About Stella Maris · Jacksonport, Wisconsin
Stella Maris Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Green Bay serving Northern Door County, Wisconsin. The Jacksonport worship site is St. Michael the Archangel Church, located at 6236 State Highway 57, Jacksonport — a small, white 1882 wooden church built by pioneer Catholic families, listed on the town's historic register and known locally as a year-round Mass site and summer mission landmark. The Stella Maris parish unifies six Door County worship sites under one pastor and one patron, Our Lady Star of the Sea, and was formally created in July 2005.
- Established
- 1882
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel (church); Our Lady Star of the Sea (parish)
- Rector
- Fr. Jerry Pastors (current per parish website); Fr. Thomas Farrell served as pastor through at least mid-2025 and is named as celebrant in parish funeral Masses through 2026
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
St. Michael the Archangel is one of the most historic Catholic worship sites in Door County — a humble 1882 wooden church still without plumbing, lovingly maintained by Stella Maris Parish. Visitors and parishioners are welcomed to a small but spiritually rich lakefront mission with eight stained-glass windows from 1947, a parish hall, and a year-round Mass schedule, all under a pastor who shepherds a six-site parish rooted in stewardship and devotion to Our Lady, Star of the Sea. Whether you're a summer tourist drawn to Door County's peninsula Catholic heritage or a local seeking an intimate, historic worship site, St. Michael's offers a quiet, deeply traditional experience of the faith.
Mass times at Stella Maris
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish Overview
Stella Maris Parish, 'Star of the Sea,' is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Green Bay serving the Catholic community of Northern Door County, Wisconsin. Formally united in July 2005, it unifies six worship sites under one pastor and one patron, Our Lady Star of the Sea. The parish mission statement reads: 'Stella Maris Parish, guided by our patron, lives and shares the mission of Jesus Christ.' The parish serves about 600 households year-round, with attendance nearly tripling during summer tourism months.
- Six worship sites unified in 2005
- Patron: Our Lady Star of the Sea
- Approximately 600 year-round households
- Diocese of Green Bay
Jacksonport Site — St. Michael the Archangel Church
The Jacksonport worship site is St. Michael the Archangel Church, a small 1882 white wooden pioneer church on lakefront land (including the cemetery) donated by the Charles Reynolds family. The church retains its pioneer character — no running water or plumbing — while a parish hall built in 1993 provides bathrooms and a kitchen. St. Michael's feast day, September 29 (Michaelmas), has been a time of great celebration in Europe for centuries. A Jacksonport Historical Society marker was erected in 2019 documenting the site's history from the 1660s Jesuit missionary activity through its 1882 completion.
- Completed 1882 (wooden church)
- Address: 6236 State Highway 57, Jacksonport, WI 54235
- Land donated by Charles Reynolds family (deed May 23, 1881)
- Parish hall built in 1993
- Jacksonport Historical Society marker erected 2019
History of St. Michael the Archangel
Catholic missionaries from Quebec arrived in 1665 among the Potawatomi/Ottawa village at Mechigan (Jacksonport), and a Jesuit mission station was named 'St. Michael's.' After Wisconsin became a U.S. territory in 1836, Irish, Scottish, and Canadian immigrants settled the area. Father Rhode of Ahnapee organized the first Catholic congregation in 1874. Building materials arrived on the schooner Pilgrim in 1880, the land deed was signed in 1881, and the wooden church was completed in 1882 at a cost of approximately $600. Pioneer families — LeClair, Londo, Cardy, DesJardine, LeMere, Butler, Campbell, O'Brien, LaPlante, Lautenbach, Orthober, and Searth — supported construction through pledges of $2.00 to $35.00 and pew rent.
- 1665: Jesuit missionaries from Quebec
- 1874: First recorded baptism (John Reynolds)
- 1880: Building materials arrive via schooner Pilgrim
- 1881: Land deed to Diocese of Green Bay ($1.00)
- 1882: Church completed
- 1947: Eight stained-glass windows installed
- 1993: Parish hall built
- 2010–2011: Further renovations
Parish Staff
Stella Maris Parish is served by a pastor who shepherds all six worship sites, supported by parish office staff in Egg Harbor and pastoral associates. The parish also welcomes visiting priests who assist during busy seasons.
- Fr. Jerry Pastors — Pastor (current per parish website)
- Fr. Thomas Farrell — Pastor (celebrant through 2025–2026)
- Jan Malchow — Pastoral Associate
- Angela Packard — Faith Formation / Funeral Coordinator
- Lorie Orthober — Secretary, Receptionist and Bulletin Editor
- Fr. Art Heinze — visiting/assisting priest
- Fr. Don Thimm — visiting/assisting priest
- Fr. Jores — visiting/assisting priest
Faith Formation & Ministries
The parish offers formation for all ages and stages of Catholic life, including Youth Faith Formation, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those entering the Church, and ongoing Bible Study. Pastoral care is provided through the parish office, including funeral coordination and support for those in need. The parish bulletin is the go-to source for weekly news, events, and reflections.
