St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (St. Maximilian Kolbe Pastorate)
Waunakee, WI
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Visit
209 South StWaunakee, WI 53597Mass: Sunday 10:00 AM (Sunday Worship)
When to go
Mass times
- Sunday10:00 AM · Sunday Worship
About
Summary
Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish is a Catholic community centered in Christ, serving multiple churches and schools in Dane, Lodi, Waunakee, and Westport, Wisconsin. Known for its welcoming atmosphere and commitment to faith, the parish offers a range of ministries and events. Learn more about the parish.
Details
Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish is a vibrant Catholic community centered in Christ, serving four churches and two schools in Dane, Lodi, Waunakee, and Westport, Wisconsin. The parish is dedicated to spreading devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and emulating the example of selfless love and compassion exemplified by its patron, St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish Franciscan friar who sacrificed his life in Auschwitz to save another prisoner.
The parish includes St. Michael Church in Dane, established in 1875; St. Patrick Church in Lodi, founded in 1885; St. John the Baptist Church in Waunakee, established in 1874; and St. Mary of the Lake Church in Westport, founded in 1867. Each church has a rich history and serves the local community with a variety of ministries and events.
The parish offers a welcoming atmosphere, with visitors noting the friendly people and the Care Team's outstanding support Review 2. The priests are praised for their ability to connect with everyday life, and the Mass is described as a meaningful experience Review 3. The parish also provides sacramental preparation, family faith formation, and opportunities for involvement in parish life.
For those interested in joining the parish, the website provides information on registration and contact details for the staff. The parish office is located at St. John the Baptist Church in Waunakee, and the office hours are Monday-Thursday from 8:30am to 3:30pm and Friday from 8:30am to 12:00pm https://www.saintmax.org/.
The parish also operates two schools: Blessed Trinity School in Dane and St. John the Baptist School in Waunakee. These schools are integral to the parish's mission of faith formation and education.
The parish's commitment to community is evident in its various events, including church festivals and support for families during significant life events such as baptisms and funerals. Visitors have praised the parish's ability to create a sense of belonging and to put faith into action through its ministries and services.
From Faith Near Me
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Waunakee, WI, is part of the Saint Maximilian Kolbe Pastorate, offering a welcoming atmosphere rooted in tradition. Visitors can expect well-maintained historic churches, family-focused ministries, and community events like festivals with meals and music. The parish emphasizes accessibility through clear service times and a dedicated care team.
Pros
- Welcoming atmosphere with a friendly, supportive community
- Clear Sunday worship times at 10:00 AM
- Family-focused ministries including faith formation and sacramental preparation
- Historic and beautiful church facilities
- Community events like festivals with meals and music
- Accessible contact information and office hours
Cons
- Some visitors may find specific dress code expectations (e.g., hat removal) could feel overly formal
Reviews from around the web
Public comments we collected from listing sources. Not written on Faith Near Me.
- Brian Root3 months ago
The church itself is alright, but the Joseph Baker is a big turn-off. I attended a service for the first communion of a family member. We arrived about 15 minutes prior to the service starting. Literally, as soon as I walked in the door, the priest asked me to take off my hat. I said I would remove it before the service started, to which he replied that out of respect for the building, I needed to remove it. Because I was visiting, I wasn't going to make a thing about it. Mind you, this was not some red cap or anything close to being devicive. I didn’t have a problem removing my hat. My issue is that priests I have encountered in the past have generally been welcoming of people into the parish that they are serving/leading. Clearly, it would be a day with non-parishioners attending. There was no "Welcome to our place, we do things a little bit different here if you'd please ablige" vibe at all. Hats must not be a giant issue anyway, because there were other people with hats on during the service. There was no signage at the door, and there was no request about it prior to starting the service. He then spent the homily pontificating about how the congregation were sheep, and they should fall in line and follow along. Exploring outside of the herd was risky. My experience in catholicism is that you generally aren't supposed ask questions, but the preachy-ness I experienced was a complete turn-off. Three other members of my family felt the same way about the priest, and that was before they heard about the hat interaction.
- miaa year ago
Literally one of the most beautiful churches i’ve ever been to, i attend the religion classes on wednesdays and i always feel better when i come home.
- Kevin Macaulaya month ago
Beautiful church the old and the newer one
- Alma Cardoso2 years ago
We had a Quiensanera mass on June 22,2024 for my daughter Estrella, Father Oswaldo was great and amazing. Also wanted to thank Rufino A. For receiving us for the first time, and giving us a warm welcome to be part of a great parish. The church is beautiful.
- Scott Nightengale2 years ago
Sunday February 18th was the first time I was there, I'm converting to Catholic,so we were there to get our Blessings from Bishop Hying for the Right of Passage. It's a old church and a beautiful one.
- J DeF.397 years ago
This is the Catholic parish I attend whenever I visit with my 2 daughters who live in Wisconsin. I highly recommend St John's parish, located in the small town of Waunakee. Everyone I have met there is friendly and welcoming...and the priests are kind and helpful. I can certainly see why my girls have been happy there; the atmosphere is exactly what I would want to find in a parish where I visit often, far from home.
- Diane Virgin4 years ago
Lovely church. Beautiful architecture
- Linda Davel2 years ago
Very lovely. Attended the Eucharistic Congress October 1st, 2023. What a joyful experience.
- Finn Bower2 years ago
Nice Catholic church, beautiful sanctuary. Welcoming congregation.
- Malia Niles7 years ago
This is a very hole and loving church and we couldn't ask for better people and priest!
- Ginny Nachreiner3 years ago
Festival was awesome. Chicken dinner was good and music was fun!!
- Marge Kaether4 years ago
We have a beautiful church.. Very proud to be a member.
- Dennis Brower7 years ago
Beautiful Church, great priests and very active lay ministries.
- francisco aguirre6 years ago
I love this church cause is reali good for mi self and mi family
- J T9 years ago
Holy water taste bad and they built over a very useful street.
- Kathryn Kozel7 years ago
Wonderful Church with fun activities and services.
- Carol Feidt7 years ago
Love going to mass when I'm in town!
- Philip Rossing6 years ago
A beautiful facility and very welcoming.
- Margy Quale3 years ago
At a funeral but it was done beautifully
- MacGyverman3 years ago
The original church is best.
Services and facilities
Services
- Baptism Preparation
- Marriage Preparation
- Family Faith Formation
- Sacramental Preparation
- Care Team Support
- Festival With Chicken Dinner And Music
Facilities
- Churches In Dane, Lodi, Waunakee, And Westport
- Schools: Blessed Trinity School And St. John The Baptist School
- Cemeteries
- Beautiful Church Facility
Events and programs
Eucharistic Congress
Annual
Joyful experience attended on October 1st, 2023
Connect
- sexton@saintmax.org
- Contact page
- Open contact page