About Our Lady of the Lake · Mauston, Wisconsin
Our Lady of the Lake is a Roman Catholic parish serving the Mauston, Wisconsin area — specifically the Castle Rock Lake region of Juneau County — within the Diocese of La Crosse. It is pastorally linked with St. Francis of Assisi Parish in nearby Necedah, sharing the same pastor (Rev. Wesley Janowski) and a combined parish office. The parish offers one Sunday Mass each week (7:30 AM, in English) and shares in the joint sacramental and faith-formation programs of the two-parish community, which together comprise over 200 families. Its name honors the Blessed Virgin Mary, often venerated under Marian titles associated with water and lakeside shrines.
- Patron
- Our Lady (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Wesley Janowski
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse (Deanery: Tomah)
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Lake offers a small, welcoming Sunday Mass community in the Castle Rock Lake / Mauston area, ideal for lake-region residents and visitors seeking a quiet, traditional Catholic worship experience. As part of a combined parish with St. Francis of Assisi in Necedah, members have access to a full sacramental and formation program — including weekday Masses, a Polish Mass, a Latin Mass, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), CCD/Religious Education for grades K-10, and Marian catechesis — while still worshiping at a smaller, intimate weekend venue.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Lake
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM (before 7:30 AM Mass at Our Lady of the Lake)
About Our Lady of the Lake Parish
Our Lady of the Lake is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of La Crosse, physically located at 6865 Evergreen Street in Mauston, Wisconsin, and serving the Castle Rock Lake region of Juneau County. The parish is pastorally united with St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Necedah — together they form a single combined faith community under the leadership of one pastor, sharing office staff, faith-formation programs, and sacramental ministry. The Diocese of La Crosse lists Our Lady of the Lake in the Tomah Deanery.
- Physical Address: 6865 Evergreen St, Mauston, WI 53948
- Mailing Address: 2001 S Main St, Necedah, WI 54646-8273
- Diocese: La Crosse (Deanery: Tomah)
- Pastor: Rev. Wesley Janowski
- Combined parish: 200+ families
Pastoral Staff & Religious Education Office
The combined parish is led by Pastor Rev. Wesley Janowski and supported by a team that includes two deacons and a family of lay catechetical leaders. Together they oversee OCIA, Religious Education (CCD), Confirmation prep, and Prison Ministry across both worship sites.
- Rev. Wesley Janowski — Pastor
- Deacon Glen Heinzl — OCIA / Prison Ministry
- Deacon Paul Arbanas — DRE / OCIA
- Therese McNally — CRE / CCD Coordinator
- Matthew McNally — Marian Catechist Coordinator / OCIA
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education is offered for children in grades K through 10, with classes meeting both on Sundays and Wednesdays. Sacramental preparation for First Penance and First Communion begins in Grades 1-2, and Confirmation preparation takes place in Grades 9-10. The parish also offers OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those discerning entry into the Catholic Church.
- Grades K-6: Sunday classes (Sept-May)
- Grades 7-10: Wednesday evenings, 7:00–8:30 PM
- First Communion & Penance prep: Grades 1-2
- Confirmation prep: Grades 9-10
- OCIA (Becoming Catholic) — adults and children
- Safe Environment parent meetings (required annually)
Marian Catechist Apostolate
Matthew McNally serves as the Marian Catechist Coordinator for the combined parish, supporting OCIA and parish formation with a Marian-centered catechetical approach rooted in the spirituality of the Diocese of La Crosse.
- Coordinator: Matthew McNally
- Tied to OCIA and faith formation
Special Devotions & Holy Hours
The combined parish schedules holy hours and devotions around the Church year, including a Holy Hour on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart (featuring exposition, Gospel reflection, and Benediction) and devotions during June, the Month of the Sacred Heart. Events are listed on the parish homepage's Upcoming Events section.
- Holy Hour on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart — Exposition, reflection, Benediction
- June — Month of the Sacred Heart devotions
- Upcoming events published on saintfrancisnecedah.org
Sacraments
The combined parish prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments. Sacramental prep for children is integrated with the Religious Education program. Adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or reception into the Catholic Church participate in OCIA. Couples preparing for Marriage and families needing Anointing of the Sick are encouraged to contact the parish office directly.
- Baptism (with required preparation)
- First Communion (Grades 1-2 prep)
- Confirmation (Grades 9-10 prep)
- Penance / Reconciliation (before Mass; Sat. 3-4:15 PM at Necedah)
- Marriage — contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
Outreach: Prison Ministry
Deacon Glen Heinzl coordinates Prison Ministry for the combined parish, bringing Catholic presence and pastoral care to the incarcerated in the region — a distinct ministry within the parish's outreach work.
- Led by Deacon Glen Heinzl
- Pastoral care for the incarcerated
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the combined parish office by phone, fax, or email. Office staff serve both Our Lady of the Lake and St. Francis of Assisi from the Necedah location. Directions to the Mauston worship site are available via the parish website.
- Phone: (608) 565-2488
- Fax: (608) 565-6722
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 6865 Evergreen St, Mauston, WI 53948 (Our Lady of the Lake)
- Mailing: 2001 S Main St, Necedah, WI 54646