About Three Holy Women Parish-St. Hedwig Site · Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Three Holy Women Parish – St. Hedwig Site is one of three worship sites belonging to Three Holy Women Catholic Parish, a Milwaukee East Side Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The parish was incorporated on July 1, 2000, uniting three previously independent and century-old congregations — Holy Rosary, St. Hedwig, and St. Rita — each founded by a different immigrant group. The St. Hedwig site at 1702 N. Humboldt Avenue is the historic Polish church of the merged parish, serving the revived Brady Street neighborhood. It is part of the larger Family of Four Parishes collaboration that shares pastoral staff across Milwaukee's East Side, Riverwest, and Downtown neighborhoods.
- Established
- 1871
- Patron
- St. Hedwig, Queen of Poland (1384–1399)
- Rector
- Fr. Timothy L. Kitzke
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
Three Holy Women Parish welcomes parishioners and visitors into a diverse, multi-site Catholic family rooted in more than a century of East Side Milwaukee tradition. The parish offers reverent liturgy (including weekly Mass at St. Hedwig), the sacraments through the Family of Four Parishes collaboration, faith formation through UPLIFT Family Formation, SPRED ministry for people with intellectual disabilities, a Ministry of Care for the sick and homebound, liturgical music, and active women's society fellowship. It is also the home of Catholic East Elementary School, the joint school the three founding parishes launched together in 1982.
Mass times at Three Holy Women Parish-St. Hedwig Site
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday, 3:30–4:15 pm at Holy Rosary Church, 2011 N Oakland Ave (Family of Parishes)
- Saturday, 3:15–3:45 pm at St. Casimir Church, 2600 N Bremen St (Family of Parishes)
- Saturday, 7:15–7:45 am at Ss. Peter & Paul Church, 2490 N Cramer St (Family of Parishes)
- Sunday, 8:30–9:15 am at Ss. Peter & Paul Church (Family of Parishes)
- Sunday, 9:15–9:45 am at St. Casimir Church (Family of Parishes)
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, 11:30 am–12:00 pm at Old St. Mary Church, 844 N Broadway (Family of Parishes)
- First Friday after 7:00 am Mass at Old St. Mary (Family of Parishes)
Three Holy Women Parish — A Milwaukee East Side Catholic Community
Three Holy Women Parish was incorporated as a brand-new entity on Milwaukee's East Side on July 1, 2000. It embraces three neighboring parishes, each previously flourishing for more than a century: Holy Rosary Church (dedicated to Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary), St. Hedwig Church (honoring Hedwig, Queen of Poland 1384–1399), and St. Rita of Cascia (a nun of the Augustinian order). The parish's mission statement: 'We, the people of Three Holy Women Catholic Parish, rooted in the Roman Catholic faith, honor the traditions of our diverse parish, and come together as a family of faith, worship and service.'
- Three worship sites: Holy Rosary (Oakland & Lafayette), St. Hedwig (Brady & Humboldt), St. Rita (Cass & Pleasant)
- Incorporated July 1, 2000
- Part of the Family of Four (now Five) Parishes pastoral collaboration since 2010
History of St. Hedwig Site
St. Hedwig Church at 1702 N. Humboldt Avenue is an 1887 structure of Gothic and Romanesque styles. It replaced a much more modest wooden church originally built on Franklin Place, where Mass was first celebrated on October 17, 1871. It was erected for and by the Polish inhabitants of the city. An elementary school, grades 1–8, flourished under the loving care of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. The present edifice stands in a recently revived community of homes and small businesses known as the Brady Street neighborhood.
- First Mass: October 17, 1871 (wooden church on Franklin Place)
- Current church built: 1887, Gothic and Romanesque
- Cream City brick construction
- School Sisters of Notre Dame ran the parish school
The Polish Origins and the 1885 Organist Riot
Polish immigrants settled not only on Milwaukee's south side but also on the east side in an area known as the 'Kępa' (camp), once the site of a military encampment. Forty families organized the parish in 1871 rather than walk long distances to St. Stanislaus. In 1885 a riot broke out in the church over the choice of an organist; police were called, the priest resigned, and the parish was closed for three months. Father Clement Rogozinski — a Polish patriot who had been imprisoned by the Russians after the 1861 uprising — was appointed and restored calm.
