Spanning Madison's west side, the city of Verona, and the small community of Paoli west of Madison, Divine Mercy Parish is a Roman Catholic pastorate that joins three historic churches and a parish school into a single faith family. From the original St. William congregation organized by German and Irish families in the 1860s, to the Verona parish started by Father Andrew Mason and 26 Catholic families in 1917, to St. Maria Goretti founded on Madison's west side in 1959, the three sanctuaries now share one pastor, one worship schedule, and one parish mission: to meet Christ, follow Christ, and bear Christ.
The Three Churches of Divine Mercy Parish
St. Maria Goretti is the heart of the pastorate on Madison's west side. Founded in 1959, the parish has grown to more than 2,000 families and supports an active campus of liturgy, faith formation, and school life at 5313 Flad Avenue. Framed by ongoing beautification work on the church, the parish describes the building as a place where the parish family gathers to celebrate Mass, pray, and grow in faith, and where the parish school partners with families to provide a faith-filled education rooted in academic excellence and Catholic values.
St. Andrew sits at 301 North Main Street in Verona. The parish traces its beginning to 1917, when Father Andrew Mason gathered about 26 Catholic families to bring a church to Verona, partly to meet the spiritual needs of patients at the nearby Dane County Hospital. The first small church was built within a year at 133 North Main Street, and Father James Nellen became its first resident pastor. In 1964, with the community outgrowing the original building, the present church was constructed one block to the north. Among the pastors who served over the next decades were Father Joseph Webber, Father John Risch, Father Anthony Hermann, Father Lawrence Keppler, Father Joseph Brechtl, Father Thomas Massion, Father Eugene Bauhs, Monsignor Delbert Schmelzer (who led the parish for twenty years until 2001), Father John Stillmank (2001), and Father Dave Timmerman (2003 to 2009).
St. William, situated at 1371 County Highway PB in the Paoli area between Verona and Belleville, has the deepest roots of the three. Originally named St. Raphael, the parish was organized by a group of German and Irish families under Archbishop John Martin Henni of Milwaukee, with priests from Oregon, Wisconsin, celebrating Mass in parishioners' homes during the 1850s and early 1860s. The first church was built on Schaller Road in 1869 on land that became the parish cemetery, and Father John Obermueller of Madison was the first resident pastor; in 1872, Father Nicholas Stehle replaced him and a rectory was added. By the 1890s, the original building was too small, and in 1900 a new church was erected in the village of Paoli, supported by pledges of $3,810 from 87 local residents, including Protestants. The building was destroyed by fire on July 28, 1925, during the 25th anniversary celebration of its construction; the cornerstone of a new church was laid on September 13, 1925, and the first Mass was celebrated in the basement. The church was remodeled in 1934, and on June 29, 1969, St. William marked its centennial. The statue on the front of the church - depicting St. William of Bourges as a spiritual warrior with cross, bible, and helmet - was given in 1968 and blessed by Father Thomas R. Massion. St. William later became a mission of St. Andrew in Verona, and today Monsignor Delbert Schmelzer's long tenure of service to both churches is followed by the unified pastoral care of Divine Mercy Parish.
Mass Around the Week
The pastorate offers Mass in some form every day of the week, spread across St. Maria Goretti, St. Andrew, St. William, and Holy Name Heights Chapel on Madison's west side.
Sunday Mass begins on Saturday evening with the 5 pm Vigil Mass at St. Andrew in Verona. Sunday morning begins at 7:30 am at St. William in Paoli, continues at 8:30 am at Holy Name Heights Chapel, picks up again at 9:30 am at St. Andrew, and offers a fourth morning option at 10:30 am at Holy Name Heights Chapel. A final Sunday Mass is celebrated at 5 pm at St. Andrew.
Weekday Mass is celebrated at St. Maria Goretti Monday through Friday at 6:30 am and 8 am, and at St. Andrew on Saturday morning at 8 am. The morning Masses at St. Maria Goretti are preceded by a daily Rosary at 6:10 am, with another Rosary at 9:10 am on Thursdays at St. Andrew and a Saturday Rosary at 7:35 am at St. Andrew (shifting to 7:20 am on First Saturdays and to 12 pm on Second Saturdays). Confession is offered daily before the 6:30 am Mass at St. Maria Goretti from 6:00 to 6:30 am Monday through Friday, and again Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
Weekend confessions are scheduled at Holy Name Heights Chapel from 8:00 to 9:00 am and 10:00 to 11:00 am on Sunday; at St. Andrew from 9:00 to 10:00 am and 4:30 to 5:30 pm on Sunday; and at St. Andrew on Saturday morning from 8:45 to 10:00 am and again from 4:30 to 5:30 pm.
Eucharistic Adoration and Devotional Life
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a regular part of parish life at Divine Mercy. On the first Friday of each month, a 24-hour Adoration Vigil begins after the 8:30 am Friday Mass at St. Andrew and continues until just before the 8 am Saturday Mass. The same evening, the parish young adults group hosts Cor ad Cor, a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration that meets from 7:00 to 8:00 pm.
