About St. Louis · Dyckesville, Wisconsin
St. Louis Parish is a small rural Catholic parish in the unincorporated community of Dyckesville, in northeastern Wisconsin, served by the Diocese of Green Bay. The parish traces its roots to 1863, when Belgian Catholic settlers built the community's first church on land donated by Louis and Octavia Van Dycke — the village's namesake. Today the parish (whose mailing address is in nearby Luxemburg) ministers to farming families across northern Brown and Kewaunee counties with a Saturday Vigil Mass, a Sunday morning Mass, two weekday Masses, religious education for children and adults, and a traditional faith community rooted in more than 160 years of Belgian-Catholic heritage.
- Established
- 1863
- Patron
- St. Louis (King Louis IX of France)
- Rector
- Rev. Rex (Antonio Rex M.) Palaya
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
St. Louis Parish is a close-knit rural Catholic community that has been gathering for the Eucharist since 1863, when Belgian settlers built Dyckesville's first church on land donated by the Van Dycke family. Today the parish continues that mission with weekly Mass, religious education for children and adults, sacramental preparation, Eucharistic Adoration, and a small but active parish and finance council. If you are looking for a traditional, family-friendly parish rooted in Door County–peninsula Catholic life — with Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM, Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM, and the option of faith formation for every age — St. Louis welcomes you.
Mass times at St. Louis
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM
Adoration times
- Saturday 3:00 PM (4th Saturday of the month)
History of St. Louis Parish
St. Louis Parish was founded in 1863 by Belgian Catholic settlers who built Dyckesville's first church on three acres donated by Louis and Octavia Van Dycke. Until 1872 the community was a mission, served by visiting priests, before Rev. Martin Smitz became its first resident pastor. Growth was steady through the late 1800s: a second church was begun in 1887 and finished in 1893, a school was added, and the parish numbered 75 families by the 1890s. The parish's 1863–2000 history was compiled by Joyce Allard Lampereur and is published in full on the parish website.
- Founded 1863 on land donated by Louis and Octavia Van Dycke
- First resident pastor: Rev. Martin Smitz (1872)
- Current church cornerstone bears 'V.P.' for Vincent Pom
- Centennial marked with dedication of a new St. Louis School
Pastoral Succession
The parish website publishes a complete list of pastoral appointments stretching from 1872 to the present. For many decades the parish was served by Norbertine (Premonstratensian) priests from St. Norbert Abbey, including long-tenured pastors such as Rev. John W. Melchers, O. Praem. (1908–) and Rev. Ferdinand F. Du Pont, O. Praem. (1954–). Since 2021 the parish has been led by diocesan and visiting priests, most recently Rev. Rommel R. Dacoco (2021–2025) and Fr. Rex Palaya (2025–).
- Long era of Norbertine (O. Praem.) pastors from 1894 to 1979
- Rev. Richard Mauthe served as Administrator (1991) and then Pastor (1993)
- Rev. Rommel R. Dacoco, Administrator, 2021–June 30, 2025
- Fr. Rex Palaya, Administrator, effective July 1, 2025
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The Religious Education program at St. Louis Parish is rooted in the mission 'To teach as Jesus did, forming disciples who witness the Gospel.' Programs include Youth Faith Formation/RE, Adult Faith Formation, RE registration, and 'Little Church' — a children's program for ages 3 through 1st Communion preparation held during Mass.
- Religious Education Mission: 'To teach as Jesus did, forming disciples who witness the Gospel.'
- Youth Faith Formation / RE
- Adult Faith Formation
- Little Church (ages 3 through 1st Communion prep, during Mass)
- Sacramental preparation: Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation
RCIA / OCIA (Becoming Catholic)
Adults seeking to become Catholic, or adult Catholics seeking Confirmation, are invited into the parish's RCIA / OCIA process. The parish website directs adults to contact the RE office for details on the OCIA journey and sacramental preparation, while youth Confirmation information is found in the RE Handbook.
