About St. Rose of Lima · Milwaukee, Wisconsin
St. Rose of Lima is a Roman Catholic parish located at 3005 W. Michigan Street in Milwaukee's near-West Side, sharing a collaborative pastoral team with sister parish St. Michael Catholic Church (1445 N. 24th Street). Founded in 1888 by Irish immigrants under the direction of Archbishop Michael Heiss, St. Rose has remained a spiritual home for successive waves of newcomers — Irish, African American, Puerto Rican, Mexican, and since fall 2021 French-speaking Catholic families from Africa and beyond. Today the parish offers Mass in English, Spanish, and French, alongside a Saturday food pantry and clothing center, Bible study, Eucharistic adoration, and a rich liturgical life rooted in immigrant and refugee devotion.
- Established
- 1888
- Patron
- St. Rose of Lima
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Wolfe
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. Rose of Lima is a small West Side parish with a more than 135-year tradition of welcoming displaced people and newcomers. Visitors and parishioners encounter a vibrant, multilingual Catholic community where Mass is offered in English, Spanish, and French; where the Saturday food pantry and clothing center serve neighbors in need on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays; and where Eucharistic adoration, Bible study, and faith formation are woven into weekly parish life. It is an ideal home for anyone who wants to worship in their native language, serve alongside immigrant and refugee families, and belong to a parish that defines itself by hospitality.
Mass times at St. Rose of Lima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes prior to Sunday Mass
- During Saturday Adoration (10:00 AM)
Adoration times
- Saturday 10:00 AM (St. Rose)
Parish Identity & History
St. Rose of Lima was founded in 1887–1888 by Archbishop Michael Heiss through the newly ordained Rev. Patrick H. Dumin to serve Irish Catholic families settling on Milwaukee's West Side. The first Mass was celebrated February 19, 1888, and the present Gothic Revival brick church was completed in 1889. St. Rose has been the spiritual home of Irish, African American, Puerto Rican, Mexican, and (since 2021) French-speaking Catholic communities — a 135-year vocation of welcoming the displaced.
- Founded 1887–1888 by Archbishop Michael Heiss and Fr. Patrick H. Dumin
- First Mass celebrated February 19, 1888
- Current church built 1889; school added 1924
- Golden Jubilee commemorated in 1938
- Now partnered with sister parish St. Michael Catholic Church
The Church Building
The St. Rose of Lima church is an Early Gothic Revival brick building designed by architect H.P. Schnetzky and built by J. Schrurck in 1889. It has been lengthened (1905), sandblasted (1954), had its spires removed (1960), and gained a new portico (1964). The Wisconsin Historical Society lists it as a typical Gothic Revival church as constructed in Milwaukee.
- Style: Early Gothic Revival; brick
- Architect: H.P. Schnetzky; Builder: J. Schrurck
- Year Built: 1889
- Alterations: 1905, 1924 (school), 1954, 1960, 1964
Bible Study
A weekly Bible Study is held Saturday mornings at 8:30 AM in the Parish Center, before Adoration.
- Saturdays 8:30 AM at the Parish Center
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners can serve at Mass as Altar Servers, Lectors/Readers (in Hmong, Lao, Karen, Karenni, Spanish, English, or Burmese), Ushers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Choir members, or Musicians.
- Altar Server
- Lector / Reader
- Usher
- Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
- Choir
- Musician (instrumentalists)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for children and youth is coordinated by Margaret Lee, Director of Christian Formation, with catechist volunteers serving in classrooms. Sister Alice Thepouthay serves as faith formation coordinator with a special focus on the Lao community.
- Director of Christian Formation: Margaret Lee
- Faith formation coordinator: Sister Alice Thepouthay
- Catechist volunteer opportunities available
- Karen, Karenni, Burmese, Hmong, Lao, Spanish, and English catechetical offerings
Outreach & Community Service
St. Rose operates a Food Pantry and Clothing Center out of the basement of the parish center, distributing groceries and clothing to neighbors in need. Other outreach includes English literacy classes and citizenship tutoring at sister parish St. Michael, a Carpool Ministry for parishioners without transportation, Homebound Ministry bringing Communion to the sick, and Missionary Outreach.
- St. Rose Food Pantry — 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 4:00–6:00 PM
- Clothing Center — open during food pantry days
- Literacy Program (English) — at St. Michael
- Citizenship Class tutors — needed
- Carpool Ministry
- Homebound Minister (Eucharist to the sick)
- Missionary Outreach
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry welcomes choir members and instrumentalists to lead sung prayer at Sunday Masses, helping to enhance the liturgy across the parish's multiple languages.
- Choir
- Instrumentalists
Multicultural & Ethnic Communities
St. Rose of Lima and St. Michael together host prayer communities representing at least seven ethnic identities — Hmong, Karenni, Karen, Lao, Burmese, Spanish, and English — and since fall 2021 also serve French-speaking Catholic families from Africa and beyond. Half of the combined parish's worshippers are under 35.
- Hmong prayer community (1st & 3rd Sunday Mass at St. Michael)
- Karenni prayer community (2nd Sunday Mass)
- Karen prayer community (1st & 2nd Sunday Mass)
- Lao pastoral ministry led by Sister Alice Thepouthay
- Burmese-speaking faithful
- Spanish-speaking community (Sunday 11:00 AM Mass at St. Rose)
- English-speaking community (Sunday 9:00 AM Mass)
- French-speaking community from Africa (since fall 2021)
Staff & Clergy
St. Rose of Lima shares pastoral leadership with sister parish St. Michael. The pastor, Rev. Rafael Rodriguez, is a native of Venezuela who has pastored the combined parishes for approximately seven years. Associate pastor Rev. Chakrit Micaphitak is one of only a few Hmong Catholic priests in the United States. Margaret Lee serves as Director of Christian Formation, and Sister Alice Thepouthay serves as Lao pastoral associate and faith formation coordinator.
- Rev. Chakrit Micaphitak — Associate Pastor
- Sister Alice Thepouthay — Lao pastoral associate / faith formation coordinator
- Margaret Lee — Director of Christian Formation
Contact & Location
Parish offices are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The two parishes share a single phone number and email. St. Rose of Lima is at 3005 W. Michigan Street, and sister parish St. Michael is at 1445 N. 24th Street.
- St. Rose of Lima: 3005 W. Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53208
- St. Michael: 1445 N. 24th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53205
- Phone: (414) 933-3143
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Get Involved — Help Needed
The parish actively recruits volunteers for its food pantry and clothing center, English literacy tutors, and citizenship class tutors. Sign-up is available on the parish website.
- Food Pantry & Clothing Center volunteers
- English literacy tutors
- U.S. Citizenship class tutors
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Patrick H. Dumin1887–?
Founding pastor; entrusted with the parish's formation by Archbishop Michael Heiss in 1887. Celebrated the first Mass at St. Rose of Lima on February 19, 1888. Previously served at St. Francis Borgia Parish, Cedarburg, beginning eight months after his 1880 ordination.
- Rev. Rafael Rodriguezapproximately 2016–present
Pastor of St. Michael and St. Rose of Lima parishes (native of Venezuela). Has emphasized multilingual worship, refugee outreach, and pastoral care for the parish's seven ethnic prayer communities.