Through the months of October, November, and December, while St. Maria Goretti undergoes its ongoing beautification work, Cor ad Cor is hosted at St. William in Paoli instead, beginning at 7:00 pm on the first Friday. Parishioners can sign up for an hour of adoration during the Vigil through a dedicated link on the parish's website.
The Divine Mercy Prayer Cenacle gathers on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 am at St. Maria Goretti for the Divine Mercy Chaplet, reflection on Scripture, and prayer for the needs of others and the world. The pastorate draws its name from the message of St. Faustina Kowalska, whose diary expresses the parish's own trust-based spirituality: "The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is - trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive."
Sacred Music at the Heart of the Liturgy
Sacred music is a defining feature of worship at Divine Mercy Parish. The pastorate's three churches are led by a single music office under Director of Sacred Music Marco Di Lenola, who serves as principal organist and choir director, oversees development of the parish music program, manages the music library, and prepares all vocal and instrumental ensembles for liturgies. Two assistants round out the team: Kat DeVito, who serves as Organist at St. William and Cantor across the parish, and Matt Regner, who is Organist and Choir Director at St. Andrew.
The parish describes its musical vision as a ministry that draws the assembly into deeper worship and helps proclaim God's Word in song, whether through choirs, cantors, organists, or instrumental ensembles. Cantors, singers, and instrumentalists are regularly invited to share their gifts with the music ministry, and Marco Di Lenola can be reached through the parish office for anyone interested in joining.
The Seven Sacraments
Divine Mercy Parish prepares parishioners and their families for each of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Baptism, the gateway to the Christian life, is celebrated for children on Sundays - after the 10:30 am Mass at St. Maria Goretti and after the 9:30 am Mass at St. Andrew. Parents expecting a first child are encouraged to register for a Baptism Preparation Class, held on the first Tuesday of the month at 7 pm in the Church Conference Room at St. Maria Goretti, with godparents welcome to attend. At least one godparent is asked to be a practicing, confirmed Catholic of at least 16 years of age; a non-Catholic Christian may stand as a witness of the Baptism.
Marriage preparation is coordinated by Denise Gorman, the parish's Marriage Prep Coordinator. Engaged couples begin by reading the parish's marriage preparation document, submitting a Marriage Request Form, providing sacramental records, and meeting with a priest or deacon to complete a Prenuptial Investigation. Couples also work through the Wedding Liturgy Planning Worksheet and complete required fees through the parish's online giving portal. Wedding inquiries can be sent to marriage@divinemercymadison.org.
The other sacraments are introduced through dedicated preparation tracks. First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are prepared within Family Catechesis and the parish school, with parents accompanying children through the process. Confirmation preparation for ninth grade and older takes place through the parish's youth ministry, including retreats and service. The Anointing of the Sick is available for those facing serious illness or the frailties of old age, and the parish office responds to immediate needs. Men discerning a call to the priesthood or diaconate, and those exploring religious life, are pointed toward the Diocese of Madison Vocation Office.
The parish also celebrates Catholic funeral rites, walking alongside families in prayer and Scripture and accompanying them in planning the Mass and burial for a loved one.
Faith Formation from PreK through High School
Faith formation at Divine Mercy Parish begins with the parish's Family Catechesis program for children in PreK through fifth grade. Designed as a once-a-month gathering, the program brings parents and children together to pray, learn the truths of the Catholic faith, and celebrate the sacraments. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion is offered for children in second grade and older, layered onto regular faith formation or attendance at the parish school.
Middle school and high school students take part in the parish Youth Ministry, which meets regularly for catechesis, community, prayer, and service. Confirmation preparation is built into the high school ministry as a structured process of study, prayer, and service for candidates in ninth grade and above. Steve Davies directs the youth program, and Melissa Coleman oversees the elementary and sacramental preparation track.
Fees for the 2026-2027 year include $200 for one child in Family Catechesis, $250 for two, and $300 for three or more (with $100 per student for sacramental preparation), and $150 per student for middle school and high school Youth Ministry, with Confirmation Preparation set at $240. The maximum family fee is $500, with payment available online or by check placed in the Sunday collection basket.
Adults grow in faith through the parish's adult formation offerings, which include both staff-led programming - seasonal formation events, guided studies, and structured learning experiences in Scripture and Church teaching - and lay-led Personal Apostolate Parish Groups, where small communities meet for prayer, discussion, and service. The parish's long-running summer book club, Literature and Catholic Imagination, has explored works like The Giver, That Hideous Strength, and The Road as a window into Catholic theology and culture.
Exploring Catholicism and OCIA
For adults who are unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or Catholic and seeking fuller formation, the parish offers the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), the modern form of the ancient catechumenate. Sessions gather on Sunday afternoons from 3:30 to 5:00 pm in the St. Maria Goretti Parish Hall, beginning with catechesis and conversation, then transitioning in time for the 5 pm Mass, and concluding after the homily with a shared dinner. Matthew Farrelly, the parish's Evangelization and Formation Coordinator, accompanies inquirers through the process.
