Once upon a time…
The churches that make up St Vincent Pallotti Parish have a long, intertwined history with some of the area’s most recognizable Catholic institutions. Its roots run deep in the community, serving as the spiritual foundation for thousands of families in the area.
St. Vincent Pallotti East & West Churches- 1998
How it all began…
The first Archbishop of Milwaukee donates land on Bluemound Road to build a church and monastery to provide graveside services to the Catholic departed of Milwaukee at the distant and hard to reach Calvary Cemetery.
Holy Cross church and monastery is built of local Cream City brick. It is under the direction of the Capuchin Fathers who also minister to the sick and poor at the County Institutions to the west. It is the only Catholic church in the sparsely-populated area.
Holy Cross School opens with 13 students. Classes are taught in English and German by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in a small frame building on the church grounds.
The church sanctuary and monastery are enlarged and an adjacent building is annexed as classroom space for the 156 school students. Elaborate painting and decorating is done to the interior of the church.
The Capuchin Friars turn over care of Holy Cross and their ministries at Calvary Cemetery and the County Institutions to the Pallottine Fathers of Limberg Germany.
Fr. Peter Schroeder’s Tuesday St. Anthony Devotions become a major religious event throughout the state. The sick flock to Fr. Schroeder, the “Miracle Man”, for healing.
A new school building is built for the growing student body. This building is currently the home of Woodlands School.
Continually growing, Holy Cross establishes a mission to St. Anthony of Padua and erects a building 1 mile to the West near the present intersection of Bluemound & 76th St.
Having experienced significant growth, the area around Holy Cross is annexed by the City of Milwaukee.
Masses in German are discontinued at Holy Cross due to the diversity of the neighborhood and anti-German sentiment following WWI.
After 2 prosperous years under the care of Holy Cross, St. Anthony of Padua is elevated to a full parish. The school is under the direction of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
The Little Flower Church, a mission of St. Anthony, is built. In 1955, it will become St. Therese Parish, our sister parish on 95th & Bluemound.
A high school track of classes, named after Pope Pius XI are begun at the cramped quarters of St Anthony School.
A new school building is built for the expanding student body at St. Vincent Pallotti School and its burgeoning high-school, Pius XI.