About Diocese of La Crosse
The Diocese of La Crosse (Latin: Dioecesis Crossensis) is a Latin-rite Catholic diocese covering 19 counties in west-central Wisconsin, from the Mississippi River on the west to the Wisconsin River on the south and east. Established on March 3, 1868 by Blessed Pope Pius IX out of territory taken from the Diocese of Milwaukee, it is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The mother church is the Cathedral of Saint Joseph the Workman in La Crosse, and the diocese numbers approximately 135,000 Catholics across 156 parishes served from the Holy Cross Diocesan Center. The current ordinary is Bishop Gerard W. Battersby, the eleventh bishop of La Crosse, installed May 20, 2024.
- Bishop
- Gerard W. Battersby
- Established
- 1868
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of Saint Joseph the Workman, La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Territory
- Nineteen counties in west-central Wisconsin, bounded by the Mississippi River on the west, the Wisconsin River on the south and east, and the southern boundary of the Diocese of Superior on the north — covering parts of the La Crosse, Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley, Marshfield, Stevens Point, Wausau, and Prairie du Chien regions.
- Parishes
- 156 parishes across 13 deaneries (Arcadia, Chippewa Falls, Durand, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Marshfield, Prairie du Chien, Richland Center, Stevens Point, Thorp, Tomah, Wausau, Wisconsin Rapids)
- Province
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
History of the Diocese of La Crosse
The Diocese of La Crosse was erected on March 3, 1868 by Blessed Pope Pius IX, when the Diocese of Milwaukee was divided into three. The new diocese covered nearly half of Wisconsin — some 28,000 square miles of largely undeveloped land north and west of the Wisconsin River. Father Michael Heiss of Louisville was named the first bishop and was consecrated September 6, 1868. Early missionary evangelization in the region had been carried out two centuries earlier by Father René Menard and later by figures such as Venerable Frederic Baraga, Venerable Samuel Mazzuchelli, and the Dominican and Franciscan missionaries who served the early French, German, Irish, and Polish settlers, as well as the native peoples. Successive waves of immigration — German, Polish, Irish, then in the 20th century Hmong from Laos and Vietnam, and Hispanic Catholics from Mexico and Central America — built and continue to build the diocese. Today the diocese covers 19 counties, with the Mississippi River to the west and the Wisconsin River to the south and east, and serves roughly 135,000 Catholics in 156 parishes.
- Erected March 3, 1868
- Carved from Diocese of Milwaukee
- 19 counties in west-central Wisconsin
- 135,000 Catholics / 156 parishes / 875,000 total souls
Diocesan Bishops in Succession
The diocese has been led by eleven bishops since 1868. The most internationally famous is Raymond Leo Burke, the eighth bishop (1995–2004), who went on to become Archbishop of St. Louis, Cardinal in 2010, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, and Patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Heiss, Flasch, Schwebach, McGavick, Treacy, and Paul are buried together in the cathedral's Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
- Michael Heiss (1868–1880)
- Kilian Caspar Flasch (1881–1891)
- James Schwebach (1891–1921)
- Alexander Joseph McGavick (1921–1948)
- John Patrick Treacy (1948–1964)
- Frederick William Freking (1965–1983)
- John Joseph Paul (1983–1994)
- Raymond Leo Burke (1995–2004) — later Cardinal
- Jerome Edward Listecki (2004–2010) — later Archbishop of Milwaukee
- William P. Callahan, OFM Conv. (2010–2024)
- Gerard W. Battersby (2024–present)
Cathedral of Saint Joseph the Workman
The mother church of the diocese is the Cathedral of Saint Joseph the Workman, a modern limestone church with a tall clock tower designed by architect Edward J. Schulte and completed in 1962 during Bishop Treacy's tenure. It was dedicated by Cardinal Francis Spellman on May 14, 1962. The cathedral's title is historically significant: in 1955 Pope Pius XII created the feast of Saint Joseph the Workman, and the La Crosse cathedral was the FIRST church in the world to bear that title. The current cathedral was preceded by an earlier Gothic stone-and-brick structure whose cornerstone was laid by Bishop Heiss on May 30, 1869 and which was dedicated by Very Rev. Martin Kundig on October 2, 1870. After major structural issues with the steeple — including falling stones in 2020 — Bishop Callahan launched the Christ Our Cornerstone campaign; the steeple and interior restoration were completed in June 2023 and celebrated in September 2023.
- Designed by architect Edward J. Schulte
- Completed and dedicated May 14, 1962 by Cardinal Spellman
- First church in the world dedicated as Saint Joseph the Workman (1955)
- Steeple and interior restoration completed June 2023
- Blessed Sacrament Chapel holds the tombs of six former bishops
Diocesan Patron: Saint Joseph the Workman
In 1955, when Pope Pius XII established the liturgical title and feast of Saint Joseph the Workman, the La Crosse cathedral became the first church in the world to bear that patronage, and Saint Joseph the Workman became the diocesan patron. The diocese celebrates this special connection each year on the May 1 feast, with catechesis on the dignity of work and the Holy Family.
- Pope Pius XII established the title Saint Joseph the Workman in 1955
- La Crosse cathedral was the first church in the world to bear this name
- Feast celebrated May 1
Parishes and Deaneries
The diocese is organized into 13 deaneries that group the 156 parishes geographically: Arcadia, Chippewa Falls, Durand, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Marshfield, Prairie du Chien, Richland Center, Stevens Point, Thorp, Tomah, Wausau, and Wisconsin Rapids. Six urban centers — La Crosse, Eau Claire, Wausau, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, and Marshfield — account for roughly two-thirds of the diocesan population, while the remaining territory is largely rural. The parishes page at diolc.org/parishes offers a searchable directory of every parish with pastor and contact information.
