About St. Lawrence · Alma, Wisconsin
St. Lawrence Parish is a small Catholic parish in Alma, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of La Crosse. Founded in 1890, it serves the river-town community of Alma in Buffalo County and is part of the three-parish 'Tres Ecclesiae' cluster alongside Immaculate Conception in Fountain City and St. Boniface in Waumandee. The parish is pastored by Fr. Albert (Rev. Albert Antonysamy), who was officially installed as pastor of the cluster by Bishop Gerard W. Battersby in May 2026. Worship is celebrated in English, with Sunday Mass live-streamed through the Diocese of La Crosse.
- Established
- 1890
- Patron
- Saint Lawrence (martyr, deacon of Rome; feast day August 10)
- Rector
- Rev. Albert Antonysamy (Fr. Albert)
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse (Arcadia Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Lawrence offers a close-knit rural parish community in the heart of Alma's historic South Second Street, with weekday and Sunday Mass, weekly adoration, Sunday confessions before Mass, and a quilting group that meets twice a month. As part of the Tres Ecclesiae cluster, the parish shares religious education, sacramental preparation (including RCIA), and faith formation with sister parishes in Fountain City and Waumandee — giving small-town parishioners the support of a larger Catholic family while keeping worship local.
Mass times at St. Lawrence
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30 am (before the 8:00 am Mass)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 7:00 am – 8:00 am (before the 8:00 am Mass)
About St. Lawrence Parish
St. Lawrence Parish is a small Catholic parish in Alma, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of La Crosse. Founded in 1890, it serves the historic Mississippi River town of Alma in Buffalo County and is one of three parishes in the 'Tres Ecclesiae' cluster, alongside Immaculate Conception in Fountain City and St. Boniface in Waumandee. The cluster shares clergy, staff, religious education, and a single bulletin, while each parish keeps its own Mass schedule and parish identity.
- Founded 1890
- Part of the Tres Ecclesiae cluster (Alma / Fountain City / Waumandee)
- Diocese of La Crosse — Arcadia Deanery
History
St. Lawrence was established in 1890 to serve the small river town of Alma, which had grown up as a lumber port and wheat-shipping community along the upper Mississippi in the 1800s. The church at 206 South Second Street is recorded as a contributing structure within Alma's National Register historic district, which preserves much of the town's 1870s–1880s streetscape. Today the parish lives within the Tres Ecclesiae cluster model, and on May 24, 2026, Bishop Gerard W. Battersby formally installed Fr. Albert (Rev. Albert Antonysamy) as pastor of the three parishes.
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is served by a small cluster staff. Fr. Albert, the pastor, was officially installed for the cluster in May 2026. Connie Sweno serves as Office Administrator for the three parishes, and Carrie Venner-Adams serves as Director of Religious Education, coordinating faith formation for the cluster.
- Fr. Albert (Rev. Albert Antonysamy) — Pastor; Mobile (608) 863-8815; Rectory (608) 687-3496
- Connie Sweno — Office Administrator
- Carrie Venner-Adams — Director of Religious Education (507) 450-7191
Sacraments
The parish prepares Catholics for all the major sacraments. Parents are asked to contact the pastor 1–2 months before a desired baptism date, and engaged couples are asked to begin marriage arrangements at least six months in advance. Adults seeking full membership in the Catholic Church are invited into RCIA, with sessions beginning each Fall.
- Baptism — contact the pastor 1–2 months prior
- Marriage — arrangements 6 months in advance; contact the pastor
- Anointing of the Sick — call the church office or pastor
- RCIA — sessions begin in Fall; contact Fr. Albert
- First Communion & Confirmation preparation coordinated cluster-wide
- Visitation of the sick/homebound — notify the pastor
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education for the parish is handled cluster-wide through the Director of Religious Education. The program covers grade school through Confirmation, including sacramental preparation for 2nd grade (First Communion) and 10th grade (Confirmation), supported by catechist recruitment, retreats, and youth pilgrimages. The cluster has been actively recruiting a new Director of Religious Education to begin in August, with applications welcomed through the parish office.
- Elementary & youth faith formation (K–Confirmation)
- Sacramental preparation for 2nd & 10th grades
- Catechist recruitment and training
- Retreats and youth pilgrimages
- Contact: Carrie Venner-Adams, DRE — (507) 450-7191
Parish Life & Ministries
Despite its small size, St. Lawrence has an active lay life. The Knights of Columbus meet monthly in the church basement after the 8:00 am Sunday Mass, and the parish co-hosts a Sunday brunch with the PCCW (parishioners whose last names begin A–L are asked to bring an egg bake or French toast). A quilting group meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month and welcomes new members.
- Knights of Columbus — monthly meeting after Sunday Mass
- PCCW Sunday Brunch — rotating host duties by last name
- St. Lawrence Quilting Group — 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, church basement
- Easter House Blessings — pastoral visits coordinated each spring
Annual Fundraiser
Each November the parish runs a major cash-prize raffle to support St. Lawrence. Only 1,000 tickets are sold, and winners do not need to be present. Drawings take place daily throughout November, with payouts of $125 Monday through Friday, $225 on Saturdays, and $250 on Sundays.
- Tickets: $20 each
- 30 daily cash prizes across November
- $125 weekday / $225 Saturday / $250 Sunday payouts
- 1,000 tickets sold total
- Available through parishioners or the parish office ([email protected])
Tres Ecclesiae Cluster
St. Lawrence shares its pastor, office, bulletin, and faith-formation programs with two neighboring Catholic parishes under the 'Tres Ecclesiae' banner. The cluster allows three small rural parishes to sustain vibrant Catholic life and shared sacramental preparation while continuing to celebrate Mass in each town.
- Immaculate Conception Parish — 2 North Hill Street, P.O. Box 218, Fountain City, WI 54629; (608) 687-8418; Office Mon/Wed/Fri 9 am–2:30 pm
- St. Boniface Parish — S 2022 County Road U, Waumandee, WI 54622; Parish & School Office (608) 626-2611; Office Tues/Thurs 9 am–2 pm
- St. Lawrence Parish — 206 Second Street South, P.O. Box 246, Alma, WI 54610; Office (608) 687-8418; Kitchen (608) 685-3898
- Cluster email: [email protected]
- Cluster website: tresecclesiae.org
Contact & Visit
Visitors and parishioners can reach St. Lawrence at 206 Second Street South in Alma, just off Main Street and within the town's historic district. The parish office handles calls for all three Tres Ecclesiae parishes; messages can also be sent to the shared cluster email.
- Address: 206 Second Street South, P.O. Box 246, Alma, WI 54610
- Office phone: (608) 687-8418
- Rectory: (608) 687-3496
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: tresecclesiae.org/saint-lawrence
- Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064604055394