Our Parish Legacy:
The History of St. Peter Claver
Located at 1439 S. 12th Street in Sheboygan, founded on January 30, 1888, St. Peter Claver Parish was established to meet the spiritual needs of Catholics living south of the Sheboygan River. At the request of Archbishop Michael Heiss, Father Jacob Peter Van Treeck, Associate Pastor at Holy Name, was appointed to organize and lead this new parish. Sixty Catholic laymen gathered to support the founding of what would become Sheboygan’s second Catholic parish.
A Unique Patron
The parish was named in honor of St. Peter Claver, a Spanish Jesuit missionary canonized that same month by Pope Leo XIII. To this day, St. Peter Claver remains the only parish in Wisconsin bearing his name—a testament to the parish’s unique identity and mission.
Early Foundations
With generous support from Holy Name Parish, a lot was purchased on Clara Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets, and a combination church-school building was constructed. The upper level served as the church, while the lower level housed classrooms and living quarters for the Sisters of St. Agnes, who began teaching in December 1888. The first Mass was celebrated on September 30, 1888, and the building was formally dedicated later that year.
As the parish grew, additional facilities were added, including a rectory and expanded school space. The first class graduated from St. Peter Claver School in 1898, and in 1890, land was purchased for Holy Cross Cemetery, which continues to serve the parish community.
A New Church for a Growing Parish
By the early 1900s, the original building could no longer accommodate the growing congregation. A new church was built on the corner of Clara Avenue and South 11th Street, with construction beginning in May 1907. Parishioners helped dig the basement by hand, and the first Mass in the new church was celebrated on June 21, 1908. The church featured seating for 800, beautiful stained glass windows, large bells, and devotional shrines.
Expansion and Education
By 1952, the parish had grown to over 3,200 members, and a new school was needed. In 1955, construction began on a 16-classroom school, which opened in 1956 to nearly 600 students. The old school was demolished, and the new facility was dedicated in 1957.
In 1986, St. Peter Claver joined with Immaculate Conception Parish to form Christ Child Academy, a consolidated Catholic school serving multiple parish communities.
Milestones and Ministry
The parish celebrated its 100th anniversary with a year-long series of events from August 1987 to September 1988, culminating in a special Mass with Archbishop Rembert Weakland.
In response to a shortage of priests, Deacon Michael Burch was installed as Parish Director in 2002, serving faithfully through two terms. In 2014, Fr. Paul Fliss was appointed Pastor of the Tri-Parish Faith Communities on Sheboygan’s south side, continuing the legacy of collaboration and shared mission.
In December 2019, Fr. Subi joined the Tri-Parish community from India as Associate Pastor. He served until 2023, when he became Pastor of St. John the Baptist in Plymouth and St. Thomas Aquinas in Elkhart Lake. He was succeeded by newly ordained Fr. Kenneth Anyanwu, who now serves alongside Fr. Paul.
St. Peter Claver Parish continues to thrive, rooted in the courageous faith of its founders and guided by a spirit of unity, service, and devotion. As we look to the future, we remain committed to building a vibrant Catholic community for generations to come.
