About Immaculate Conception · Kieler, Wisconsin
Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish is a small, family-centered Roman Catholic parish in Kieler, Wisconsin, in the rolling countryside of southwestern Wisconsin's Grant County. The parish shares a pastor with neighboring Holy Ghost Parish in Dickeyville (about two miles away) and together the two parishes run Holy Ghost–Immaculate Conception School, a Catholic grade school with preschool through 8th grade. Today more than 400 families belong to Immaculate Conception, gathering for weekend and weekday Mass in a historic stone church that has anchored the Kieler community since 1869. The parish is well known in the region for its annual 4th of July Picnic, a tradition that has been held every Independence Day on parish grounds since 1955.
- Established
- 1855
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Father Bernard (Bernie) Rott
- Diocese
- Diocese of Madison
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a tight-knit rural parish where more than 400 families are active members and many ministries are led by fellow parishioners rather than outside staff. Newcomers are welcomed by a parish office that will walk you through registration, a pastor who is known and approachable, and a wide range of councils — CCW, Holy Name Society, Cemetery Board, school commissions, and the famous 4th of July Picnic Committee — that make it easy to plug in. Families with children benefit from the shared Holy Ghost–Immaculate Conception Catholic School and the parish's Family Faith Formation program, and the parish sits at the heart of a broader southwest Wisconsin Pastorate with frequent devotions, retreats, and sacramental preparation.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 6:00 PM – 6:50 PM (before the 6:30 PM Vigil Mass)
- Sunday 9:30 AM – 9:50 AM (before the 10:00 AM Mass)
About Immaculate Conception Parish
Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish in Kieler, Wisconsin, is a community of more than 400 families served by Father Bernard (Bernie) Rott, who also pastors nearby Holy Ghost Parish in Dickeyville. The parish is part of the Diocese of Madison and is one of two parishes that together run Holy Ghost–Immaculate Conception Catholic School, the parish's joint parochial school for preschool through 8th grade. The parish's mission is described as 'spreading the Good News of the Gospel and building a faithful community of followers based on the words and deeds of Jesus Christ.'
- Catholic congregation organized in 1855
- Current stone church built beginning in 1869
- Parish Center added in 2006
- More than 400 families registered
- Shared pastorate with Holy Ghost (Dickeyville)
Parish History
The parish traces its roots to 1855, when German Catholic settlers organized a congregation at Kieler. The first Mass in the area was offered in July 1858 by Rev. Ferdinand Zuber, then rector of St. Andrew's in Potosi; in 1867 the parish received its first resident pastor, Rev. Andrew Gstach. The current stone church was begun in 1869, but construction was marked by tragedy when the pastor, Rev. Peter Oeschger, fell to his death from the interior scaffolding while helping with the build. The church was remodeled in 1896 with a new front entrance and towers, and in 1956 the old Kieler school was replaced with a new building whose cornerstone was laid by Bishop William O'Connor. Bishop Robert Morlino blessed the new Parish Center on July 16, 2006.
- 1855 – Catholic congregation organized at Kieler
- July 1858 – First Mass offered by Rev. Ferdinand Zuber
- 1867 – Rev. Andrew Gstach becomes first resident pastor
- 1869 – Current stone church begun; Rev. Peter Oeschger dies in scaffolding accident
- September 1895 – School Sisters of St. Francis take charge of parish school
- 1896 – Church remodeled with new front entrance and towers
- May 1956 – Old Kieler school torn down; new school begun
- August 1956 – Bishop William O'Connor lays new school cornerstone
- July 16, 2006 – Bishop Robert Morlino blesses the new Parish Center
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for Immaculate Conception is coordinated through the shared HG-IC Family Faith Formation program with Holy Ghost Parish. The program covers sacramental preparation (Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation) and ongoing religious education, with registration through the pastorate's Director of Faith Formation, Denise ([email protected]). Catechists are regularly recruited to assist with grade-level classes.
- HG-IC Family Faith Formation (grades K–8)
- First Communion retreat 'The True Vine' at IC Parish Center
- Confirmation preparation through the pastorate
- Totus Tuus Summer Camp, hosted at Immaculate Conception Parish (day camp 4K–6; evening sessions grades 7–12)
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Immaculate Conception offers parishioners a wide range of councils, societies, and committees, many with elected leadership on rotating terms. Together these groups support parish life, the parish school, parish grounds, and the cemetery.
