About St. Stephen · Oak Creek, Wisconsin
St. Stephen Catholic Church in Oak Creek, Wisconsin is a parish of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee with roots stretching back to the 1840s German-Catholic settlement of New Coeln (New Cologne). Its current home, at 1441 W. Oakwood Road, was dedicated by Bishop Richard Sklba in November 2009 after the historic New Coeln church was demolished under airport-expansion pressures. Guided by the motto 'Celebrate, Form, Serve in Jesus Christ,' the parish welcomes more than 900 households and runs a robust Family Life Center with an on-site emergency food pantry. It offers daily and weekend Mass in English, regular Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, and faith formation for children and adults.
- Established
- 1847
- Patron
- St. Stephen, the first martyr
- Rector
- Fr. Stephen Buting (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. Stephen is a long-standing Catholic community that has rebuilt itself three times and now thrives in a modern, handicap-accessible Oak Creek campus. Daily and Sunday Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, Mother of Perpetual Help devotions on Tuesdays, and frequent Reconciliation make it easy to keep Christ at the center of the week. A free Family Life Center Emergency Food Pantry serves over 70 households a month, and ministries such as the Council of Catholic Women, Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul Meal Program, faith formation for all ages, and a stewardship-driven 'Celebrate, Form, Serve' vision give every household a place to share time and talent.
Mass times at St. Stephen
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:00 PM
- Friday 8:30 AM
- Saturday 3:30 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
History of St. Stephen
From a New Coeln log cabin in 1847 to a dedicated church in Oak Creek in 2009, the parish has been rebuilt after fires in 1908, 1926, and 1979, and once more after the relocation forced by airport expansion. The current building carries forward pieces of the 1927 rebuild, including the famous Slovenian-white-oak altar and black-walnut carvings.
- 1847 — first log church completed by German settlers from Cologne
- 1850 — school and rectory added
- 1884 — French Gothic rebuild by Druiding and Schunk & Bott
- 1897 — Golden Jubilee
- 1908 — fire guts the church, walls remain
- 1926 — second fire destroys church and rectory
- 1927 — 85 families rebuild; Slovenian-oak altar and walnut carvings installed
- 1947 — Centennial; new floors, oak Stations of the Cross, St. Joseph shrine
- 1973 — 125th anniversary
- 1979 — Palm Sunday arson fire damages rectory
- 1992 — parish school closes
- 2008 — ground broken in Oak Creek; lightning strikes the bell tower
- November 22, 2009 — Bishop Richard Sklba dedicates the new church
- 2022 — 175th anniversary celebrated; 'burn the mortgage' event retires $2.4M loan
Mission & Identity
St. Stephen describes its life with a three-word motto: Celebrate, Form, Serve in Jesus Christ. The parish's stated mission is 'To advance the kingdom of Jesus Christ, St. Stephen Catholic Church commits to making disciples by fostering spiritual growth through the sacraments, nurturing a strong and supportive community, and transforming lives through selfless service.' A stewardship culture invites every household to share time, talent, and treasure.
- Celebrate — Sunday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the sacraments
- Form — faith formation for children, teens, and adults
- Serve — Family Life Center, food pantry, outreach to the vulnerable
Faith Formation
Faith formation is described as 'the heartbeat of our effort to advance the kingdom of Jesus Christ.' Programs serve both children and adults preparing for sacraments, deepening prayer, or finding a place to serve. Director of Religious Education Dawn Thiele ([email protected], 414-762-0552) coordinates the program.
- Child Faith Formation
- Adult Formation
- Sacramental preparation
- Lifelong faith journey emphasis
Family Life Center & Emergency Food Pantry
The Family Life Center (FLC) runs St. Stephen's emergency food pantry, which on average serves more than 70 households (over 165 people) every month. Food is supplied through Hunger Task Force and donated by parishioners and community donors. The pantry operates Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to Noon and on one Saturday per month, serving households in zip codes 53154 (Oak Creek) and 53132 (Franklin). The FLC is an equal-opportunity provider.
- Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, plus one Saturday a month
- Photo ID, current mail (within 30 days), and proof for all minors required each visit
- Wisconsin households earning under 185% of federal poverty level are eligible
- Choose-your-own-food or curbside service available
- Donations of nonperishable food and personal care items collected at church doors
- Annual School Supply Drive
Parish Ministries & Get Involved
The parish's Stewardship Corner highlights ministries where parishioners can share time and talent. From feeding the hungry through the Family Life Center to fellowship and service organizations, there is a wide range of opportunities coordinated by Mary Peterson.
- Council of Catholic Women
- Hospitality Sunday
- St. Vincent de Paul Meal Program
- Knights of Columbus (parish council)
- Liturgy & Music ministry
- Faith Formation catechists
- Time & Talent stewardship ministries
Sacraments
The sacraments of the Church are at the center of parish life. The website publishes Reconciliation times directly, and the Parish Office (414-762-0552) coordinates Baptisms, Marriages, Anointing of the Sick, and sacramental preparation.
- Reconciliation: Tuesday 5:00 PM, Friday 8:30 AM, Saturday 3:30 PM
- Daily and Sunday Eucharist (see schedule)
- Eucharistic Adoration Tuesday afternoons
- Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick — contact the Parish Office
Devotions
Beyond Sunday Mass, the parish keeps traditional Catholic devotions woven into the weekly schedule, including a Tuesday rosary and the Mother of Perpetual Help devotion before the evening Mass.
- Rosary & Mother of Perpetual Help Devotions — Tuesday 8:00 AM
- Tuesday 6:00 PM Mass with Mother of Perpetual Help devotions
- Eucharistic Adoration — Tuesday 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Our Staff
A small, dedicated lay and ordained staff run the parish's liturgical, formation, communications, and operations work.
- Fr. Stephen Buting — Parochial Administrator
- Deacon Stan Lowe
- Mary Peterson — Coordinator of Communication and Administration (414-762-0552 x221)
- Lynda Trani — Director of Liturgy & Music
- Dawn Thiele — Director of Religious Education
- Gail Schlicht — Director of Family Life Center
- Roger Frohna — Maintenance & Grounds Associate
Become a Member
Newcomers receive a welcome packet and a personal letter from Fr. Stephen Buting inviting them to register, get involved in a ministry where the Holy Spirit may be calling them, and join a community shaped by friendship with Jesus Christ through daily prayer, Sunday Mass, ongoing faith formation, and service.
- Contact Mary Peterson at 414-762-0552 ext. 222
- Invitation to prayer, faith formation, and service
- Long heritage as part of the Church in southeastern Wisconsin
Visit, Accessibility & Directions
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM; the office is closed on Fridays. The 2009 Oak Creek campus was intentionally built without the stairs and barriers of the old New Coeln church, restoring attendance for many wheelchair-bound parishioners who had been unable to attend Mass at the previous site.
- 1441 W. Oakwood Rd., Oak Creek, WI 53154
- Handicap-accessible building and chapel
- Office hours Monday–Thursday 9 AM–3 PM; closed Friday
- Parish phone: 414-762-0552
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Stephen Buting
Current Parochial Administrator; signed the 'Become a Member' welcome letter; presided as pastor during most recent published era.
- Fr. Robert Kacalo
Held the 'burn the mortgage' celebration in June 2022 after retiring the $2.4 million loan on the Oak Creek church.