History of St. Mary of the Nativity Church

Rev. F.X. Hess pastor of St. Joseph, Waterloo organized the establishment of St. Mary of the Nativity Catholic Church in 1908. A vacated Baptist Church was purchased and renewed at the present location on S. Beebe St. Fr. Christian Nellen was the first resident priest arriving in 1910.By 1920 the growing congregation prompted the construction of a new building that was dedicated in 1921, and is still in operation today. In 1981 an addition of a Fellowship Hall was added to the church under the leadership of Father Archie Adams.

In July 2012, St. Joseph Parish, Waterloo and St. Mary of the Nativity, Marshall merged as one parish. Holy Family Parish was created. St. Mary’s underwent a massive renovation in 2021, 100 years after it’s original dedication.

In 2024 Holy Family merged with the Epiphany of the Lord Parish, and is now one of four churches under that Parish umbrella. St. Joseph, Waterloo, St. Mary of the Nativity, Marshall, Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Sun Prairie, and St. Albert the Great, Sun Prairie.