About St. Joseph · Champion, Wisconsin
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Champion, Wisconsin is a small, close-knit Roman Catholic parish founded in 1862 by Belgian immigrants — Flemish and Walloon — from Grez-Doiceau. Known as 'the mother of all the Belgian Parishes of the Door Peninsula,' it is named in honor of St. Joseph, the Patron Saint of Belgium, and is celebrated today for its warm community life, beautiful stained-glass windows, and traditional ministries. Today St. Joseph is one of three linked parishes (alongside St. Kilian in New Franken and St. Thomas the Apostle in Humboldt) that together form 'Three Catholic Churches' within the Diocese of Green Bay. The parish offers Sunday Mass, weekday Mass, a quilting circle, blood drives, care ministry, faith formation, and a vibrant parish picnic and 'Trunk or Treat' tradition.
- Established
- 1862
- Patron
- St. Joseph (Patron Saint of Belgium)
- Rector
- Fr. Patrick Beno
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a small, close-knit Belgian-heritage Catholic parish where every parishioner can know one another by name and put their faith into practice. The parish offers the Sacraments and Sunday Mass in a beautiful stained-glass setting, alongside a rich tapestry of lay ministries — liturgical roles like lectors, sacristans, extraordinary ministers, greeters, and ushers, plus outreach such as a quilting circle, blood drives, Holy Communion to the sick and homebound, and the Seven Sisters Apostolate. Community events like the annual St. Joseph Parish picnic and 'Trunk or Treat' knit families together across generations, and being part of the 'Three Catholic Churches' cluster means parishioners also share resources, faith formation, and pastoral staff with St. Kilian and St. Thomas the Apostle.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 7:30 AM at St. Joseph
- First Friday of each month at 5:00 PM at St. Thomas the Apostle
Adoration times
- Friday 7:00 AM – 7:45 AM (First Friday of the month)
St. Joseph Parish — A Belgian-Origin Catholic Community in Champion, Wisconsin
St. Joseph Parish in Champion, Brown County, is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Green Bay and one of three linked parishes — with St. Kilian in New Franken and St. Thomas the Apostle in Humboldt — that share a single pastoral team under the 'Three Catholic Churches' banner. Founded in 1862 by Walloon and Flemish Belgian immigrants from Grez-Doiceau, the parish is today described by its members as 'a small, close-knit community' inspired by the example of its patron, St. Joseph. Sunday Mass is offered at 9:00 AM in a worship space noted for its stained-glass windows.
- Founded 1862 on 5 acres donated by Jean Joseph Delveaux
- Named for St. Joseph, Patron Saint of Belgium
- Diocese of Green Bay, in the 'Peninsula' deanery
- Linked parishes: St. Kilian (New Franken) and St. Thomas the Apostle (Humboldt)
History of St. Joseph Parish
Belgian immigrants from Grez-Doiceau settled in northeastern Wisconsin on May 18, 1853 in an area they first called 'Grez-Daems.' In 1862, with the building of a log church on land donated by Jean Joseph Delveaux, the settlement took the name 'Aux Premiers Belges' (The First Belgians) and the parish was canonically established. The first resident pastor, Rev. G. Wilkens, served from September 21, 1862 to February 1864. In 1877 the log church burned during a major storm; the resulting Flemish–Walloon dispute over its rebuilding led to the founding of St. Martin Church in Tonet. Father Lambert Broens, O. Praem., began a 90-year tenure of Norbertine pastors at St. Joseph in May 1894. Father Milo Smits oversaw the 1922 rectory and 1936 rebuilding of the church. In 1992 St. Martin was merged back into St. Joseph, and in 2005 the parish was linked with St. Kilian and St. Thomas the Apostle.
- 1853 – First Belgian immigrants from Grez-Doiceau settle 'Grez-Daems'
- 1862 – Log church built; parish named St. Joseph
- 1862–1864 – Rev. G. Wilkens, first resident pastor
- 1877 – Original log church destroyed by fire and storm
- 1881 – Walloons complete the new St. Joseph church in April
- 1894 – Norbertine priests begin serving St. Joseph (until 1984)
- 1922 – Rectory built
- 1936 – Church essentially rebuilt under Father Milo Smits
- 1992 – St. Martin, Tonet merged into St. Joseph; linked with St. Kilian
- 2002 – Modern social hall constructed under Fr. Milton Suess
- 2005 – St. Joseph linked with St. Kilian and St. Thomas the Apostle
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation across the three linked parishes is coordinated by Becky Livingstone (Faith Formation Coordinator) with a Faith Formation Administrative Assistant supporting the program. The shared Faith Formation office is reached through the Three Catholic Churches parish number (920-863-6113) and at [email protected]. Liturgical ministry volunteers — lectors, extraordinary ministers, altar servers, sacristans, greeters, and ministers of hospitality — also train and serve through the Faith Formation office.
