About Saints Peter and Paul · Independence, Wisconsin
SS Peter & Paul Catholic Parish is a vibrant, Polish-heritage Catholic community in Independence, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of La Crosse. Founded in 1875 by Polish immigrants from the town of Popielow in Silesia (modern Poland), it has served the faithful of Trempealeau County for 150 years and continues today as an active parish with its own grade school (PreK–8) and a stunning late-19th-century church building that underwent a major restoration completed in the 2010s. The parish shares worship with neighboring St. John the Apostle in Whitehall and ministers to families through faith formation, a Catholic school, religious education, prayer ministries, and sacramental preparation.
- Established
- 1875
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul (the Apostles)
- Rector
- Rev. George Thayilkuzhithottu, MSFS
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse
Why belong here
SS Peter & Paul is one of the oldest continuously active Polish Catholic parishes in western Wisconsin, with a deep sense of identity, a beautiful recently restored 1890s church, and a faithful community that took on — and finished — a major restoration of its historic sanctuary. It pairs that heritage with concrete parish life today: a PreK–8 Catholic school now Pre-Accredited and part of the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program, CCD and Confirmation programs for grades 6–8 and high-school freshmen/sophomores, a Prayer Chain ministry, an active liturgical music program, and weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays. For a Catholic family in the Independence–Trempealeau County area looking for a parish that is both deeply rooted and actively engaged in passing on the faith, SS Peter & Paul offers both continuity and opportunity.
Mass times at Saints Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- SS Peter & Paul: Saturday 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- St. John's (shared partner parish): Sunday 7:45 am – 8:15 am
- By appointment: call the office at 715-985-2227
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Eucharistic Adoration at SS Peter & Paul)
Parish Identity & History
SS Peter & Paul Catholic Parish was founded October 7, 1875, when Bishop Michael Heiss of the Diocese of La Crosse dedicated the first white-frame church built by some sixty Polish immigrant families on land purchased for $15 from the Markham family. The founders had come from the town of Popielow in culturally Polish Silesia, settling first in Trempealeau County via the towns of North Creek and Burnside before establishing Independence as a parish. The present much larger church was begun in 1895 and finished over the next decade with transepts and a sanctuary. The parish celebrated its 150th anniversary on October 5, 2025 with a Mass led by the Bishop of La Crosse incorporating Polish readings and music, followed by a Polish banquet.
- Founded 1875 (dedicated October 7, 1875)
- First pastor: Fr. Hieronymus Kilmecki/Klimecki (residing at St. Michael's, North Creek)
- Present church begun 1895, completed ~1905+ with transepts and sanctuary
- Centennial celebrated 1975; Sesquicentennial celebrated 2025
Polish Heritage
The founders were Polish Silesian immigrants (many from the town of Popielow) fleeing political and religious upheaval; their Polish Catholic identity remains central to parish identity, evident in heritage Masses, Polish-language readings and music at the 150th-anniversary Mass, and a continuing Polish banquet tradition. Bishop Heiss's 1875 letter praising Polish sacrifice for the Catholic faith has been quoted repeatedly by the parish down to the present day as a touchstone of parish identity.
Church Building & Restoration
Built in stages beginning in 1895, the SS Peter & Paul church is the second-largest church in the Diocese of La Crosse and is renowned for its stained glass and ornamental detail. A multi-year restoration launched in 2010 re-leaded all 33 large stained-glass windows, replaced electrical, replastered columns, repainted the interior, and stripped floors down to bare wood before rebuilding — touching every inch of the historic building to preserve it for another generation of worshippers.
- 33 large stained-glass windows re-leaded
- Full interior replastering and repainting
- Floors stripped to bare wood and rebuilt
- Major campaign funded and staffed largely by parishioners and community members
Clergy, Staff & Parish Office
The parish is currently served by Rev. George Thayilkuzhithottu, MSFS, a member of the Missionaries of the Holy Family. Lay staff include parish and school administrative leadership, a Director of Sacred Music, and a Coordinator of Religious Education. The parish office is open weekdays; appointments for sacraments, anointing, or pastoral needs can be made by calling 715-985-2227.