- Youth Faith Formation
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Bible Study
- Faith Formation / Funeral Coordination
- Pastoral Care
- Parish Bulletin (weekly)
- Knights of Columbus council
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
Stella Maris Parish celebrates Baptism, Matrimony, and offers Anointing of the Sick and ongoing pastoral care. Newcomers interested in joining the parish are warmly welcomed — the parish office in Egg Harbor is the central point of contact for sacramental preparation and registration.
- Baptism
- Matrimony
- Anointing of the Sick / Pastoral Care
- Parish registration via parish office
Six Worship Sites of Stella Maris Parish
Stella Maris Parish unifies six Northern Door County Catholic worship sites under one pastor and one patron, each with a patron saint reflecting its character: Mary as loving Mother of the Church; St. John the Baptist as preparer; St. Michael the Archangel as protector of the faithful; St. Rosalia as devotional inspirer; St. Paul as messenger of the Word. The first Catholic church built in Northern Door County was St. Mary of the Lake in Baileys Harbor (1874), followed by St. John the Baptist (Egg Harbor, 1878), St. Michael the Archangel (Jacksonport, 1882), St. Rosalia (Sister Bay, 1910), and St. Paul the Apostle (Fish Creek, 1921).
- St. Mary of the Lake — Baileys Harbor (1874)
- St. John the Baptist — Egg Harbor (1878)
- St. Michael the Archangel — Jacksonport (1882)
- St. Rosalia — Sister Bay (1910)
- St. Paul the Apostle — Fish Creek (1921)
- Washington Island — Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
Architecture & Notable Features
St. Michael the Archangel retains its 1882 wooden pioneer character with notable historic features including the bell tower with open window frames, a chimney at the middle of the roof, and an entrance that has shifted over time. Eight stained-glass windows installed in 1947 depict Christ the King, Mary the Iron Tower, St. Joseph Patron of the Church, the Eucharist, St. Peter, Confirmation, Baptism, and St. Michael the Archangel. A large solid redwood cross near the left side of the church was built and dedicated in honor of Father Eugene Tremblay, who served 18 years. The parish hall (built 1993) provides modern restrooms and a kitchen while the church itself remains deliberately without plumbing.
- Original 1882 wooden construction
- Eight stained-glass windows (1947)
- Redwood cross dedicated to Fr. Eugene Tremblay
- Bell tower with open window frames
- No running water or plumbing in church (parish hall added 1993)
Contact & Visit
Parish office: PO Box 49, 7710 State Hwy 42, Egg Harbor, WI 54209. Phone (920) 868-3241. Email [email protected]. Jacksonport worship site: 6236 State Highway 57, Jacksonport, WI 54235. The site is open year-round.
- Parish office: PO Box 49, 7710 State Hwy 42, Egg Harbor, WI 54209
- Phone: (920) 868-3241
- Email: [email protected]
- Jacksonport site: 6236 State Highway 57, Jacksonport, WI 54235
- Open year-round
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Rhode1874–1876
Mission priest from Ahnapee (now Algoma); first recorded baptism 1874 (John Reynolds)
- Father Blumefall 1876 – late 1884
Succeeded Father Rhode
- Father Krauttauercirca 1881
Named on deed transferring land to Diocese of Green Bay
- Father Gregory Pellegrin1880s
Also pastor of St. Joseph's Sturgeon Bay
- Father Bernard Hugenroth1889
Built rectory at Ss. Peter and Paul, Institute; served all of Jacksonport
- Father Francis Kroll1894
Pastored Jacksonport, Institute, Baileys Harbor, and Egg Harbor
- Father Louis Vande Castle1899
Shepherded all Northern Door County parishes
- Father Arthur Tardiffcirca 1947
His tenure brought the eight stained-glass windows (1947)
- Father Eugene Tremblay, O.M.I.1969–1987
18-year pastor; redwood cross at left of church dedicated in his honor
- Father Matt Simonar2000–2005
Diocesan priest appointed to serve all Northern Door County parishes
- Father David Ruby2006 – ~2019
Task of shepherding and uniting the six sites into one parish
- Fr. Thomas Farrellcirca 2019 – circa 2025
Led parish into 20th anniversary in 2025
- Fr. Jerry Pastors2025 – present
Current pastor referenced on parish homepage