About St. Ann · Turtle Lake, Wisconsin
St. Ann is a small Roman Catholic parish in the Village of Turtle Lake, in rural Polk County in northwestern Wisconsin. One of three parishes in the 'ACT In Faith' cluster alongside St. Anthony the Abbot in Cumberland and Sacred Heart of Jesus in Almena, St. Ann is part of the Diocese of Superior. The parish offers a quiet weekly rhythm of worship — a Thursday morning Mass followed by Adoration and Benediction, and a Saturday vigil Mass with the Sacrament of Reconciliation — that reflects the small-town, farming-community character of Turtle Lake.
- Established
- 1882
- Patron
- St. Ann (Saint Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Thomas Thompson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Superior
Why belong here
St. Ann offers a peaceful, intimate Catholic home in rural Polk County where a small congregation gathers faithfully around the Eucharist. Worshippers can come to Mass twice a week — Saturday evening vigil and Thursday morning, the latter followed by Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction — and find the Sacrament of Reconciliation before either Mass. As part of the three-parish ACT In Faith cluster shared with Cumberland and Almena, the parish belongs to a wider Catholic family that shares clergy, faith formation, and evangelization, giving a small rural church both personal warmth and the resources of a larger community.
Mass times at St. Ann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Adoration times
- Thursday: 9:15 AM – 10:00 AM (with Benediction)
Parish Identity & Cluster
St. Ann Parish is one of three Roman Catholic parishes that form the 'ACT In Faith' pastoral cluster in Barron and Polk counties in northwestern Wisconsin. The cluster partners St. Ann in Turtle Lake with St. Anthony the Abbot in Cumberland and Sacred Heart of Jesus in Almena. Their shared mission reads: 'Three Catholic parishes ACTing In Faith together, sharing God's gift of salvation with all people.' St. Anthony the Abbot Parish in Cumberland serves as the home parish of the cluster pastor, who serves all three communities from a single pastoral team.
- ACT = St. Anthony (Cumberland), Cumberland; St. Ann (Turtle Lake), Ann; Sacred Heart (Almena), Heart
- Cluster mailing address: PO Box 548, Cumberland, WI 54829
- Cluster email: [email protected]
- Cluster phone: (715) 822-2948
History of St. Ann Parish
St. Ann was established in 1882, before the Village of Turtle Lake itself existed. The first church was built on land just south of where the present church stands, by founding pastor Fr. Peter DeParadis. As the community grew, pastor Fr. Charles Schwaab (from 1922) personally designed and helped build the present church building. The parish center was completed in 1964 under Fr. Henry Gozanski, who had been appointed in 1958 by Bishop Joseph J. Annabring to provide proper facilities for religious instruction and social activities. On June 18, 1980, a fire caused by a lightning strike heavily damaged the church interior; the building was repaired under Fr. Austin Corrigan. The parish entered into a pastoral cluster with Sacred Heart in Almena in 1983, and in 2002 St. Anthony the Abbot in Cumberland joined to complete the ACT cluster.
- 1882 — First St. Ann Church built by Fr. Peter DeParadis
- 1922 — Fr. Charles Schwaab plans and builds the present church
- 1958 — Fr. Henry Gozanski appointed by Bishop Joseph J. Annabring
- 1964 — Parish center completed under Fr. Gozanski
- 1980 — Lightning strike and interior fire; building repaired under Fr. Austin Corrigan
- 1983 — Clustered with Sacred Heart of Jesus, Almena (Fr. William Cary)
- 2002 — Clustered with St. Anthony the Abbot, Cumberland
Evangelization & Faith Formation
In keeping with the Diocese of Superior's 'Maintenance to Mission' pastoral plan, St. Ann and its cluster parishes emphasize evangelization and discipleship. Cluster resources include a Parish Discipleship Pathway Booklet, Bishop Powers' Letter on Evangelization, and a diocesan planning committee page. Faith formation, religious education classes, and sacramental preparation are run jointly across the cluster, with cluster-wide events such as the dedication of Sacred Heart's parish facility in 2004 (used for parish functions and religious education classes).
- Parish Discipleship Pathway Booklet
- Bishop Powers' Letter on Evangelization
- Maintenance to Mission Pastoral Plan (Diocese of Superior)
- Diocesan Planning Committee Page
- Cluster-wide religious education classes
Parish Life & Community Events
Beyond the liturgy, the parish hosts cluster-wide social events that knit the three small-town communities together. A regular 'Weight & Wellness Meeting' is held at St. Ann Center, and the cluster holds gatherings such as the 'ACT Trivia Night & Potluck' after the 4:00 PM Saturday Mass at St. Ann in Turtle Lake. These events build the personal relationships that sustain a small Catholic community in rural Polk County.
- ACT Trivia Night & Potluck at St. Ann
- Weight & Wellness Meeting at St. Ann Center
- Cluster-wide gatherings across Cumberland, Turtle Lake, and Almena
Location, Address & Contact
St. Ann's physical address is 300 Pine Street S, Turtle Lake, WI 54889, in the Village of Turtle Lake, Polk County. The parish shares the cluster mailing address (PO Box 548, Cumberland, WI 54829) and cluster contact information. The cluster office phone is (715) 822-2948 and the cluster email is [email protected]. The official cluster website is http://www.actinfaith.net.
- Address: 300 Pine Street S, Turtle Lake, WI 54889
- Cluster mailing: PO Box 548, Cumberland, WI 54829
- Phone: (715) 822-2948
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.actinfaith.net
- Alternate worship location noted: Parkview United Methodist Church, 236 Maple Street North, Turtle Lake
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Peter DeParadisby 1882
Built the first St. Ann Church in 1882 on land south of the present building.
- Fr. Charles Schwaabfrom 1922
Designed and helped build the present St. Ann Church.
- Fr. Henry Gozanskifrom 1958
Appointed by Bishop Joseph J. Annabring; oversaw completion of the parish center in 1964.
- Fr. Austin Corrigan1980s
Led repairs after the 1980 lightning strike and interior fire.
- Fr. William Caryfrom 1983
Assigned to the new cluster of Sacred Heart (Almena) and St. Ann (Turtle Lake).
- Fr. Thomas Thompson
Current cluster pastor for ACT parishes (St. Anthony, St. Ann, Sacred Heart of Jesus).