About Sacred Heart of Jesus · Wauzeka, Wisconsin
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish is a small Catholic parish in the village of Wauzeka, in southern Crawford County, Wisconsin, served as part of a two-parish Catholic community alongside St. Wenceslaus in Eastman. Founded in 1879 and first used for Mass in February 1881, the parish belongs to the Diocese of La Crosse (Prairie du Chien Deanery) and is currently pastored by Father Chinnappan Pelavendran (Fr. Chinna). The parish gathers Sunday mornings for Mass, observes Friday Mass, and offers First Friday Adoration, with a Catholic identity rooted in Eucharistic devotion and a tradition of warm rural hospitality that goes back more than 140 years.
- Established
- 1881
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Father Chinnappan Pelavendran (Fr. Chinna)
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse
Why belong here
Sacred Heart of Jesus is a small, faith-filled Catholic parish where visitors and longtime parishioners alike are greeted with genuine Christian hospitality. The community gathers faithfully for Sunday Mass and weekday devotions centered on the Eucharist and the sacraments, with opportunities for adoration on First Fridays. Because it shares pastoral staff and ministry with neighboring St. Wenceslaus in Eastman, the parish offers the warmth of a close-knit rural Catholic community along with a full schedule of Masses, confessions, and rosary across both church sites.
Mass times at Sacred Heart of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:45 am
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday (followed by 9:30 am Mass)
About Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish is a Catholic parish in Wauzeka, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of La Crosse (Prairie du Chien Deanery). It is twinned with St. Wenceslaus Parish in Eastman, sharing the same pastor — Father Chinnappan Pelavendran (Fr. Chinna) — and the same parish office (608-874-4151). The parish describes itself as "a faith-filled Catholic parish where every individual is received with genuine Christian hospitality, embodying the love of Christ for all," with Sunday Mass as the heart of parish life.
- Diocese: La Crosse
- Deanery: Prairie du Chien
- Mailing address: PO Box 237, Wauzeka, WI 53826-0237
- Office email: [email protected]
History of the Parish
Founded in 1879 after Bishop Kilian Flasch gave permission for a new church in Wauzeka, Sacred Heart held its first Mass on February 6, 1881. The parish was served for more than forty years by Jesuit priests, then by diocesan priests, with the first resident pastor taking up residence in 1946. The church's interior was remodeled in 1939 into the Colonial style, renovated again in 1974, and the Cor Jesu Parish Center was added in 2003.
- 1879 — Bishop Flasch approves the request to build a church in Wauzeka.
- Feb. 6, 1881 — First Mass celebrated by Fr. John Jutz, S.J.
- Sept. 25, 1882 — Bishop Flasch dedicates the church and confirms sixty young people.
- Late 1930s — Remodeling of altar, Gothic windows, and Roman arch into the Colonial style under Fr. Edmund Bettinger.
- 1946 — Rectory built and Fr. John Agnew installed as first resident pastor.
- 1974 — Further renovations, including removing the choir loft.
- 2003 — Cor Jesu Parish Center completed.
- 2018 — Final parish Smorgasbord held on the fourth Sunday of October.
Parish Priests & Pastoral Lineage
Sacred Heart has been served by a long succession of pastors, beginning with the Jesuits from Campion College and St. Wenceslaus who celebrated Mass in the parish until 1923. Diocesan priests followed, with Fr. John Agnew becoming the first resident pastor in 1946.
- Fr. John Jutz, S.J. — celebrated the first Mass (1881); first of 15+ Jesuits through 1923.
- Fr. Edmund Bettinger — led the 1939 remodeling.
- Fr. John Agnew — first resident pastor (1946).
- Fr. Connelly, Fr. Zoll, Fr. Cassidy — subsequent pastors.
- Fr. Gerum — implemented Vatican II changes.
- Fr. Grassl — oversaw a second church renovation.
- Father Chinnappan Pelavendran (Fr. Chinna) — current pastor, shared with St. Wenceslaus.
Devotions & Prayer Life
Devotional life at Sacred Heart centers on the Eucharist, with weekly Sunday and Friday Masses supplemented by First Friday Adoration. The Rosary is prayed each Sunday at 7:40 am, just before the 8:00 am Mass.
- Sunday Rosary — 7:40 am
- First Friday Adoration — followed by 9:30 am Mass
- Daily church open hours — 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
The Two-Parish Catholic Community
Sacred Heart of Jesus in Wauzeka shares its pastor, parish office, and ministry with St. Wenceslaus Parish in nearby Eastman, Wisconsin. Together they form one Catholic community covering southern Crawford County, with shared Mass and confession times spanning both church sites.
- Sacred Heart — 711 E Main St, Wauzeka, WI 53826 (608-874-4151)
- St. Wenceslaus — 57975 Baer Ct, Eastman, WI 54626 (608-874-4151)
- Shared office line: 608-874-4151
- Combined schedule includes Saturday vigil, two Sunday Masses, weekday Masses, and weekly confession times
Buildings & Campus
The original 1881 church building was expanded with a bell tower and sacristy in the decades after construction, then remodeled in the Colonial style in 1939. A rectory was added in 1946 for the first resident pastor, the choir loft was removed in 1974, and in 2003 the parish completed the Cor Jesu Parish Center, which continues to serve as a gathering and ministry space.
- Original church — built 1879–1881
- Bell tower & sacristy — added in the years after construction
- Rectory — built 1946 for the first resident pastor
- Cor Jesu Parish Center — completed 2003
Visiting & Contact
The parish welcomes newcomers, visitors, and returning Catholics. The church at 711 E Main St in Wauzeka is open daily from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm for personal prayer and visits. Inquiries about Mass intentions, sacraments, or joining the parish can be directed to the parish office.
- Address: 711 E Main St, PO Box 237, Wauzeka, WI 53826-0237
- Phone: 608-874-4151
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: sacredheart-stwenceslaus.org
- Diocesan listing: diolc.org/parish/sacred-heart-of-jesus-wauzeka/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Jutz, S.J.1881–1923
Celebrated the first Mass on February 6, 1881; the first of more than fifteen Jesuits who pastored the parish until 1923.
- Fr. Edmund Bettinger
Oversaw the 1939 remodeling of the church (altar, Gothic windows, Roman arch redone in Colonial style).
- Fr. John Agnew1946
First resident pastor; a rectory was built in 1946 to house him.
- Fr. Connelly
Subsequent pastor after Fr. Agnew.
- Fr. Zoll
Subsequent pastor.
- Fr. Cassidy
Subsequent pastor.
- Fr. Gerum
Initiated changes that coincided with those determined by Vatican II.
- Fr. Grassl
Oversaw a second church renovation.