About Holy Family · Elcho, Wisconsin
Holy Family is a Roman Catholic parish in the small Northwoods community of Elcho, Wisconsin (Langlade County), within the Diocese of Green Bay. The parish serves the village of Elcho and surrounding rural area and is canonically twinned with St. Mary Parish in nearby Pickerel, sharing clergy and pastoral care. Mass is offered multiple days a week including a weekend Saturday vigil, and the parish maintains traditional devotions such as the Saturday Holy Rosary, First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and monthly Confession.
- Patron
- Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
Holy Family offers the kind of warm, personal Catholic community typical of small Northwoods parishes: a worship space just off Highway 45 where Mass is celebrated several times a week, with the Saturday vigil and Sunday Mass as the weekly centerpieces. The parish maintains beloved traditional devotions — the Holy Rosary before Saturday Mass, First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and monthly Saturday Confessions — that draw the small congregation together around the Eucharist. As a twinned parish with St. Mary in Pickerel, it serves both year-round residents of Elcho (a historic logging-turned-resort town) and the many seasonal lake-country families who return each summer, making it a calm, family-friendly spiritual home for anyone in the Langlade County area.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM–3:50 PM on the 1st full weekend of the month
Adoration times
- Friday 8:00 AM–8:45 AM (First Fridays only)
Mass and Sacramental Schedule
Holy Family Parish in Elcho maintains a compact, traditional schedule tied to its rural setting and its pastoral partnership with St. Mary in Pickerel. The weekend is anchored by Saturday afternoon Vigil Mass at 4:00 PM. Weekday Mass is celebrated twice a month on Thursday at 10:15 AM (2nd and 4th Thursdays, except when it precedes First Friday), and on First Fridays at 9:00 AM. Visitors should always confirm current times with the parish office because the weekday pattern (Thursday 2nd & 4th, Friday First Friday only) shifts depending on the calendar.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 PM
- Thursday Mass: 10:15 AM (2nd and 4th Thursdays only)
- Friday Mass: 9:00 AM (First Fridays only)
- Confessions: Saturday 3:30–3:50 PM on the 1st full weekend of the month
- Eucharistic Adoration: Friday 8:00–8:45 AM on First Fridays
- Holy Rosary: Saturday 3:30–3:50 PM before Mass
Parish Cluster with St. Mary, Pickerel
Holy Family in Elcho is part of a two-parish cluster with St. Mary Parish in Pickerel — a pattern common in rural Diocese of Green Bay communities where one priest shepherds multiple small parishes. The two share a joint web identity at hfstm.org (and formerly hfstm.weconnect.com), and the Diocese of Green Bay's parish finder lists both under the same cluster. This arrangement has been in place at least since 1975, when Fr. Leonard Evers was named pastor of both parishes, and continued through the pastorate of Fr. David Zimmerman (2013–2022).
- Joint parish website: hfstm.org
- Diocesan schedule listing treats Holy Family (Second Sunday 8:00 AM, Second Tuesday 6:30 PM) and St. Mary Pickerel (Second Sunday 11:30 AM, Second Wednesday 9:30 AM) as connected parishes.
Devotions and Spiritual Life
Reflecting the parish's small but devout Northwoods Catholic community, traditional devotions form an important part of parish life at Holy Family. The Saturday Holy Rosary is prayed before each Vigil Mass in the half-hour leading up to the liturgy, and Eucharistic Adoration is offered on First Fridays from 8:00 to 8:45 AM, immediately preceding the First Friday Mass. Sacramental Confession is available in the Saturday confession slot specifically on the first full weekend of each month — typically a window when seasonal lake-country residents can plan a visit with their priest.
- Saturday Holy Rosary: 3:30–3:50 PM
- First Friday Adoration: 8:00–8:45 AM
- First Saturday / First Full Weekend Confession: 3:30–3:50 PM
Pastorate and Pastoral Care
Because Holy Family is clustered with St. Mary in Pickerel, pastoral care is provided by the priest assigned by the Bishop of Green Bay to the cluster. Documented pastors of the cluster include Fr. Leonard Evers (1975–1980) and Fr. David Zimmerman (2013–2022). Fr. Zimmerman's funeral rites, including the Reception of the Body and parish wake service, were held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Elcho, underscoring the parish's role as the larger ceremonial church of the cluster. Visitors seeking pastoral information should call the parish office.
- Fr. Leonard J. "Len" Evers — pastor of Holy Family Elcho / St. Mary Pickerel (1975–1980)
- Fr. David M. Zimmerman — pastor of Holy Family Elcho / St. Mary Pickerel (2013–2022)
- Parish office phone: (715) 275-3750
Visiting Holy Family
Holy Family is centrally placed for visitors to the Wisconsin Northwoods. The church is located three blocks off Highway 45 on County Highway K, making it an easy drive from Antigo, Rhinelander, or the chain of lakes to the north. The parish sits in Elcho, a small Langlade County village best known for the legacy of the Charles W. Fish Lumber Company and the distinctive Tudor-style commercial building Fish erected after the great fires of 1923. The parish website (hfstm.org) is the best source for current schedules, bulletin information, and sacramental preparation details; the parish office number (715-275-3750) is staffed for inquiries.
- Address: W 10524 Cole St., Elcho, WI 54428
- Phone: (715) 275-3750
- Website: https://hfstm.org
- Diocesan affiliation: Diocese of Green Bay
- Rite: Roman-Latin
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Leonard J. "Len" Evers1975–1980
Appointed pastor of Holy Family Parish, Elcho and St. Mary Parish, Pickerel in 1975; reassigned as pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, Seymour in 1980. Ordained May 25, 1968; died Feb 23, 2026, age 83.
- Fr. David M. Zimmerman2013–2022
Appointed pastor of Holy Family Parish, Elcho and St. Mary Parish, Pickerel in 2013; served the cluster for nine years until his death on Feb 24, 2022, age 65. Previously served Immaculate Conception–St. Michael (Clarks Mills/Whitelaw) and St. John–Sacred Heart parishes.