About St. Joseph · Big Bend, Wisconsin
St. Joseph Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic faith community in the Village of Big Bend, Wisconsin, within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The parish operates alongside St. Joseph School, a 3K-through-8th-grade Catholic school on the same campus, sharing a mission to form disciples 'from newborn to senior' in faith, friendship, and the sacraments. The parish is known for its active Youth Discipleship Ministry (YDM), its parish school, and a vibrant community life that includes Eucharistic Adoration, a Knights of Columbus council, and seasonal traditions like the annual Corpus Christi procession through the streets of Big Bend.
- Established
- 1872
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Andy Kysely
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. Joseph's offers a close-knit Catholic community where families, children, and seniors can grow together in faith. With daily and weekend Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, regular Reconciliation, a 3K-through-8th-grade Catholic school on-site, a robust Youth Discipleship Ministry (YDM) for ages 4K through 12th grade, adult faith formation and small groups, OCIA, a Knights of Columbus council, and pastoral ministries serving the bereaved, the sick, and those in need, the parish is a place where the life of the Church is lived out beyond Sunday — 'a family for each other' where everyone, newborn to senior, can grow in faith, friendship, and the sacraments.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays: 3:00–3:30 PM
- Wednesdays: 4:30–5:30 PM
- By appointment — contact the Parish Office
Adoration times
- Wednesdays: 4:30 PM–6:00 PM (before the 6:00 PM Mass)
- First Fridays: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (in the chapel)
Parish History
St. Joseph's story begins in 1872 in Lake Denoon as a mission of St. Mary's in Hales Corners, rebuilt after an 1877 fire, relocated in 1922 to the village of Big Bend, and rebuilt again in 1953 on its current Milwaukee Avenue site after a third fire. The 1924 cornerstone survives on the parish grounds, and the original 1950s structure has been repurposed for parish meeting rooms and classrooms.
- 1872 — Twenty-five people build a frame church in Lake Denoon, a mission of St. Mary's, Hales Corners
- 1877 — First church burns and is rebuilt the same year
- 1922 — Parish relocates west to the village 'by the big bend in the mighty Fox River' (Big Bend)
- 1924 — Fieldstone church built at Maple Avenue & Jackson Parkway, using stone gathered locally
- 1953 — Fire destroys the 1924 church; it is moved and rebuilt on the current Milwaukee Avenue property
- Today — The 1924 cornerstone rests near the carport entrance; the original 1950s structure now houses the Matthew, Mark, Luke and John meeting rooms, K4/K5 classrooms, and the school office
Clergy & Parish Leadership
St. Joseph is served by a pastor, a parish deacon, and a team of lay staff who run the parish office, business operations, faith formation, and the parish school. The Pastoral Council — fourteen members including the pastor, two parish trustees, and nine adult members serving three-year terms — oversees all aspects of parish life and meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month.
- Pastor: Fr. Andy Kysely
- Parish Deacon: Deacon Rick Brown
- Business Manager: Patty Bollis
- Administrative Assistant: Terry Sommers
- Director of Youth Discipleship Ministry: Erika Evans ([email protected], 262-662-3317)
- School Principal: Michael Brown
- Pastoral Council standing committees: Formation, Human Concerns, School, Stewardship, Worship
- Finance Council provides guidance to the pastor on budget development and resource allocation
Faith Formation & Youth Discipleship (YDM)
Faith Formation at St. Joseph is organized under 'Youth Discipleship Ministry' (YDM), directed by Erika Evans. YDM serves the entire parish community — from 4K through high school — with sacramental preparation, retreats, service projects, and special events, while parents remain the primary educators of their children.
- Children (4K–6th Grade): meet on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month during the school year, with Sunday Mass included
- Youth (7th–12th Grade), including Confirmation students: meet every 1st and 3rd Sunday evening during the school year
- Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist is parish-based, typically during 2nd grade (the age of reason in the Church)
- Confirmation preparation generally occurs during the sophomore/junior year of high school
- Adult Faith Formation includes Bible studies, video series, discussion groups, and the parish-wide 'Journey Through the Catechism of the Catholic Church' via the Ascension Foundations of Faith program
Adult Faith Life & Small Groups
St. Joseph offers multiple ways for adults to grow in faith beyond Sunday Mass — from structured programs like OCIA to informal small groups and men's fellowship — all rooted in the belief that 'a personal relationship with Jesus starts with His invitation to all and is fulfilled in baptism, knowledge of scriptures, and a complete prayer and sacramental life.'
