About Stella Maris · Fish Creek, Wisconsin
Stella Maris Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Green Bay that unites five historic worship sites across Northern Door County, Wisconsin — St. Paul the Apostle (Fish Creek), St. Mary of the Lake (Baileys Harbor), St. John the Baptist (Egg Harbor), St. Michael the Archangel (Jacksonport), and St. Rosalia (Sister Bay) — plus a mission at Washington Island, where Catholics gather for Mass at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. Formed in 2005 from a vote of the six historic congregations and named for the 'Star of the Sea' mosaic over the entrance of St. Mary of the Lake in Baileys Harbor, the parish is guided by Mary and serves about 600 year-round households that swell to several times that number each summer as visitors return to the Door Peninsula. The current pastor is Father Jerry Pastors, supported by a Pastoral Associate, Faith Formation coordinator, parish staff, and visiting clergy.
- Established
- 2005
- Patron
- Mary, Star of the Sea (Our Lady, Stella Maris)
- Rector
- Father Jerry Pastors
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
Stella Maris offers the rare experience of belonging to a single Catholic parish that spans five architecturally and historically distinct worship sites across Door County's small towns — Fish Creek, Baileys Harbor, Egg Harbor, Jacksonport, and Sister Bay — plus an ecumenical Mass site on Washington Island, so families and visitors can worship in a small historic church that suits their location and schedule. The parish welcomes newcomers and seasonal residents warmly, runs year-round faith formation, OCIA, youth ministry, Bible study, a health & wellness committee, a faith community nurse, a Flying Solo Society for singles, a pantry, and Christian service projects (including mission trips to the Casa Catholic Worker House in Chicago and St. John's Homeless Shelter in Green Bay). Daily Mass rotates through all six sites, adoration and reconciliation are offered multiple times a week, and the staff actively encourages visitors — making Stella Maris an easy place to drop in, join in, and call home.
Mass times at Stella Maris
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 8:30–9:30am in Baileys Harbor
- 30 minutes prior to all Weekend Masses
- Each Wednesday morning following Mass in Egg Harbor
- First Thursday of the month 5:00–6:00pm (Baileys Harbor) — per Diocese of Green Bay confessor listing
- Sister Bay 5:00–6:00pm (reconciliation event)
- By appointment — call the parish office
Adoration times
- Wednesday in Egg Harbor following the 8:00am Mass (Holy Hour / Adoration)
- Third Thursday of the month in Sister Bay at 5:00pm (Holy Hour followed by Holy Mass at 6:00pm)
About Stella Maris Parish
Stella Maris Parish prayerfully unites people in the love of Jesus, guided by our patron, Mary, and serves the Catholic community of Northern Door County. With worship sites in Baileys Harbor, Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Jacksonport, Sister Bay and Washington Island, it is a Roman Catholic faith community in the Diocese of Green Bay. The parish is unusual in that its size steadily grows each summer as seasonal visitors return to the Door Peninsula — the parish serves about 600 households year-round, with numbers nearly tripling during summer tourism months, and at least one visiting priest assists the pastor during peak season.
- Six worship sites
- About 600 year-round households
- Diocese of Green Bay
- Guided by patron Mary
History of the Parish and Its Five Worship Sites
Stella Maris Parish was formed in July 2005 when the six historic congregations of Northern Door County voted to unite under one name, taken from the 'Stella Maris / Star of the Sea' mosaic over the entrance of St. Mary of the Lake Church in Baileys Harbor. The five worship sites each carry more than a century of Catholic history: St. Mary of the Lake (Baileys Harbor, 1874) was the first Catholic Church built in Northern Door County; St. John the Baptist (Egg Harbor, organized 1876, present church 1910); St. Michael the Archangel (Jacksonport, 1882); St. Rosalia (Sister Bay, original 1910, present church dedicated 1984); and St. Paul the Apostle (Fish Creek, mission 1917, present church 1921). From 1906 the parishes were served by the Mission Oblates of Mary Immaculate; Father Chester Cappucci was the last O.M.I. pastor (St. Mary of the Lake, 1990–2000).
- 1874 – St. Mary of the Lake, Baileys Harbor (first Catholic Church in Northern Door County)
- 1878 – St. John of the Desert (later St. John the Baptist) log church, Egg Harbor
- 1882 – St. Michael the Archangel, Jacksonport
- 1910 – St. Rosalia Church (original), Sister Bay
- 1917 – St. Paul the Apostle mission begins in Fish Creek
- 1921 – St. Paul the Apostle Church built, Fish Creek
- 1906–2000 – Mission Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.) serve the region
- 1984 – Present St. Rosalia Church dedicated by Bishop Adam Maida (Sept. 9, 1984)
- 2005 – Six congregations unite into Stella Maris Parish
Worship Sites
The parish operates six worship locations spread across Northern Door County and Washington Island. Each retains its own historic identity within the unified parish.
- St. Paul the Apostle — 4012 WI-42, Fish Creek, WI 54212
- St. Mary of the Lake — 8013 WI-57, Baileys Harbor, WI 54202
- St. John the Baptist — 7710 WI-42, Egg Harbor, WI 54209
- St. Michael the Archangel — 6236 WI-57, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 (Jacksonport)
- St. Rosalia — 2410 S Bay Shore Dr, Sister Bay, WI 54234
- Washington Island Mission — Mass at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
Faith Formation and Education
The parish runs an active Faith Formation program coordinated by Angela Packard (Faith Formation/Funeral Coordinator) and (historically) Linda Cummer. Programs serve school-age youth, adults seeking initiation, and ongoing learners.
