About St. Joseph · Rice Lake, Wisconsin
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a historic parish in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, founded in 1880 and now part of the Four Parishes One Faith family of parishes (formed in July 2014, alongside Holy Trinity in Haugen, Our Lady of Lourdes in Dobie, and St. John the Evangelist in Birchwood). The parish belongs to the Diocese of Superior (having been transferred from the Diocese of La Crosse in 1905) and serves the city of Rice Lake and the surrounding Barron County region. The current Gothic-style church, built in 1908 to accommodate a booming lumber-town population, is renowned for its architecture and acoustics, and serves as a hub for Diocesan and local music events. St. Joseph also operates St. Joseph Catholic School, an accredited K-8 institution rooted in the parish since 1890.
- Established
- 1880
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Adam Laski (Parochial Administrator per current directory; parish announcement indicates transition of pastoral leadership effective July 1)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Superior (transferred from the Diocese of La Crosse in 1905)
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers a rich, multi-generational Catholic community in the heart of Rice Lake, with weekend and daily Mass (including a Sunday Spanish Mass), regular Confession, lifelong faith formation for every age from Catechesis of the Good Shepherd through adult OCIA, a thriving Catholic grade school, and a strong outreach presence through the local St. Vincent de Paul Conference. The historic 1908 Gothic church is known for its acoustics and frequently hosts Diocesan and community music events. As part of Four Parishes One Faith, parishioners also have access to the wider worship, formation, and service life of Holy Trinity, Our Lady of Lourdes, and St. John the Evangelist.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday after the 8:30 am Mass
- Saturday at 3:00 pm
Adoration times
- Parish Praise Night — Adoration with praise and worship music following the 5:30 pm Sunday Mass (monthly; next dates posted on parish website)
- Perpetual Adoration Chapels available through the Four Parishes One Faith family
About St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a historic parish in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, organized in 1880 and now part of Four Parishes One Faith — a family of parishes that also includes Holy Trinity (Haugen), Our Lady of Lourdes (Dobie) and St. John the Evangelist (Birchwood). The parish is home to St. Joseph Catholic School, founded in 1890, and worships in a striking 1908 Gothic-style church known for its acoustics and as a host site for Diocesan and community music events. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Superior, having been transferred from the Diocese of La Crosse in 1905.
- Organized 1880; incorporated 1891
- Transferred to the Diocese of Superior in 1905
- Current Gothic church built in 1908; major renovation in 1995
- Member of Four Parishes One Faith since July 2014
Parish History
St. Joseph grew out of a logging-town mission served by visiting priests from Chippewa Falls and then from Our Lady of Lourdes in Dobie. The first Mass in Rice Lake was offered by Father Joseph Dole in 1878 in the old city hall. The parish was organized in 1880, built its first wood-and-brick-veneer church in 1881, and was incorporated in 1891. The first resident pastor, Rev. Michael Schoelch, arrived in 1887, and the parish grew steadily through the lumber-boom years. The present church was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day 1908 and has been continually improved since, most notably with a 1995 renovation that added accessibility features and a Eucharistic chapel while preserving the original Gothic architecture.
- 1878 — first Mass in Rice Lake offered by Father Joseph Dole in the old city hall
- 1880 — parish organized
- 1881 — first church erected (wood and brick veneer)
- 1887 — Rev. Michael Schoelch becomes first resident pastor; parish records begin
- 1889 — first rectory built; 125 families
- 1890 — first Catholic school built (staffed by the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity)
- 1891 — parish incorporated
- 1892 — Rice Lake population reaches 2,500
- 1905 — transferred to the Diocese of Superior
- 1908 — current Gothic church: cornerstone laid July 4; dedicated November 26 (Thanksgiving Day), cost $45,000
- 1936 — kitchen and restrooms added to basement
- 1947 — exterior renovations
- 1950 — cement floor poured in basement for parish hall use
- 1995 — major renovation ($425,000): elevator, Eucharistic chapel, reconciliation chapel, larger gathering space, accessibility upgrades; rededicated August 27, 1995
- 2010 — 967 families in the parish
- 2014 — joins Four Parishes One Faith
Parish Staff and Clergy
St. Joseph is staffed through the Four Parishes One Faith collaborative. The parish office is staffed by a business administrator, secretary, bookkeepers, communications coordinator, and administrative assistant, alongside parish clergy and deacons. A parish announcement on the website also indicates transitions effective July 1, with Fr. Dan Tracy becoming parochial administrator and Fr. Sagar Thomas Kanna becoming parochial vicar, succeeding Fr. Adam Laski and Fr. Isaiah Schick (who is assigned to canon law studies at The Catholic University of America).
