About Diocese of Superior
The Diocese of Superior (Latin: Dioecesis Superiorensis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church covering sixteen counties in northwestern Wisconsin. Erected on May 3, 1905 by Pope Pius X from territory taken from the Dioceses of Green Bay and La Crosse, it is a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Milwaukee and is led by its eleventh bishop, James Patrick Powers, who was installed in 2016. The mother church of the diocese is the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior, and its territory — encompassing roughly 15,715 square miles (40,700 km²) — traces its Catholic roots back to the 17th-century Jesuit missions at Chequamegon Bay.
- Bishop
- James Patrick Powers
- Established
- 1905
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of Christ the King, Superior, Wisconsin
- Territory
- Sixteen counties in northwestern Wisconsin: Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Lincoln, Oneida, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Vilas and Washburn.
- Parishes
- 105
- Province
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
About the Diocese of Superior
The Diocese of Superior is a Catholic diocese serving sixteen counties in northwestern Wisconsin under the patronage of St. Augustine of Hippo. Erected by Pope Pius X on May 3, 1905, the diocese is a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Milwaukee and is led from the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior. The current bishop is the eleventh ordinary, James Patrick Powers.
- Erected May 3, 1905 by Pope Pius X
- Suffragan of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee (Ecclesiastical Province of Milwaukee)
- Patron: St. Augustine of Hippo
- Cathedral: Cathedral of Christ the King, Superior
- Covers 15,715 sq mi (40,700 km²)
History & Origins
Catholic life in the territory predates the diocese by more than two centuries: French Jesuits Claude Allouez and Jacques Marquette established the Mission of the Holy Ghost at Chequamegon Bay in the 1660s, and Father Frederic Baraga re-established St. Joseph Mission at La Pointe on Madeline Island in 1836. The canonical diocese was carved out of Green Bay and La Crosse in 1905 after Wisconsin's bishops successfully petitioned Rome, and its first bishop, Augustine Schinner, took charge of an already-substantial Catholic infrastructure.
- 1661 – Father René Menard explores Chequamegon Bay
- 1665 – Father Claude Allouez founds Mission of the Holy Ghost
- 1669 – Father Jacques Marquette arrives; over 1,000 baptisms
- 1836 – Father Frederic Baraga rebuilds St. Joseph at La Pointe
- 1893 – First, unsuccessful petition for a new Wisconsin diocese
- 1904 – Bishops of Milwaukee, La Crosse and Green Bay meet and re-petition Rome
- May 3, 1905 – Diocese erected by Pope Pius X
The Bishops of Superior (1905–Present)
The diocese has been served by eleven bishops since 1905. Several went on to greater responsibilities elsewhere — Bishop O'Connor became Bishop of Madison, Bishop Meyer became Archbishop of Milwaukee, and Bishop Pinten became Bishop of Grand Rapids — while others, like Bishop Hammes, served the diocese for a quarter-century and steered it through the Second Vatican Council.
- Augustine Schinner (1905–1913)
- Joseph Koudelka (1913–1921)
- Joseph G. Pinten (1921–1926)
- Theodore H. Reverman (1926–1941)
- William P. O'Connor (1946)
- Albert G. Meyer (1946–1953)
- Joseph Annabring (1953–1959)
- George A. Hammes (1960–1985)
- Raphael M. Fliss (1985–2007)
- Peter F. Christensen (2007–2014)
- James Patrick Powers (2016–present)
Cathedral of Christ the King
The mother church of the Diocese of Superior is the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior, Wisconsin. Bishop Pinten broke ground and laid the cornerstone for the cathedral in October 1926 (his last official act before his transfer to Grand Rapids), and Bishop Reverman dedicated the completed building in 1927. It remains the seat of the bishop and the principal liturgical church of the diocese, and hosted Bishop James Patrick Powers' episcopal ordination in February 2016.
- Cornerstone laid October 1926 by Bishop Pinten
- Dedicated 1927 by Bishop Reverman
- Site of Bishop Powers' episcopal ordination, February 18, 2016
Catholic Charities Bureau
Founded in 1917 by Bishop Joseph Koudelka, Catholic Charities Bureau is the social-services arm of the diocese. Operating more than 50 programs across northwestern Wisconsin, it served more than 1,200 individuals and families in 2024, provided over 422,000 meals through partner food programs, and operates more than 650 units of affordable housing for low-income seniors, individuals with disabilities and those living with chronic mental illness. The Bureau's services are offered regardless of race, color, national origin or religion.
- Founded 1917 by Bishop Joseph Koudelka
- 50+ programs across the 16-county region
- 650+ units of affordable housing (2024)
- 422,000+ meals provided in 2024
- 385,000+ hours of service in 2024
- Won a major licensing dispute with the State of Wisconsin in federal court under Bishop Powers
Catholic Schools
Catholic schools in the Diocese of Superior trace their lineage to the Jesuit mission schools at La Pointe in the 17th century. The system once numbered 52 schools (with a peak of 32 operating simultaneously) and five Catholic high schools; the last two high schools closed in 1967, and the only Catholic college — Mount Senario College in Ladysmith — closed in 2002. Today the diocese operates 14 Catholic elementary schools across its sixteen counties, governed by the Office of Catholic Schools and organized around the diocesan pillars of KNOW, LOVE and SERVE.