- Youth Faith Formation
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Bible Study / Scripture Class (Tuesday mornings after 8:00am Mass)
- Washington Island Catechists
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Father Jerry Pastors with a team of deacons, a Pastoral Associate, a Faith Formation/Funeral Coordinator, parish secretary, bookkeeper, and a Worship and Administrative Coordinator for Washington Island.
- Father Jerry Pastors — Pastor (current)
- Father Thomas Farrell — Pastor (recently retired; remains in Sister Bay)
- Deacon David Kowalski
- Deacon Tony Abts
- Jan Malchow — Pastoral Associate (successor to Becky Nash)
- Angela Packard — Faith Formation / Funeral Coordinator
- Lorie Orthober — Secretary, Receptionist, Bulletin Editor
- Diane Kahlscheuer — Worship and Administrative Coordinator, Washington Island
- Pastor phone: (920) 217-8155; Parish office: (920) 868-3241
Pastoral Succession (Stella Maris Parish)
Stella Maris Parish has had a succession of pastors since its 2005 unification, preceded by the priest who guided the Northern Door parishes through the consolidation.
- Father Matt Simonar (2000–2005) — diocesan priest; led the parishes through the 2005 unification
- Father David Ruby (2006–~2018) — first pastor of the unified parish; supported by Sister Angela Palm, Deacons Kurt Grube and David Kowalski
- Father Thomas Farrell (~2019–2025) — began about six years before the 2025 20th anniversary; retired in 2025
- Father Jerry Pastors (2025–present) — current pastor
Predecessor Parish Histories (Mission Era)
Before the 2005 unification, each worship site had its own long line of visiting and resident pastors and missionaries going back to the 1860s.
- Baileys Harbor: First Catholic Church 1874 (Father Rhode); first resident pastor Father Lawrence O'Laughlin (1886); Father Francis Kroll (1895, built first rectory); long O.M.I. line including Father Chester Cappucci (1990–2000, last O.M.I.); Father Norman Pahl (1987–1990); Father Matt Simonar (2000–2005)
- Egg Harbor: Congregation organized 1876 by Rev. E. Blume of Sturgeon Bay; Father Burnett (Menominee, MI) from 1868; Father J.J. Fox noted as pastor; many French-Canadian pastorates; cornerstone 1909; first resident priest 1918
- Jacksonport: Mission 1874 under Father Rhode of Ahnapee (Algoma); bill of lading 1880; deed 1881; church completed 1882
- Sister Bay: Monthly Mass from Sturgeon Bay in 1874 (Father Bloom); worship moved to Roeser home 1879; Father Hugenroth presided over German hymns; church 1910; present church 1984 — designed by J.J. Kuskowski & Associates; built by John E. Gilson Company
- Fish Creek: Mission petitioned 1917 by Jacob and Josephine Barringer; Bishop Paul Peter Rhode named the parish; first Mass December 17, 1917 in Margaret Carmody's rented room; first priest Father Gustav Paul Berneche; present church 1921
Ministries and Outreach
Stella Maris offers a wide range of ministries for spiritual growth, fellowship, and service to the wider community.
- Christian Service & Responsibility (CSR) / Parish Pantry
- Mission Planning Committee
- Ministry to the Sick
- Faith Community Nurse
- Health & Wellness Committee
- Flying Solo Society — monthly support for single, divorced, or widowed parishioners
- Casa Catholic Worker House (Chicago) mission trip — healing and hope for displaced Hispanic families
- St. John's Homeless Shelter (Green Bay) volunteer shifts
- Music and Worship Ministry (director of music and worship)
- Lectors, Choir, and Liturgical Volunteers
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments — Baptism, Marriage, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Funerals, and the OCIA (RCIA) process for adults seeking initiation. Couples such as Tony Weber and Becky Durant have been married by Fr. Jerry Pastors; the parish office coordinates funeral planning through the Faith Formation/Funeral Coordinator.
- Baptism
- Marriage / Wedding preparation
- Reconciliation (see Reconciliation section)
- Anointing / Ministry to the Sick
- Funerals
- OCIA / RCIA
Door County Catholic Heritage
The Northern Door County Catholic community traces its roots to Irish, French-Canadian, German, and other European pioneers of the 1850s–1870s, served by missionary priests who traveled by horse and buggy — sometimes more than two hours over rough roads through swamps — to celebrate Mass in pioneer homes. Figures like John Reynolds (whose son became a Wisconsin governor) are among the founders, and the early communities built log, wood-frame, and eventually fieldstone churches that still stand as the worship sites of Stella Maris Parish today. The parish and its members are documented in the history book 'Celebrate – Stella Maris Parish,' compiled by parishioner Linda Cummer from diocesan archives, local newspapers, and parish records.
- First Catholic families arrived in Egg Harbor area in 1857 (Carmody Settlement)
- Mission Oblates of Mary Immaculate served Northern Door from 1906 to 2000
- Parish history book 'Celebrate – Stella Maris Parish' published for 20th anniversary (2025)
- Stella Maris 20th Anniversary celebrated with the Catholic Church's 2025 Jubilee Year
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Matt Simonar2000–2005
Diocesan priest appointed in 2000 to serve all parishes of Northern Door County; led the parishes up to and through the 2005 unification into Stella Maris.
- Father David Ruby2006–~2018
Took on the task of shepherding and uniting the six sites into one parish; supported by Sister Angela Palm (pastoral associate), Deacon Kurt Grube and later Deacon David Kowalski.
- Father Thomas Farrell~2019–2025
Began serving as pastor at Stella Maris about six years before the 2025 20th anniversary; retired in 2025 and remained in Sister Bay.
- Father Jerry Pastors2025–present
Current pastor; signs welcome message on the parish website.