- 40 founding families organized the parish in 1871
- Two lots purchased from Mr. Kowalski for $6,000 plus a $15,000 loan funded the new church
- Excavation began August 1886; church completed 1887
- Father Rogozinski had administered the oath of allegiance to Polish rebels in 1861
Family of Four (now Five) Parishes
Three Holy Women is part of the Family of Four Parishes, a collaboration of parishes in Milwaukee's East Side, Riverwest, and Downtown neighborhoods that began in 2010. The pastoral team of priests shares responsibilities for administering the sacraments, teaching the faith, reaching out to those in need, and overseeing spiritual and material needs. Many staff members also share responsibilities across the parishes. In June 2024, the archbishop announced priestly assignments to a 'Family of Five Parishes,' joining Fr. Tim with Fr. Joseph Heit, Fr. Carlos Londoño, and a returning Fr. Brian Mason.
- Sister parishes: Saints Peter & Paul, Old St. Mary, Our Lady of Divine Providence (St. Casimir)
- Pastor Fr. Timothy Kitzke leads the collaboration
- Priests share sacramental and administrative duties
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is served by a pastor, associate pastor, deacon, pastoral associate, and a broad lay staff covering liturgy and music, pastoral care, faith formation, maintenance, and administration. The parish nurse is shared with Columbia-St. Mary's.
- Fr. Timothy L. Kitzke — Pastor (414-271-6577 x1003; [email protected])
- Fr. Arul Ponnaiyan — Associate Pastor (414-962-2443 x306)
- Deacon Gary Nosacek (414-962-4997; [email protected])
- Chad Griesel — Pastoral Associate
- Lee Gwozdz — Director of Liturgy and Music
- Terri Balash — Director of Pastoral Care
- Steve Altman — Director of Maintenance
- Christine D'Amato — Director of Administrative Services
- Brenda Buchanan — Parish Nurse (Columbia-St. Mary's)
- Mary Hessel — Wedding Coordinator
- Joanne Krumberger — Sacristan
- Teresa Gross — Office Administrator
- Theresa Griesel — Web Communications Administrator
Ministries & Faith Formation
Parishioners are invited to share their faith and friendship through a variety of ministries. SPRED (Special Religious Development) meets the spiritual needs of people with intellectual disabilities and learning difficulties through small faith-sharing groups. UPLIFT Family Formation provides religious education for children. Liturgical Ministry enlists volunteers for weekend Masses; Ministry of Care brings pastoral care to the sick and homebound; and the Women's Society offers fellowship and service across the four parishes.
- SPRED — catechist opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities (contact Laura Michaelis)
- UPLIFT Family Formation — Religious Education ([email protected])
- Liturgical Ministry — contact Lee Gwozdz, Director of Liturgy and Music
- Ministry of Care — contact Terri Balash
- Women's Society — service and fellowship
Catholic East Elementary School
Under heavy economic pressures, all three founding parishes were forced to close their own schools, but combined their support to launch Catholic East Elementary School in 1982. Catholic East continues to operate today as the joint school of the merged parish community, and the parish remains actively involved in its mission.
- Founded jointly by Holy Rosary, St. Hedwig, and St. Rita in 1982
- Still in operation today
- Located in the same East Side neighborhood the three original schools served
Visiting the St. Hedwig Site
St. Hedwig Church is air conditioned and handicapped accessible. The ramp can be accessed from the left (north) door of the three main entrance doors on Humboldt Avenue. Parking is available during the evenings and weekends; the parking lot entrance is on Brady Street between the church and the Tamarack School building. During school days the parking lot is reserved for Tamarack School.
- Address: 1702 N. Humboldt Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202
- Handicap-accessible via north door ramp
- Brady Street parking lot (evenings/weekends)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Clement Rogozinski1885–
Appointed pastor after the 1885 organist riot closed the parish for three months. Born in Poland in 1835 and ordained in Łowicz in 1861; had administered the oath of allegiance to Polish rebels during the uprising against the Tsar, was imprisoned in Olomuniec for 11 months, then emigrated to America. Restored calm and was revered by the Polish community.