St. Theresa

Parish Identity & Mission

St. Theresa is a Catholic mission parish in the village of Theresa, Wisconsin, one of three parishes in the Dodge East Catholic grouping. Its shared mission statement reads: 'We the Parishes of St. Mary, St. Andrew and St. Theresa proclaim our faith in Jesus Christ and affirm our call to be his disciples as Members of the Roman Catholic Church. Strengthened by Word and Sacrament, we are called to share our faith freely, recognize the needs of others, and build a community where all are welcome without prejudice, with prayerful use of our time, talent and treasures.'

Parish History

St. Theresa was founded in 1849 and is named for St. Teresa of Avila, the 16th-century Spanish Carmelite mystic and Doctor of the Church. The village of Theresa itself dates from the same year, and the parish has served the area's farming families for 175 years. The 2024 anniversary publication, prepared by Monica and Marilyn Steger, builds on the tradition of documented parish histories that include St. Andrew's 150-year history compiled by Leonard Schraufnagel in 1999.

• Founded 1849
• 175th anniversary celebrated in 2024
• Patron: St. Teresa of Avila
• Approximately 170 families

Clergy & Staff

St. Theresa is served by a shared pastoral team with the other Dodge East Catholic parishes. The pastor is Rev. Nathaniel Miniatt, assisted by associate pastors Rev. Zachary Galante and Rev. Mark Brandl. An emergency after-hours anointing line (920-266-8273) is maintained for the grouping. The central parish office, located at 112 S. German St., Mayville, is open Monday–Friday 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

• Pastor: Rev. Nathaniel Miniatt ([email protected], 920-266-8273)
• Associate Pastor: Rev. Zachary Galante ([email protected], 920-387-2920 ext. 335)
• Associate Pastor: Rev. Mark Brandl ([email protected], 920-583-4125)
• Parish Secretary: Tamela Bath
• Parish Bookkeeper: Kelly Oechsner
• School Secretary / Webmaster: Mary Yauck
• DRE: Danielle Wiedmeyer

Mass & Worship Schedule

St. Theresa celebrates Sunday Mass at 9:15 AM and Wednesday Mass at 8:00 AM, both in English. The parish is part of the wider Dodge East Catholic Mass rotation, with daily Masses spread across the cluster's parishes in Mayville, Horicon, LeRoy, Byron, Oakfield, and Lomira.

• Sunday Mass — 9:15 AM (English)
• Wednesday Mass — 8:00 AM (English)
• Cluster Saturday Vigil Masses: St. Mary Lomira 4:00 PM; St. Mary Mayville 4:30 PM; Sacred Heart Horicon 5:00 PM
• Cluster Sunday Masses: St. Andrew Leroy 7:45 AM; St. John Byron 8:00 AM (1st/3rd/5th); St. James Oakfield 8:00 AM (2nd/4th); Sacred Heart Horicon 9:30 AM; St. Mary Mayville 10:30 AM

Parish Ministries

The Dodge East Catholic parishes share a wide range of lay ministries. Volunteers are encouraged to serve as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, sacristans, altar servers, ushers, and choir members. Liturgical and parish life is shaped by the Spiritual Life & Worship (Liturgy) Committee, which meets monthly and works with the Parish Council to plan the liturgical seasons, church environment, and prayer experiences.

• Reader (Lector)
• Sacristan
• Eucharistic Minister
• Music Ministry (cantor, choir, organ/piano)
• Altar Server
• Usher
• Spiritual Life & Worship Committee (monthly meetings)
• Christian Formation Program
• St. Mary's School Angels
• Finance and Building & Grounds Committee
• Stewardship Committee
• Pro-Life ministry
• St. Ann Sodality

Faith Formation & RCIA

Faith formation across the three parishes is coordinated as part of the Dodge East Catholic grouping, with classes for grade-school and high-school students, an RCIA process for adults, and dedicated youth, young adult, and adult/family ministry tracks. Volunteers can serve as teachers, classroom aides, or discussion leaders.

• Christian Formation (K-12)
• RCIA
• Youth Ministry
• Young Adult Ministry
• Adult and Family Ministry
• St. Mary's School (parish school)

Health Ministry & Outreach

The cluster's Health Ministry carries forward the scriptural call to 'work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith' (Galatians 6:10). It offers regular blood-pressure screenings and runs grief-support and cancer-support groups across the three parishes.

• Blood pressure screening — 3rd Saturday after 4:30 PM Mass; 3rd Sunday after 8:00 AM and 9:15 AM Masses
• Grief Support Group (call/text Bob Gionet, RN, 920-319-1961)
• Cancer Support Group
• Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255 (resource link on parish site)

Fraternal & Service Organizations

St. Theresa parishioners participate in several Catholic fraternal and service organizations active in the cluster, including two councils of the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters.

• Knights of Columbus – Mayville Council
• Knights of Columbus – Lomira Council
• Catholic Order of Foresters
• St. Vincent de Paul
• St. Ann Sodality

Stewardship & Parish Life

The cluster's stewardship ministry encourages parishioners to share their time, talent, and treasure. The parishes host a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner each year to thank those who keep the three communities running. A 'Jack or Jill of All Trades' volunteer list connects parishioners with occasional skilled needs such as electrical, plumbing, computer technology, or carpentry work.

• Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
• Jack or Jill of All Trades — on-call skilled volunteers
• Building & Grounds committees for each parish

Visiting & Contact

St. Theresa is located at 102 Church Street in Theresa, Wisconsin, 1.5 miles west of Hwy. 41 on Hwy. 175. The shared parish office is in Mayville (112 S. German St.) and can be reached at 920-387-2920 ext. 337 during office hours (Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM). For pastoral emergencies after hours, call the anointing line at 920-266-8273.

• Address: 102 Church St., Theresa, WI 53091
• Phone: 920-387-2920 x337
• Shared office: 112 S. German St., Mayville
• Office hours: Mon–Fri 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Emergency anointing: 920-266-8273