About Our Lady of Lourdes · Rice Lake, Wisconsin
Our Lady of Lourdes is a historic Roman Catholic parish in the unincorporated town of Dobie, just northeast of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, and part of the Diocese of Superior. It was the first Catholic church established in Barron County, with roots going back to a Mass said in 1869 in a settler's cabin, and its current stone church was dedicated in 1904 by Bishop James Schwebach of La Crosse. Built from red quartzite hauled by parishioner sleighs from the Blue Hills, the church was added to the Wisconsin Historical Society's register of historic places in 2001. Since 2014, the parish has shared clergy and administration with three neighboring parishes under the 'Four Parishes One Faith' cluster, headquartered in downtown Rice Lake.
- Established
- 1875
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Rector
- Rev. Ed Anderson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Superior
Why belong here
Our Lady of Lourdes offers small-parish warmth with deep historical roots: weekend Mass is described by the parish itself as 'a time of joy, reunion, and celebration with many families young and old,' and the church has been a site of perpetual Eucharistic adoration since 2000. Members worship in a 1904 stone church listed on the Wisconsin Historical Society's register, share faith formation and administration with three neighboring parishes under the Four Parishes One Faith cluster, and belong to a community founded by French-Canadian, Irish, German, Swiss, and Czech immigrant families whose descendants still fill the pews.
Mass times at Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday after Mass
- Saturday morning after Mass
Adoration times
- Perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament since 2000 (chapel within the church)
Church History
Catholic life in the Dobie area began in 1869 with a Mass said by Fr. Nacli in the cabin of George Roberge and the marking out of a 40-by-70-foot log church by missionary Fr. George Keller. Fr. Joseph Dole became the first resident pastor in 1876; a school staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame opened September 28, 1881 (closed 1970); and the congregation was incorporated in 1883 as St. Mary of Lourdes, Stanfold. A fire destroyed the first church on March 19, 1895, claiming the life of Fr. Dole fifteen days later. In 1902 parishioners voted 56-to-1 to build a new stone church, hauling 2,613 tons of red quartzite from the Blue Hills the following winter. Bishop James Schwebach of La Crosse dedicated the finished church on November 17, 1904.
- First Mass: 1869 in George Roberge's cabin
- First pastor: Fr. Joseph Dole (1876)
- Parish incorporated 1883 as St. Mary of Lourdes, Stanfold
- Name changed to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Congregation, Dobie, 1955
- School opened Sept. 28, 1881; closed spring 1970 (staffed by School Sisters of Notre Dame until 1968)
- Church fire March 19, 1895; Fr. Dole died April 3, 1895
- Current stone church dedicated Nov. 17, 1904 by Bishop James Schwebach
The Stone Church (1904)
The present church measures 105 by 41 feet and is constructed of locally quarried red quartzite hand-shaped by parishioners under the foremanship of Joseph Brunette and the masonry of Ed Komas. During a major 1979-80s renovation, a foyer linking the rectory and church was added, the old confessional was converted into a shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, and the sacristy became a Eucharistic chapel; a new stone altar and baptismal font were built from stone on the Joseph Willger farm at a total cost of $130,000. In 2001 the building was added to the Wisconsin Historical Society's register of historic places.
- Approx. 2,600 tons of red quartzite stone from the Blue Hills
- Altar relics: Saints Bonora, Clarus and Athanasius
- Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes (former confessional)
- Eucharistic chapel (former sacristy, renovation 1979-)
- On Wisconsin Historical Society's register since 2001
Renovations and Additions
Multiple campaigns have kept the historic structure in use: the 1979 renovation, a 1981 addition (dedicated by Abbot Sylvester Michael Killeen, O. Praem., a son of the parish) and the grotto built by the youth group that same year under Jim and Marybell Lenz; a 1999 parishioner-built garage; and a 2000 basement renovation with a new elevator in the foyer.
- 1979-80s major renovation — altar, baptismal font, shrine, Eucharistic chapel, restored pews and stained glass ($130,000)
- 1981 addition dedicated by Abbot Sylvester Michael Killeen, O. Praem.
- 1981 grotto built by the youth group
- 1999 new parish garage
- 2000 basement renovation and foyer elevator
Four Parishes One Faith (Cluster)
In July 2014, Our Lady of Lourdes was grouped with Holy Trinity (Haugen), St. John the Evangelist (Birchwood) and St. Joseph (Rice Lake) into a single family of parishes called 'Four Parishes One Faith.' The cluster shares clergy, religious-education staff, and a single administration office at 111 West Marshall Street, Rice Lake (open Monday-Thursday 8:30 am-5:00 pm, Friday 8:30 am-12:00 noon).
- Cluster parishes: Our Lady of Lourdes (Dobie), St. Joseph (Rice Lake), Holy Trinity (Haugen), St. John the Evangelist (Birchwood)
- Cluster formed July 2014
- Cluster office: 111 W. Marshall St., Rice Lake, WI 54868 — (715) 234-2032
Parish Staff
The Four Parishes One Faith cluster staff is shared across all four parishes. At Our Lady of Lourdes, the pastor is Rev. Ed Anderson, with Rev. Adam Laski serving as associate pastor, Rev. Dennis Mullen as priest in residence, and Deacon Dennis Geisler assisting.
- Rev. Ed Anderson — Pastor
- Rev. Adam Laski — Associate Pastor
- Rev. Dennis Mullen — Priest in Residence
- Deacon Dennis Geisler
- Cluster Receptionist: Shannon Wahl
- Bulletin editor: Eileen Nimm
Diocese and Parish Mission
Our Lady of Lourdes belongs to the Diocese of Superior and is listed on the diocesan directory at catholicdos.org. The parish's published mission statement reads: 'We, Our Lady of Lourdes – Dobie, rooted in Barron County, Wisconsin since 1875, recommit ourselves in service to God and neighbor by integrating the Gospel into our daily lives. We pledge to welcome, educate and empower our community to become spiritually alive as we worship, praise and bear witness to God ever present with us.'
- Diocese of Superior
- Parish mission statement as published by the parish
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Dole1876-1895
First resident pastor; built the altars in the first log church and the first rectory (1878). Died of smoke inhalation on April 3, 1895 after the 1895 church fire, while trying to save the Blessed Sacrament; buried in the parish cemetery.