: 'Forming Disciples, sent on mission, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ'
- Participated in the diocesan 'one by One' capital campaign (2019)
Parish Office & Practical Info
The parish office handles registration, Mass Intentions, sacramental scheduling, facility reservations, and gift-giving. Communications include a printed weekly bulletin, livestream Masses on the website and YouTube channel, and a Facebook page (@StPiusXAppletonWI). Online registration is available for Faith Formation through the parish's WeShare portal.
- Parish Office: 500 W. Marquette St., Appleton, WI 54911; phone 920-733-0575; fax 920-749-8056
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8 AM–4 PM; Fri 8–11:30 AM
- Team Prayer: Mon–Fri 11:30 AM – Noon
- Social: Facebook @StPiusXAppletonWI; YouTube livestream channel
- Faith Formation Registration: stpiusxappleton.weshareonline.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ronald A. Colombo1980–1991 (approximately 11 years)
Ordained May 14, 1972; appointed pastor of St. Pius X in 1980 after assignments at parishes in Green Bay, Oshkosh, and Antigo; later served Holy Family Parish in Marinette, St. James in Cooperstown, and parishes in the Denmark area; entered eternal life September 16, 2023.