About St. Patrick · Sparta, Wisconsin
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Sparta, Wisconsin, part of the Diocese of La Crosse (Tomah Deanery). The parish was canonically established in 1876 and its current church was dedicated in 1907. Today it serves as a bilingual Catholic community, celebrating Sunday Mass in English and Spanish, and is home to St. Patrick's Catholic School (3K–8). The parish is currently led by Father Eric Berns as pastor and Father Juan Pedro Roblez Baltazar as associate pastor, with Father Fernando serving the Spanish-speaking community and leading adoration for Hispanic parishioners.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Father Eric Berns
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse
Why belong here
St. Patrick's is a humble, family-sized parish that punches well above its weight in devotional life: Eucharistic Adoration is offered multiple times a week (Monday evenings, Friday mornings and evenings, and an all-night vigil the last Saturday of every month), confession is available Saturday afternoons and before the Spanish Mass, and the parish has become a genuine bilingual home with weekly Mass in both English and Spanish. It also operates St. Patrick's Catholic School (3K–8) and supports international outreach (including Casa Hogar de Juan Pablo II, an orphanage in Peru), making it a place where faith is lived, learned, and shared across generations and cultures.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM
- Sunday 1:30–1:55 PM (before the Spanish Mass)
Adoration times
- Monday 6:45 PM
- Friday 11:00 AM
- Friday 6:45 PM
- All-night adoration the last Saturday of each month
About St. Patrick Parish
St. Patrick's is a Roman Catholic parish in Sparta, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of La Crosse's Tomah Deanery. Its mission statement is 'Proclaiming Jesus Christ and His Gospel, and raising up our community where faith is lived, deepened, and celebrated.' The parish is bilingual, hosts St. Patrick's Catholic School, and is recognized in the diocese as a center of Eucharistic Adoration.
- Established as a parish in 1876
- Current church dedicated in 1907
- Diocese of La Crosse, Tomah Deanery
- Parish mission: 'Proclaiming Jesus Christ and His Gospel, and raising up our community where faith is lived, deepened, and celebrated.'
Parish History
St. Patrick's origins are humble — early Mass was offered in a shanty house, then a hand-built A-frame, before the parish was canonically established in 1876. Sacramental records begin in 1871, reflecting the Catholic families who had already gathered in the Sparta area. The current church was dedicated in 1907. The parish is now distinguished as a bilingual community that served as a stop on the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in June 2024.
- Sacramental records begin 1871
- Canonically established as a parish 1876
- Church dedicated 1907
- Hosted the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, June 9, 2024
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently shepherded by Father Eric Berns (Pastor) and Father Juan Pedro Roblez Baltazar (Associate Pastor). Father Fernando leads the Hispanic community, including a Spanish-language adoration.
- Pastor: Father Eric Berns
- Associate Pastor: Father Juan Pedro Roblez Baltazar
- Father Fernando – Hispanic ministry & Spanish adoration
Sacraments
St. Patrick's prepares parishioners for the seven sacraments of the Church. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist is offered through St. Patrick's Catholic School, typically in the second grade, while older children and adults are accommodated through parish faith formation.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist (2nd grade)
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
St. Patrick's Catholic School (3K–8)
The parish operates St. Patrick's Catholic School, which serves 3-year-old kindergarten through 8th grade. The school integrates faith with academic learning — students participate in daily prayer, bi-weekly Mass, rosary services, Stations of the Cross, reconciliation services, adoration, and a May Crowning. Second-graders prepare for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, while 4th and 8th graders take the annual Diocesan Faith Knowledge Assessment, on which the school consistently scores above the diocesan average. A yearlong dress-down fundraiser supports Casa Hogar de Juan Pablo II, an orphanage in Peru.
- Grades 3K–8
- Daily prayer & religious instruction
- Bi-Weekly school Mass
- Sacramental prep in 2nd grade
- Above-average Diocesan Faith Knowledge Assessment scores (grades 4 & 8)
- Yearlong support for Casa Hogar de Juan Pablo II (Peru)
Hispanic & Spanish-Language Ministry
Sparta's Hispanic Catholic community has made St. Patrick's their parish home. Father Fernando leads a Spanish-language Sunday Mass and a separate Hispanic Eucharistic Adoration, reflecting the parish's bilingual character and its outreach to Spanish-speaking families in Monroe County.
- Sunday Spanish Mass at 1:00 PM
- Father Fernando leads Hispanic adoration
- Fr. Juan Pedro Roblez Baltazar serves as Associate Pastor
Visiting & Contact
St. Patrick's church is at 118 South K Street in Sparta; the parish office mailing address is 319 W Main Street, Sparta, WI 54656-2143.
- Physical: 118 S K St, Sparta, WI 54656
- Mailing: 319 W Main St, Sparta, WI 54656-2143
- Phone: 608-269-2655
- Website: http://spartacatholic.com/