About St. Catherine · Sarona, Wisconsin
St. Catherine is a small Catholic mission parish in Sarona, Wisconsin, founded in 1917 and dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. It belongs to the Diocese of Superior and is clustered with St. Francis de Sales in Spooner and St. Joseph in Shell Lake, sharing a single parochial administrator and a cluster website (we3churches.org). The parish gathers for Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM and Wednesday Mass at 11:00 AM, holds an outdoor Mass from late May through early September, and is known for its Marian Grotto, Sunday fellowship, and tight-knit rural congregation.
- Established
- 1917
- Patron
- St. Catherine of Alexandria
- Rector
- Rev. Papi Reddy Yeruva (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Superior
Why belong here
St. Catherine offers the warmth of a small rural Catholic community rooted in faith, family, and the seasons of north-Wisconsin life. Parishioners gather for Sunday and weekday Mass, share coffee and treats on the first Sunday of every month (and on Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day weekends) courtesy of the Council of Catholic Women, and tend a peaceful Marian Grotto on the church grounds. From late May through early September, the community moves outdoors for an outdoor Mass, so visitors are invited to bring a lawn chair and join in.
Mass times at St. Catherine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30 AM
History of St. Catherine Parish
St. Catherine Parish traces its roots to the settlement of Frank Sauer Sr. and his family in the Sarona area. The Sauer children walked the Narrow Gauge Railroad track to Shell Lake for religious instruction, and as other Catholic families moved in, visiting priests began celebrating Mass — often in the Sauer home. The parish was formally established as a mission of Holy Trinity Church in Haugen. In 1917, the original church was built on land donated by the Sauer family, largely financed by a $5,000 gift from the Catholic Extension Society. The first structure seated about 40 people. In 1986, a major renovation expanded seating to 99 and added a basement, an entry way, and restrooms. In 2002, a generous land donation allowed the parish to enlarge its parking lot. Today, St. Catherine is a mission within the Saint Francis de Sales Parish Cluster, sharing ministry with St. Francis de Sales in Spooner and St. Joseph in Shell Lake.
- Founded 1917 as a mission of Holy Trinity, Haugen
- Land donated by the Sauer family
- Original construction funded largely by $5,000 from the Catholic Extension Society
- Original seating capacity: ~40
- 1986 renovation: capacity raised to 99, basement/entry/bathrooms added
- 2002: parking lot expanded through land donation
Parish Life & Fellowship
Parish life at St. Catherine centers on simple, warm gatherings rooted in the rural northwoods rhythm. The Council of Catholic Women hosts Sunday Fellowship on the first Sunday of each month and on holiday weekends (Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day), offering coffee, juice, and treats. The parish also maintains an outdoor Marian Grotto that is open for prayer at any hour of the day or night.
- Sunday Fellowship — first Sunday of every month
- Holiday fellowship weekends: Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day
- Marian Grotto open for prayer day and night
Ministries & Organizations
St. Catherine's ministries span liturgical service, prayer support, and parish governance. Liturgical roles — readers, ushers, greeters, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — are scheduled through Noreen Ferrari (715-928-0715). The Prayer Chain, also coordinated by Noreen Ferrari, lifts up intentions from across the parish. Governance is shared through the Pastoral Council and Finance Council.
- Liturgical Ministries (reader, usher, greeter, EMHC) — contact Noreen Ferrari, 715-928-0715
- Prayer Chain — contact Noreen Ferrari, 715-928-0715
- Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
- Council of Catholic Women (CCW) — see sub-section below
Council of Catholic Women (CCW)
The Council of Catholic Women welcomes all women of the parish as members. The CCW supports parish life through fellowship, funeral luncheon committees, nursing home visits, layettes for needy families, and fundraising via bake sales. It also reaches outward to the broader community.
- Social/Fellowship Sunday hosting
- Funeral luncheon committees
- Nursing home visits and layettes for needy families
- Community Outreach
- Altar Servers Appreciation trips
- Support for SFdS School, Spooner Trego Lions Christmas Fund, Farm of the Child
- Youth leadership training and NET team support (Mariah Schultz)
- Birthday baskets, prolife efforts
- Northwood's Support Team for the 950th National Guard Unit
- Main fundraiser: bake sales
- St. Catherine's CCW contact: Gail Librande, 715-354-7291
Clergy & Staff
St. Catherine is served by the Parochial Administrator of the Saint Francis de Sales Parish Cluster, with deacon support from St. Francis de Sales in Spooner.
- Rev. Papi Reddy Yeruva — Parochial Administrator
- Deacon Patrick Haines — Deacon (St. Francis de Sales, Spooner)
- Gail Librande — St. Catherine's contact, 715-354-7291
- Noreen Ferrari — Liturgical ministries and Prayer Chain coordinator, 715-928-0715
Visiting & Location
St. Catherine sits on Catholic Lane off County Highway D in the small community of Sarona, Wisconsin. Visitors during the outdoor-Mass season (late May – early September) should bring a lawn chair. The Marian Grotto on the grounds is open for private prayer at any time of day or night.
- Address: W5262 Catholic Lane, Sarona, WI 54870
- Phone: 715-635-3105
- Website: www.we3churches.org
- Cluster partner sites: St. Francis de Sales (Spooner) and St. Joseph (Shell Lake)