- Fr. Adam Laski — Pastor (715-736-3109; [email protected])
- Fr. Isaiah Schick — Parochial Vicar (715-736-3102; [email protected]); ordained May 2023, assigned July 2023
- Fr. Philip Juza — Sacramental Minister (715-736-3108; [email protected])
- Deacon Rod Knight (715-736-3106; [email protected])
- Andre Audette — Director of Worship (715-736-3115; [email protected]); a Rice Lake native and St. Joseph School alum
- Mike Sweeney — Business Administrator
- Shannon Wahl — Secretary
- Rachael Hartman — Administrative Assistant
- Megan Krause — Bookkeeper
- Sandi Sirianni — Bookkeeper
- Roland Flasch — Communications Coordinator (715-736-3106)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious education at Four Parishes One Faith is described as a welcoming, lifelong process of formation for families, children, and adults. Programs span early childhood through high school and include adult initiation.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) — ages 3–9, Montessori-based; held in the atrium in the basement of the Four Parishes/One Faith Administration Offices; suggested donation $40/student or $80/family
- A Family of Faith — grades K–5
- YDisciple — grades 6–12
- Great Adventure Youth Group — 10th–12th graders, 1st Wednesday of each month, 6:00–7:30 pm in the St. Joseph Gym
- Mass & Muffins — every other Thursday at 7:00 am
- High School Hangout — monthly
- High School Core Team — teen leadership track
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, formerly RCIA) — weekly classes in the Community Cup room, lower level of St. Joseph Church, from the beginning of Lent through Easter
- Contact: Kally Hafstad, Director of Religious Education (715-736-3104; [email protected])
Worship and Music
Worship at St. Joseph is led by Director of Worship Andre Audette, a Rice Lake native who began playing piano for Mass in sixth grade at St. Joseph School. The Gothic church is described by the parish as 'a hub for many Diocesan and local music events due to its large size and incredible acoustics,' and Parish Praise Nights bring together adoration and contemporary praise and worship music following the Sunday evening Mass.
- Director of Worship — Andre Audette
- Parish Praise Night — monthly adoration with praise/worship music after the Sunday evening Mass
- Gothic church noted for outstanding acoustics and large size
- Live-streamed liturgies offered through Four Parishes One Faith
Outreach and Charity
St. Joseph is the home of the St. Joseph Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization that serves neighbors in need through home visits, a food pantry and kitchen, disaster relief services, a thrift store that provides meaningful employment and volunteer opportunities, and systemic-change advocacy.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — St. Joseph Conference
- Home Visits
- Food Pantry / Kitchen (non-perishable and fresh goods; hot meals)
- Disaster Relief Services
- Thrift Store
- Voice of the Poor — advocacy and strategies to reduce poverty
- Director — Dana Nelson
- Knights of Columbus
- Prayer chain
St. Joseph Catholic School
St. Joseph School has been a mission of St. Joseph Parish since 1890, originally staffed by the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity of the Holy Family of Alverno. Today the school serves approximately 180 students from 3K through 8th grade, is WRISA-accredited, and partners with Rice Lake Public Schools to provide bus transportation for all students. The school integrates Faith, Knowledge, Worship, and Service into daily life and prepares students to grow as disciples of Christ.
- Founded 1890
- Originally staffed by the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity of the Holy Family of Alverno
- Approximately 180 students, 3K through 8th grade
- WRISA-accredited
- Bus transportation partnership with Rice Lake Public Schools
- Pillars: Faith, Family, Service, Academic Excellence
Four Parishes One Faith
In July 2014, St. Joseph joined with Holy Trinity (Haugen), Our Lady of Lourdes (Dobie), and St. John the Evangelist (Birchwood) to form the Four Parishes One Faith collaborative. The shared parish administration office is located at 111 West Marshall Street in Rice Lake, the same address as St. Joseph Church.
- Holy Trinity — 317 5th St., Haugen, WI 54868
- Our Lady of Lourdes — 2411 23rd St., Rice Lake (Dobie), WI 54868
- St. John the Evangelist — 408 S. Main St., Birchwood, WI
- St. Joseph — 111 W. Marshall St., Rice Lake, WI 54868
- Shared administration office at 111 W. Marshall Street, Rice Lake
- Phone: (715) 234-2032
Visiting and Contact
The Parish Administration Office is located at 111 West Marshall Street, Rice Lake, WI 54868. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, and Friday from 8:30 am to 12:00 noon. The 1995 renovation added an elevator and handicapped-accessible restrooms for visitors with disabilities. The general office email is [email protected].
- Address — 111 West Marshall Street, Rice Lake, WI 54868
- Phone — (715) 234-2032
- Email — [email protected]
- Office hours — Mon–Thu 8:30 am–5:00 pm; Fri 8:30 am–12:00 noon
- Accessibility — elevator, handicapped-accessible restrooms (added 1995)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael Schoelch1887–1888
First resident pastor of St. Joseph; parish records begin September 1887. Remained only eight months before the parish reverted to mission status under Our Lady of Lourdes.