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Becky Livingstone
- Contact: 920-863-6113 / [email protected]
- Training provided for all liturgical ministers
Liturgical Ministries
St. Joseph's liturgical ministries are filled entirely by trained lay parishioners. Volunteers are confirmed Catholics who, if married, must be in a Church-blessed marriage. Each role is described in detail on the parish website: Altar Servers assist the priest during Mass after training; Extraordinary Ministers offer the Precious Body and Blood of Christ; Lectors proclaim the Word of God; Greeters welcome worshippers at the doors; Sacristans arrange liturgical books, vestments, and vessels in a prayerful manner; Ministers of Hospitality create a welcoming atmosphere; and Ushers greet visitors, direct communion lines, take up the collection, and help maintain safe entrances (shoveling or salting as needed). To volunteer, parishioners contact Becky Livingstone at the parish office.
- Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Greeters
- Sacristans
- Ministers of Hospitality
- Ushers
Care Ministry Outreach and Bereavement
The Care Ministry at the Three Catholic Churches is rooted in the parish mission: 'a people called by God and empowered by the Spirit to continue the work of Jesus … through a listening presence, to the needs of others as a continuation of Jesus' ministry of healing.' Care Ministers are trained (with training coordinated by the Care Ministry Coordinator and the Diocese of Green Bay) to bring a 'sacred listening presence' to those facing crisis, trauma, or personal loss. Ministers of Care also visit the ill, homebound, and handicapped in their homes and in area nursing homes, administer Holy Communion, share prayers, and offer comfort. A Bereavement ministry accompanies those who grieve. Volunteers can reach the program at 920-863-6113 or [email protected].
- Care Ministry Outreach (crisis, trauma, personal loss)
- Ministers of Care — visits to homes and nursing homes
- Bereavement Ministry
- Seven Sisters Apostolate
Parish Life, Fellowship, and Outreach
Beyond the sanctuary, St. Joseph parishioners maintain a busy life of fellowship and service. The parish history page highlights its 'many outreach programs, such as working our blood drives, administering Holy Communion to the sick and homebound, and participating in our quilting circle.' Parishioners serve on the Social Committee, Finance Council, Pastoral Council, and Hospitality Council. Community-wide celebrations include the annual St. Joseph Parish picnic and a 'Trunk or Treat' gathering each fall — beloved traditions that knit the small parish together across generations.
- Blood drives
- Quilting Circle
- Social Committee
- Finance Council
- Pastoral Council
- Hospitality Council
- Annual St. Joseph Parish picnic
- Annual 'Trunk or Treat'
Three Catholic Churches — Linked Parish Cluster
Since 2005, St. Joseph has been formally linked with St. Kilian Catholic Church in New Franken and St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Humboldt. The three parishes share one pastoral team, one business office, one website (threecatholicchurches.com), one faith-formation program, and a unified weekend Mass schedule. Mailing for all three parishes goes to 5930 Humboldt Rd., Luxemburg, WI 54217-9325. This clustering reflects the rural nature of the area and helps sustain vibrant Catholic life in each worship site.
- St. Joseph, Champion — 5996 County Rd K, Champion, WI 54229
- St. Kilian, New Franken — 2508 St Kilian Rd, New Franken, WI 54229
- St. Thomas the Apostle, Humboldt — 5930 Humboldt Rd, Luxemburg, WI 54217
- Shared office: 5930 Humboldt Rd., Luxemburg, WI 54217-9325
Contact, Staff, and Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors can reach the Three Catholic Churches office by phone at (920) 863-6113 or by email at [email protected]. The contact page lists Fr. Patrick Beno as Pastor, Mike Mleziva as Business Manager, Annette Simonar as Minister of Hospitality and Bookkeeper, Becky Livingstone as Faith Formation Coordinator, and Nancy Metzler as Pastoral Ministry / Discipleship Coordinator. The parish invites involvement through a 'Time and Talent' form, and encourages anyone interested in liturgical or care ministries to call the parish office.
- Pastor: Fr. Patrick Beno
- Business Manager: Mike Mleziva
- Minister of Hospitality & Bookkeeper: Annette Simonar
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Becky Livingstone
- Pastoral Ministry / Discipleship Coordinator: Nancy Metzler
- Phone: 920-863-6113
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. G. Wilkens1862–1864
First resident pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Champion; administered the first baptismal records on September 21, 1862.
- Father Bernard H. Pennings, O. Praem.1893–
Arrived November 1893 with Father Lambert Broens as advance party of what became the Norbertine Community in North America.
- Father Lambert Broens, O. Praem.May 1894–
Appointed pastor of St. Joseph's in May 1894; began a 90-year tenure (1894–1984) of Norbertine priests at the parish.
- Father Milo Smits, O. Praem.
Master gardener, musician, and 'charismatic shepherd'; oversaw the 1922 rectory and 1936 rebuilding of the church; personally landscaped the parish grounds.
- Rev. Florian Resheske
Closed and merged St. Martin Church in Tonet into St. Joseph in 1992; established the linkage of St. Joseph with St. Kilian.
- Fr. Milton Suess
Instrumental in the 2002 construction of a modern social hall at St. Joseph.