About Sacred Heart of Jesus · Mondovi, Wisconsin
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish is a Catholic community located in the small city of Mondovi, in western Wisconsin (Buffalo County), drawing families from Mondovi, Gilmanton, Eleva and the surrounding countryside. It is one of three parishes in the Tri-Parish grouping — alongside St. Mary's Assumption in Durand and Most Holy Rosary in Lima — that has been served by a single pastor since 2000. The parish belongs to the Diocese of La Crosse and is known for its active Parish Council of Catholic Women, a youth group, a Knights of Columbus council, and beloved annual events such as Ladies Night Out, the Spaghetti Dinner, and the Father's Day Chicken Dinner.
- Established
- 1896
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Father Emmanuel Asamoah-Bekoe
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse
Why belong here
Sacred Heart of Jesus is a small but lively rural parish with deep roots in the Mondovi community since 1896, where families from Mondovi, Gilmanton, Eleva and surrounding farms worship together each Sunday. It offers active lay life — a Parish Council of Catholic Women, a Youth Group, a Knights of Columbus council that hosts a Father's Day Chicken Dinner, and beloved traditions like the Ladies Night Out, the Spaghetti Dinner, and St. Joseph's Table. As part of the Tri-Parish with St. Mary's Assumption (Durand) and Holy Rosary (Lima), it also shares in faith formation, youth ministry, and Assumption Catholic School, so there are real ways for every age to get involved.
Mass times at Sacred Heart of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Half hour before each weekend Mass
- Mondays 6:00 PM at St. Mary's, Durand
- During 24-Hour Eucharistic Adoration (typically offered at noon and 6:30 PM)
- By appointment through the Central Office (715-672-5640)
Adoration times
- 24-Hour Eucharistic Adoration at St. Mary's, Durand on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Thursday–Friday of each month, beginning after the 8:30 AM Mass on Thursday and ending with the 8:30 AM Mass on Friday
About Sacred Heart
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus parish is located in the town of Mondovi, WI, and is made up of residents of Mondovi, Gilmanton, Eleva and surrounding communities, with young and old families alike. The parish has an active Parish Council of Catholic Women and Youth Group, and hosts popular events throughout the year — the annual Ladies Night Out, the Spaghetti Dinner, St. Joseph's Table, and the Knights of Columbus Father's Day Chicken Dinner. As part of the Tri-Parish grouping, Sacred Heart shares its pastor, staff, faith formation, and youth ministry with St. Mary's Assumption in Durand and Most Holy Rosary in Lima.
- Active PCCW (Parish Council of Catholic Women)
- Youth Group
- Local Knights of Columbus council
- Annual Ladies Night Out, Spaghetti Dinner, St. Joseph's Table
- Father's Day Chicken Dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus
History & Heritage
The parish traces its roots to 1881, when Catholics in the area worshipped in private homes and at St. Patrick's, a mission church built in 1871 about five miles west of Mondovi. In 1896 Father Edward P. O'Toole came from West Superior to build a new church on an acre donated by Jacob Canar; Bishop Schwebach dedicated it on December 17, 1896. The present colonial-style church was begun in 1951, with groundbreaking August 8, 1954 and dedication by Bishop Treacy on May 22, 1955. A parochial school opened in 1911 under Father A.J. Hovorka, run by the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration; it peaked at over 100 students in the 1950s–60s before closing in 2000. The parish marked its Golden Jubilee on August 17, 1947. In 2000 it joined St. Mary's Assumption and Holy Rosary as a Tri-Parish. This history was originally compiled by Kathy Herfel for the Diocese of La Crosse's 150th anniversary book 'Feed My Lambs'.
- 1881–1896: worship in private homes and at St. Patrick's mission
- 1896: first church built, dedicated Dec. 17 by Bishop Schwebach
- 1911: parochial school built under Fr. A.J. Hovorka; Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration staffed it
- 1947: Golden Jubilee celebrated Aug. 17 with Pontifical Mass and Bishop Treacy
- 1951: school reopened; peak enrollment of 100+ students in 1950s–60s
- 1954–55: present church built and dedicated May 22, 1955 by Bishop Treacy (~$125,000)
- 1972: rectory built by the men of the parish
- 1977: school reduced to grades 1–6 under Fr. Bernard Raschke
- 1989: Kindergarten added under Fr. William Blazcewicz
- 2000: school closes; building becomes faith formation space; parish joins Tri-Parish
- Cemetery lies east of Mondovi on Highway 10 (Sacred Heart Cemetery Association)
Architecture & Church Building
The current church is a colonial-style building constructed at a cost of about $125,000, with seating for about 450. Groundbreaking was held August 8, 1954, the cornerstone was laid October 17, 1954, and the first Mass was celebrated on May 15, 1955, before Bishop Treacy formally dedicated the building on Sunday, May 22, 1955. Many of the furnishings were gifts from parish organizations: the new organ was purchased by the Catholic Youth Organization and the school children; the baptismal font was furnished by the school children; and the altar was purchased by the Altar and Rosary Society of the parish.
