About St. Bronislava · Plover, Wisconsin
St. Bronislava Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Plover, Wisconsin, part of the Diocese of La Crosse and serving the Stevens Point deanery. Founded in 1896 by Polish-American settlers in Portage County, the parish takes its name from Blessed Bronislava of Poland, a 13th-century Premonstratensian nun. Today the parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish each Sunday, runs St. Bronislava Catholic School (preschool through 5th grade), and describes itself with the motto 'Bearing Witness to Christ in Word and Deed.' The current church, dedicated in 1991, seats about 1,000 worshipers.
- Established
- 1896
- Patron
- Blessed Bronislava of Poland
- Rector
- Rev. Edward J. Shuttleworth
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse
Why belong here
St. Bronislava offers a bilingual Catholic community — Sunday Mass in English and Spanish, weekday morning Masses, and a Saturday vigil — alongside a thriving parish school, weekly Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday with Evening Prayer and Benediction, and a regular confession schedule. As a parish rooted in central Wisconsin's Polish-Catholic heritage since 1896, it blends historic identity with an active school, youth ministry, and welcoming parish life in the Stevens Point deanery.
Mass times at St. Bronislava
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday: 5:00 PM
- 1st Friday: 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM
- Sunday: 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM (per third-party listing)
- By appointment — call the parish office
Adoration times
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (following morning Mass; schedule may change for special Masses, funerals, or weather)
Parish Identity and Mission
St. Bronislava Catholic Parish describes itself with the motto 'Bearing Witness to Christ in Word and Deed.' Located in Plover, Wisconsin, it sits within the Stevens Point deanery of the Diocese of La Crosse and identifies as 'the Catholic community in Plover since 1896.' The parish welcomes a diverse membership that includes both descendants of its original Polish-American founders and a growing Spanish-speaking community, and it lists Sunday Masses in English and Spanish along with a full weekly schedule of weekday Masses.
- Motto: Bearing Witness to Christ in Word and Deed
- Deanery: Stevens Point (Diocese of La Crosse)
- Founded 1896; current church dedicated 1991
History
St. Bronislava traces its roots to the Polish-American migration into Plover in the 1880s. On October 12, 1896, Bishop Sebastian Messmer of Green Bay granted 60 families permission to form a parish, with Father Xavier Kasperski as the first temporary pastor. The parish took its name from Blessed Bronislava of Poland. The original frame church was blessed on December 10, 1897, but was destroyed by lightning on August 8, 1910; the congregation rebuilt in brick, dedicating the new church on November 21, 1911. The 20th century brought a school staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph (1918), a new organ and redecorated church (1932), and a 25-year pastorate under Father Francis Przybylski beginning in 1953, who built the religious education center. After a 1989 parish survey, ground was broken in 1990 for the current church, dedicated April 28, 1991, and the new St. Bronislava Catholic School opened in 1995.
- 1896 — Parish founded by 60 Polish-American families
- 1897 — First frame church blessed by Bishop Messmer; first First Communion class (31 children)
- 1908 — First parish school opens; blessed by Bishop Paul Rhode
- 1910 — Lightning destroys the original church; Blessed Sacrament rescued
- 1911 — New brick church dedicated by Bishop Fox
- 1918 — Sisters of St. Joseph take over the school
- 1932 — New organ and church redecoration under Father Lapinski
- 1953 — Father Francis Przybylski begins 25-year pastorate
- 1974 — Religious education center completed
- 1990 — Ground broken for new church
- 1991 — Present church dedicated (1,000 seats)
- 1995 — New St. Bronislava Catholic School opens (K–3)
- 2006 — Statue of Blessed Bronislava dedicated; bell tower and carport added
Pastor and Staff
The current pastor is Rev. Edward J. Shuttleworth, the 27th pastor of St. Bronislava Parish, assigned July 1, 2016. A native of Tomah, Wisconsin, he was ordained for the Diocese of La Crosse on May 19, 1990; his education includes a B.A. from the University of St. Thomas, a master's from The Catholic University of America, and a doctorate in homiletics/preaching from the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. Parish office staff is led by Barbara Guinn, reachable at extension 100.
