A Faith Community Dedicated to Faith, Family, and Future
St. Charles Borromeo Parish sits on the south side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, anchored by its church building at 3100 W Parnell Avenue and its parish offices at 5571 S. Marilyn Street. The parish shares its pastoral leadership with neighboring St. Roman Parish, a collaboration visible in everything from Monday morning Mass, which is celebrated at St. Roman, to joint faith formation programs and the combined OCIA process for adults.
The parish motto, displayed in the gathering space and woven into parish life, is "Dedicated to Faith, Family, and Future." Members describe their community as a faith family "deeply rooted in the Catholic tradition and the Gospel teachings, challenged to further our baptismal call." A wide range of ministries, from a vibrant school to a choir program and a Human Concerns outreach commission, gives that mission daily shape.
What sets St. Charles Borromeo apart at first contact is its tri-lingual welcome. The parish publishes its entire bulletin of news, formation registration, and Mass times in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, and its doors are open to anyone seeking a Catholic home in the Milwaukee archdiocese.
Mass Times, Reconciliation, and Eucharistic Adoration
The weekend Mass schedule centers on a Saturday Vigil at 4:00 pm and two Sunday Masses at 8:30 am and 10:30 am. The Sunday 10:30 am Mass is livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel, so homebound parishioners and those who travel can follow along. Mass is celebrated at St. Charles Borromeo Church on 3100 W Parnell Avenue, the building that houses the nave, the Healing Chapel, and the gathering space.
Weekday Masses follow a simple rhythm: Tuesday and Thursday at 8:00 am, Wednesday at 8:15 am, and Friday at 8:00 am, all at the parish church. Monday's 8:00 am Mass is celebrated at St. Roman Parish as part of the collaboration.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered every Saturday from 3:00 to 4:00 pm in the church, with extra penance services scheduled during Advent and Lent. Parishioners may also call the parish office at 414-281-8115 to make an appointment with a priest. Eucharistic Adoration takes place on the first Friday of each month at 8:45 am and on the third Monday of each month at 6:00 pm.
A Tri-Lingual Parish with Three Sets of Doors
St. Charles Borromeo's reach across language communities is one of its defining features. The parish publishes its site in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, so a Spanish-speaking family considering First Communion or a Vietnamese-speaking couple preparing for marriage can read every program detail in full. The parish works in collaboration with St. Roman Parish on the OCIA process for adults, with sessions held several times a month from September through the end of Lent.
Bulletin inserts, faith formation registration forms, sacramental preparation schedules, and confirmation calendars are all produced in parallel English and Spanish editions. The parish office and director of youth and young adult ministry serve as the front door for families moving through these programs.
The Healing Chapel, the Bell Tower, and the Peace Garden
The parish building is itself an expression of parish identity. Worshippers pass through a gathering space and a bell tower crowned with carillon bells from the Verdin Company, whose programmed music "calls us to worship, peals our joy, and tolls our sorrow." Below the bell tower is a carport for those with physical challenges, particularly useful in harsh Wisconsin weather.
Just off the gathering space, the Healing Chapel serves as an intimate prayer room with soothing stained glass by Liturgical Environments of Hayward, Wisconsin. Amber, the color of healing, dominates the windows; red stands for the Holy Spirit in fire; blue evokes the Spirit in wind and water. Donated by the late Bernie Tomaszewski in honor of his wife Mary Ann, the chapel holds a striking life-size image of the crucified Christ titled L'Ultimo Sospiro ("The Last Sigh"), sculpted from 300 hand-formed pieces of sheet metal by parishioner Anthony P. Albanese in 1967 and later bronzed. Behind the corpus, Virginia Hilton of Hilton Designs painted a mural bearing the words of Matthew 11:28-30, the scripture most closely tied to the rites of Anointing of the Sick and Christian burial. A custom 7-by-7 bronzed gate by Gianfranco Tassara of Inspired Artisans separates the chapel from the gathering space; its nails represent the nails Charles Borromeo held as he meditated on the Passion.
The outdoor grounds include a Peace Garden, refreshed in 2023 with new landscaping, lighting for the Mary statue, and a set of Stations of the Cross, offering a quiet space for reflection, prayer, and meditation.
A donor honorarium tree, created using the centuries-old Italian intarsia technique with oak, birch, pine, aspen, butternut, walnut, cherry, purple heart, and padauk woods, rises near the entrance. Its branches, trunk, and roots symbolize the generations of the parish community. A Wall of Faith, with up to 954 tiles depicting the parish's families, staff, and commissions, decorates the school addition and bears the scripture passages Mark 10:14, Matthew 5:14, Micah 6:8, and Daniel 12:3.
Walking with Families Through the Sacraments
The parish welcomes families through all seven Catholic sacraments.
Parents bringing infants for Baptism are asked to attend a baptism preparation class held on the first Monday of each month; registration goes through the parish office. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are prepared in a two-year program beginning in first grade through the parish school or the religious education program, with older children directed to the parish office. Reconciliation itself is offered Saturday afternoons and at appointments, with communal penance services added during Advent and Lent.
