About Immaculate Conception · Florence, Wisconsin
Immaculate Conception Parish, also known locally as St. Mary's Catholic Church, is a small Roman Catholic parish serving Florence, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of Green Bay. Located at 308 Florence Avenue, the parish is administered by Father Soja Joseph as part of a three-church cluster that also includes St. Stanislaus Kostka in Armstrong Creek and St. Joan of Arc in Goodman. With a weekend Saturday-evening and Sunday-morning Mass schedule, weekday Masses on Tuesday and Friday, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a thriving Religious Education program for grades 1–12, Immaculate Conception offers the liturgical, sacramental, and pastoral life of a Catholic parish to the people of Florence County in Wisconsin's far north.
- Established
- 1881
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Father Soja Joseph (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception / St. Mary's offers the full round of Catholic sacramental and devotional life in a small, accessible northern Wisconsin setting: weekend Mass on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, weekday Mass on Tuesday and Friday, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays, and Confession half an hour before every Mass. A robust Religious Education program serves students from 1st through 12th grade on Wednesdays, while active parish ministries — St. Vincent de Paul, a sister-parish Human Dignity Mission in Kingston, Jamaica, Prayer Shawl, Visiting Angels for the homebound, funeral luncheons, and a Faith Formation Coordinator on staff — give parishioners many ways to serve. The parish is also closely linked with two neighboring mission churches in Armstrong Creek and Goodman, sharing one pastor across the cluster.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each Mass (Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Friday)
- By appointment: (715) 891-1560 (as listed by the Diocese of Green Bay)
Adoration times
- Thursdays from 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm (Eucharistic Adoration)
- Second Thursday of every month: extended Adoration from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
About Immaculate Conception / St. Mary's
Immaculate Conception Parish, also known as St. Mary's Catholic Church, is the Catholic parish serving Florence, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of Green Bay. The parish is administered by Father Soja Joseph as part of a cluster with St. Stanislaus Kostka in Armstrong Creek and St. Joan of Arc in Goodman. Parishioners and visitors are welcomed at 308 Florence Avenue, with the parish office open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm.
- 308 Florence Ave., P.O. Box 166, Florence, WI 54121
- [email protected]
- (715) 528-3310
- Diocese of Green Bay
- Clustered with St. Stanislaus Kostka (Armstrong Creek) and St. Joan of Arc (Goodman)
Parish History
The parish was organized in 1881 amid the iron-mining boom in Florence County. Father John N. Brady began monthly visits from Marinette in 1880; his brother Father George W. Brady, appointed by Bishop Krautbauer of Green Bay, organized the congregation in October 1881 and began building the first church on land donated by the Menominee Mining Company. Father John Seubert served as the first resident pastor (1882–1883) and saw the $3,600 church and rectory completed, followed by Father E.E. Leccia (1883–1899). The present church replaced an earlier stone building and was dedicated on January 22, 1977.
- 1880 — Father John N. Brady begins monthly visits; land donated by Menominee Mining Company
- 1881 — Father George W. Brady organizes Immaculate Conception Parish (meetings Oct. 9 & Nov. 13, 1881)
- 1882–1883 — First church and rectory built under first resident pastor Father John Seubert
- 1883–1899 — Father E.E. Leccia serves as pastor
- January 22, 1977 — Present church dedicated, replacing the earlier stone church
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education is offered for students in grades 1 through 12, with separate elementary/middle-school and high-school sessions on Wednesdays. Carolyn M. Lemanski serves as the Faith Formation Coordinator. The RE program assists parents — recognized as the primary catechists of their children — and prepares students for First Communion, Confirmation, and ongoing discipleship.
- Grades 1–8 — Wednesdays, 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
- Grades 9–12 — Wednesdays, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Faith Formation Coordinator — Carolyn M. Lemanski ([email protected])
- First Communion Rehearsal/Retreat and celebration scheduled annually
- Confirmation typically celebrated in Marinette with the diocese
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (Pre-K through Grade 2) during Sunday Mass
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by a Parish Administrator (Father Soja Joseph) who shepherds the Florence–Armstrong Creek–Goodman cluster, supported by parish staff, trustees, and two councils.