- Pastor: Rev. Edward J. Shuttleworth (ext. 110)
- Parish Office: Barbara Guinn (ext. 100)
- Phone: (715) 344-4326
Mass and Liturgy
The parish celebrates Sunday Mass in English at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM and in Spanish at 12:00 PM, with a Saturday vigil Mass at 4:00 PM. Daily Masses are held Monday at 5:30 PM and Tuesday through Friday at 8:15 AM, with Thursday's morning Mass designated as a School Mass with Children.
St. Bronislava Catholic School
St. Bronislava Catholic School is part of the parish's ministry and currently enrolls students in preschool through 5th grade. The school's first classes in the new building began in 1995 with 91 students in kindergarten through third grade, and two additional classrooms were added in 2010 to accommodate enrollment growth. The school is connected to the parish's Thursday 'School Mass with Children.'
- Grades served: preschool through 5th grade
- Opened in current building: 1995 (K–3)
- Two additional classrooms added: 2010
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Religious education and youth ministry are active parts of parish life. The parish maintains a dedicated youth ministry presence (St. Bronislava Youth Ministry) and a religious education center completed under Father Francis Przybylski in 1974 continues to support parish faith formation.
- St. Bronislava Youth Ministry
- Religious Education Center (built 1974)
- Faith Formation programs (parish-run)
Parish Organizations
The Rosary Society, founded in the parish's early years, was the first organization of St. Bronislava Parish and brought women together for both religious and social purposes. Other parish life — including school, youth ministry, and parish office — has grown around this foundation.
- Rosary Society (parish's first organization)
Contact and Location
St. Bronislava Parish is located at 3200 Plover Road in Plover, Wisconsin (mailing address: PO Box 158, Plover, WI 54467-0158). From I-39, take Exit 153 and head west about 1.8 miles on County Road B / Plover Road; the parish will be on the right. The parish office can be reached at (715) 344-4326 or by email at [email protected].
- Address: 3200 Plover Rd, Plover, WI 54467
- Phone: (715) 344-4326
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stbrons.com/
The Patron: Blessed Bronislava of Poland
The parish is named for Blessed Bronislava of Poland (c. 1203/1204–1259), a Polish Premonstratensian (Norbertine) nun. Born at the castle of Kamień in Upper Silesia, she entered the Norbertine cloister at Zwierzyniec near Kraków at age 16 and devoted her life to prayer, care of the sick and poor, and devotion to the Holy Cross. She was beatified by Pope Gregory XVI on August 23, 1839, after being credited with protecting the town of Zwierzyniec from cholera in 1835. Her feast is celebrated on August 30 (some calendars list September 1). A statue of Blessed Bronislava was dedicated at the parish in 2006 on the site of the old red-brick church.
- Premonstratensian (Norbertine) nun
- Born c. 1203–1204 at Kamień, Upper Silesia
- Died August 29, 1259 at Zwierzyniec, Kraków
- Beatified by Pope Gregory XVI, August 23, 1839
- Feast day: August 30
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Xavier Kasperski1896–
First temporary pastor, granted permission by Bishop Messmer to found the parish and chose its name.
- Father Klosowski1911–
First permanent pastor (August 1911); spearheaded building of the school and rebuilt the church after the 1910 fire.
- Father Lapinski1930s
Acquired the parish's new organ in 1932 and oversaw redecoration of the church.
- Father Francis Przybylski1953–1978
Long-serving pastor (25 years); implemented Vatican II liturgical changes and built the religious education center (completed 1974).
- Rev. Edward J. Shuttleworth2016–present
27th pastor of St. Bronislava Parish; assigned July 1, 2016; ordained May 19, 1990 for the Diocese of La Crosse.