About St. Joseph · Elk Mound, Wisconsin
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a small-town Roman Catholic parish in the Village of Elk Mound, Wisconsin, in the Chippewa Valley region. The parish belongs to the Diocese of La Crosse and sits in the Eau Claire Deanery. Today it is a community of around 150 families that worships at its third church building, dedicated in 1975 along U.S. Highway 12 on the west end of the village. Mass is offered six days a week, with a Saturday vigil, a Sunday morning Mass, and weekday morning liturgies, along with Friday Eucharistic Adoration and a regular Rosary devotion.
- Established
- 1885
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Timothy J. Welles
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse (Eau Claire Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a faithful, family-sized parish in the heart of the Chippewa Valley with the rhythm of a classic country Catholic parish: a Saturday vigil and Sunday morning Mass, weekday Mass every morning Monday through Friday, and Friday morning Eucharistic Adoration. The Rosary is prayed fifteen minutes before every Mass, and Confession is offered before each weekend liturgy — making it easy to keep weekly devotions and the Sacrament of Reconciliation as part of ordinary family life. As a parish of around 150 households served by the Diocese of La Crosse, it offers the kind of close-knit community in which parishioners know one another and can get involved in youth ministry, liturgical service, and parish leadership.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM (before Vigil Mass)
- Sunday 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM (before Mass)
Adoration times
- Friday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish History
St. Joseph Parish in Elk Mound was born out of the German Catholic immigration to the Town of Spring Brook in the early 1880s. Bishop Flasch of La Crosse bought land from Peter Mickelbook for $1, the congregation chose St. Joseph as patron, and the first small frame church was completed in 1885. The parish went through three names in its first decade and remained a mission served from neighboring towns for nearly 75 years.
- First church completed 1885 with just 20 pews, built by the founding families.
- Originally called St. Joseph Mission, then Holy Angels of Elk Mound (1889–1895), then St. Joseph Parish from 1895.
- Raised from mission status in 1959.
Church Buildings Through the Years
Three successive churches have served the parish, each reflecting a moment of growth in Elk Mound. The original log-and-frame church sat on what is now the parish cemetery; the 1915 frame church stood at the south end of the village on Highway H; and the present brick church on the west end of town along U.S. 12 was dedicated in 1975.
- 1885: First church built by founding families (20 pews).
- 1915: Second church built at south end of Elk Mound on Highway H, double the size of the first.
- 1975: Third and current church dedicated by Bishop Frecking on November 2, 1975; seats about 250.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by Fr. Timothy J. Welles, who was appointed Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Elk Mound (and the neighboring St. Joseph Parish in Rock Falls) effective July 2, 2019. Parish records have also long listed a parish secretary as part of the staff team.
- Rev. Timothy J. Welles — Pastor (since July 2, 2019)
- Parish Secretary (Carolyn Loechler, listed on older public directories)
Parish Ministries
St. Joseph's ministry life centers on the parish's Sunday and weekday Masses, the Rosary before every liturgy, and youth ministry. The parish also maintains the historic St. Joseph Cemetery, the resting place of many of the original founding families.
- St. Joseph's Youth Group
- Rosary devotion (15 minutes before every Mass)
- First Friday devotion
- St. Joseph Cemetery (historic parish cemetery at the site of the first 1885 church)
Diocese & Deanery
St. Joseph Parish belongs to the Diocese of La Crosse and is one of the parishes of the Eau Claire Deanery in west-central Wisconsin.
- Diocese of La Crosse
- Eau Claire Deanery
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. A. T. Thomecirca 1924
Pastored from Chippewa Falls while the parish was still a small mission.
- Rev. Henry R. HoerburgerApril 4, 1989 – October 18, 2005
Became Senior Priest in 2005; also served as Pastor of St. Joseph, Rock Falls and St. John the Baptist, Cooks Valley (1995–96); died October 2, 2016.
- Rev. Joseph C. Nakwahuntil July 2, 2019
Later reassigned to St. Patrick, Halder and Sacred Heart, Cassel; released July 1, 2025 to return to his home diocese.
- Rev. Timothy J. WellesJuly 2, 2019 – present
Appointed Pastor of St. Joseph in Elk Mound and St. Joseph in Rock Falls, effective July 2, 2019.