St. John the Evangelist

About St. John the Evangelist Parish

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Parish serves roughly 500 families in the village of Spring Green, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of Madison. The parish is part of the River Valley area, about 40 miles northwest of Madison, and is paired with St. Luke Parish in Plain as one pastorate — Saints Joachim & Anne Pastorate. Mass is celebrated at the parish church on N. Washington Street in Spring Green, with additional services at The Meadows and Greenway Manor nursing homes on Wednesdays. The parish supports both a Catholic grade school (St. John's School, 4K-5) and a Religious Education program for grades 1-11.

History

Catholic families first arrived in Spring Green in 1857, working on the railroad. The first Mass was said in 1860 at the home of Murtah Brennan by Father Stroker of Mazomanie. A block for church and school had been donated by Albert Daley, Garwood Green, and A. G. Darwin, and a small frame Catholic church was erected in 1866. From 1875 until 1902 the congregation was attended by priests residing at Plain. In 1900 a brick church was built at a cost of $8,200 — much of the labor donated by parishioners — and in 1902 Rev. J. L. Schumacher became Spring Green's first resident pastor.

• 1857 — First Catholic families arrive in Spring Green
• 1860 — First Mass offered by Father Stroker at the Brennan home
• 1866 — Small frame church erected under Rev. D. V. McGinnity
• 1875 — Spring Green formally incorporated as St. John Evangelist's Catholic Congregation
• 1900 — Brick church built ($8,200)
• 1902 — Rev. J. L. Schumacher becomes first resident pastor
• 1909 — Rev. J. B. Brudermanns serves a congregation of about 520
• 1988 — Original brick church destroyed by fire
• Present church designed by William Wesley Peters of Taliesin Architects

Architecture & Sacred Art

The present St. John the Evangelist church was built after the 1900 brick church was destroyed by fire in 1988. The new building was designed by William Wesley Peters of Taliesin Architects — the firm founded by Frank Lloyd Wright — and several elements salvaged from the previous church were incorporated into the new structure. The Tabernacle, the lamb carving on the wooden altar, and the stained glass in the greeting area and above the Tabernacle all came from the old building. The icons in the church were written by David Giffey, a local Spring Green artist.

• Architect: William Wesley Peters of Taliesin Architects (Frank Lloyd Wright's firm)
• Salvaged Tabernacle and stained glass from the 1900 brick church
• Wooden altar with lamb carving from the original building
• Icons by David Giffey, local Spring Green artist

Clergy & Staff

The parish is currently served as part of the Saints Joachim & Anne Pastorate. The Parochial Administrator is Rev. Fr. Luke Syse, with Rev. Kumud Chand Nayak serving as Parochial Vicar. Father John Silva previously served as pastor of both St. John the Evangelist and St. Luke's in Plain, having been ordained June 5, 2004. Parish and school staff include Allison Stroud (principal of St. John's School), Barb Ferguson (St. John's office assistant), Heather Faber (parish administrative assistant), Caitlin Opatik (parish office administrator), Amanda Olson (K-5 faith formation), and Kami Clary (middle school and high school faith formation).

• Rev. Fr. Luke Syse — Parochial Administrator ([email protected])
• Rev. Kumud Chand Nayak — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
• Father John Silva — former pastor; ordained 2004; previously Diocese of Evansville
• Allison Stroud — Principal, St. John's School ([email protected])
• Heather Faber — Parish Administrative Assistant
• Caitlin Opatik — Parish Office Administrator
• Barb Ferguson — St. John's Office Assistant ([email protected])
• Amanda Olson — K-5 Faith Formation
• Kami Clary — Middle School & High School Faith Formation

Saints Joachim & Anne Pastorate

St. John the Evangelist is linked with St. Luke Parish in Plain, St. Patrick in Loreto, and additional mission sites at Lime Ridge and Mill Creek under the Saints Joachim & Anne Pastorate. The two parishes share programs and staff: Father Luke Syse is the Parochial Administrator and Father Kumud Chand Nayak is the Parochial Vicar for the pastorate. St. Luke's hosts its own Catholic grade school (4K-8); fifth-grade graduates of St. John's School are encouraged to continue on at St. Luke's for grades 6-8.

• Linked parish: St. Luke, Plain (4:00 PM Saturday Vigil Mass)
• Sister parish: St. Patrick, Loreto (7:30 AM Sunday Mass)
• Shared programs and staff across the pastorate
• St. Luke School (4K-8) with Principal Diane Mueller
• St. John's School (4K-5) with Principal Allison Stroud

Faith Formation & School

St. John the Evangelist supports both a parish school and a parish Religious Education program. St. John's School serves grades 4K through 5 under Principal Allison Stroud, with roughly 85 students; Allison Stroud has led the school since July 2022 and emphasizes a welcoming, academically rigorous, and faith-filled environment. The Religious Education program covers Grades 1 through 11, led by Amanda Olson (K-5) and Kami Clary (Middle School and High School). Each summer the pastorate hosts Totus Tuus, a Catholic youth camp, at St. Luke's.

• St. John's School (4K-5) — Principal Allison Stroud — phone (608) 588-9372
• Religious Education program — Grades 1-11
• Amanda Olson — K-5 Faith Formation
• Kami Clary — Middle School & High School Faith Formation
• Totus Tuus summer youth camp at St. Luke's

Outreach & Community

The parish extends its ministry to local care facilities with Word/Communion Services at The Meadows (9:30 AM Wednesdays) and Greenway Manor (10:00 AM Wednesdays), bringing the Eucharist to elderly and infirm parishioners. The Saints Joachim & Anne Pastorate holds community events such as the annual St. Luke's Church Festival, featuring live polka music (e.g. Barefoot Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen), food, kids' games and a bounce house. Parishioners can also stay in touch through the pastorate's Flocknote sign-up for news and updates.

• Communion services to The Meadows and Greenway Manor
• St. Luke's Church Festival (annual)
• Totus Tuus youth camp
• Flocknote parish communications
• "Drink the Word" sessions with Fr. Kumud