Sons of Zebedee: St. John

Parish History — From Byron Settlement to Sons of Zebedee

Catholic life in the Byron settlement began in 1846 when Father Florimond J. Bonduel celebrated the first Mass in the log home of Phillip Sheridan and reported 50 Catholic families in his diary. Bishop John Martin Henni purchased four acres for $20, dedicating part as a cemetery (with the first burial recorded that same year), and a small frame church was built in 1847. The stone church that stands today was completed in 1867, built of quarry stone hauled by parishioners and consecrated by Bishop Henni. Through fires, remodelings, the Oakfield tornado of 1987, and the 1998 merger that created Sons of Zebedee, the parish has continued to serve the rural community for 175 years and counting.

• 1846 — Father Bonduel's first Mass; Bishop Henni purchases land
• 1847 — Frame church built; parish named St. John the Evangelist
• 1867 — Stone church completed and consecrated
• 1935 — Rectory fire destroys records; rebuilt by end of 1936
• 1957 — Remodeling of St. John under Frs. Drewek and Schmidt
• 1987 — Tornado strikes Oakfield; church opens doors to other denominations
• 1998 — St. John and St. James merge as Sons of Zebedee
• 2022 — 175th anniversary celebrated with Bishop Schuerman

Faith Formation & Religious Education

The St. Mary and Sons of Zebedee Faith Formation Program aids parents — the primary teachers of the faith — by providing quality religious education in a safe and spiritual setting. The program runs from elementary through high school, with formation in Scripture, creed, justice and morality, prayer, and Catholic history. Catechists collaborate with parents to foster spiritual growth and equip youth to integrate faith with everyday life.

• Elementary program
• Middle School program
• High School program
• Adult Faith Formation offerings

Liturgical Ministries

Parishioners serve the Mass in several liturgical roles at St. John, with monthly lector schedules posted on the entry bulletin board of each church and on the website. Musicians and cantors provide music for worship, sacristans prepare liturgical books and vessels, and ushers serve as ambassadors of charity and welcome.

• Lector — proclaims Scripture and the Prayers of the Faithful
• Altar Server — carries processional cross, holds liturgical books, assists at the altar
• Usher — takes the collection, helps seat parishioners, distributes bulletins
• Sacristan — arranges books, vestments, and sacred vessels
• Cantor/Musician — provides music at Mass

Parish Committees & Pastoral Councils

The Pastoral and Finance Councils of Sons of Zebedee work together with committees that implement and coordinate parish life. Pastoral Council committees are a joint endeavor serving both parishes, while Finance Council committees are separated by parish. Anyone interested in joining is encouraged to contact the parish office.

• Stewardship
• Faith Formation
• Building and Grounds
• Worship/Liturgy
• Cemetery
• Human Concerns

St. John's Cemetery — Byron, WI

St. John's Cemetery sits adjacent to the church and traces its origins to 1846, when Bishop Henni set aside part of the four-acre parcel for a much-needed Catholic burial ground. As one of the few Catholic cemeteries in the area, it has served not only Byron parishioners but also many Catholics from the broader Fond du Lac area. In 1964, 1.5 additional acres south of the original property were purchased from Charles and Antoinette Bleuel for $1,500, and lots remain available for purchase.

• First recorded burial: 1846
• Operated by the St. John's Cemetery Committee, Sons of Zebedee Catholic Church
• Cemetery address: N3683 WI-175, Fond du Lac, WI 54937
• Online cemetery records and tombstone photographs searchable on the parish website

Meet the Pastoral Team

St. Mary and Sons of Zebedee share staff across the cluster of parishes. Father Galante serves as Pastor, with Father Nathaniel Miniatt and Father Brandl as Associate Pastors. Father Miniatt is a former associate pastor of St. John Vianney in Brookfield, was homeschooled and raised on a dairy farm, and is completing a License in Liturgy from the Gregorian University in Rome. Maryclare Stephens, a consecrated virgin living in the world, serves as Director of Evangelization and Discipleship.

• Father Galante — Pastor
• Father Nathaniel Miniatt — Associate Pastor (since June 2019)
• Father Brandl — Associate Pastor
• Bernadette Stephens — Parish Secretary
• Maryclare Stephens — Director of Evangelization and Discipleship
• Tracy Nadolski — Parish Organist
• Nicole Glogovky — Director of Religious Education
• Wendy Pelletier — Managing Director

Mission & Parish Identity

The parish mission statement reads: 'We, the people of Sons of Zebedee Parish, Ss. James and John, are committed to deepening our faith, and the faith of others through faithfully sharing in the Eucharist. Through this Holy Meal, we hope and pray to fulfill our Baptismal calling as we strive to continue the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.' The cluster serves the communities of Oakfield, Byron, and Lomira and describes itself as a parish family dedicated to small-town warmth and Gospel living.