- Origins at the Jesuit La Pointe mission, 1660s
- 52 schools historically; 32 operating simultaneously at peak
- Five Catholic high schools historically; last two closed 1967
- Mount Senario College (Ladysmith) closed in 2002
- 14 Catholic elementary schools today
- Diocesan pillars: KNOW — LOVE — SERVE
Catholic Schools Directory
The Office of Catholic Schools publishes a directory of the diocese's fourteen parish and inter-parish elementary schools. Cathedral School in Superior is the diocesan flagship and is housed in the same city as the Cathedral of Christ the King.
- Ashland – Our Lady of the Lake School
- Hudson – St. Patrick School
- Ladysmith – Our Lady of Sorrows School
- Medford – Holy Rosary School
- Merrill – St. Francis Xavier School
- New Richmond – St. Mary School
- Rhinelander – Nativity of Our Lord School
- Reserve – St. Francis Solanus School
- Rice Lake – St. Joseph School
- River Falls – St. Bridget School
- Somerset – St. Anne School
- Spooner – St. Francis de Sales School
- Superior – Cathedral School (PreK3–8)
- Tomahawk – St. Mary School
Parishes
The Diocese of Superior lists 105 parishes spread across its sixteen counties, plus missions and stations. The parish directory includes historic parishes in Superior itself (Cathedral of Christ the King, St. Anthony in Allouez, St. Francis Xavier in the East End and parishes in the South End) and small missions scattered through the northern woods such as Sanborn, Sarona, Saxon, Sayner, Sheldon and Shell Lake. Bishop Fliss' 1991 reorganization closed 16 parishes; the surviving parishes are increasingly organized into clusters sharing pastoral leadership.
- 105 parishes across 16 counties (as of 2010)
- Four historic parishes in the city of Superior alone
- Many small missions in the forested northern counties (Bayfield, Iron, Vilas, Price)
- Bishop Fliss closed 16 parishes in 1991
Office of the Bishop & Diocesan Staff
The Chancery Office at 1201 Hughitt Avenue, Superior, houses the bishop, the Vicar General (Very Rev. James Tobolski), the Chancellor and directors of the diocese's principal ministries — vocations, worship, stewardship and development, safe environment and respect life, Catholic schools, ecclesial ministries and the diocesan tribunal. Diocesan offices are open Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m.–11:30 a.m. The Bishop Hammes Center in Haugen provides additional meeting and program space.
- Chancery Office, 1201 Hughitt Ave, Superior, WI 54880
- Vicar General: Very Rev. James Tobolski
- Bishop Hammes Center, Haugen, WI
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8–5, Fri 8–11:30
Office of Catholic Schools
Headed by the Superintendent of Catholic Schools, this office coordinates curriculum, faith integration, teacher support and accreditation for the fourteen elementary schools. Schools are encouraged to personalize learning to achieve academic excellence while instilling stewardship for the school, parish, community and world.
Vocations & Seminarians
The Office of Vocations accompanies men discerning a call to the priesthood for the diocese and supports current seminarians. Bishop Powers himself served on the diocesan Priest Personnel Placement Board and Presbyteral Council before becoming bishop.
Office of Worship
The Office of Worship coordinates the diocesan liturgical life, supports parishes in celebrating the sacraments according to the Roman Rite, and implements the reforms of Vatican II (which Bishop Hammes introduced to the diocese after attending the Council in Rome).
Stewardship & Development
The Office of Stewardship & Development oversees the annual diocesan appeal, the Legacy Circle planned-giving society, and donor stewardship. Bishop Powers has used this office to shore up diocesan finances during his tenure.
Respect Life & Safe Environment
The diocese operates a Respect Life and Safe Environment office responsible for pro-life initiatives and the protection of children and vulnerable adults — including background checks and training for all adults working with minors in parishes and schools.
Ecclesial Ministries & Diocesan Consultation
This office coordinates lay ecclesial ministry formation, parish-cluster consultation, and the diocese's participation in the universal Synod on Synodality launched by Pope Francis and continued under Pope Leo XIV.
Tribunal (Judicial Vicar)
The diocesan tribunal, headed by the Judicial Vicar, handles marriage cases and other canonical processes. Bishop Powers served as Adjutant Judicial Vicar beginning in 1998 before becoming Vicar General in 2010.
Pastoral Priorities under Bishop Powers
Since his installation in 2016, Bishop James Patrick Powers has set the pastoral direction of the diocese through a 'Pastoral Letter on Evangelization' and a 'Maintenance to Mission Pastoral Plan.' His tenure has been marked by leading the diocese through the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Eucharistic Revival, the Synod on Synodality, and outreach to the diocese's growing Hispanic Catholic community through a Latin Mass exchange with religious sisters. He has also led Catholic Charities Bureau through a successful federal-court dispute with the State of Wisconsin.
- Pastoral Letter on Evangelization
- Maintenance to Mission Pastoral Plan
- National Eucharistic Revival
- Synod on Synodality participation
- Hispanic ministry and Latin Mass exchange with sisters
- Catholic Charities federal-court victory
Statistics & Demographics
The diocese covers roughly 40,700 km² (15,715 sq mi) of northwestern Wisconsin — making it one of the largest by area in the upper Midwest. According to diocesan figures (as of 2010) there are 105 parishes and 78,826 Catholics, representing 17.2% of the regional population of 458,000. It is a Latin (Roman-Rite) diocese, depends on the Dicastery for Bishops in Rome, and falls within USCCB Conference Region VII (Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin).
- Area: 15,715 sq mi (40,700 km²)
- Parishes: 105
- Catholics: 78,826 (17.2% of population, 2010)
- Total regional population: 458,000 (2010)
- Conference Region VII (IL, IN, WI)
- Catholic Directory abbreviation: SUP
