The history of St. Gregory the Great Parish is more contemporary than that of many churches in Wisconsin. It wasn't built by early German settlers or Polish immigrants, but, rather, was founded in 1955 as population growth expanded the city of Milwaukee out into Greenfield and West Allis.

Houses and apartment buildings were going up in an area that was apple orchards and woods. Young families were mushrooming along Oklahoma and Honey Creek Parkway. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee, under the direction of Archbishop Albert Meyer, saw a need to gather Catholic Christians in the area to a new place of worship.

At that time, geographical boundaries were adhered to strictly. The congregation at St. Rita's in West Allis was neatly divided into the old parish, which stayed St. Rita's and the new parish, which became St. Gregory the Great. St. Greg's, as it was soon nicknamed, worshipped in St. Rita's chapel for the first year. Fr. Mark Lyons was pastor of this new community.

Construction of a church, gym, and the priest's residence began in the spring of 1956. The Eucharist was celebrated for the first time on April 18, 1957.

As the parish grew from 700 to over 2200 families, so did the staff and facilities. In 1957, the ministerial staff consisted of two priests, Fr. Tenpenny and Fr. Petronis. St. Greg's has since expanded to what it is today. Fr. Kenneth E. Omernick (pictured above) began his pastorate of St. Gregory the Great in 1997. Fr. Ken was joined by Fr. Steven Dunn who serves as Associate Pastor. The pastoral staff now includes a Parish Nurse as well as 15 other members who serve in music, liturgy, pastoral care, educational, administrative and youth ministries.

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