- Rev. George Thayilkuzhittottu, MSFS — Pastor
- Director of Sacred Music — Angie Sylla
- Principal/Administrator (School) — Amanda Gierok
- Coordinator of Religious Education — Vanessa Matchey
- Parish office phone: 715-985-2227
SS Peter & Paul Catholic School
The parish school has been educating children of the parish and community continuously since 1887, with lay faculty serving since 1973. The current school building on Osseo Road (36100 Osseo Rd) opened in 1967 and also serves as the parish's catechetical center and as the host site for middle-school athletics. The school is currently Pre-Accredited and is participating in the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program, which provides open seats for grades 4K through 8 to both current and incoming families.
- Grades served: PreK, 4K, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
- Principal/Administrator: Amanda Gierok
- Pre-Accredited; working toward Accreditation Visit in 2026–27
- Participating in the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (31 open Choice seats for 4K–8)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at SS Peter & Paul runs through both the parish school and a parish-based CCD program. CCD classes meet on Sundays at 9:00 a.m.; Confirmation preparation for freshmen and sophomores and CCD for grades 6–8 is held on Wednesday evenings. Students participate in the parish's seasonal liturgical life, including the Ash Wednesday Mass.
- CCD classes: Sundays, 9:00 am
- Freshmen & Sophomore Confirmation and Grades 6–8 CCD: Wednesday evenings
- Annual Family Retreat
- Ash Wednesday Mass attended by all religious-education students
Adult Faith & Devotional Life
Beyond the parish school and CCD, SS Peter & Paul offers an active adult faith formation program. A St. Faustina Adult Study Group, focused on the diary of St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy devotion, meets in the school building; the parish also holds a first-class relic of St. Faustina for veneration. A parish Prayer Chain accepts prayer intentions by email.
- St. Faustina Adult Study Group (Divine Mercy / St. Faustina diary)
- First-class relic of St. Faustina venerated at the parish
- SS Peter & Paul Prayer Chain (intentions by email)
Partner Parish: St. John the Apostle
SS Peter & Paul shares sacramental and pastoral life with its partner parish, St. John the Apostle in Whitehall (35900 Lee Street, Whitehall, WI 54773). Confessions are heard at St. John's on Sunday mornings before Mass, complementing SS Peter & Paul's Saturday confessions. St. John's has its own weekday and Sunday Mass schedule coordinated by the same pastor's office.
- St. John the Apostle, Whitehall (35900 Lee St, PO Box 566, Whitehall, WI 54773)
- Mass at St. John's: Tue 4:30 pm, Fri 9:00 am, Sun 8:15 am
- Sunday confession at St. John's: 7:45–8:15 am
Contact & Visiting
The parish office is at 36028 Osseo Road, PO Box 430, Independence, WI 54747-0430 (phone 715-985-2227; fax 715-985-2649). The parish shares this ministry with the St. John's office in Whitehall (715-538-4607). Bulletin submissions, prayer-chain intentions, and general inquiries are accepted by email via the parish office.
- Parish address: 36028 Osseo Rd, PO Box 430, Independence, WI 54747-0430
- Office phone: 715-985-2227
- Prayer chain and bulletin submissions by email
- Partner parish office: 35900 Lee St, PO Box 566, Whitehall, WI 54773
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Hieronymus (Klimecki/Kilmecki)1875–
First pastor; resided at and served from St. Michael's Parish, North Creek, where Bishop Heiss had dedicated the church on Oct. 6, 1875, the day before dedicating SS Peter & Paul.
- Fr. Woodrow Pace
Shepherd of SS Peter & Paul during the major multi-year church restoration (started 2010); quoted in diocesan coverage emphasizing that the church restoration should reflect the beauty of souls, not just the building.