About St. Jerome · Wonewoc, Wisconsin
St. Jerome Parish is a small Roman Catholic mission church serving the village of Wonewoc in Juneau County, Wisconsin. It belongs to the Diocese of La Crosse, is part of the Richland Center Deanery, and shares pastoral leadership with neighboring parishes. The church sits at 528 Center Street in the village and ministers to a tight-knit rural community in the heart of central Wisconsin.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- St. Jerome
- Rector
- Very Rev. Joseph M. Richards (effective July 1, 2026; previously Rev. Donald J. Bauer)
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse
Why belong here
St. Jerome is a small, mission-rooted parish where generations of Wonewoc-area Catholic families have worshipped together since 1883. Members enjoy a close-knit rural Catholic community, weekly Sunday Mass, weekday Masses, and the pastoral care shared across the Richland Center Deanery. Joining this parish means becoming part of a living, more-than-140-year-old tradition of faith in Juneau County, served by priests who shepherd multiple parishes together.
Mass times at St. Jerome
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish Identity & Location
St. Jerome Parish serves the Catholic faithful of the Village of Wonewoc in Juneau County, Wisconsin. The church is located at 528 Center Street in Wonewoc and is part of the Diocese of La Crosse's Richland Center Deanery. The parish shares its ministry and leadership with several neighboring parishes in the deanery, including St. Aloysius in Hillsboro and the Oratory of St. Teresa of Avila in Union Center.
Founding & Early History
Catholic settlers began arriving in the Wonewoc area in 1854 but had no local church of their own. They initially depended on priests traveling from Sauk City and later attended mission churches in Union Center and Woodland. In 1883 Father George Kaller organized the local Catholics into a distinct congregation under the patronage of St. Jerome, with the church dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, November 30, 1883. The parish was incorporated in 1899.
- 1854 — First Catholic families settle near Wonewoc
- 1858 — Father F. X. Weinhart begins traveling from Sauk City to celebrate Mass in Union Center
- 1883 — Father George Kaller organizes St. Jerome's Catholic Congregation in Wonewoc
- November 30, 1883 — Church dedicated on Thanksgiving Day
- 1899 — Parish incorporated; John Mink and Thomas McGuine named first Trustees
- 1933 — Golden Jubilee of St. Jerome's parish observed
Pastoral Leadership & Deanery Connections
St. Jerome has historically been served by priests who also pastor neighboring parishes. As of July 1, 2026, the Very Reverend Joseph M. Richards — already Dean of the Richland Center Deanery — assumes the role of Pastor, while Reverend Emmanuel S. Famiyeh becomes Associate Pastor, residing at the St. Aloysius rectory in Hillsboro. The previous pastor, Reverend Donald J. Bauer, has been reassigned as Pastor of St. Henry Parish in Eau Galle. This collaborative pastoral model reflects the diocese's approach to sustaining small rural parishes.
- Diocese: La Crosse
- Deanery: Richland Center
- Current Pastor (effective July 1, 2026): Very Rev. Joseph M. Richards
- Associate Pastor (effective July 1, 2026): Rev. Emmanuel S. Famiyeh
- Outgoing Pastor: Rev. Donald J. Bauer (reassigned to St. Henry, Eau Galle)
- Parish Secretary: Mrs. Judith Pesz
Contact & Administration
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Jerome through the parish phone line or email. Because the parish shares pastoral staff with St. Aloysius in Hillsboro, some administrative correspondence uses a Hillsboro mailing address.
- Physical Address: 528 Center Street, Wonewoc, WI 53968
- Mailing Address: 545 Prairie Ave, PO Box 466, Hillsboro, WI 54634-0466
- Phone: (608) 489-2580
- Email: [email protected]
Wonewoc & the Local Catholic Community
Wonewoc is a small village of about 758 residents along the Baraboo River in Juneau County. The village has a notably stable population and a strong sense of community. Within the village there are only three churches: United Methodist, St. Paul's Lutheran, and St. Jerome Catholic — making the Catholic parish a vital spiritual presence in the area.
- Village population: 758 (2020 census)
- County: Juneau County, Wisconsin
- Other Wonewoc churches: United Methodist Church, St. Paul's Lutheran Church
- Geographic setting: along the Baraboo River
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Donald J. Bauerthrough June 30, 2026
Pastoral assignment ending June 30, 2026; reassigned as Pastor of St. Henry Parish in Eau Galle effective July 1, 2026.
- Very Rev. Joseph M. Richardseffective July 1, 2026
Assumed pastorate of St. Aloysius Parish in Hillsboro and St. Jerome Parish in Wonewoc; retains role as Dean of the Richland Center Deanery while residing at Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Viroqua.
- Rev. Emmanuel S. Famiyeheffective July 1, 2026
Named Associate Pastor of St. Aloysius (Hillsboro) and St. Jerome (Wonewoc); will reside at St. Aloysius rectory in Hillsboro.