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (for the unbaptized, baptized in another tradition, or Catholics seeking Eucharist/Confirmation)
- Faith Sharing Small Groups — meet throughout the year, with emphasis during Advent and Lent
- Dynamic Men's Group — meets every Monday at 7:00 PM, focused on growth in faith, knowledge, and relationships
- Formed — online Catholic resource accessible from home
St. Joseph School
St. Joseph School is a parish-based Catholic school on the same campus, offering 3K through 8th grade, plus an on-site After School Kids (ASK) program. The school is led by Principal Michael Brown and is described by staff as 'a warm, faith-filled community where children feel safe, supported and inspired to grow.'
- Programs: 3K, 4K, and K5 through 8th grade
- Birthday cutoff for preschool: September 1 (3K must be 3 by Sept. 1; 4K must be 4 by Sept. 1)
- After School Kids (ASK) program — in-house extended care until 5:00 PM on school days, led by staff
- School day: 7:30 AM–3:00 PM (school days); summer office hours Thursdays 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Enrollment requires a registration form and a $100 nonrefundable registration fee
- Tuition assistance may be available (Wisconsin Choice program does not offer tuition assistance for 3K)
Parish Ministries & Service
Ministries at St. Joseph are the ways the parish answers the Lord's call to serve — spanning liturgy, pastoral care, outreach, and fraternal service. They are grouped under Liturgical Ministry, Pastoral Ministry, and outreach organizations like the Knights of Columbus, and are open to parishioners who want to share their time and talent.
- Knights of Columbus — St. Joseph Council #13733 (meets 1–2x/month; service projects, food drives, Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, Breakfast with Santa)
- Liturgical Ministry: Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, Greeters, Lectors, Liturgical Environment, Music Ministry (choir, cantors, instrumentalists), Processional Cross Bearers, Ushers
- Bereavement Ministry — assists at funerals and coordinates the Annual Mass of Remembrance
- Funeral Luncheon Ministry — provides reception for families of the deceased
- Human Concerns Ministry — social justice, direct service, education, and social action
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — meets 2nd Monday of the month, 5:00–6:30 PM in the gathering space; knits shawls and mittens
- Christ in Action Ministry — prayer, formation, service, hospitality, greeters, small group discussion
Sacraments at St. Joseph
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments, with preparation programs rooted in family and parish life. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact the parish office at least six months in advance; adults seeking Baptism, Eucharist, or Confirmation journey through OCIA; and children prepare for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist in 2nd grade.
- Eucharist — source and summit of the Catholic faith; daily and weekend Masses
- Reconciliation — 'No sin is greater than the mercy of God'; offered weekly and during Advent/Lent
- Baptism — celebrated at most weekend Masses; adults via OCIA
- Confirmation — completes initiation as Christians; typically for teens in 10th/11th grade or via OCIA for adults
- Marriage — contact the parish office at least six months in advance; see the St. Joseph Parish Marriage Guidelines Booklet
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
Stewardship & Giving
Stewardship at St. Joseph is 'the way we give generously of our time, talent, and treasure to build up the community and the Kingdom of God.' Volunteer opportunities span faith formation, human concerns, hospitality, liturgical ministry, and pastoral ministry, while giving options support operating funds, tuition assistance, mission trips, human concerns, and special events.
- Time — volunteer across faith formation, human concerns, hospitality, liturgical, and pastoral ministries
- Talent — sign up to serve as a catechist, small group leader, musician, lector, Eucharistic Minister, or behind the scenes
- Treasure — donations to operating funds, tuition assistance, mission trips, human concerns, and special events; online giving available
Contact, Hours & Location
The parish, school, and YDM offices all share the S89 W22650 Milwaukee Avenue campus in Big Bend, with three separate offices and posted hours. Visitors are encouraged to call the parish office at (262) 662-2832 or visit stjoesbb.com for the latest on Mass times, sacraments, and office hours.
- Address: S89 W22650 Milwaukee Ave, Big Bend, WI 53103
- Parish Office: (262) 662-2832 — Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- School Office: 7:30 AM–3:00 PM on school days; summer hours Thursdays 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Youth Discipleship Ministry Office: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed Monday following YDM weekends)
- Website: stjoesbb.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/StJoesBB