About St. Joseph · Stevens Point, Wisconsin
St. Joseph Parish is a Catholic parish in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, founded in 1884 by German-speaking Catholics who had outgrown the multilingual St. Stephen congregation. Today it shares a joint pastoral team and website ("Point Catholic Faith") with neighboring St. Stephen Parish and belongs to the Diocese of La Crosse. With the mission statement "Together in faith we worship, serve, and proclaim the Word of God," the parish serves the community at 1709 Wyatt Avenue through weekend and weekday Masses, Holy Hours, faith formation, youth ministry, and a network of parish councils and committees.
- Established
- 1884
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Jeffrey W. Hennes
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers the rhythms of a close-knit parish family — weekend Mass on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, weekday Masses on Tuesday and Thursday, a weekly Holy Hour, and Sunday confessions — alongside a strong formation program for public-school families led by a Director of Religious Education. Parishioners are welcomed into active councils and committees (Pastoral, Finance, Sacred Worship, Family Life, Education, and Justice & Peace) so that members of every age and background can help shape the parish's life of worship and service.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Following the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 7:00–8:00 a.m. (Holy Hour)
- Thursday: 7:00–8:00 a.m. (Holy Hour)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Joseph Parish is one of two Catholic parishes that share the 'Point Catholic Faith' pastoral team in Stevens Point, Wisconsin — the other being St. Stephen. Its stated mission is: 'Together in faith we worship, serve, and proclaim the Word of God.' The parish sees itself as a community of believers who live 'Together in Faith' through faith, liturgy, sacraments, and service.
- Mission: Together in faith we worship, serve, and proclaim the Word of God.
- Partner parish: St. Stephen Parish (joint website and staff at pointcatholicfaith.org).
- Diocese: La Crosse (joined January 1946).
History of St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph was founded in 1884 by German-speaking Catholics from St. Stephen, with Bishop Francis Xavier Krautbauer of Green Bay presiding at the incorporation. The first church was dedicated that November. Fire destroyed the church on October 26, 1915; the present church and rectory were built in 1916 (cornerstone May 25, 1916; dedicated December 17, 1916). A parish school was funded in 1940, and in January 1946 the parish became part of the new Diocese of La Crosse.
- 1884: Parish incorporated; groundbreaking July 9; church dedicated November 16.
- October 26, 1915: Church destroyed by fire.
- 1916: New church and rectory built; dedicated December 17.
- 1940: Parish school funded and built.
- January 1946: Transferred to the Diocese of La Crosse.
- November 22, 2009: 125th anniversary celebrated under Fr. Alan Burkhardt.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a joint clergy and lay staff that also ministers to St. Stephen Parish. Day-to-day parish operations, faith formation, music and liturgy, and facility care are coordinated through a single office team.
- Rev. Jeffrey W. Hennes — Pastor (appointed 2019) — [email protected]
- Rev. Daniel Williams — Associate Pastor — [email protected]
- Deacon Mike Horgan
- Kristi Vuorinen — Office Manager
- Kris Hansen — Pastoral Minister for St. Joseph
- Christine Sommers — Director of Religious Education
- Wendy Voss — Reception
- Walter Belsha — Custodial (St. Joseph)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education at St. Joseph (in cooperation with St. Stephen) is directed by Christine Sommers, DRE. The program serves public-school families in Grades 1–11, with Confirmation preparation coordinated for Pacelli Catholic Schools families. Registration forms, a comprehensive medical release, and Flocknote-based family communication are available through the parish office.
- Director of Religious Education: Christine Sommers ([email protected], ext. 104).
- Public School Religious Education for Grades 1–11.
- Confirmation preparation for Pacelli families.
- Flocknote used as the main communication tool for St. Stephen Grades 1–8 and Confirmation.
- Safe Environment Training available for parents.
Youth Ministry
The Point Catholic Faith youth program serves young parishioners from both St. Joseph and St. Stephen. Activities are coordinated through the DRE and shared with families parish-wide.
- Chalk St. Joseph's Walk (annual youth event).
- Contact: Christine Sommers, ext. 104 or [email protected].
Parish Councils & Committees
Under the leadership of the pastor, St. Joseph maintains a network of councils and committees that give shape to parish life — from worship and formation to finances and family life. Members are listed on the parish website.
- Pastoral Council — consultative body to the pastor (members include Fr. Jeffrey Hennes, Rich Boden, Jean Brazzale, Sally Dehlinger, Kris Hansen, Tim Higgins, John Lutz, Ellen Miskowski, Luke Wachowiak).
- Finance Council — budgeting, financial planning, and policy (Mike Bialas, Mike Brandl, Terri Chang, John Droske, Kevin Shibilski, Bill Wallner).
- Sacred Worship Committee — quality of liturgies and liturgical volunteers.
- Family Life Committee — fostering Christian family values and parish connection.
- Education Committee — mission: 'To Lead all Souls to Christ by fostering the educational elements in the People of God.'
- Justice & Peace Committee — outreach and social concerns.
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
Parishioners and visitors can reach the St. Joseph office at 715-341-1617 or [email protected]. The two parishes share staff and split office coverage between the St. Joseph and St. Stephen campuses throughout the week.
- Address: 1709 Wyatt Ave., Stevens Point, WI 54481.
- Phone: 715-341-1617.
- Bulletin submissions: [email protected] (due Monday at 12 p.m.).
- Office hours — Tuesday & Thursday 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. at St. Joseph; Wednesday & Friday 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. at St. Stephen; Monday closed.
Diocese & Wider Church Connection
St. Joseph Parish is listed on the Diocese of La Crosse's official parish directory, and the parish website links to diocesan resources for live and pre-recorded Masses. The parish has been part of the La Crosse diocese since January 1946, when it was created out of the Diocese of Green Bay.
- Diocese of La Crosse parish listing: diolc.org/st-joseph-parish-stevens-point/.
- Diocese live Mass and pre-recorded Mass resources: diolc.org/live.
- YouTube worship aids: youtube.com/channel/UCXlTiU03tx0F6FeKzE7E1ew.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. A. J. Abb (acting pastor of the new congregation)1884–1886
Assistant to Fr. Nicholas July at St. Stephen; led St. Joseph at its founding and through the 1884 dedication.
- Rev. Nicholas July
Pastor of St. Stephen who advised the German Catholics to form their own parish and celebrated the 1884 dedication.
- Msgr. Henry J. Ehr1902–1957
Longest-tenured pastor (55 years); oversaw rebuilding after the 1915 fire and the 1940 school project.
- Fr. LeRoy Keegan1957–1965
- Msgr. James P. Finucan1965–1973
Arrived in 1965 and ushered in a period of rapid change.
- Fr. James Falconer1973–1976
- Fr. William Nikolai1976–1979
- Fr. Lyle Schulte1979–1996
Oversaw construction of the Parish Family Center in 1994.
- Fr. Alan Burkhardt1996–2010
Pastor during the 125th anniversary celebration on November 22, 2009.
- Fr. Jerzy Rebacz2010–2019
- Fr. Jeffrey Hennes2019–present
Current pastor.