About St. Florian · Hatley, Wisconsin
St. Florian Catholic Parish is a small, family-oriented Roman Catholic parish in the village of Hatley, Wisconsin, part of the Diocese of La Crosse's Wausau Deanery. Founded in 1898 by Polish Catholic settlers, the parish is served today from a striking 1913 red-brick Late Gothic Revival church with a tall bell tower and rose window that still anchors the rural Marathon County community. The current pastor is Rev. Junabe Villapaz (Father Jojo), and the parish maintains an active rhythm of weekend and daily Mass, religious education for children and youth, Vacation Bible School, an annual church picnic, a parish nurse ministry, and a Rosary Society Prayerline — all sized to the small-town character of Hatley.
- Established
- 1898
- Patron
- St. Florian
- Rector
- Rev. Junabe Villapaz (Father Jojo)
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse (Wausau Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Florian is a small, warm rural parish where families genuinely know one another and where the liturgical life is built on a steady, predictable rhythm — Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM, Sunday morning at 10:30, and quiet daily Mass on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. The parish invests deeply in forming the next generation through religious education, a youth ministry, Vacation Bible School, and an annual church picnic, while also caring for the sick and homebound through its parish nurse, Communion calls, and the Rosary Society Prayerline. If you are looking for a traditional Catholic parish in the Hatley area where you can be a real part of the community rather than a face in the crowd, St. Florian offers a faithful, family-centered home.
Mass times at St. Florian
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- First Thursday of each month — Communion calls to the homebound follow the 8:00 AM Mass and Recitation of the Chaplet
About St. Florian Parish
St. Florian is a small Roman Catholic parish in the village of Hatley in Marathon County, Wisconsin, belonging to the Diocese of La Crosse and assigned to the Wausau Deanery. The community gathers around a stately 1913 red-brick Late Gothic Revival church at 500 Church Lane and is supported by a full parish staff — pastor, office manager, director of religious education, youth minister, adult faith coordinator, baptismal-preparation coordinator, parish nurse, cemetery coordinator, and bulletin editor.
History of St. Florian Parish
The parish was first organized in February 1898 under the leadership of Reverend Garus, as Polish Catholic settlers built and consecrated the first St. Florian church on fifteen acres of land donated by mill operator R. E. Parcher. The new congregation was served by visiting priests and the Franciscan Fathers of Green Bay before the first resident pastors — Rev. Ignatius Mordaski, Rev. Joseph Miller, Rev. J. Orlowski, and Rev. John Karcz — were appointed; under Father Karcz the church debt was paid and plans were laid for a larger building.
Building the Present Church (1913)
In 1913 the parish built the present solid brick church, measuring 135 by 50 feet, in the Late Gothic Revival / Neo-Gothic Revival style, trimmed with stone on an ashlar foundation. The Wisconsin Historical Society's Architecture and History Inventory documents its tall square bell tower with a narrow steeple, gothic-arched openings, a leaded-glass rose window, attenuated buttresses, decorative brickwork, and a gabled entrance porch flanked by two matching smaller porches.
School, Rectory and Cemetery
A parish cemetery (St. Florian Cemetery) lies east of the church and is still maintained through the parish cemetery coordinator; a c. 1970 rectory and an elementary school dating from the 1980s were added west of the church. The elementary school closed in 2006; parish faith formation for children continues through religious education, Sunday School, and Vacation Bible School.
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by its pastor with the support of a full staff of lay ministers. The Diocese of La Crosse parish directory lists Rev. Junabe Villapaz (Father Jojo) as current pastor; recent predecessors include Father Patric (as of mid-2024) and Father Gregory J. Bohren (Fr. Greg), who is remembered fondly in the bulletin for reading to children at the parish school and at the Easter Egg Hunt.
- Rev. Junabe Villapaz (Father Jojo) — Pastor
- Heather Stewart — Office Manager
- Rita Arrowood — Bulletin Editor
- Jessie Zoromski — Director of Religious Education (CRE/DRE)
- Val Wendorski — Youth Ministry
- Jackie Dalsky-Wadzinski — Adult Faith Formation Coordinator
- Jessica Zoromski — Baptismal Preparation Coordinator
- Kathleen Endres — Parish Nurse
- John Kostecki — Cemetery Coordinator
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Faith formation for children and youth is a major part of parish life at St. Florian, with weekly Religious Education classes on Wednesday evenings, a Sunday School Open House each August for Kindergarten and new families, Vacation Bible School in early August, and an active Youth Ministry program. In 2024 Vacation Bible School took the pro-life theme 'Birthday Blast — A Celebration of Life,' running from Monday through Friday, 9 AM to noon.
