About St. William · Janesville, Wisconsin
St. William is a Roman Catholic parish on Janesville's west side in Rock County, Wisconsin, established on February 25, 1952 and entrusted to the Diocese of Madison. Today it is one of four parishes that make up Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate (alongside Nativity of Mary, St. John Vianney, and St. Patrick), and St. William Catholic School (founded 1953) sits next door on Ravine Street. The parish offers a Saturday Vigil Mass, a Sunday morning Mass, weekday Masses (one of them a School Mass), regular confession, and weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- St. William (of Maleval or St. William of York; specific historical dedication not detailed on the current website)
- Rector
- Rev. Chad Droessler
- Diocese
- Diocese of Madison
Why belong here
St. William offers a tight-knit Catholic community on Janesville's west side where families can attend a weekly Saturday Vigil Mass or 9:00 AM Sunday Mass, send their children to a parish school founded in 1953, and grow in prayer through Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration (9:00 AM–3:00 PM) and regular confession. As part of the Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate, the parish benefits from shared clergy, a robust Hispanic Ministry, Religious Education and Evangelization, Marriage Formation, and Pastoral Care — giving parishioners many ways to belong and serve.
Mass times at St. William
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
- Wednesday: 7:55 AM – 8:10 AM
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (following the 8:15 AM Mass)
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
History of St. William Parish
St. William was erected on February 25, 1952 on Janesville's west side, in response to the rapid post-World War II growth that had pushed Nativity of Mary Parish — Janesville's second Catholic congregation, founded in 1876 — to peak school enrollment of 568 pupils in 1952–53. Bishop William J. O'Connor of the newly created Diocese of Madison authorized the new foundation the same year, and the parish's grade school opened its doors in 1953.
- Established February 25, 1952
- St. William Catholic School founded 1953
- Carved out of Nativity of Mary Parish
- Diocese of Madison parish
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate
St. William is one of four parishes of the Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate, a collaborative grouping of Janesville's Catholic parishes. The shared pastorate stretches across three schools — St. William Catholic School, St. John Vianney, and Nativity of Mary (St. Mary) — and shares clergy, religious education staff, business administration, and maintenance.
- St. William
- Nativity of Mary
- St. John Vianney
- St. Patrick (San Patricio en Español)
- Three parish schools
Clergy & Staff
The pastorate is led by Pastor Rev. Chad Droessler, supported by two Parochial Vicars — Rev. Chris Gernetzke and Rev. Vincent Racanelli — and Priest in Residence Rev. Tom Marr. Lay staff include a Business Administrator (Jeanne Vogt), Executive Secretary (Heidi Schwank), Secretary (Jenny McBride), Director of Religious Education and Evangelization (Amanda Adams), Hispanic Ministry Director (Yadira Castellanos), Marriage Formation Coordinators (Mike and Patty O'Brien), and Pastoral Care staff (George Wollinger, Lucia Smith). St. William Catholic School is led by Principal Angela Flynn and Assistant Principal Melissa Lentz.
- Rev. Chad Droessler – Pastor
- Rev. Chris Gernetzke – Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Vincent Racanelli – Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Tom Marr – Priest in Residence
- Angela Flynn – Principal, St. William Catholic School
- Melissa Lentz – Assistant Principal, St. William Catholic School
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. William parish Mass times include a Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM, a Sunday morning Mass at 9:00 AM, a Wednesday School Mass at 8:15 AM, and a Friday Mass at 12:10 PM. Confessions are heard Saturday 3:30–4:00 PM, Sunday 8:30–9:00 AM, and Wednesday 7:55–8:10 AM. Eucharistic Adoration follows the Tuesday 8:15 AM Mass, continuing 9:00 AM–3:00 PM, with an additional Wednesday 9:00 AM–3:00 PM window.
Parish Ministries & Faith Formation
The pastorate's ministries are open to all four parishes including St. William. They include a parish school (PK–8), Religious Education and Evangelization led by Amanda Adams, Hispanic Ministry directed by Yadira Castellanos, Marriage Formation under Mike and Patty O'Brien, and a dedicated Pastoral Care team led by George Wollinger with associate Lucia Smith. Weekly Eucharistic Adoration is coordinated pastorate-wide.
- St. William Catholic School (PK–8, est. 1953)
- Religious Education and Evangelization
- Hispanic Ministry
- Marriage Formation
- Pastoral Care
- Eucharistic Adoration
St. William Catholic School
Founded in 1953 on Janesville's west side, St. William Catholic School serves students age 3 through 8th grade and operates from 1822 Ravine Street, adjacent to the parish church on N. Arch Street. The school is led by Principal Angela Flynn and Assistant Principal Melissa Lentz as part of the Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate school system.
- Founded 1953
- Address: 1822 Ravine Street, Janesville, WI 53548
- Phone: (608) 755-5184
- Grades: Prekindergarten–8
- Principal: Angela Flynn
- Assistant Principal: Melissa Lentz
Sacraments
The parish welcomes inquiries about Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation. Marriage formation is coordinated pastorate-wide; Religious Education and Evangelization handles preparation for sacraments of initiation; and the Pastoral Care team supports families in times of need.
- Baptism
- First Eucharist & Confirmation (via Religious Education)
- Marriage (with Marriage Formation program)
- Reconciliation (Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday)
- Anointing of the Sick / Pastoral Care
Visit & Contact
St. William Catholic Church is located at 456 N. Arch Street, Janesville, WI 53548, with parish office phone (608) 755-5180. The school office is at 1822 Ravine Street, phone (608) 755-5184. The parish's primary online home today is the Saint Jane Pastorate site at jcatholic.org; the legacy domain stwilliam.net is also referenced.
- Church: 456 N. Arch Street, Janesville, WI 53548
- Parish Office: (608) 755-5180
- School: 1822 Ravine Street, Janesville, WI 53548
- School Office: (608) 755-5184
- Pastorate website: https://jcatholic.org/