Contact
Msgr. Kevin Holmes
5313 Flad Ave, Madison, WI 53711
parish@divinemercymadison.org
608-271-7421

St. Maria Goretti parish was founded by Bishop William P. O’Connor and on June 12, 1959, Father Wilfred J. Schuster was named as founding pastor. Maria Goretti Parish Center was built on the corner of Gilbert Road and Flad Avenue and the first Mass was celebrated on April 30, 1961. St. Maria Goretti School opened in 1964 and by 1980 had classes from kindergarten through 8^th grade. A new rectory was built on Maria Place in 1986 to house the priests and the parish offices.

Dedication ceremonies were held on June 27, 1993 for the new 850 seat church and Father Michael Burke was named pastor in July, 1996. In January 2000, a strategic planning process was initiated which resulted in increased church seating, an eight classroom addition to the school and the construction of a new gym. In 2005, there was the conversion of Marian Hall to increase church seating to 1,225 and additional rooms were added for offices and religious education programs.

On January 10, 2021, Father Scott Emerson was named pastor at St. Maria Goretti Parish by Bishop Donald Hying. He served as pastor until 2023.

In 2024, St. Maria Goretti and St. Christopher Catholic Parish in Verona merged to form Pastorate XX. They are in the process of combining staff and organizing worship times at the two sites as well as selecting a new name for the merged parishes.