- Religious Education (CRE/DRE) — Wednesday evening classes
- Vacation Bible School — first full week of August, 9 AM–noon
- Sunday School Open House — late August after 10:30 AM Mass
- Youth Ministry outings (e.g., Camp Tekakwitha, Shawano) with neighboring St. Agnes Parish
- Annual Easter Egg Hunt with a story read by Father Greg
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for and celebrates all the usual sacraments of Catholic life. Baptism is normally celebrated on the second Sunday of each month after preparation with Jessica Zoromski; Reconciliation is heard on Saturday afternoons; engaged couples are asked to contact the parish office at least one year before their wedding; and Communion visits plus Anointing of the Sick are available by request for the homebound, hospitalized, or those in care centers.
- Baptism — second Sunday of the month, by appointment
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:30 PM or by appointment
- First Communion & Confirmation — via Religious Education
- Marriage — one-year advance notice; meeting with the pastor
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion for the homebound — on request
Parish Nurse and Outreach
Through its parish nurse program, St. Florian sends a registered nurse to visit parishioners who are in the hospital, in a care center, or at home. The nurse provides support, prayer, and information to help families navigate the health-care system.
- Parish Nurse — Kathleen Endres (715-449-3258, [email protected])
- Visits to hospital, care center or home by request
- First Thursday Communion calls to the homebound after Mass
Parish Community Life
The parish gathers regularly for both worship and fellowship. The St. Florian Annual Church Picnic in late July is a major summer event drawing on many parish volunteers; Vacation Bible School and the Easter Egg Hunt (with Father Greg's Easter story, candy, prizes and egg hunt for children 10 and under) are highlights of the family calendar. The weekly bulletin, posted at stflos.org, is the parish's main communications hub.
- Annual Parish Picnic (late July, with volunteer sign-up sheets)
- Easter Egg Hunt (children ages 10 and under)
- Weekly bulletin — available online at stflos.org
- Parish Office hours — Mon–Thu 8 AM–3 PM (closed Friday)
St. Florian Cemetery
St. Florian Cemetery is located immediately east of the church at 500 Church Lane in Hatley and is administered by the parish. Questions about cemetery plots, burials and upkeep are handled through the parish office by Cemetery Coordinator John Kostecki.
- St. Florian Cemetery, 500 Church Lane, Hatley
- Cemetery Coordinator — John Kostecki (715-446-3085, ext. 305)
- Cemetery coordinates: 44.88263, -89.33239
Visiting and Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Florian Catholic Parish by phone, email, or in person during office hours. The full weekly bulletin — with announcements, Mass intentions, and the coming week's schedule — is always available at stflos.org.
- Address: 500 Church Lane, Hatley, WI 54440
- Mailing: PO Box 100, Hatley, WI 54440-0100
- Phone: 715-446-3085
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stflos.org
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8 AM–3 PM; Friday closed
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Garus1898 (founding)
Organized the parish in February 1898; first church built and consecrated that year.
- Rev. Leo Jankowskiafter Rev. Garus
Served the parish before resident pastors were established.
- Rev. John Adamowski
Served before resident pastors.
- Rev. John Kula
Served before resident pastors.
- Franciscan Fathers of Green Bayto July 1903
Cared for the mission for nearly a year.
- Rev. Hieronimous Schneider
Succeeded the Franciscans.
- Stan. Elbert
Visited once or twice a month for services.
- Ladislaus Slisz
Visiting priest; served once or twice a month.
- Rev. Ignatius Mordaski
Early resident pastor.
- Rev. Joseph Miller
Resident pastor.
- Rev. J. Orlowski
Resident pastor.
- Rev. John Karczaround 1913
Resident pastor at the time the new brick church was being planned and built.
- Rev. Gregory J. Bohren (Fr. Greg)recent predecessor
Served as pastor in the years leading up to mid-2020s; parishioners remember him reading to children at the parish school and at the annual Easter Egg Hunt.
- Rev. Patric2024
Listed as pastor in the June 30, 2024 parish bulletin.
- Rev. Junabe Villapaz (Father Jojo)current
Listed as current pastor on the Diocese of La Crosse parish directory.