Confirmation preparation at St. Charles Borromeo begins in ninth grade and culminates when students are juniors in high school. Teens must be enrolled in faith formation or a Catholic high school. The high school program includes a Confirmation retreat, Stations of the Cross, communal Reconciliation services in Advent and Lent, service projects, and guest speakers, along with national gatherings such as the National Catholic Youth Conference and immersion experiences like "Box City," which invites teens to step into a glimpse of the struggles of homelessness.
Couples preparing for Marriage must be registered members of the parish for six months prior to the wedding, after which they work with a planning team through the FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study) inventory over two or three sessions of approximately 90 minutes. The parish celebrates the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick communally twice a year and encourages parishioners to notify the office when they or a family member are hospitalized so that a priest or pastoral minister may visit. Those discerning a call to Holy Orders are invited to speak with the pastor.
Forming Children and Teens in Faith
Faith formation at St. Charles Borromeo is built on the conviction, drawn from the parish's patron saint, that parents are the first and best teachers of the faith. St. Charles Borromeo is recognized as the patron saint of catechists for his work developing the first comprehensive Confraternity of Christian Doctrine program after the Protestant Reformation, and his enthusiasm for spreading the faith shapes the parish's programs today.
Children in grades one through five gather for "Finding God," a Loyola Press curriculum, on Sunday mornings at 8:45 am at St. Roman Parish. They explore the Old and New Testaments, prepare for Advent and Lent, pray the Stations of the Cross, learn about vocations, and celebrate the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.
Middle school students in grades six through eight meet at St. Charles Borromeo School on Monday evenings from 7:00 to 8:15 pm. Beyond the classroom, they take part in Stations of the Cross, Reconciliation services in Advent and Lent, prayer services, social gatherings, service projects, a middle school retreat, and guest speakers. During Advent they carol and visit nursing homes; during Lent they gather for reflection and spiritual growth; and they spend time in Eucharistic Adoration, learning the beauty of silence and being present with Jesus.
The Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIA) is available for children over the age of reason (generally age seven) who are unbaptized, baptized with little catechetical formation, or baptized into another Christian tradition and seeking full communion with the Catholic Church.
Vacation Bible Camp is offered each summer as a one-day program for children entering 5K through fourth grade, with a registration fee of $10 per child and financial assistance available. The camp runs from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, with a family ice cream social at 2:30 pm, in St. Charles Borromeo School Hall. The 2026 theme, "Come to the Table," invites children into the story of Jesus feeding a crowd and exploring what it means to share God's love and hospitality with neighbors near and far. Children sing, play active games, do art projects, and dig into the Bible.
Adult Formation and Scripture Study
Adults at St. Charles Borromeo find several entry points into deeper spiritual formation. Sessions for adults preparing for Baptism or Confirmation in the Catholic Church (OCIA) are held from September to the end of Lent. Engaged couples prepare for marriage using the FOCCUS inventory. Soup and Stations gathers parishioners during Advent and Lent for a simple meal of soup and a guest reflection on the pillars of each season or the lives of the saints.
A weekly Bible study meets every Wednesday at 1:00 pm in the Gathering Space, welcoming participants to join regularly or whenever their schedule allows.
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Elizabeth Malueg, the Director of Music and Liturgy, oversees a robust liturgical life that includes both musical and service ministries.
The Adult Choir rehearses once a week, on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, from September through May, and sings for occasional liturgies, special feasts, and seasonal concerts. Members are asked to be present 30 minutes before Mass. The Adult Handbell Choir rehearses weekly for 90 minutes from September through Pentecost, and no prior ringing experience is necessary, though the ability to read music and count rhythm is welcome. The Cantor Ministry leads the Responsorial Psalm and hymn singing at all Masses, typically serving once or twice a month. The Resurrection Choir provides music for funeral liturgies and memorial Masses, arriving 15 minutes before the liturgy begins.
Liturgical service roles round out the work of the Prayer and Worship Commission. Altar Servers (open to youth in fourth grade and older, as well as adults) assist at weekend and weekday Masses, Holy Days, Stations of the Cross, evening prayer, benedictions, and funerals. Art and Environment volunteers help decorate the church for the different liturgical seasons, about four times a year, with extra time needed during Lent/Easter and Advent/Christmas. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion distribute the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass. Lectors proclaim the Word of God at liturgy, generally serving on a monthly rotation and open to all sixth graders and older. Ministers of Hospitality welcome parishioners, assist those in need, help with the offering of gifts, and prepare the worship space for the next service, and may be called on to help those in wheelchairs or in case of medical emergency; CPR training is offered.
Caring for the Community Through Human Concerns
The Human Concerns Commission carries out the parish's call to "strive to meet the social needs within our community and beyond through education, advocacy and service." Its work is animated by Matthew 25: "I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome."
The Bereavement ministry stays close to families for a full year after a loss, attending the wake, sending calls, and making home visits, while members may also serve at funeral liturgies as a Eucharistic Minister, lector, or singer in the Resurrection Choir. Caring Companions bring the Eucharist and a healing presence to homebound parishioners and nursing home residents. Eucharistic Ministers to Hospitals bring Communion to Catholics hospitalized at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society makes home visits to people in need within the parish area, with opportunities citywide to help homeless and battered women start a new life, work with prisoners, and mentor young mothers in parenting skills. The society meets every Monday at 1:00 pm.