- 13 deaneries
- 156 parishes
- Deanery centers: La Crosse, Eau Claire, Wausau, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield
- Online parish directory at diolc.org/parishes
Schools and Catholic Education
Catholic education has been central to the diocese since its founding. Bishop Flasch established 36 schools in ten years, and Bishop McGavick founded Aquinas High School in La Crosse in 1928. Bishop Paul added Aquinas Middle School in 1992. The diocese operates an extensive Find a School directory at diolc.org/schools. Higher education is served by Viterbo University in La Crosse — a Franciscan-sponsored institution that grew out of the St. Rose Normal School founded in 1890 by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and reorganized as Viterbo College in 1939. The diocese also maintains Holy Cross Diocesan Seminary, established under Bishop Treacy, for the formation of priests.
- Aquinas High School, La Crosse (founded 1928)
- Aquinas Middle School (founded 1992)
- Viterbo University (La Crosse; Franciscan-sponsored)
- Holy Cross Diocesan Seminary
- Find-a-School directory at diolc.org/schools
Office of the Bishop and Chancery
The diocesan curia is housed at the Holy Cross Diocesan Center, 3710 East Avenue South, La Crosse, WI 54602. The Chancery Office, led by Chancellor Very Rev. William Dhein and Vice Chancellor Rev. Kurt Apfelbeck, drafts and safeguards official curial documents, maintains diocesan records and archives, and provides canonical consultation. The current bishop is Gerard W. Battersby, installed May 20, 2024. Bishop Emeritus William P. Callahan, OFM Conv., resides in the diocese after his resignation was accepted by Pope Francis on March 19, 2024 for health reasons.
- Holy Cross Diocesan Center, 3710 East Ave. S., La Crosse, WI
- Chancellor: Very Rev. William Dhein
- Vice Chancellor & Archivist: Rev. Kurt Apfelbeck
- Bishop: Gerard W. Battersby (installed 2024)
- Bishop Emeritus: William P. Callahan, OFM Conv.
Safe Environment and Protection of Children
The Diocese of La Crosse maintains a Safe Environment Office and publishes its 'Protect and Heal' commitment on the diocesan homepage, with reporting links, training, and clergy disclosures available. The diocese is committed to helping victims/survivors of sexual abuse and dedicated to protecting children through background checks, VIRTUS-type training, and audits of every parish and school.
- Protect and Heal initiative
- Safe Environment Training for clergy, staff, and volunteers
- Public reporting page
- Clergy Disclosures listed on the website
Televised Mass and Outreach to the Homebound
The Diocesan Televised Mass is filmed at rotating parishes across the diocese for those unable to attend Mass in person. It airs on local broadcast channels and streams live at diolc.org/live. The faithful may submit prayer intentions at diolc.org/pray, and donations may be mailed to Televised Mass – Diocese of La Crosse, P.O. Box 4004, La Crosse, WI 54602-4004.
- Filmed weekly at a different parish
- Live stream at diolc.org/live
- Prayer intentions: diolc.org/pray
- Broadcast schedule on the diocesan homepage
Eucharistic Adoration and Devotions
Eucharistic Adoration is highlighted across the diocese and can be located through the diocesan website (diolc.org/eucharistic-adoration). The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration have maintained perpetual adoration at their motherhouse in La Crosse for well over a century, drawing pilgrims from across the region.
- Diocesan Adoration locator: diolc.org/eucharistic-adoration
- Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration motherhouse, La Crosse
- Daily and perpetual adoration chapels across the diocese
Catholic Charities and Social Outreach
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse, Inc., located at 3710 East Avenue South, La Crosse, serves the region under Executive Director Roberto Partarrieu. The agency delivers counseling, emergency assistance, adoption and pregnancy services, refugee resettlement, and parish social ministry support. Catholic Cemeteries (519 Losey Blvd. S., La Crosse) are overseen by Director Jeff Reinhart and assist with both parochial and diocesan cemeteries. The diocese also operates the Apostolate for Native Americans and a Catholic Committee on Scouting.
- Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse, Inc.
- Catholic Cemeteries (La Crosse)
- Apostolate for Native Americans
- Catholic Committee on Scouting
Holy Land Pilgrimages and Stewardship
The diocese supports pilgrimages to the Holy Land and offers both an Office for Stewardship and Development and a Legacy Giving program for planned giving. Donations can be made online or by check to the diocesan offices, and an annual Christ Our Cornerstone capital campaign (launched 2020 under Bishop Callahan) funded the cathedral's structural restoration.
- Office for Stewardship and Development
- Legacy Giving / planned giving
- Christ Our Cornerstone capital campaign
- Holy Land pilgrimages
Heroes of Faith and Notable Catholics
The diocesan website features a 'Heroes of Faith' section that profiles the holy men and women connected to the region. These include Venerable Frederic Baraga (Slovenian-born missionary to the Upper Midwest who labored in what would become the diocese), Venerable Samuel Mazzuchelli (Italian Dominican who founded the Sinsinawa Mound community and worked along the Wisconsin-Illinois border), Blessed Solanus Casey (Capuchin friar and famed healer of Detroit), Servant of God Father Joseph Walijewski (a La Crosse priest whose cause for canonization is open), Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA (the African-American Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration who became a national evangelizer and was declared Servant of God), and Blessed James Miller — the U.S.-born lay missioner martyred in Guatemala in 1982, a son of this diocese.
- Venerable Frederic Baraga
- Venerable Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP
- Blessed Solanus Casey, OFM Cap.
- Servant of God Father Joseph Walijewski
- Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA (Servant of God)
- Blessed James Miller — Guatemalan martyr
