About St. James · Camp Douglas, Wisconsin
St. James Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish in the village of Camp Douglas, in central Wisconsin (Juneau County). Founded in 1864, it is one of three clustered parishes — together with St. Paul in New Lisbon and St. Michael in Indian Creek — served by a single pastoral team in the Tomah Deanery of the Diocese of La Crosse. The parish's distinctive octagonal church was built in 1937, and today more than 50 families remain active in parish ministry.
- Established
- 1864
- Patron
- St. James the Greater (Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Peter Raj Mariasamy
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse (Tomah Deanery)
Why belong here
St. James offers a close-knit, family-style Catholic community in the heart of rural Juneau County, with a unique octagonal church that has anchored the village since 1937. As part of a three-parish cluster with St. Michael (Indian Creek) and St. Paul (New Lisbon), parishioners benefit from a shared pastoral team, regular Saturday Vigil Mass, Saturday confessions, and opportunities to be involved in the life of more than 50 active parish families.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM (at St. James, Camp Douglas)
- Friday 7:30 AM (at St. Paul, New Lisbon)
- Sunday 7:30 AM (at St. Michael, Indian Creek)
Parish History
St. James Parish traces its roots to 1864, when six Catholic families in the Camp Douglas area began gathering for Mass in private homes. This house-church arrangement continued for 35 years, until 1899, when a small frame church was built under the direction of Fr. Campbel of Mauston. By the late 1920s the parish had outgrown that first building. In 1929, 39 acres of land were purchased for a larger church, and the present octagonal church was completed and dedicated on November 11, 1937. More than 50 families remain active in parish ministry today.
- 1864 — six founding families begin celebrating Mass in their homes
- 1899 — first small church built under Fr. Campbel of Mauston
- 1929 — 39 acres purchased for a new church site
- November 11, 1937 — current octagonal church dedicated
The Octagonal Church
St. James' most distinctive feature is its octagonal-shaped church, completed in 1937. Eight-sided parish churches are unusual in the Diocese of La Crosse, and the design remains a point of local pride and identity for Camp Douglas Catholics nearly 90 years after its dedication.
- Dedicated November 11, 1937
- Octagonal (eight-sided) floor plan — rare for a Catholic parish
- Built on 39 acres purchased in 1929
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
St. James is currently served by Rev. Peter Raj Mariasamy as Pastor, with Rev. Yesu Balraj serving as Associate Pastor. Both serve the three-parish cluster of St. Paul (New Lisbon), St. James (Camp Douglas), and St. Michael (Indian Creek). Fr. Mariasamy was appointed to the cluster by the Diocese of La Crosse effective July 5, 2022, and resides at the St. Paul Parish rectory in New Lisbon. He succeeded Rev. Robert Letona, who in May 2022 was appointed Parochial Administrator of St. James the Less Parish in La Crosse.
- Rev. Peter Raj Mariasamy — Pastor (appointed July 5, 2022)
- Rev. Yesu Balraj — Associate Pastor
- Rev. Robert Letona — former Pastor (2022 reassignment to St. James the Less, La Crosse)
Clustered Parishes
St. James is part of a three-parish cluster in the Tomah Deanery of the Diocese of La Crosse. The cluster shares one pastoral team and a coordinated schedule of Masses, confessions, and ministries, a common arrangement in rural central Wisconsin.
- St. Paul Parish — New Lisbon
- St. James Parish — Camp Douglas
- St. Michael Parish — Indian Creek
Parish Community & Ministries
More than 50 families are currently active in parish ministry at St. James. As a small rural parish clustered with two neighboring parishes, St. James relies heavily on the involvement of its lay faithful for liturgical and pastoral life. The parish's website promotes upcoming events and seasonal fundraisers, such as an annual Spring Garden/Plant Sale held at the rectory garage.
- 50+ active parish families
- Seasonal parish fundraisers (e.g., Spring Garden/Plant Sale)
- Shared cluster-wide ministry with St. Paul and St. Michael parishes
Diocese & Deanery
St. James Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of La Crosse, in the Tomah Deanery. The Diocese of La Crosse serves Catholic faithful across western and central Wisconsin. The parish shares its clergy with sister parishes in the same deanery and is registered in the diocese's official parish directory.
- Diocese of La Crosse
- Tomah Deanery
- Listed in the Diocese of La Crosse parish directory (diolc.org)
Visiting & Contact
St. James is located at 100 Bartell Street in the village of Camp Douglas (Juneau County), Wisconsin. Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone at 608-427-6762 or by email at [email protected]. The shared parish website, mjpcatholic.com, serves all three parishes in the cluster and is the best source for the latest Mass and event schedule.
- Address: 100 Bartell St, PO Box 199, Camp Douglas, WI 54618-0199
- Phone: 608-427-6762
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: mjpcatholic.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Campbel of Mauston1899
Directed the building of the first small church in Camp Douglas
- Rev. Robert Letonauntil 2022
Pastor of the three-parish cluster (St. Paul, New Lisbon; St. James, Camp Douglas; St. Michael, Indian Creek); in May 2022 appointed Parochial Administrator of St. James the Less Parish in La Crosse
- Rev. Peter Raj MariasamyJuly 5, 2022 – present
Appointed by the Diocese of La Crosse as Pastor of all three parishes in the cluster, residing at St. Paul Parish rectory in New Lisbon