Gesu Church, Milwaukee

Gesu Church is a Jesuit parish of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was designated a Milwaukee Landmark in 1975. Although the church is not affiliated with Marquette University, through a 1991 partnership, it ministers to the downtown campus of Marquette and surrounding neighborhood.

Gesu, founded in 1849 as Saint Gall's Parish, initially served English-speaking Irish Catholics from the near south and west sides of Milwaukee in what was the neighborhood of Tory Hill. As the parish grew, it built Holy Name Church in 1875, and by 1887 Jesuit officials combined the two parishes into one church. The Gesu name was chosen in 1893 to honor the Church of the Gesu in Rome where Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, is buried.

Architect Henry C. Koch designed the French Gothic building, drawing inspiration from the Cathedral of Chartres in France. It features landmark spires of unequal height and stained glass windows. The cornerstone was laid on May 23, 1893 with over 20,000 people in attendance. A dedication ceremony followed on December 17, 1894, to mark the formal completion of the church.

Hollywood actor Pat O'Brien served as an altar boy at Gesu while growing up near 13th and Clybourn streets. He attended Marquette Academy and later attended Marquette University.

Gesu Church holds daily Masses and attracts over 2,500 worshipers on weekends.