About Holy Rosary · Durand, Wisconsin
Most Holy Rosary Parish is a rural Catholic parish in the township of Lima, Wisconsin, just outside Durand, founded in 1886 by Austrian immigrants from the Diocese of St. Pölten in lower Austria. It is one of three parishes — along with St. Mary's Assumption in Durand and Sacred Heart in Mondovi — that share clergy and ministries as the 'Tri-Parish' of the Diocese of La Crosse. The parish is best known for its tight-knit Austrian Catholic heritage, its famous poppy seed rolls and fall festival, its Friday night fish fries (October–March), and its long tradition of parish education that today continues through the Lima campus of Assumption Catholic School (grades K–3).
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- Most Holy Rosary (the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Holy Rosary)
- Rector
- Rev. Emmanuel Asamoah-Bekoe
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse
Why belong here
Holy Rosary, Lima is a small, multi-generational rural parish with deep roots: founded in 1886 by Austrian immigrants and still shaped by that heritage in its famous poppy seed rolls, its Lima Polka Choir, and its Fall Festival traditions. Members stay connected through a strong women's organization (the PCCW, descended from the original Altar Society), Friday-night fish fries October through March, a vibrant faith-formation and youth ministry, and a 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration rotation shared with the Tri-Parish. The parish keeps a century-long commitment to Catholic education alive by hosting the K–3 Lima campus of Assumption Catholic School, and families who join are stepping into a community that, as one early sister wrote, has always been 'prospering' in faith, love, and generosity.
Mass times at Holy Rosary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Half hour before each weekend Mass
- Mondays at 6:00 PM at St. Mary's, Durand
- During 24-hour Adoration, typically offered at noon and 6:30 PM
- By appointment through the Central Office (715-672-5640)
Adoration times
- 24-Hour Adoration at St. Mary's, Durand: every 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Thursday–Friday of each month; begins after 8:30 AM Mass Thursday and ends with 8:30 AM Mass Friday
- Eucharistic Adoration (per Diocese of La Crosse): 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month, following the 8:30 AM Mass until the 8:30 AM Mass Friday
About Holy Rosary Parish
Most Holy Rosary is a rural parish in the Town of Lima, Pepin County, founded in 1886 by Austrian immigrants and now part of the Tri-Parish (with St. Mary's Assumption of Durand and Sacred Heart of Mondovi) in the Diocese of La Crosse. The parish is proud of its Austrian heritage — visible in its famous poppy seed rolls, its Lima Polka Choir, and its enduring Fall Festival — and of its long tradition of Catholic education, which today continues at the Lima campus of Assumption Catholic School (grades K–3). The Parish Council of Catholic Women, descended from the original Altar Society, hosts the popular Friday-night fish fries October through March and remains a central part of parish life.
- Town of Lima, Pepin County, WI
- Founded 1886 by Austrian immigrants from the Diocese of St. Pölten
- Tri-Parish member with St. Mary's Durand and Sacred Heart Mondovi
- Diocese of La Crosse
History
Austrian immigrants who arrived in America around 1871 settled the Lima area with the help of German-speaking Catholics. By 1882 about 50 families were making the long horse-and-wagon journey to Durand for Mass. Permission to build was granted by Bishop Kilian Flasch around 1885, the first 50×70-foot frame church was dedicated in November 1886, and the first resident pastor, Rev. Godfrey Noever, arrived in 1902. A school opened in 1915 under Father Caspar; a high school followed in 1927 under Rev. Joseph Eisenmann. The present Late Gothic Revival brick church was designed by John Flad and dedicated May 17, 1937. The high school closed in 1966; a new school was approved by the Diocese on May 15, 1981, under Father Herrmann and Bishop Freking. In 1996, under Father Shuttleworth, Holy Rosary began sharing a pastor with St. Mary's of Durand; Sacred Heart of Mondovi joined in 1999 to form the present Tri-Parish.
- 1885 — Bishop Kilian Flasch grants permission to build
- 1886 — first frame church dedicated by Rev. Joseph Baur
- 1902 — Rev. Godfrey Noever becomes first resident pastor
- 1915 — Sacred Heart School opens under Father Caspar
- 1927 — Rev. Joseph Eisenmann adds high school
- 1936–37 — present brick church built; dedicated May 17, 1937
- 1951 — new Schaefer organ installed
- 1966 — Lima High School closes
- 1974 — Lima Polka Choir formed
- 1981 — new school approved by Diocese
- 1996 — begin sharing a priest with St. Mary's, Durand
- 1999 — Sacred Heart of Mondovi joins to form the Tri-Parish
Parish Staff and Clergy
Holy Rosary is served by the Tri-Parish clergy and staff, who care for all three parishes of the community.
- Rev. Emmanuel Asamoah-Bekoe — Pastor
- Rev. John Zweber — Associate Pastor
- Deacon Ed — Parish Director of Religious Education and Evangelization (715-672-4668 ext. 1)
- Isaac Sanders — Parish Director of Youth Ministry and Evangelization (715-672-4668 ext. 2)
- Susan Wolf — Business Manager
- Diane Wood — Secretary
- Bulletin Editor
- Deacons James Weingart and Edward Wendt (Diocese of La Crosse parish listing)
Faith Formation, Youth, and Catholic Education
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry are led at the Tri-Parish level, while Catholic elementary education is provided through Assumption Catholic School, a K–8 parish school with two campuses. The Lima campus, hosted by Holy Rosary, serves grades K–3; the Durand campus (and Noah's Ark Preschool & 4K) serves preschool through grade 8. The Tri-Parish generously subsidizes over half of tuition costs so that a Catholic education remains affordable; one child can attend for about $166.25 per month for parishioners, and 4K is free. Tuition-offset tools include the SCRIP program and the Lois Bauer Memorial Scholarship.