- RCIA / OCIA for adults entering the Church
- Adult Confirmation preparation available
- Youth Confirmation preparation through the RE program
Parish Staff
St. Louis Parish is served by a small staff led by Fr. Rex Palaya (Administrator). Day-to-day operations are handled by the parish office, while liturgy, faith formation, finances, and council work are distributed among volunteer and part-time leaders.
- Administrator: Rev. Rex Palaya — [email protected] — Ext. 1
- Business Manager: Craig Steinfeldt
- Parish Office Manager: Anne Boettcher — Ext. 2
- Liturgical Coordinator: Mary Roldan
- RE Coordinator: Jessica Gilson — Ext. 4
- Parish Council Chair: Rob Polster
- Finance Council Chair: Don Noskowiak
- Parish Trustees: Lee Cornette, Dave Hansen
Sacraments
The parish website has a dedicated Sacraments page outlining preparation for the seven sacraments. Reconciliation is regularly available Saturday afternoons, with First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation prepared through the RE program and RCIA/OCIA for adults.
- Baptism — by arrangement with the parish office
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:15 PM and by request
- First Holy Communion — prepared through RE
- Confirmation — youth through RE; adults through RCIA/OCIA
- Marriage — contact the parish office for preparation
- Anointing of the Sick — by request
Parish Life & Community
As a small rural parish, St. Louis offers a close-knit community life centered on weekend Mass, faith formation for every age, and parish council and finance council work. The parish hall is available for rental through the parish office, and the community continues its 160-year tradition of serving the farming families of northern Brown and Kewaunee counties.
- Parish Council chaired by Rob Polster
- Finance Council chaired by Don Noskowiak
- Parish Trustees: Lee Cornette and Dave Hansen
- Parish Hall available for rentals (contact parish office)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Martin Smitz1872–1874
First resident pastor; oversaw rectory and sacristy construction.
- Rev. Charles Stein1877–
Resident pastor; oversaw planning for the new church begun in 1887.
- Rev. J.J. Van Rooy, O. Praem.1894–
- Rev. Clement Smits, O. Praem.1904–
- Rev. John W. Melchers, O. Praem.1908–
- Rev. Augustine G. Vande Gevel, O. Praem.1925–
- Rev. Richard Londo, O. Praem.1929–
- Rev. Walter A. Paiement, O. Praem.1933–
- Rev. Ludolph F. Jacobs, O. Praem.1948–
- Rev. Blaise J. Peters, O. Praem.1953–
- Rev. Ferdinand F. Du Pont, O. Praem.1954–
- Rev. Gerald Kempen, O. Praem.1970–
- Rev. Sebastian Schalk, O. Praem.1977–
- Rev. Kenneth De Groot, O. Praem.1978–
- Rev. Peter J. Renard, O. Praem.1979–
- Rev. Donald Busanowski1980–
- Perm. Deacon David Ludke1981–
Part-time.
- Rev. Richard Kleiber1982–
- Rev. Richard Mauthe1991–1999
Administrator from 1991, then Pastor from 1993.
- Rev. Timothy Shillcox, O. Praem.1999
Temporary Administrator and Priest Moderator.
- Sr. Marlene Dimmerling1999–2000
Parish Director.
- Rev. Joseph Bestler2000–
Minister of the Sacraments.
- Rev. John Van Deuren2005–
Sacramental Minister.
- Pat Ratajczak2012
Pastoral Leader.
- Rev. Dean Dombroski2012
Priest Celebrant.
- Rev. Theodore Hendricks2020
Priest Celebrant.
- Rev. Rommel R. Dacoco2021–2025
Administrator; concluded as Administrator June 30, 2025.
- Rev. Antonio Rex M. Palaya ('Rex')2025–
Appointed Administrator effective July 1, 2025, while continuing as Administrator of St. Francis & St. Mary, Brussels.