About Holy Ghost · Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Holy Ghost Catholic Church is a parish in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, founded in 1886 on the south side of the Chippewa River by largely French-Canadian Catholic families who outgrew the original Notre Dame (Our Lady of the Pines) parish. It is one of three parishes that make up the Our Lady of the Falls Catholic Community, alongside Notre Dame and Saint Bridget, in the Diocese of La Crosse. The current church building was completed and blessed in 1927, and the parish continues a strong tradition of lay volunteerism, daily Mass, perpetual Eucharistic adoration at the nearby Goldsmith Chapel, and an extensive list of liturgical, social, and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit)
- Rector
- Fr. Daniel Sedlacek
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse (Chippewa Falls Deanery)
Why belong here
Holy Ghost is a parish where the founding French-Canadian families' spirit of volunteering is still the daily rule — from the parish fair stand to monthly church cleaning, building and grounds, and a Knights of Columbus council. The parish offers multiple Sunday Masses, daily weekday Masses, a packed reconciliation schedule, and the unique gift of Thursday afternoon exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed by Evening Prayer and Benediction, as well as the community-wide Goldsmith Eucharistic Adoration Chapel open nearly 24 hours a day, five days a week. Families belong to MACS (McDonell Area Catholic Schools) and find here a wide range of liturgical, prayer, social, and outreach ministries through which to put faith into action.
Mass times at Holy Ghost
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:00–5:20 PM
- Thursday 3:00–4:50 PM
- Friday 8:30–9:00 AM (begins five minutes after Daily Mass)
- Other times by appointment through the parish office
Adoration times
- Thursday 3:00–5:00 PM: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at Holy Ghost Church, with Confession, concluding with 5:00 PM Evening Prayer and Benediction
- First Friday 8:00 AM Mass followed by a brief period of exposition and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, concluding with Benediction
- Goldsmith Eucharistic Adoration Chapel (123 Allen Street, Chippewa Falls): open Sunday 7:00 AM through Friday 1:00 PM (community-wide adoration, 7 PM – 7 AM ring doorbell or use code)
Holy Ghost History
Founded in 1886 on the south side of the Chippewa River by French-Canadian families who had outgrown Notre Dame (then Our Lady of the Pines), Holy Ghost was built through parish fundraising that included visits to local lumber camps. Fr. Goldsmith and Fr. Strum acquired a three-acre plot at Main and Greenville, Bishop Flasch blessed the cornerstone on June 29, 1886, and Fr. Strum celebrated the first Mass on October 4, 1886. The Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans) ran the parish from 1900 until 1960. The present church was built in 1927, and the parish has continued to grow, renovate, and renew itself ever since.
- Founded 1886; incorporated April 25, 1887
- Cornerstone blessed June 29, 1886 by Bishop Flasch
- First pastor: Fr. Edmund (Strum) Sturm, October 1, 1886
- New church blessed September 27, 1927 (cornerstone May 15, 1927)
- New school 1949, new convent 1955, new rectory 1958 (after 1954 fire)
- Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans) cared for the parish 1900–1960
- Interior renovation 2008; roofs replaced 2016
- Over 39 priests have served the parish
Our Lady of the Falls Catholic Community
Holy Ghost is one of three parishes that together form the Our Lady of the Falls Catholic Community in Chippewa Falls, alongside Notre Dame and Saint Bridget. The three parishes share pastors, clergy, and staff, and present a combined weekly Mass schedule. The community office is at 117 Allen Street, Chippewa Falls.
- Notre Dame Parish
- Saint Bridget Parish
- Holy Ghost Parish
- Combined office: 117 Allen Street, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
- Combined office phone: 715-723-7108
Parish Ministries, Apostolates and Councils
Holy Ghost sustains an unusually broad set of ministries organized under Liturgical, Parish Leadership, Prayer, Social Life, Maintenance, Financial, and Social Justice headings. The parish notes that it is blessed with many volunteers and volunteer leaders.
- Liturgical: EMHC, Gift Bearer, Musicians, Readers, Sacristans, Altar Servers, Ushers, Junior Sacristans
- Parish Leadership: Pastoral Council, Finance Council, MACS Education Commission Rep, Building & Grounds Committee
- Ministry of Prayer: Prayer Chain, Parish Intercessors
- Social Life: PCCW, Knights of Columbus, Funeral Luncheons, Parish Picnic, Holy Ghost Fair Stand
- Maintenance (Indoor): Monthly Church Cleaners, Seasonal Decorators
- Maintenance (Outdoor): Gardens, Yard Maintenance
- Financial: Money Counters, Finance Council
- Outreach: Social Justice Committee, Homebound Ministry, Stitched with Love
Clergy and Staff
Our Lady of the Falls Catholic Community is currently led by Fr. Daniel Sedlacek as pastor (since July 1, 2025) and Fr. David Nowicki as parochial vicar, with two deacons supporting sacramental life. Parish staff at Holy Ghost include a Director of Music, administrative/finance support, and a buildings and grounds lead.
- Fr. Daniel Sedlacek — Pastor (also Dean of the Chippewa Deanery and head of MACS)
- Fr. David Nowicki — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Deacon Kevin DeCook — Deacon, Director of OLF Finance and Facilities
- Deacon Sean Hanson — Deacon
- Sr. Yvonne Hiess, SSND — Pastoral Minister (St. Bridget)
- Therese Butek — Holy Ghost Director of Music
- Karin Hawkins — Administrative Assistant, HG/SB Finance
- Scott Sokup — Holy Ghost Buildings and Grounds Lead
- Parishes Leadership Team: includes Mrs. Erin Brick (HG), Mrs. Molly Bushman (HG, MACS President), and others
Faith Formation, Youth, and MACS
Faith formation for the tri-parish community is coordinated through the Our Lady of the Falls Catholic Community offices, with a Coordinator of Faith Formation, a Coordinator of Discipleship, and a City Parish / MACS Director of Youth Ministries. Holy Ghost families participate in McDonell Area Catholic Schools (MACS), the regional Catholic school system serving Chippewa Falls.
- Caleb Heckman — Our Lady of the Falls Coordinator of Faith Formation
- Angie Katz — Our Lady of the Falls Coordinator of Discipleship
- Michael Van Hemert — CF City Parish and MACS Director of Youth Ministries
- John Shakal — Notre Dame Director of Outreach and Evangelization
- MACS — McDonell Area Catholic Schools (regional Catholic K–12 school system)
Contact and Visit
The parish can be reached by mail or phone at its South Main Street church, or in person at the combined Our Lady of the Falls office on Allen Street. The office is closed Tuesdays but otherwise open weekdays.
- Church: 412 S Main St, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 — 715-723-4890
- Office: 117 Allen Street, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 — 715-723-7108
- Office hours: Mon 9 AM–3 PM; Tue closed; Wed 9 AM–3 PM; Thu 9 AM–3 PM; Fri 9 AM–Noon (or by appointment)
- Bulletin submissions: [email protected]
- Adoration Chapel: 123 Allen Street, Chippewa Falls
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Strum (Rev. Edmund Sturm)1886–
First pastor; celebrated the first Mass in the new church on October 4, 1886.
- Fr. Jesse Burishthrough 2025
Past pastor of the Our Lady of the Falls Catholic Community and Dean of the Chippewa Falls Deanery; reassigned to Rome in 2025.
- Fr. Tim Oudenhovenapprox. two months in 2025
Served as parish administrator in the transition between Fr. Burish and Fr. Sedlacek.
- Fr. Daniel Sedlaceksince July 1, 2025
Current pastor; also Dean of the Chippewa Deanery and head of MACS.