A Parish Built for the Outsiders
In 1869 the Capuchin Fathers built a public chapel and friary on a block bounded by Fourth, Fifth, Brown, and Reservoir on the north edge of Milwaukee. At the time, German immigrants sat on the lowest rung of the city's newcomers, and Milwaukee's established residents pushed them - and the Capuchins who came with them - out to the city's margins. As the German population grew and Germanic trades like farming, brewing, and sausage making took hold, those newcomers were gradually absorbed into the wider life of the city. From the very beginning, however, the Capuchin friars and St. Francis Parish devoted themselves to the poor, the needy, and the outcast.
St. Francis Parish was formally organized in 1871. The stone complex that still stands today was designed by the prominent New York architect William Schickel and dedicated in 1877. More than 130 years later, the same walls and the same Franciscan spirit continue to define the parish, though the faces of the poor, the immigrant, and the newcomer have changed many times over.
The Parish's Identity and Commitments
The parish describes itself plainly: "We of St. Francis of Assisi Church, Milwaukee, are a people of different races and cultures. We have been called together to form a community of faith, love, and service with one another in Jesus Christ." Out of that identity come four explicit commitments:
- to celebrate the presence of the Lord through prayer and worship
- to live and proclaim the Good News of the Gospel in the spirit of St. Francis
- to serve the needs of the poor and the neighborhood
- to seek peace, love and reconciliation among all people.
The parish's invitation to newcomers sums up the same conviction in a single line: "...where we see ourselves as more than a church: We are a family!"
German Capuchins and a Changing Neighborhood
The Capuchin Franciscan friars who founded the parish first came to the United States from Switzerland in 1851, invited to Milwaukee by Bishop John Martin Henni, who was concerned about the spiritual welfare of his fellow Germans. By the 1950s, a new generation of neighbors had arrived in the parish's catchment: African American Catholics and Puerto Rican families settling into the near-north side of Milwaukee. In 1959, even with the Mass still celebrated in Latin, the parish offered a Spanish homily after the 11:30 Mass out of sensitivity to the Spanish-speaking Puerto Rican community. In the civil rights struggles of the late 1960s, the Capuchins were strong advocates of racial justice and joined public demonstrations that promoted equality for people of color.
Today, the parish sees another emerging minority in the neighborhood: young adult Catholics who, the parish notes, make up the largest demographic block in the Catholic Church but often receive the least pastoral care from many Catholic parishes. The Sunday evening 6:15 p.m. Mass is offered especially with them in mind.
St. Benedict the Moor Chapel, "St. Ben's"
A few miles south of the main parish, at 930 W. State Street, sits St. Benedict the Moor Chapel, known affectionately as "St. Ben's." In 1908, its founders set up a mission to serve the growing number of African Americans in Milwaukee. Over the next hundred years, St. Ben's became home to a boarding school, a junior and senior high school, a hospital, community meals, outreach to the homeless, a health clinic, and a jail chaplaincy. Through all those ministries, the parish writes, "the one constant... has been the affirmation given to all the sisters and brothers who gather" there. "People outside the mainstream of society are welcomed daily to find some rest and a little bit of home. The spirit of St. Francis is also at home here."
A 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass is celebrated in person at St. Ben's for those who find the downtown location more convenient. The chapel also keeps its own weekly bulletins separate from those of the main parish, and a downloadable centennial history walks readers through the full hundred-year arc.
Sunday Worship at the Main Church
St. Francis of Assisi offers four Sunday Mass options plus a Saturday Vigil, all in the same parish family. On Saturdays at 4:30 p.m., the parish offers an English Vigil Mass. On Sunday mornings, the 8:30 Mass features the parish's Gospel Choir. At 10:30 a.m., two Masses run simultaneously: a Spanish-language Mass with bilingual parts for those who do not know Spanish, and an English Mass at St. Benedict the Moor Chapel. The 6:15 p.m. Sunday Mass closes the day and is shaped especially with young adults and other late-day attendees in mind; the parish describes it as a smaller, more intimate setting that many appreciate.
The 8:30 Mass and Its Gospel Choir
The Sunday 8:30 Mass has earned a quiet reputation beyond the parish's walls. The Milwaukee historian John Gurda once said of it, "The best-kept secret in the city of Milwaukee is the 8:30 Mass at St. Francis Church!" Behind that line is a Gospel Choir that has been singing at this Mass for many years, combining the standard Catholic liturgy with the spiritual depth and rhythmic energy of African American gospel music. The Gospel Choir is one of three choirs in the parish's Music Ministry; the others are the Spanish choir and the children's choir.
Hispanic Ministry and the Feast of St. John the Baptist
Because a substantial portion of the parish's Hispanic membership is of Puerto Rican heritage, the Sunday 10:30 Mass has long included Spanish preaching and bilingual worship aids for those who do not know Spanish. The parish describes its Hispanic Ministry as a service to the broader Spanish-speaking community of Milwaukee, with opportunities to grow in faith and to serve. A major celebration is held each June in honor of St. John the Baptist, patron saint of Puerto Rico, with past celebrations featuring a procession, a decorated altar, and a statue of the saint.
Weekday Mass, Confession, and Eucharistic Adoration
Morning Mass is celebrated at 7:45 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, ending by 8:15 a.m. Confessions are heard Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with additional appointments available by calling the parish office. On Tuesday afternoons, Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament runs from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., followed by evening prayer and Benediction.
