St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church in Madison and St. Christopher Catholic Parish in Verona have joined together to form Divine Mercy Parish under the Diocesan initiative, Into the Deep. We are working together to finalize operating as a parish in the next few months.
 

Latest Information About Our Merger

1. In a decree published on May 3, 2025, Bishop Hying effected the ecclesiastical merger of St. Maria Goretti Parish and St. Christopher Parish into Divine Mercy Parish.  In a separate decree, he named Msgr. Holmes as pastor of the new parish.  So it is now correct to refer to 'Divine Mercy Parish" (rather than Pastorate), and Msgr. Holmes as "Pastor" (rather than Parochial Administrator).
2. The two parishes have not yet been merged in civil law.  They are still regarded as separate corporations by the State of Wisconsin.  Therefore, for the time being, it is best to make contributions to the predecessor parish of your choice (St. Maria Goretti or St. Christopher).
3. In preparation for the civil merger, the new parish needs two lay trustees.  An election will be conducted at all the parish Masses on May 17-18 to elect those trustees.  The four current trustees of our two predecessor parishes will be on the ballot.  Anyone else wanting to offer him- or herself as a candidate for trustee should be in touch with Msgr. Holmes as soon as possible this week.
4. Bishop Hying will preside at the 8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Maria Goretti on June 1st to celebrate the merger and formally install Msgr. Holmes as pastor.
5. Immediately after June 1, the diocese will be facilitating the paperwork required to effect the civil merger of St. Maria Goretti Congregation and St. Christopher Congregation.  The parish will be informed when this merger is complete.
6. Once the civil merger has been completed, the censuses and assets of the two parishes will be consolidated.  Accountants from the diocese will be assisting with this process, but they are helping a number of other merging parishes as well so the work here will probably take at least a couple of months.
   
   

Official Documents