- Immaculate Conception 4th of July Picnic Committee
- Immaculate Conception Council of Catholic Women (CCW)
- Immaculate Conception Holy Name Society
- Immaculate Conception Cemetery Board
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (ages 3–8) at the 10:00 AM Mass
- Holy Ghost–Immaculate Conception Youth Choir
Joint School & Pastorate Committees
Because Immaculate Conception shares both a pastor and a school with Holy Ghost Parish, several committees and boards operate jointly for the two parishes.
- Holy Ghost–Immaculate Conception School Education Commission
- Holy Ghost–Immaculate Conception School Development Committee
- HG-IC Home and School Association
- HG-IC School Booster Club (volleyball and basketball)
- Holy Ghost and Immaculate Conception Auction / Parishes Fun Night Committee
Sacraments
Immaculate Conception offers the full continuum of Catholic sacraments, from Baptism through Anointing of the Sick. Sacramental preparation for First Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation is coordinated through the pastorate's Faith Formation office, and adult parishioners can also be connected with marriage preparation, baptismal preparation, and anointing through the parish office.
- Baptism
- First Communion / Eucharist
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
Holy Ghost–Immaculate Conception Catholic School
Immaculate Conception shares its parish school with Holy Ghost Parish. Holy Ghost–Immaculate Conception School (hgicschool.com) serves preschool through 8th grade, with preschool through 3rd grade housed in the Dickeyville school building and grades 4 through 8 in the Kieler school building. The school is supported by a joint Education Commission, Development Committee, Home and School Association, and Booster Club.
- Preschool – 3rd grade at Dickeyville
- 4th – 8th grade at Kieler
- Joint Education Commission (3 elected members per parish)
- Joint Home and School Association
- Joint Booster Club (volleyball and basketball)
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is served by Father Bernard (Bernie) Rott, who also pastors Holy Ghost Parish in Dickeyville. Father Rott grew up attending Valton Elementary, a one-room schoolhouse, and his hobbies include farming, woodworking, and (in earlier years) slow-pitch softball; he enjoys time in nature, and his favorite prayer is, 'Lord, help me remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that together we can't handle.' The parish office is staffed by administrative assistant Tina Tranel, and three deacons — Bill Bussan, Lee Eggers, and Larry Tranel — assist the broader Pastorate.
- Father Bernard (Bernie) Rott — Pastor
- Tina Tranel — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Deacon Bill Bussan (608-568-3355)
- Deacon Lee Eggers (608-778-8765)
- Deacon Larry Tranel (563-590-7025)
Annual 4th of July Picnic
Since 1955 Immaculate Conception has hosted its annual 4th of July Picnic on parish grounds on Independence Day. Members of the parish are elected to three-year leadership terms and work together with the parish priest to host the daylong festival. The picnic features a chicken dinner served in the school, sandwiches, snacks and treats served outdoors, and games for children of all ages — from Bingo to bounce houses. The 2025 picnic raised a gross total of more than $62,000 for the parish.
- Held annually on July 4 since 1955
- Chicken dinner in the school
- Outdoor sandwiches, snacks, and treats
- Games including Bingo and bounce houses
- Elected leadership on 3-year terms
Immaculate Conception Cemetery
The parish maintains its own cemetery, overseen by the Immaculate Conception Cemetery Board. Four parish volunteers meet on the first Tuesday of each month to supervise, sell, and mark plots, organize the spring cleanup, and manage the cemetery's finances.
- Four-volunteer Cemetery Board
- Meets first Tuesday of each month
- Annual spring cleanup
Visiting & Joining the Parish
Immaculate Conception welcomes new parishioners and visitors. Anyone interested in becoming a registered member of the parish is invited to contact administrative assistant Tina Tranel at [email protected] or by phone at 608-568-7530. The parish office is open Tuesday from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM at 3685 County HHH, Kieler, WI 53812.
- Office: Tuesday 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Phone: 608-568-7530
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 3685 County HHH, PO Box 57, Kieler, WI 53812
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ferdinand Zuber1858
Rector of St. Andrew's, Potosi; offered the first Mass at Kieler in July 1858.
- Rev. Andrew Gstach1867
First resident pastor of the parish.
- Rev. Peter Oeschger1869
Died after falling from the interior scaffolding while helping build the current stone church.