- Colonial-style architecture
- Seating for approximately 450
- Organ gifted by the Catholic Youth Organization and school children
- Baptismal font furnished by the school children
- Altar donated by the Altar and Rosary Society
Parish Staff & Clergy
Sacred Heart is currently served by Father Emmanuel Asamoah-Bekoe as Pastor and Father John Zweber as Associate Pastor, along with Deacons Edward Wendt (Deacon Ed) and James Weingart. The lay staff includes Susan Wolf as Business Manager, Diane Wood as Secretary, Isaac Sanders as Parish Director of Youth Ministry and Evangelization, and Deacon Ed as Parish Director of Religious Education and Evangelization. The parish also references a Bulletin Editor on staff.
- Father Emmanuel Asamoah-Bekoe — Pastor
- Father John Zweber — Associate Pastor
- Deacon Edward Wendt (Deacon Ed) — DRE & Evangelization
- Deacon James Weingart
- Susan Wolf — Business Manager
- Diane Wood — Secretary
- Isaac Sanders — Director of Youth Ministry & Evangelization
- Bulletin Editor
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for the Tri-Parish is led by Deacon Edward 'Ed' Wendt, the Parish Director of Religious Education and Evangelization. Children typically prepare for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion in second grade, and youth begin Confirmation preparation as high-school freshmen and are confirmed in the fall of their junior year. The RE Office is reachable at 715-672-4668 ext. 1 or [email protected]. Registration forms for 2025–2026 are available on the parish website.
- First Reconciliation: second grade
- First Holy Communion: second grade
- Confirmation: freshman-year prep; confirmed fall of junior year
- Office hours at Sacred Heart, Mondovi: by appointment Mondays and Thursdays 10 AM–1 PM
- Registration: [email protected]
Youth Ministry
Tri-Parish Youth Ministry, led by Isaac Sanders ([email protected], 715-672-4668 ext. 2), draws on the words of St. Teresa of Kolkata: 'Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.' The ministry seeks to help young people encounter God's love through prayer, the Sacraments, and fellowship, then carry that love into daily life.
- Director: Isaac Sanders
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 715-672-4668 ext. 2
- Quote from St. Teresa of Kolkata as ministry motto
Schools
The Tri-Parish is served by Assumption Catholic School in Durand, which educates children from preschool through Grade 8. The original Sacred Heart parish school (built 1911, reopened 1951) closed in 2000, and its building now serves faith formation and other parish needs.
- Assumption Catholic School, Durand
- Preschool through Grade 8
- Former Sacred Heart school building now used for faith formation
Ministries & Organizations
Parishioners can serve as liturgical ministers (ushers, altar servers, sacristans, Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers, lectors), join one of the Tri-Parish Choirs (led by Belinda Poeschel), bring Communion to the homebound, or participate in the Parish Prayer Chain (Sacred Heart contact: Bernice Fedie, 715-926-3357). Sacred Heart also has an active Parish Council of Catholic Women, a Youth Group, and a Knights of Columbus council that is heavily involved in parish life.
- Liturgical Ministries: Usher, Altar Server, Sacristan, Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister, Lector
- Tri-Parish Choirs (contact Belinda Poeschel)
- Ministry to the Homebound
- Parish Prayer Chain
- Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) — Sacred Heart
- Youth Group
- Knights of Columbus
Sacraments
Information about all sacraments is coordinated through the Central Office. Children receive First Reconciliation in second grade, First Holy Communion in second grade, and Confirmation after multi-year preparation in high school (begun freshman year, conferred fall of junior year). Couples preparing for marriage and families seeking Baptism should contact the Central Office at 715-672-5640.
- Baptism — contact Central Office
- First Reconciliation (2nd grade)
- First Holy Communion (2nd grade)
- Confirmation (high school, fall of junior year)
- Marriage — contact Central Office
Contact & Visiting
The Tri-Parish Central Office can be reached at 715-672-5640 or [email protected]. The mailing address is P.O. Box 188, Durand, WI 54736, while the church's physical address is 453 W Hudson St, Mondovi, WI 54755. The Faith Formation / Youth Ministry Office has its own line at 715-672-4668 (Deacon Ed ext. 1; Youth Ministry ext. 2). Office hours at Sacred Heart in Mondovi are by appointment, typically Mondays and Thursdays from 10 AM to 1 PM, and can be scheduled as little as 30 minutes ahead.
- Phone (Central Office): 715-672-5640
- Faith Formation: 715-672-4668 ext. 1
- Youth Ministry: 715-672-4668 ext. 2
- Email: [email protected]
- Physical: 453 W Hudson St, Mondovi, WI 54755
- Mailing: P.O. Box 188, Durand, WI 54736
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Edward P. O'Toole1896 (founding)
Came from West Superior to build the first church in Mondovi.
- Father A.J. Hovorka1911 (school built)
Constructed the parochial school during his tenure.
- Father Bernard Raschke1977 (school reduced)
Reduced the school to grades 1-6.
- Father William Blazcewicz1989 (kindergarten added)
Added Kindergarten to the parish school.
- Father Jeffery Burrill2000–2009
First pastor of the Tri-Parish grouping (St. Mary's Assumption, Holy Rosary Lima, Sacred Heart Mondovi).
- Father Emmanuel Asamoah-BekoeCurrent
Current pastor of the Tri-Parish.