The Blessing of the Sick and the Solanus Casey Connection
On the first Friday of every month at 2:00 p.m., the parish gathers for the Blessing of the Sick, with Confessions available beforehand from 1:30 p.m. The blessing incorporates Scripture, prayers of intercession and thanksgiving, and a blessing with a relic of the True Cross. It is a sacramental (not a Mass), with roots going back to the sixth-century abbot Saint Maurus.
The tradition is tied to one of the most beloved figures in American Capuchin history. The Capuchin Province of St. Joseph held a regular Blessing of the Sick service at St. Bonaventure in Detroit as far back as the 1880s, and during his time there, the Blessed Solanus Casey celebrated the Blessing of the Sick every week. Father Solanus, a Wisconsin native, was born in Prescott and was ordained right at St. Francis of Assisi Church in 1904. The parish keeps his memory alive through the Fr. Solanus Guild, the Solanus Casey Center, a parish devotional page, and this monthly Blessing of the Sick. "Fr. Solanus had two great loves - the poor and the sick," the parish writes. "The Blessing of the Sick addresses the widespread need for many kinds of healing in so many people's lives. St. Francis Church would like to celebrate the heritage of Fr. Solanus who once lived here by offering this Blessing of the Sick to people of Fr. Solanus' home state."
For those who cannot come to Mass, the parish arranges hospital visits and homebound visits through the parish office, extending that same pastoral reach to anyone seeking the prayer of the Church for healing.
Music, Prayer Groups, and the Liturgical Life
The parish's Music Ministry welcomes singers and instrumentalists across three regular choirs - the Gospel choir, the Spanish choir, and the children's choir - and invites anyone with a musical gift to share it. The Prayer Chain, the Circulo, and small prayer groups form the devotional heartbeat of the parish, and those interested in joining are invited to call the parish office.
Bible Study meets once a month via Zoom with two volunteer coordinators, Nadia Negron and Carl Carby, who reach out to anyone interested in joining the conversation. The Franciscan tradition is rooted in prayer, the parish reminds readers, and so the prayer groups sit at the center of the parish's devotional life along with the choirs.
Faith Formation for Children and Youth
Faith Formation classes for children are held on Saturday mornings from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. in the Parish Office Building. The St. Francis Youth Group brings together high school students from several Milwaukee-area high schools for faith, friendship, and service. In addition to weekly meetings, the group takes part in service projects, spring and fall retreats, camping trips, and other activities throughout the year. The group is explicit about welcoming teens of any background looking for "a safe place to grow in their relationships with God, each other and themselves."
Becoming Catholic and Adult Initiation
Adults interested in joining the Catholic Church, or baptized Catholics who have not yet received First Communion or Confirmation, are invited into the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA). Classes meet on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., running from September through Easter. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC) prepares children between the ages of 8 and 17 who have not been baptized for Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion. Both programs are coordinated through the pastor, Fr. Javier, at extension 1502. Baptism preparation classes are offered virtually once a month.
Service Beyond the Parish Walls
The Human Concerns Committee, working out of Catholic Social Teaching's twin call to mercy and justice, organizes much of the parish's outreach. The parish sponsors a Prison Ministry program, inspired by Matthew 25:31-46, that offers group discussions and events encouraging responsibility, accountability, and integrity for inmates re-entering the community. The parish also runs a free VITA Tax Preparation site, with appointments available through (414) 376-8124. Members of the parish bring Mass and pastoral care to the Plymouth Manor Nursing Home, support the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and help organize the St. Ben's Community Meal and the holiday Giving Tree several times a year.
Councils, Committees, and Lay Ministries
Parish life is shaped by five core committees: the Parish Council, the Finance Council, the Faith Formation Committee, the Liturgy Committee, and the Social Justice Committee. Lay volunteers staff the parish's liturgical ministries, including Eucharistic Ministers, lectors and readers, ushers, photographers, the Children's Word leaders, and the livestreaming team, and the parish continually invites new members to step into these roles.
Joining the Parish Family
Parish registration takes place online through a single form. New members indicate which Mass they attend most often - Saturday Vigil, Sunday 8:30 a.m., Sunday 10:30 a.m. bilingual, Sunday 10:30 a.m. at St. Benedict, Sunday 6:15 p.m., or the weekday 7:45 a.m. Mass - and provide a brief sacramental history that helps the parish keep records of Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and marriage. Anyone wanting to talk through membership before registering is welcome to be in touch with the parish office first.
Giving, Livestreaming, and Visiting
The Sunday 8:30 a.m. Mass is livestreamed each week on Facebook and YouTube, opening the doors of the parish to anyone who cannot easily attend in person. Online giving is processed through PayPal, with an option to add a memorial or other note at the time of donation.
Limited metered street parking is available around the main church; public lots and an MATC garage are also nearby. The parish office can be reached at (414) 374-5750 and can route specific calls to the Music Ministry (extension 10), the Prayer Groups at (414) 374-8841 extension 10, Faith Formation (extension 1501), and inquiries about OCIA (extension 1502). The Province of St. Joseph of the Capuchin Order, Inc., and its subsidiaries operate the parish as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and donations to the parish are tax-deductible.