The OCIA walks through four rites, each marking real spiritual progress: the Pre-Catechumenate as a season of inquiry; the Rite of Entrance into the Order of the Catechumens for catechesis and formation; the Rite of Election, marked by the season of Lent and the bishop's call to continuing conversion; and the Rite of Reception, when participants receive Baptism (if not already baptized), Confirmation, and the Eucharist - often at the Easter Vigil, though reception can take place at other times. New Catholics then enter a Neophyte Year of continued fellowship, teaching, and support.
Materials for those exploring Catholicism include resources explaining the Mass, the seven sacraments, the Catholic understanding of Scripture, the relationship between Catholicism and other Christian traditions, the relationship between faith and science, and the role of the Magisterium. The parish subscribes to Formed.org for thousands of Catholic videos, talks, and study programs to support ongoing learning.
Parish Groups and Community Life
Beyond the formal formation tracks, Divine Mercy Parish sponsors a wide range of community groups and recurring events. The Council of Catholic Women gathers for seasonal gatherings and service projects, including the annual Fall Craft and Bake Sale that fills the St. Andrew hallway with homemade treats. The Knights of Columbus Council 11155 in Verona hosts a pancake breakfast in the St. Andrew Church Center, and the Parish Life Commission turns a Packer Sunday into a parish chili party complete with a big-screen broadcast.
Some events are tied to a single church. St. William hosts Apple Cider Sunday each fall, serving fresh cider and donuts after the 7:30 am Mass. The parish's monthly potluck breakfast gathers after the 8:30 am Mass at St. Andrew, with food donations welcome but not required.
Health and fellowship take many forms. Community Wellness offers a free, movement-based circuit program from 6:00 to 7:00 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the St. Maria Goretti School Gym, designed to enhance strength and mobility. The parish encourages men, women, older teens, and retirees to serve as catechists, assistants, substitutes, or photographers within the formation programs.
Devotion and small-group life are supported by lay-led parish groups and the Divine Mercy Prayer Cenacle, while the parish's Summer Book Club continues as an open invitation to conversation across the parish.
St. Maria Goretti Catholic School
St. Maria Goretti Catholic School shares the Flad Avenue campus with the parish church and serves as the pastorate's parish elementary school. The school is described as partnering with families to provide a faith-filled education rooted in academic excellence and Catholic values, integrating faith into every classroom and welcoming Catholic and non-Catholic families who share its mission.
The school facilities - including the gym that hosts Community Wellness - support both daytime school and parish programs that reach beyond the school day. Communication between school and parish is coordinated through the parish office, and inquiries about admission can be directed to the school through smgmadison.org.
Outreach and Spiritual Works of Mercy
Outreach is a visible part of parish life. The Council of Catholic Women organizes the annual Boxes of Joy collection, blessing children ages two to fourteen in need through gifts and donations placed in the St. Andrew narthex. The parish periodically hosts St. Vincent de Paul Food Drives in the parking lot of St. William and at other locations, collecting non-perishable goods for neighbors in need.
The annual Respect Life Collection, taken up each fall in cooperation with the Diocese of Madison, supports the Church's ministry to uphold the dignity of human life from conception to natural death. The parish notes that "the Diocese of Madison upholds the sacred dignity of every human life" and invites parishioners to pray and contribute.
Pastoral care continues beyond the parish walls through the ministry of Communion to the Homebound, coordinated by Anita Schmidt and supported by a team of volunteer ministers who bring the Eucharist to parishioners unable to attend Mass in person. Carol Statz serves as Cemetery Sexton for both St. Andrew and St. William cemeteries.
The parish maintains an active food pantry partnership through St. Vincent de Paul, with regular food drives filling the SVdP truck in the church parking lot and supporting ongoing meal programs in the area.
Becoming Part of the Parish Family
Divine Mercy Parish welcomes newcomers at the Welcome and Hospitality table in the lobby of St. Maria Goretti, where visitors can also pick up literature from the Parish Resources wall. From there, parishioners are connected to Mass intentions, faith formation programs, parish groups, and sacramental preparation.
The parish offers a Tell Us About Yourself form on its website, and a separate form for parishioners and regular attenders seeking deeper connection. Requests for Mass intentions - for the repose of a loved one, for a special intention for a living person, or for a private intention - can be submitted online up to a year in advance, with a suggested donation of $20.
Parish giving is facilitated online through Pushpay, and a dedicated set of instructions covers any changes to the giving platform. Office staff respond to sacramental records questions, baptism scheduling, parish registration, and facility reservations through the parish office at 5313 Flad Avenue, Madison, WI 53711 (608-271-7421, parish@divinemercymadison.org).
Beneath all of its three churches, its parish school, its choral ensembles, its small groups, and its outreach projects, Divine Mercy Parish rests on a single mission: to become more faithful and fruitful disciples, and to invite others to the joy of knowing and following Jesus Christ.