A West Side Parish That Shares a Pulpit
St. Catherine Catholic Church stands on West Center Street on Milwaukee's west side and carries the motto "Here to Stay, Here to Serve." The parish has long been paired with Saint Sebastian Church down the road as the Milwaukee West-side Catholic Parishes, a collaboration that shapes daily life at both buildings. Weekday Masses rotate between the two parishes, and parishioners regularly cross between them for sacraments, formation, and community events.
Mass at St. Catherine and St. Sebastian
The Sunday Mass at St. Catherine is celebrated at 9:00 AM. The rest of the week the schedule is shared with Saint Sebastian: Monday Mass is at St. Sebastian at 8:30 AM, and Tuesday Mass is at St. Catherine at 8:15 AM when school is in session and 8:30 AM when school is not. Wednesday Mass is at St. Sebastian at 8:15 AM during the school year and 8:30 AM in summer. Friday Mass returns to St. Catherine at 8:30 AM, and a Saturday Mass is offered at St. Catherine at 8:30 AM on the second and fourth Saturday of the month. There is no Mass on Thursday at either church.
Confession and Eucharistic Adoration are scheduled at St. Catherine on Saturday mornings, following Mass. People interested in joining the parish are invited to meet the person who reaches out during Sunday announcements or to call the parish office to set up a meeting.
A Parish School and Childcare
St. Catherine Parish operates a parish school serving preschool through eighth grade, along with a before-and-after-school childcare program. The school is part of the parish campus and shares the rhythm of the liturgical year with the church.
Faith Formation from Toddlers to Adults
Formation at St. Catherine covers every stage of life. The parish runs Child Programs, a Youth Program for high schoolers, a Young Adult Program, and Adult Programs, with retreats woven through the year. Children participate in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based approach to the liturgy held in dedicated atriums. Family Formation brings parents and children together for shared learning, and a Parish Library supports ongoing study.
Music and the Choir
Music is a particular point of pride at St. Catherine. The parish choir, Chant Claire, sings for liturgies and has recorded pieces inside the church, including a rendition of "We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace" captured with drone footage of the building's windows.
Human Concerns and the Food Pantry
The Human Concerns Ministry at St. Catherine runs a Saturday morning food pantry in the Community Center, serving neighbors from across the west side. The parish also supports the St. Vincent de Paul conference, which provides direct assistance to families facing financial hardship, and participates in Common Ground, an ecumenical initiative in the neighborhood. A Senior Ministry focuses on the needs of older parishioners and links them to community support resources.
Roots on the West Side
The parish keeps a written Parish History page and remembers its former pastor, Fr. Jack Kern, on a dedicated memorial page. The parish grounds acknowledge that St. Catherine sits on the traditional territory of the Menominee, Fox, Mascouten, Sauk, Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Ho-Chunk tribes.
Getting Involved and Giving
Parishioners can give online through the parish's WeShare portal, sign up for Faith Formation programs, or join one of the councils that guide parish life, including the Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Stewardship committee, and Buildings and Grounds committee. Online giving and the parish calendar are the simplest ways to stay connected with the week's Masses, formation sessions, and pantry hours.