St. Gabriel

Parish Identity & Welcome

Holy Family Parish is the combined Catholic parish formed on July 1, 2012, by uniting St. Gabriel's Parish and St. John Nepomucene Parish of Prairie du Chien. Operated as one parish with two worship sites — St. Gabriel Archangel Church (506 N. Beaumont Rd.) and St. John Nepomucene Church (710 S. Wacouta Ave.) — the parish is served by one pastor, Very Rev. Brandon Guenther, Associate Pastor Rev. Brian Ward, and Deacon Mark Grunwald. Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wauzeka is also part of the parish grouping, added November 1, 2009.

Two Centuries of Catholic Faith on the Upper Mississippi

The Catholic story at Prairie du Chien begins in 1817 with the first priest to minister to the local congregation, and continues through the 1827 mission of Rev. Francis Vincent Badin, who built the area's first log chapel. In 1836 four acres were donated for a permanent church, and in 1839 Dominican missionary Fr. Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli laid the cornerstone of the present building. The first resident pastor, Fr. Augustine Ravoux, arrived in 1840. Among the early pastors was Fr. Cretin, who later became the first Bishop of St. Paul.

• 1817 — First priest ministers to Catholic congregation at Prairie du Chien
• 1827 — Rev. Francis Vincent Badin arrives; first log chapel built
• 1836 — Four acres donated for the present St. Gabriel's site
• 1839 — Cornerstone laid; parish rededicated to St. Gabriel the Archangel by Fr. Mazzuchelli, OP
• 1840 — First resident pastor Fr. Augustine Ravoux arrives
• 1866 — Catholic education first offered in Prairie du Chien
• 1872 — School Sisters of Notre Dame begin a 120-year educational mission
• 1874 — Present rectory built at St. Gabriel's

The Jesuit Era and Transition to Diocesan Priests

From 1883 onward the parish was entrusted to the Society of Jesus. Fr. Herman Richards, SJ, was the first Jesuit pastor; by one 1883 account he was required to preach in four languages to serve his diverse congregation. The Jesuit community continued to serve both St. Gabriel's and St. John's parishes for 125 years, finally departing Prairie du Chien on October 22, 2008. Diocesan priests then took over: Fr. Jerome Naduvathaniyil, OSB, was named pastor in October 2008, followed by Fr. James C. Weighner on July 1, 2009. Fr. Weighner led the parishes through their 2012 merger into Holy Family Parish.

• 1883 — Jesuits take over pastoral ministry
• October 22, 2008 — Jesuit community formally leaves Prairie du Chien
• October 2008 — Fr. Jerome Naduvathaniyil, OSB, becomes Pastor
• July 1, 2009 — Fr. James Weighner appointed Pastor; Fr. Amal Associate Pastor
• July 2010 — Fr. Amal returns to India; no new Associate assigned
• August 2019 — Rev. Msgr. Charles D. Stoetzel named vicar forane of the Prairie du Chien Deanery

Prairie Catholic School

Prairie Catholic School is the parish's combined Pre-K through middle school, formed in 1992 when St. Gabriel's and St. John's parish schools were amalgamated. The primary section is located at the St. Gabriel's campus and the middle school at the St. John's campus. In 2015 a new gymnasium, classrooms, and year-round daycare facility were constructed at the St. Gabriel's school site. The school's long history reaches back to 1866, when Catholic education first became available in Prairie du Chien, with the School Sisters of Notre Dame serving Catholic education in the community for 120 years beginning in 1872.

• Pre-K (3K and 4K) through Middle School
• Primary grades housed at St. Gabriel's campus
• Middle School housed at St. John's campus
• New gym, classrooms and daycare added 2015
• Kindergarten added at St. Gabriel's school in 1984; pre-kindergarten in 1988
• School Sisters of Notre Dame served here 1872–1992

Religious Education & Youth Ministry

The parish offers parish-school religious education (CCD) and youth faith formation for students attending public schools. Pat Prochaska serves as Director of Grade School Religious Education ([email protected]), and Helen Mohun is Director of School Religious Education. The parish also runs the JWalkers youth group, which organizes activities such as ski trips to Mt. La Crosse, and the Faith Alive adult faith formation class held at St. John's.

• Director of Grade School Religious Education: Pat Prochaska ([email protected])
• Director of School Religious Education: Helen Mohun
• Faith Alive Class (adult faith formation)
• JWalkers youth group
• CCD classes at St. John's School

Music, Liturgy & Parish Life

Music and liturgical ministry at Holy Family Parish is supported by the Harmony Choir, which rehearses weekly at St. John's. Weekend Masses rely on a robust rotation of liturgical volunteers: lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, altar servers, sacristans, home communion ministers, gift-bearers, and SCRIP workers — all coordinated and published in the parish bulletin. Bingo at St. Gabriel's is a regular social event on the parish calendar.

• Harmony Choir (rehearsals at St. John's)
• Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Servers, Ushers, Sacristans
• Home Communion Ministers
• SCRIP gift-card program
• Parish Bingo at St. Gabriel's

Parish Nursing & Outreach

The parish maintains a Parish Nursing Program staffed by volunteer nurses Rose Bauer and Shirley Cipra (608-326-8553), who coordinate health-related outreach and visits to parishioners. In 1991 both parishes established an endowment fund to provide a steady source of income from interest earned, supporting parish ministries in perpetuity.

• Parish Nursing Program: Rose Bauer, Shirley Cipra — 608-326-8553
• Parish Endowment Fund (established 1991)
• Home Communion Ministry

Sacraments

Baptisms are arranged through the St. John's Rectory office. Couples are asked to contact the parish at least six months before their wedding date to begin Marriage preparation. Home Communion is available to parishioners who cannot attend Mass. Holy Day Mass times are announced in the bulletin.

• Baptism — call St. John's Rectory
• Marriage — contact the parish at least 6 months prior
• Home Communion for shut-ins
• Holy Day Mass times announced

Parish Staff

Holy Family Parish is led by Very Rev. Brandon Guenther (Pastor) with Rev. Brian Ward (Associate Pastor) and Deacon Mark Grunwald. Parish offices are staffed by Office Managers Lana Gratace and Sandy Halverson ([email protected]), supported by a large Prairie Catholic School faculty and staff including an administrator, teachers, daycare director, parish director of business, facilities team, and custodial staff.

• Pastor: Very Rev. Brandon Guenther
• Associate Pastor: Rev. Brian Ward
• Deacon: Deacon Mark Grunwald
• Office Manager / Parish contact: Sandy Halverson ([email protected])
• Parish Director & Business Manager: Joshua Caro
• School Administrator: Michelle Kapfhamer
• Director of Daycare: Missy Jones