Immaculate
Conception Catholic Parish is an institution in Milwaukee’s Bay View
neighborhood. The church building, while over a century old, has adapted over
time with numerous renovations and looks fantastic today. Being a
well-established parish, Immaculate Conception has generated its own history
and traditions that cement its meaning locally and for the Archdiocese as a
Very Important Parish.
Immaculate Conception
has one of the more eclectic church interiors around stylistically.
Special VIP
Offerings:
- Learn how to play dartball! This fun game has
been an Immaculate Conception tradition for years, and local experts will be
available to talk about it.
- Choir and organ performances throughout the day,
including special choir performances at 12:15 and 1 p.m.
- Guided and self-guided tours highlighting the
high altar, sacristy, stained glass windows, and many more features!
- Mass at 5 p.m., Saturday, November 5th,
with Confessions at 4 p.m.
Location: 1023
E. Russell Avenue, Milwaukee, WI – Immaculate Conception sits near the center
of the Bay View neighborhood, and fronts its most famous street, Kinnickinnic
Avenue. Bay View is one of Milwaukee’s most vibrant neighborhoods, with an
eclectic mix of homes, restaurants, and shopping opportunities. Being one of
Milwaukee’s largest neighborhoods by geographic area, Immaculate Conception is
one of two Catholic churches in the neighborhood, along with St. Augustine.
The church is a
sizable landmark along Kinnickinnic Avenue’s business district.
Fun Facts
from Immaculate Conception:
- You may have heard of Flip this House, but at this parish they have flipped the church,
quite literally! One of Immaculate Conception’s largest renovations was
flipping the altar of worship from the south end to the north end of the church
in the late 1950s. The tours at VIP and Bobby Tanzilo’s article
at OnMilwaukee.com cover this in more
detail.
- For a long time, the parish hosted its own
Catholic school on parish grounds. Today, Atlas Preparatory Academy keeps the school buildings a hub for learning in the
City of Milwaukee.
- The parish’s namesake, St. Mary of the
Immaculate Conception, is considered a patron saint of the United States [1].
- Roughly 700 families make Immaculate Conception their place of worship.
- Roughly 700 families make Immaculate Conception their place of worship.
Even the Infant of Prague needs to check His mail once in awhile!
Why is this
Parish a VIP?
1. Parish
Activities: The parish is an active member of a six-parish collaborative group
on the southeast side of Milwaukee. This group organizes religious education
courses for kids and adults alike. A variety of ministry groups add to the
energy of parish life, including Human Concerns, Prayer and Worship, and St.
Vincent de Paul. Immaculate Conception also supports St. Thomas Aquinas Academy, a south side Milwaukee Catholic school for grades K4 – 8.
Father David Ryan
2. Priests
Have To Go War Too: Hear the story and see some of the artifacts of one Immaculate Conception’s parish priest, Father David Ryan, who served in World War II as a Chaplain in the 82nd Air Borne Division. Some of his artifacts from his service in the Army will be on display at VIP.
Some of Father Ryan's vestments, including his reversible garment in the bottom photo. Check them out at VIP!
Corinthian capitals
run along the sides of the nave.
Detail, Mosaic of the
Jesse Tree, revealing much of the genealogy of Jesus.
3. A Church
Building Goes Eclectic: The minds who have gone through Immaculate Conception
over the years seem to have enjoyed mixing artistic styles.
While the church was built in the mid-1900s and altered numerous times since,
it is easy to see artistic motifs from throughout the 20th Century.
Some things, like the Corinthian capitals and columns inside and out, evoke the
Roman era. The 1950s mosaic depicting the Jesse Tree in the Sanctuary, blends
the traditionalist concept of having a high altar in a church to a more
contemporary context. Some stylistic moves came about as recently as the 1980s,
with the communion rails shifting to the side altars and pulpit. Just a few
years ago, the tabernacle was moved to the center of the sanctuary behind the
altar in a nod towards more traditional liturgical design.
Part of the original
communion rails were adapted for use in front of the side altars, including
this one with St. Joseph.
"In memory of Father Fagan, Father Pierce, and Father Ryan. Pray for them."
Left: The Annunciation
Right: The Nativity
4. Ohh, but
Look at those Windows!: I’m hoping for all of you that the day of VIP is sunny
so you can check out the Marian-focused stained glass windows in all of their
glory! Most of the windows were added to the church during the 1950s and
represent an elegant Modern finish. One exception to this is the richly
detailed window of Christ the King, which is believed to date from the church’s
1907 construction. Even if it’s cloudy outside, be sure to give them a look.
You can always go back on a sunny day to enjoy the windows some more!
For more
photos of Immaculate Conception, check out an earlier Roamin’ Catholic Churches
article from December 2014: http://roamincatholicchurches.blogspot.com/2014/12/feast-of-immaculate-conception.html
Immaculate
Conception Catholic Church
Weekend Mass
Times
Saturdays: 5
p.m.
Sundays:
9:30 a.m.
Special
thanks for Heidi Minikel, Reverend Philip J. Schumaker, Immaculate Conception
Parish, and Amy Grau for arranging and facilitating my visit to Immaculate
Conception and offering a great deal of subjects to write about!
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
Additional
Sources:
The Immaculate Conception Parish website, print materials, and my conversations with folks at the parish were
great sources of information throughout the article-writing process.
This is awesome, and what lovely photos!
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