About St. John the Baptist · Glenwood City, Wisconsin
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a small Catholic parish in Glenwood City, Wisconsin, that traces its roots to the first Mass celebrated in the community in 1886 by a Capuchin friar from Mount Calvary. Today it is part of a three-parish cluster in northwestern Wisconsin — alongside St. Bridget's in Wilson and Immaculate Conception in Hammond — within the Diocese of Superior. The parish remains rooted in farming-country traditions while serving an ethnically diverse faith community of about 256 households, with a vibrant outreach program that reaches the local nursing home, the food pantry, and Grace Place shelter.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Jojappa (Joshi) Polisetty (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Superior
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist welcomes worshippers into a tight-knit Catholic community with deep roots in Glenwood City since 1886. Parishioners enjoy weekday and Sunday Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays, and a hands-on outreach program that brings Communion to the local nursing home and shut-ins, collects food for the local pantry, and supports Grace Place shelter for abused mothers and children. Active CCW and Knights of Columbus councils support scholarships and parish needs, while faith formation programs continue the catechetical mission that began when St. John School closed in 1970.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday (per parish schedule; check cluster office)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Parish History
The first Mass in Glenwood City was celebrated in 1886 at the new public school by a Capuchin friar from Mount Calvary, Wisconsin. For eleven years a priest from Notre Dame Parish in Chippewa Falls traveled by railroad once a month. Before the end of 1886, local farmers built a frame church on a hill north of the grade school. Bishop James Schwebach of La Crosse celebrated the first confirmation on June 10, 1895. Fr. August Douven became the first resident pastor in the fall of 1900.
- 1886 — First Mass by a Capuchin friar from Mount Calvary, WI
- Late 1886 — Farmers build a frame church on a hill north of the grade school
- June 10, 1895 — First confirmation by Bishop James Schwebach of La Crosse
- Fall 1900 — Fr. August Douven arrives as first resident pastor
- March 18, 1912 — Four and one-half acres purchased for a new church
- December 18, 1914 — Fire destroys the frame church
- Spring 1915 — Construction of the new church begins
- July 4, 1918 — Bishop Joseph M. Koudelka dedicates the new church
- 1936 — New heating system installed
- 1938 — New front steps
- 1940s–1970s — New roof and remodeled church hall
- 1971 — New rectory and garage
- 1993 — Church interior renovation
St. John School (1958–1970)
In 1958 a cornerstone was laid for St. John School, which was staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Superior. The school served the parish for twelve years before Bishop George A. Hammes, acting on the recommendation of the diocesan school board, closed it in 1970. The parish immediately organized a religious education program to continue the catechetical formation of its youth.
- 1958 — Cornerstone laid for St. John School
- Staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Superior
- 1970 — School closed; parish religious education program organized in its place
Parish Cluster
St. John the Baptist is one of three Catholic parishes in a cluster serving the towns of Clear Lake (Polk County), Glenwood City, and Wilson (St. Croix County) in northwestern Wisconsin. The cluster shares a single cluster office in Glenwood City, and members collaborate on faith formation, ministry scheduling, and outreach.
- St. John the Baptist — Glenwood City (757 1st Street)
- St. Bridget — Wilson
- Immaculate Conception — Hammond (cluster partner per Diocese of Superior)
- Cluster Office: 761 1st Street, Glenwood City, WI 54013 — (715) 265-7133
Parish Outreach
Outreach is a defining feature of life at St. John the Baptist. The parish takes Communion to the local nursing home monthly for Mass and weekly for visits, collects non-perishable food items for the local food pantry, and supports Grace Place shelter for abused mothers and children. Youth bring forward donations for youth programs — both foreign and local — at the offertory procession each week.
- Monthly Mass at the local nursing home
- Weekly Communion visits to the nursing home and homebound parishioners
- Monthly non-perishable food collection for the local food pantry
- Support for Grace Place shelter for abused moms and children
- Youth offertory donations for foreign and local youth programs
- Ecumenical Thanksgiving prayer service
Parish Organizations
Two main lay organizations carry much of the parish's mission and community life. Both are described by the parish as very active in supporting scholarships and church and community needs.
- Council of Catholic Women (CCW) — scholarships, parish needs
- Knights of Columbus — scholarships, parish events, community service
Faith Formation & Religious Education
After St. John School closed in 1970, the parish organized a religious education program to meet the catechetical needs of parish youth. Religious education is coordinated by Deacon Wes (Wesley) Tuttle. The parish continues to serve the spiritual formation of children and youth across the cluster.
- Parish religious education program (since 1970)
- Director/contact: Wesley Tuttle, Religious Leader
- Religious Education office: 753 1st Street, Glenwood City, WI 54013
- Phone: (715) 265-7331
Giving & Stewardship
St. John the Baptist parishioners can give online through the parish website via the "Give Online" button. Online giving links for the cluster's Clear Lake and Wilson parishioners are routed through the Diocese of Superior's direct parish giving portal.
- Online giving via the jbjsaints.com "Give Online" button (Glenwood City parishioners)
- Diocese of Superior direct parish giving portal for Clear Lake and Wilson parishioners
- Mass intention stipend increased to $20 effective July 1, 2024
Visit & Contact
Visitors are warmly welcomed at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. The cluster office is open Monday through Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. to noon, and can assist with sacramental scheduling, registrations, and parish records updates.
- Address: 757 1st Street, Glenwood City, WI 54013
- Mailing address: 761 1st Street, Glenwood City, WI 54013
- Phone: (715) 265-7133
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.jbjsaints.com/
- Cluster Office Hours: Monday–Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. – Noon (summer hours may vary)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. August Douven1900–
First resident pastor; arrived fall of 1900