- Deacon Ed — Parish Director of Religious Education and Evangelization
- Isaac Sanders — Parish Director of Youth Ministry and Evangelization
- Assumption Catholic School — Lima Campus (grades K–3), N6217 County Road V, 715-672-4276
- Assumption Catholic School — Durand Campus (grades 4–8) and Noah's Ark Preschool & 4K, 901 W Prospect St., 715-672-5617
- SCRIP tuition-offset program
- Lois Bauer Memorial Scholarship
Parish Life and Ministries
Parish life at Holy Rosary, Lima is rooted in its Austrian Catholic heritage and organized largely through the Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW), which grew out of the original Altar Society that once sold eggs to support the parish school. Today the PCCW continues to lead the Friday-night fish fries (October through March) and the annual Fall Festival — famous for its poppy seed rolls — as well as regular meetings open to all women of the parish. The Lima Polka Choir has enriched Mass in area churches since 1974, and a Homebound Ministry brings the Eucharist to those unable to attend Mass.
- PCCW (Parish Council of Catholic Women) — meetings, fish fries, Fall Festival
- Lima Polka Choir (founded 1974)
- Homebound Ministry / Ministers to the Homebound
- Friday Night Fish Fries, October–March
- Annual Lima Fall Festival (Mass, beef dinner with poppy seed roll, raffles, silent & online auctions, gun raffle, large basket raffle)
Sacraments
Sacramental preparation and celebration are coordinated through the Tri-Parish Central Office. Families and individuals are encouraged to contact the parish office to begin preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick. Burial in the parish cemetery is also arranged through the Central Office, with documents available on the parish website.
- Baptism
- First Communion and Confirmation
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funerals and cemetery burial (Holy Rosary Cemetery, Lima)
Holy Rosary Cemetery
The Holy Rosary Parish Cemetery in Lima lies directly south of the church on the parish grounds. The original cemetery ground was donated by Joseph Spindler when the parish was established in the 1880s, and it continues to serve the parish community today. Documents concerning burial in the cemetery are available on the parish website; questions can be directed to the Central Office.
- Located directly south of the church
- Ground donated by Joseph Spindler in the 1880s
- Burial documents available on catholictriparish.org
- Inquiries: Tri-Parish Central Office, 715-672-5640
Architecture and Buildings
The parish complex in Lima grew steadily from 1886. The original 50×70-foot frame church was replaced in 1936–37 by the present brick church, a Late Gothic Revival design by John Flad of Flad and Moulton with a square tower centered on the front and pointed arched windows and entries. The E. Hackner Company of La Crosse supplied the altars, sanctuary wainscoting, communion railings, confessionals, and pews; Oberammergau wood-carvers executed the High Altar crucifix and side-altar statues. A rectory was built in 1912 (replaced in 1951), the school was built in 1915 (replaced in 1981), and a combination oil-and-wood-burning furnace heats the new school, gym, church, and convent — with volunteers still cutting wood to keep the buildings warm.
- 1936–37 church — Late Gothic Revival, brick, John Flad architect
- E. Hackner Company of La Crosse furnishings (altars, pews, wainscoting)
- Oberammergau-carved crucifix and side-altar statues
- 1951 Schaefer organ
- Rectory (1912; replaced 1951)
- School (1915; replaced 1981) and gym-recreation center
- Wood-burning furnace tradition continues with volunteers
Contact and Visit
The Tri-Parish Central Office coordinates communication and mail for Holy Rosary, Lima. The church's physical address is on County Road V in the Town of Lima, Pepin County. Visitors are warmly invited to attend a Fall Festival or fish fry for a first taste of parish life.
- Physical: N6235 County Road V, Durand, WI 54736
- Mailing: P.O. Box 188, Durand, WI 54736
- Phone: 715-672-5640
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: http://www.catholictriparish.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Baur of Durand1886
Blessed and dedicated the first Holy Rosary church and bell in November 1886; held Mass once, later twice, a month for the Lima congregation.
- Rev. Charles Weikmannlate 1880s–early 1900s
Succeeded Baur; continued serving Lima from Durand as a mission.
- Rev. Godfrey Noever1902
Arrived August 19, 1902 as Lima's first resident pastor.
- Rev. Caspar1912
Began ministry in 1912; oversaw the new rectory and the opening of Sacred Heart School in September 1915.
- Rev. Joseph Eisenmann1927
Arrived March 1927; enlarged the school to include a high school.
- Rev. Nicholas Kreibich1941
Came in 1941 during a school consolidation.
- Rev. Charles Wolfmid-20th century
Built the new rectory, remodeled the old rectory into a convent, and completed the gym-recreation center with bowling alley.
- Rev. Richard Herrmann1981
With Bishop Frederick Freking, secured Diocese approval of a new parish school on May 15, 1981.
- Rev. Shuttleworth1996
Under his leadership, St. Mary's of Durand and Holy Rosary Lima began sharing a priest in July 1996 due to a shortage of priests.