About Holy Spirit · Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Holy Spirit Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, belonging to the Diocese of La Crosse. It was officially established on July 1, 2015, through the merger of two long-standing neighboring faith communities: St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish (founded 1916 by Polish immigrant families) and Newman University Parish (founded 1970 to minister to UW–Stevens Point students). The community worships in the historic 1918 St. Stanislaus Kostka Church at 2151 Stanley Street, just steps from the UWSP campus, and is today served by Father Steve Brice with a robust team of deacons, parish staff, lay ministry leaders, and FOCUS missionaries. The parish's motto — "Disciples United in Worship, Welcoming to all, Working for Justice and Peace" — reflects its dual identity as both a parish church and a campus ministry, and its newest gathering space, the Ministry Center (dedicated March 8, 2020), has become the hub of parish life.
- Established
- 2015
- Patron
- Holy Spirit (the parish is named for the Holy Spirit, with the worship space historically dedicated under the patronage of St. Stanislaus Kostka)
- Rector
- Rev. Steven J. (Steve) Brice
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse
Why belong here
Holy Spirit Parish welcomes Catholics from across Stevens Point, UW–Stevens Point, and Mid-State Technical College into a single family that worships in a beautiful 1918 sanctuary whose stained-glass windows still carry the names of its founding Polish immigrant families. With weekend Masses Saturday at 5 PM and Sunday at 8, 10:30, and 6 (the student Mass), daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a full sacramental and faith-formation program — OCIA, Alpha, Bible studies, FOCUS-led small groups, Stephen Ministry, and a brand-new Ministry Center for fellowship — the parish offers something for every age and stage. A deep tradition of social-justice outreach, including a Haiti Mission Team, the Matthew 25 ministry, and the SPASH Breakfast Program, makes it a community where faith is lived out beyond the church walls.
Mass times at Holy Spirit
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:00–7:00 PM (enter through Ministry Center doors)
- Thursday 7:00–8:00 PM (enter through Ministry Center doors — confessional in the back)
- Saturday 9:00–10:00 AM (enter through Ministry Center doors — confessional in the back)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Wednesday 8:30–9:30 AM (following 8 AM Mass)
- Thursday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (with Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 PM)
- Friday 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
About Holy Spirit Parish
Holy Spirit Parish was officially established on July 1, 2015, when two previously separate faith communities — St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish and Newman University Parish — were united under one name within the Diocese of La Crosse. With a motto of 'Disciples United in Worship, Welcoming to all, Working for Justice and Peace,' the parish today serves both longtime Stevens Point families and the students of UW–Stevens Point and Mid-State Technical College. The community worships in the historic 1918 St. Stanislaus Kostka Church at 2151 Stanley Street, just east of the UWSP campus.
- Motto: 'Disciples United in Worship, Welcoming to all, Working for Justice and Peace.'
- Parish office: 2151 Stanley St, Stevens Point, WI 54481 — phone (715) 344-9117.
- Welcomes new parishioners through the New Parishioner Mentor Ministry (Mary Grace Keene).
- Livestreamed weekend and daily Masses on the parish YouTube channel.
A Brief History of Two Communities, United
More than a century of Catholic life in Stevens Point is folded into Holy Spirit Parish. The 1916 Polish-immigrant founding of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish and the 1970 establishment of Newman University Parish for college students have been woven into a single faith community since July 1, 2015.
- 1916 — Bishop Paul Peter Rhode of the (then) Diocese of Green Bay purchases land on the east side of Stevens Point after 150 Polish families petition for a church.
- 1918 — St. Stanislaus Kostka Church completed with field-stone basement walls and the first parish picnic held at Waterworks Park (now Bukolt Park).
- 1925 — First parish school built (eight classrooms), taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph, T.O.S.F., for the next 60 years.
- 1950 — New sixteen-classroom school built; enrollment peaks at more than 500 students.
- 1958 — Catholic students purchase the Newman House near UWSP, gathering for Mass at St. Stanislaus.
- 1963 — Sanctuary remodeled following Vatican II; new forward-facing altar installed.
- 1970 — Newman University Parish established by Bishop Frederick Freking; Fathers Lovejoy, Brockman and Jablonske named co-pastors.