- Parish Administrator — Father Soja Joseph
- Parish Secretary — Jean Fornetti
- Faith Formation Coordinator — Carolyn M. Lemanski
- Secretary Trustee — Kathy Fabry
- Treasurer Trustee — Gail M. Donaldson
- Pastoral Council Chair — Bill DeGroot
- Finance Council Chair — Kathy Jazinski
Ministry & Outreach (Stewardship)
Immaculate Conception publishes an extensive stewardship list inviting parishioners to share their time and talent. Ministries span Christian formation, parish hospitality and outreach, parish life, and liturgical service.
- Christian Formation: RCIA Catechist, Prayer & Learning Team, Catechist (Grades 1–11), Catechist Substitute/Aide, YES! Facilitator, Youth Event Chaperone/Driver, ALPHA Coordinator, Wednesday Evening Meal, Adult Formation Group Coordinator, Grief Support, FOCCUS Marriage Prep Couple, Youth Ministry Events
- Parish Hospitality & Outreach: Hospitality & Outreach Team, Snack Coordinator, Transport to Church, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Visiting Angels (homebound), St. Vincent de Paul Conference, Human Dignity Mission (sister parish in Kingston, Jamaica), Monthly Socials/Breakfasts, Special Events, Funeral Luncheons, Babysitting
- Parish Life: Funeral Luncheon Team, Cemetery care
- Liturgical: Eucharistic Adoration Anchors, Minister of the Eucharist, Minister of the Altar (Server), Minister of the Word (Lector), Minister of Hospitality (Usher), Florence Health Services (nursing home) Mass setup
Sacraments
Immaculate Conception prepares parishioners for and administers the seven Catholic sacraments, with strong links to its Religious Education and Marriage Preparation programs.
- Baptism — by arrangement through the parish office
- First Communion — preparation through Religious Education
- Confirmation — typically celebrated in Marinette
- Confession — 30 minutes before every Mass and by appointment
- Marriage — FOCCUS assessment and engaged-couple preparation
- Anointing of the Sick / Viaticum — through Visiting Angels ministry and Florence Health Services
Visiting & Getting Involved
The parish welcomes visitors to any weekend Mass and to Thursday Eucharistic Adoration. New volunteers can call the parish office or email [email protected] to learn about stewardship opportunities, ministry sign-ups, the ALPHA course, the monthly breakfasts, or funeral-luncheon service.
- Parish office: (715) 528-3310
- Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm
- Father Soja Joseph's office hours: by appointment
- Email: [email protected]
Safety & Safe Environment
Immaculate Conception follows the Diocese of Green Bay's Safe Environment program to protect children, youth, and individuals at risk across all parish ministries and Faith Formation activities. Catechists and volunteers complete Virtus training as part of their service.
- Diocese of Green Bay Safe Environment — gbdioc.org/ministry-formation-portal/safe-environment.html
- Virtus training required for catechists and adult volunteers
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John N. Brady1880–1881
Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Marinette; began monthly visits to Florence and Commonwealth in summer/fall 1880, offering Mass in Juneau's Hall and McKenna's Hall. Some local accounts credit him with the parish's first Florence Mass in March 1880.
- Father George W. Brady1881–April 1882
Brother of Father John Brady; appointed by Bishop Krautbauer of Green Bay in summer 1881 to organize the congregation. Held organizing meetings in Florence (Oct. 9, 1881) and Commonwealth (Oct. 18, 1881), and began construction of the first church.
- Father John SeubertNovember 1882 – September 1883
First resident pastor; oversaw completion of the first church (built at a cost of $3,600) and the rectory in September 1883.
- Father E.E. LecciaSeptember 1883 – August 1899
Long-serving early pastor; served the parish for sixteen years after the completion of the first church.
- Father Soja Joseph
Current Parish Administrator of Immaculate Conception / St. Mary's Florence, St. Stanislaus Kostka (Armstrong Creek), and St. Joan of Arc (Goodman).