Three prayer-focused ministries support those who cannot always be physically present. The Ministry of Praise offers prayers for the salvation of souls, the intentions of the parish community, the Church, and the world, with reflections and intentions sent to members by mail. The Prayer Chain Ministry mobilizes parishioners to intercede in times of emergency or special need. The Prayer Shawl Ministry knits or crochets shawls begun with prayers and blessings for the recipient.
Throughout the year, parishioners support a roster of local outreach projects: Undy Sunday in March, the Mother's Day Rose Sale in May, the Father's Day Carnation Sale in June, the Capuchin Community Services Fall Food Drive, the Respect Life Baby Shower in October, and the Giving Tree in December. The parish points to and supports a network of partner agencies including Capuchin Community Services, Hope House, Cathedral Center, Sojourner Peace Family Center, Repairers of the Breach, Milwaukee Birthright, Guest House, and Open Door Free Clinic.
Pastoral Leadership and Parish Council
The parish is led by Fr. Gideon Buya, the Shared Pastor, alongside Fr. Rafael Rodriguez, the Shared Associate Pastor. The pastoral team also includes Jenny Sczesny, Director of Administrative Services; Elizabeth Malueg, Director of Music and Liturgy; and Juana Avila-Palacios, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry and Director of Pastoral Care. Fr. Buya and Fr. Rodriguez serve both St. Charles Borromeo and St. Roman Parishes.
The Pastoral Council functions as a consultative and planning body assisting the pastor in carrying out the mission of Christ and meeting the faith needs of parishioners. The council engages in continuous pastoral planning that takes into account the needs of parishioners, the Archdiocese, the broader community, and the world. The 2025/26 council members include Darrell Maciejewski as Trustee Treasurer, Patrick Duffy as Trustee Secretary, Mary Jo Bellinger as Chairperson, Mary Ann Nemeth as Vice Chairperson, Renee Segel as Secretary, Catherine Mudek as Prayer and Worship Commission Liaison, Mark Ulmen as Parish Life Liaison, Reyna Morales as Human Concerns Liaison, Sr. Jennifer Daul as Finance Council Liaison, and Judy Schneidewent as School Committee Liaison. Council meetings are announced in the parish bulletin, and parishioners are invited to attend. Photos of current Pastoral and Finance Council members are posted on a bulletin board in the back of church.
St. Charles Borromeo School
St. Charles Borromeo School shares its parish campus, with classrooms for 3K, 4K, 5K, and the elementary grades. The school belongs to Seton Catholic Schools, a network of Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, and serves as the host site for many of the parish's faith formation classes, the adult choir's music room, and the Music/Multi-Purpose space used for fine arts rehearsals, small group performances, and the vocal and bell choirs. The Parish Activity Center, attached to the school, features a gymnasium with customized wood flooring, motorized bleachers for 280, two scoreboards, glass basketball backboards, retractable practice hoops, and two volleyball courts.
Getting Involved: Stewardship and Parish Life
The parish frames stewardship around four pillars: time, talent, prayer, and treasure. Members are encouraged to assess their personal gift of treasure and give back to God through a weekly offering, with online giving available through WeShare. Parishioners share their time and talent by joining a commission, helping with faith formation, cleaning the church, serving at the annual parish picnic or dinner auction, singing in a choir, or volunteering with Human Concerns. The stewardship of prayer is treated as a personal decision, with ideas including daily prayer, the rosary, Eucharistic Adoration, Stations of the Cross, spiritual reading, meditation, communal or individual Reconciliation, private novenas, small faith-sharing groups, retreats, charismatic prayer groups, and the Ministry of Praise.
Parish life gathers around several signature events. The Dinner Auction is a major fundraiser; the Parish Picnic brings families together in good weather; the Vendor Craft Fair invites the wider community in. A Loving One Another campaign has set a parish goal of $681,474, with 60 percent of funds raised to remain at the parish for projects including new carpeting in the church and gathering space, pew restoration, outdoor security cameras, ventilation improvements, a new air conditioning and heating system in the convent, interior convent painting, future maintenance planning, mission trips, guest speakers, and expanded ministry opportunities. The remaining 40 percent supports archdiocesan needs, including Catholic Charities, the Holy Family, Catholic Social Responsibility, the repair of parishes and schools, rural parishes, the Maria Mother of the Church Pastoral Center, St. John Evangelist Cathedral, campus ministry, school subsidies, and Seton Catholic Schools.
Safeguarding is taken seriously: all school, parish, or athletic volunteers who serve when children are present are required to attend an Archdiocesan "Safeguarding All of God's Family" awareness session. Jenny Sczesny serves as the parish's Safe Environment Coordinator.
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and can be reached at 414-281-8115. Visitors are warmly welcomed, asked to dress respectfully and comfortably, invited to come forward for a blessing instead of receiving Communion if they are not Catholic, and never pressured to give to the offering when they are guests.