St. John the Evangelist

Parish Identity & Mission

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church identifies itself as part of the Antigo Area Catholic Churches — a tri-parish family also including SS. Mary & Hyacinth (819 3rd Ave, Antigo) and St. Wenceslaus (N5340 Church Rd, Deerbrook). Their shared mission statement reads: 'As friends and followers of Jesus, we are devoted to fostering households and communities of discipleship through the mission and ministry of the Catholic Church.' Their stated vision is to be 'intentional missionary disciples striving to lead all people to the Kingdom of God.'

• Mission: fostering households and communities of discipleship
• Vision: intentional missionary disciples leading all to the Kingdom of God
• Tri-parish model: St. John, SS. Mary & Hyacinth, St. Wenceslaus

History of St. John the Evangelist

Parish life in Antigo began on May 2, 1880, when Rev. Philip St. Louis celebrated the first Catholic Mass in the city inside the log cabin of its founder, Francis A. Deleglise. Mrs. Mary Deleglise donated the land, and by autumn 1882 a two-story frame church had been completed on the present 6th Avenue site. Within a year, Fr. St. Louis had opened a parochial school staffed by Miss Zoe Grignon — the origin of today's All Saints Catholic School. The mission was handed to Rev. Peter J. Lochman in May 1882.

• 1879 — Fr. Philip St. Louis celebrates first Catholic Mass in Langlade County (Phlox)
• May 2, 1880 — First Catholic Mass in Antigo, in the Deleglise log cabin
• 1882 — Two-story frame church completed on 6th Avenue site
• 1882 — Mission transferred to Rev. Peter J. Lochman of Clintonville
• 1883 — Parochial school opened; first teacher Miss Zoe Grignon
• August 3, 2020 — Fr. Joel Sember installed as pastor of the Antigo Area Catholic Churches

Clergy & Staff

• Father Joel Sember — Pastor (since Aug. 3, 2020); ordained 2007 for the Diocese of Green Bay; B.A. Philosophy & Catholic Studies (Univ. of St. Thomas); B.S.T. (Pontifical Gregorian); S.T.L. (Pontifical University Santa Croce, Rome); ordained 2007.
• Father Kamal Gopu — Parochial Vicar (joined 2024); ordained April 13, 2010; previously Director of the Pastoral Centre of his home diocese.
• Deacon Peter Schlegel — seventh of nine children; ordained May 18, 2024; parish facilities manager and bookkeeper for the three parishes since 2016.
• Deacon Andy Bures — ordained May 18, 2013; operates an organic dairy near Antigo with his wife Stephanie.
• Joanna Hilger — Secretary, St. John
• Kristen Rolling — Faith Formation Coordinator (K–12)
• Tracey Minish — Youth Ministry / Faith Formation (Grades 1–12)
• Paul Galuska — Administrator, All Saints Catholic School

Online Mass & Media

The parish livestreams Holy Mass every weekend on its YouTube channel ('YouTube Channel Streaming Holy Mass Every Weekend') and makes recordings available afterward. Father Joel Sember publishes a separate weekly homily audio podcast, Pilgrim Priest, on the web at pilgrgrimpriest.us (also referenced as 'Fr. Joel's Homilies To Go'), which parishioners and visitors can listen to any time.

• Weekly Holy Mass livestream — YouTube
• Pilgrim Priest podcast (pilgrimpriest.us/podcast) — weekly homilies
• Pilgrim Priest blog — pilgrimpriest.us
• Parish Facebook page — information and inspiration
• Online giving through Tithe.ly

All Saints Catholic School

All Saints Catholic School (4K through 8th grade) is the parish's K-8 school, sharing the 6th Avenue block with St. John the Evangelist at 419 6th Ave, Antigo. Its core values are Catholic Identity, Respect, Knowledge, Leadership, and Achievement, and its mission is to provide students the best possible Catholic environment for spiritual, intellectual, and personal growth. The current administrator is Paul Galuska (office 715-623-4835). Wikipedia's Antigo article lists the school under St. John's Catholic Church in Antigo. As of early 2025 the Board of Education is studying a possible hybrid-model Catholic high school addition.

• Grades served: 4K through 8
• Address: 419 6th Ave, Antigo, WI 54409
• Administrator: Paul Galuska — 715-623-4835
• Core values: Catholic Identity, Respect, Knowledge, Leadership, Achievement
• Scrip Office Hours (school year): Mon & Fri Noon–3 PM; Tues–Thurs 8 AM–Noon

Faith Formation & Youth Ministry (K–12)

Tri-Parish Faith Formation (K–12) is run out of the Antigo Area Catholic Churches and serves families at all three parishes. Kristen Rolling is the Faith Formation Coordinator (K–12), and Tracey Minish coordinates youth ministry (Grades 1–12). The program emphasizes 'a life-changing encounter with Jesus through authentic faith formation,' using the Kerygma discipleship curriculum at multiple age levels (K–2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9–11) and publishing separate schedules for Religious Education (Grades 1–8) and Confirmation preparation (Grades 10–11). First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation, with retreats and registration forms, are offered each year.

• Coordinator K–12: Kristen Rolling — [email protected] — 715-623-5255
• Youth Ministry 1–12: Tracey Minish — [email protected] — 715-623-5255
• First Reconciliation & First Communion retreat schedule published yearly
• Confirmation preparation 10th & 11th grade
• Kerygma curriculum at K–2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, and 9–11 grade levels

Sacraments

Information about Baptism, Confirmation, First Reconciliation, First Communion, Marriage, and other sacraments is published on the parish's Sacraments page. First Communion and Confirmation have dedicated retreats and registration forms each year. Adult Faith Formation Opportunities are advertised on the home page for parishioners wanting to deepen their faith.

• Baptism
• First Reconciliation (First Communion preparation)
• First Holy Communion
• Confirmation (10th & 11th grade)
• Confession / Reconciliation (Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday)
• Marriage preparation and Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office

Outreach, Safety & Giving

The Antigo Area Catholic Churches operate a Safe Environment program and an Awareness Incident Reporting System, and adults 13 and older are welcome to participate. Online giving is available through Tithe.ly, with the option to designate gifts to St. John, SS. Mary & Hyacinth, or St. Wenceslaus.

• Safe Environment program
• Awareness Incident Reporting System (adults 13+)
• Online giving via Tithe.ly — designate to St. John
• Printed monthly church calendar

Visit, Office & Contact

The Saint John parish office is at 415 6th Ave, Antigo, WI 54409 and is open Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed Fridays); summer hours are also Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The general parish phone is 715-623-2024 and email is [email protected]. Father Joel can be reached directly at [email protected].

• Address: 415 6th Ave, Antigo, WI 54409
• Parish phone: 715-623-2024
• Parish email: [email protected]
• Pastor email: [email protected]
• Office hours: Mon–Thurs 8 AM–4 PM (closed Fridays)