- 1975 — Newman Center constructed on the UWSP campus.
- 1986 — 'Share Because We Care' $600,000 renovation under Father Donald Przybylski.
- 1994 — Newman Center addition with sunken chapel completed.
- 2015 — St. Stanislaus Kostka and Newman parishes unite as Holy Spirit Parish under Father Steve Brice.
- March 8, 2020 — New Ministry Center dedicated by Bishop William Patrick Callahan.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Holy Spirit Parish serves every age, from cradle to campus. The Faith Formation team is led by Michelle Fischer (director of Child, Youth & Family Formation and Adult Faith Formation), with Amy Barragree coordinating OCIA for adults and Jim and Sue Piotrowski coordinating the parish Alpha series. Father Steve personally coordinates FOCCUS marriage preparation, and Betsy and Jay Spoerl coordinate Baptism preparation.
- Child, Youth & Family Faith Formation — Director: Michelle Fischer
- Adult Faith Formation — Michelle Fischer
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Amy Barragree, [email protected]
- ALPHA Series — Jim and Sue Piotrowski, 715-341-6619
- FOCCUS Marriage Preparation — Father Steve Brice
- Baptism Preparation — Betsy and Jay Spoerl, 715-321-0064
Point Catholic Campus Ministry
Point Catholic is Holy Spirit Parish's dedicated campus ministry, serving both UW–Stevens Point and Mid-State Technical College students. Housed in the new Ministry Center and led by Campus Ministry Director Steven Rael-Flores alongside a team of FOCUS missionaries, Point Catholic forms students as disciples through Sunday and Wednesday evening Masses, daily Mass, Bible studies, retreats, and service trips to communities in need from Chicago's Catholic Worker House to Appalachia and Habitat for Humanity projects in Alabama.
- Director — Steven Rael-Flores, [email protected], 715-344-9117
- FOCUS Team Director — Jackie Parkes ([email protected])
- FOCUS Missionaries — Anna Nieto, Tessa Soukup, Isaac Nieto
- Student Mass — Sunday 6:00 PM and Wednesday 8:00 PM
- Bible studies — led by FOCUS missionaries
- Mission trips (Catholic Worker House Chicago, Appalachia KY, Habitat for Humanity AL)
- Annual student retreat with $20 registration fee
- Located in the heart of the UWSP campus, beside the Dreyfus University Center
Social Justice & Outreach
Continuing the strong social-justice tradition of both predecessor parishes, Holy Spirit maintains an active Social Justice Ministry directed by Jennifer Reinert and a network of subcommittees and partner ministries. These groups feed the hungry, advocate for the marginalized, and sustain an international mission presence in Haiti.
- Director — Jennifer Reinert
- Chairs — Brian Formella
- Eco-Justice Subcommittee — Susan Zach
- Racial Justice Subcommittee — John and Patty Noel
- Franciscan Downtown — Deacon Bill
- Matthew 25 ministry — Patricia Boylan
- SPASH Breakfast Program — Marilyn Slusarski
- Haiti Mission Team — Deacon Rick Letto, [email protected], 715-592-1798
Family Life & Pastoral Care
Family Life Ministry, chaired by Deacon Bill, oversees the parish's many supportive, life-giving ministries — from welcoming newcomers and supporting grieving families to feeding parents of newborns and visiting the homebound and those in nursing facilities.
- Chair — Deacon Bill, [email protected], 715-209-4875
- Spirit Fest coordinators — Kim Angell and Nicole Smith
- New Parishioner Mentor Ministry — Mary Grace Keene
- Spirit Socials — Sherry Boyce
- Funeral Hospitality — Mary Case
- Grief Support Group — Dave Baker and Harry Magee
- Arimatheans (funeral/grief support) — Judy Splinter
- Stephen Ministry — Sherry Boyce and Bonnie Grubba
- Nursing Home Ministry — Cecilia Campbell
- Home Eucharist Ministry — Bonnie Grubba
- First Baby Baskets & New Parent Meals — Lea Ann Baker
- Parish Prayer Chain — Lottie Wysocki and Marian Scheider
- Scouting (Cub and Troop 298) — Kevin Konopacky, Brian Sackmann, Ben Altman
Sacred Worship & Liturgical Ministries
The Sacred Worship Committee coordinates every aspect of parish liturgy — from extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion and ushers to servers, lectors, sacristans, cleaners, and the parish choir. Father Steve Brice leads seasonal liturgy planning, and a dedicated trainer team prepares new ministers for their roles.
