About St. James the Greater · Eau Claire, Wisconsin
St. James the Greater is a Catholic parish in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, belonging to the Diocese of La Crosse and seated at 2502 11th Street. Founded in 1948, the parish grew up around its elementary school (built 1950) and church (built 1960), and today it serves a multi-generational community that includes charter members and new families in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Under pastor Father Tom Krieg, the parish runs a full program of weekend and daily Masses, a Religious Education program for grades 1–10, an attached elementary school (St. James Elementary within Regis Catholic Schools), Eucharistic Adoration, and active outreach including a sister-parish relationship with San José in Luquillo, Puerto Rico.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- St. James the Greater (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Father Tom Krieg
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse
Why belong here
St. James the Greater is a vibrant, multi-generational parish where longtime charter members worship alongside young adults and families, all under one roof. Faith formation runs from preschool through Confirmation, with both Sunday-morning and Wednesday-evening Religious Education classes, plus adult Bible studies for men and women and a quarterly spiritual book group led by Fr. Tom. Members can serve in Music Ministry, Liturgical Ministry (greeters, decorating, altar service), Knights of Columbus, PCCW, Outreach (including a sister-parish bond with San José, Luquillo, Puerto Rico), and the parish's signature Summer Fest held the third weekend of August.
Mass times at St. James the Greater
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
About St. James the Greater
The parish describes itself as a community of Catholic believers who nurture their relationship with God and others through prayer, worship, Scripture, evangelization, and education, and who are committed to spiritual growth, service, and stewardship. The parish embraces the diversity of gifts and needs of all people, drawing members of every age — up to 97 — including charter families and a wave of new parishioners in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.
- Mission: a community of Catholic believers nurturing relationship with God and others through prayer, worship, Scripture, evangelization, and education.
- Core values: Fully Loving (1 Thess 3:12), Faithfully Teaching (2 Peter 3:18), Compassionately Serving (Mark 10:45), Truly Living (John 14:6), Joyfully Catholic (Romans 12:12).
History of St. James
St. James the Greater traces its roots to a single Mass celebrated on November 11, 1948, in a small white house on the corner of 11th and Marshall Streets. Almost immediately the school was built (1950), then the office and rectory (1955), and the church itself (1960). The Knights of Columbus later built and gifted the multi-purpose building (1992). The parish marked its Golden Jubilee with Bishop Burke on July 25, 1999, and Bishop Jerome Listeki returned to dedicate a new Gathering Space and elevator on July 24, 2006. The Pastoral Council continues to develop the parish's Christ-centered presence for the third millennium.
- 1948 – First Mass in the white house at 11th & Marshall
- 1950 – School built
- 1955 – Office and rectory constructed
- 1960 – Church built
- 1992 – Knights of Columbus multi-purpose building
- 1999 – Golden Jubilee with Bishop Burke (July 25)
- 2006 – Gathering Space and elevator dedication by Bishop Listeki (July 24)
Religious Education & Sacramental Preparation
The parish Religious Education program welcomes students in Grades 1–10 from September through April, meeting twice a month. Grades 1–8 families can choose Sunday mornings (8:45–9:45 AM) or Wednesday evenings (6:15–7:30 PM); Grades 9–10 meet Wednesday evenings as part of the two-year Confirmation track. Preschool and Kindergarten children gather twice a month during the 10:00 AM Mass for age-appropriate formation. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are typically celebrated in 2nd grade, with accommodations for older students.
- Grades 1–8: Sunday morning OR Wednesday evening options
- Grades 9–10 Confirmation: Wednesday evenings
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist (typically Grade 2)
- 4/5 Year Old Sunday School during 10:00 AM Mass
- Director of Religious Education: Kelly Beaudrie
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Beth Cerny
- Online registration takes place during August
St. James Elementary School (Regis Catholic Schools)
St. James Elementary is a close-knit school within the Regis Catholic Schools system, which serves students from preschool through 12th grade across Eau Claire and Altoona, Wisconsin. Rooted in Catholic tradition, the school integrates faith into daily learning and emphasizes leadership, service, and a personal connection with Christ. The school is described as small and peaceful, offering a nurturing environment where faith, academic excellence, and personal growth thrive.
- Part of Regis Catholic Schools (preschool–12, Eau Claire & Altoona)
- Principal: Hannah Miller
- Faith integrated into daily learning
- Enrollment and Thursday Thoughts information available on the school page
Adult Faith Formation
Adults at St. James can grow in faith through a men's Bible study, a women's Bible study, and a quarterly spiritual book group facilitated by Father Tom Krieg. The parish notes that additional adult formation opportunities are being developed.
- Men's Bible Study — contact Ryan Luedkte
- Women's Bible Study — contact Christine Warloski
- Quarterly spiritual book group with Fr. Tom Krieg
Get Involved: Ministries & Parish Life
St. James describes itself as a vibrant, active parish with many opportunities to live the faith, meet people, and serve others. Members can join Music Ministry, Liturgical Ministry (greeting, decorating, altar assistance), Outreach, Social Groups, the Knights of Columbus, and the Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW). The parish also hosts its annual Summer Fest the third weekend in August, with dancing, food, games, an auction, and a car show.
- Music Ministry
- Liturgical Ministry (greeters, decorating, altar service)
- Outreach / Social Concerns Committee
- Social Groups
- Knights of Columbus (local Roundtable)
- Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW)
- VBS – SonShine Days
- Summer Fest (third weekend in August)
Outreach & Sister Parish
St. James has a long history of service in the Chippewa Valley. Following the devastation of Hurricane Maria, the parish explored building a relationship with the San José community in Luquillo, Puerto Rico. In summer 2018, six parishioners traveled to meet Fr. Francis and his congregation, and additional visits have continued to support rebuilding efforts through friendship, prayer, and financial assistance.
- Sister Parish: San José, Luquillo, Puerto Rico
- Contact: Jacky Miller, 715-404-7006
- Mission: cultural exchange, friendship, worship, and rebuilding aid
Our Staff
Parish life at St. James is led by a pastor and supported by a team of lay ministers, educators, musicians, and administrators. Religious education, music, school leadership, and parish councils are all represented on the staff page.
- Fr. Tom Krieg — Pastor
- Ryan Luedkte — Pastoral Minister
- Christine Warloski — Pastoral Associate
- Anne Henriksen — Office Manager
- Kelly Beaudrie — Director of Religious Education
- Beth Cerny — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Nick Poss — Director of Music
- Hannah Miller — St. James Elementary Principal
- Terry Griffin — Knights of Columbus Roundtable
- Jan Legge — Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW)
- Rob Sorensen — Parish Pastoral Council
- Landon Cerny — Parish Financial Council
Visiting & Contact
Visitors and new members are always welcome at St. James. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM–5:00 PM and Friday 8:30 AM–12:00 PM, and the parish phone line (715-835-5887) routes to each staff member via menu options.
- Address: 2502 11th Street, Eau Claire, WI 54703
- Phone: 715-835-5887
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–5:00 PM; Fri 8:30 AM–12:00 PM
- Diocese: Diocese of La Crosse (Eau Claire Deanery)