- Chair — Guy Gehrman, [email protected], 715-341-9156
- Eucharistic Ministers — Karen Gilman
- Ushers — Christine Neidlein and Bob Konkol
- Servers — Tom Mrozinski
- Readers — Michele Miller
- Sacristans — Tom Karlen
- Choir — Sharon Maes
- Linen Ministry — Tom Karlen
- Funeral Minister — Cecelia Campbell
- Church Cleaners — Db Jadack
- Seasonal Liturgy Planning — Father Steve Brice
The Ministry Center & Facilities
Dedicated on March 8, 2020, by Bishop William Patrick Callahan, the Holy Spirit Parish Ministry Center was built on the site of the former St. Stanislaus Kostka convent and is the first phase of the parish's master building campaign. It is the hub for funerals, weddings, faith formation, fellowship events, and campus ministry.
- Centerpiece — 'Tree of Life' stained-glass piece relocated from the former Newman University Parish
- Houses Arimatheans, Holy Family Ministries, Holy Name Society, PCCW, Cub and Scout Troop 298, Thrive Mom's Group
- Home of Point Catholic (UWSP and Mid-State Technical College campus ministry)
- Featured in building campaign 'Building Upon a Firm Foundation'
- Confessional accessed via the Ministry Center doors
Leadership & Pastoral Council
Holy Spirit Parish is pastorally led by Father Steve Brice and supported by deacons, parish staff, council members, and dozens of lay ministry coordinators. The Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Building & Grounds, Technology, and Stewardship committees guide the temporal and spiritual life of the parish.
- Pastor — Father Steve Brice
- Deacons — Deacon Bill (Family Life chair), Deacon Rick Letto (Haiti Mission Team), Deacon Todd Mlsna
- Pastoral Council — Father Steve, LeaAnn Baker (Secretary: Susan Malnory), Steve Bergin, Guy Gehrman, Brian Formella, Kurt Mansavage, Greta Moldik, Brian Peters, Sandy Retzki, Dave Rosenthal, Vern Schroth, Jerry & Kathryn Spoerl
- Finance Council Chairs — Vern Schroth and Justin Moroder
- Building & Grounds — chair (Shared Member Role)
- Technology Committee — Paul Peterson
- Stewardship Committee — chaired by Father Steve
Stewardship, Giving & Getting Involved
Parishioners are encouraged to share their time, talent, and treasure through the parish's many ministries, and online giving is available through the parish website and Diocese of La Crosse parish portal.
- Online giving available via the Diocese of La Crosse parish portal (diolc.org/parish/holy-spirit-stevens-point/)
- Annual parish picnic (tradition begun summer 1918)
- Spirit Fest festival coordinated by Kim Angell and Nicole Smith
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Anton Malkowski1916–
First pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish; began construction of the present church completed in 1918.
- Father Francis Piekarski
Led the 1963 post-Vatican II sanctuary remodeling of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church.
- Father James Lovejoy1970–
Co-pastor of the new Newman University Parish (along with Fathers Brockman and Jablonske).
- Father Vaughn Brockman1970–
Co-pastor of Newman University Parish at its founding.
- Father Bill Jablonske1970–
Co-pastor of Newman University Parish at its founding.
- Father Donald Przybylski1986–
Led the 'Share Because We Care' $600,000 renovation; concelebrated the 2020 Ministry Center dedication as a former pastor.
- Father George Thayilkuzhithotti, MSFSaround 2012
Created the committee that first explored a parish-center addition; transferred to Sacred Heart-St. Patrick Parish, Eau Claire, before it could be built.
- Father Tom Lindner
Former pastor who oversaw much of the building-campaign planning; concelebrated the 2020 Ministry Center dedication.
- Father Steve Brice
Current pastor of Holy Spirit Parish; led the parish to completion and dedication of the Ministry Center on March 8, 2020.