About St. Paul · Mosinee, Wisconsin
St. Paul Roman Catholic Parish is a long-standing Catholic community in the small city of Mosinee, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of La Crosse (Wausau Deanery). The parish traces its Catholic roots to 1845 and was formally organized in 1874 with the laying of its first church cornerstone in September 1878, dedicated to St. Paul the Apostle, "the Apostle to the Gentiles." Today St. Paul worships in a modern church dedicated November 6, 2011 by Bishop William P. Callahan, OFM Conv., built on the same campus as the Tetzlaff Center and the former parish school. The parish offers daily and weekend Mass, Eucharistic Adoration four days a week, an active Faith Formation program for grades 1–10, and a broad network of parish organizations including the Knights of Columbus, St. Monica Council (PCCW), and the ecumenical Circle of Joy food pantry.
- Established
- 1878
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle ("the Apostle to the Gentiles")
- Rector
- Rev. Aaron J. Becker
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse (Wausau Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Paul is a vibrant, generations-old Catholic community rooted in the Mosinee area since 1878, now worshipping in a spacious 2011 church with comfortable seating and continued connections to its history through restored statues, stained glass, Stations of the Cross, and the original pipe organ. Parishioners enjoy daily and weekend Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, regular Confession opportunities, a robust Faith Formation program for grades 1–10, and active lay organizations — including the Knights of Columbus, St. Monica Council (PCCW), a youth ministry, and the ecumenical Circle of Joy food pantry founded in 1982. Whether you are drawn to daily Mass, Adoration, faith formation for your children, or service to neighbors in need, St. Paul offers multiple ways to grow in faith and belong.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
- Sunday 7:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.
Adoration times
- Wednesday 12:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. (midnight)
- Thursday 12:00 a.m. – 7:40 a.m.
- Friday 12:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. (midnight)
- Saturday 12:00 a.m. – 7:40 a.m.
About St. Paul Parish
St. Paul Roman Catholic Parish has served the Mosinee, Wisconsin community since 1878, taking its patron from St. Paul the Apostle, 'the Apostle to the Gentiles.' The parish mission statement — approved by the Parish Pastoral Council on November 19, 2015 — calls the community to proclaim the kingdom of God and reflect Christ's light to the world through worship, education, and service. The parish is part of the Diocese of La Crosse and falls within the Wausau Deanery.
- Founded 1878 (cornerstone laid September 1878; first church completed the following summer for $1,800)
- Patron: St. Paul the Apostle
- Diocese of La Crosse — Wausau Deanery
- Parish mission statement approved November 19, 2015
- Address: 603 4th St., Mosinee, WI 54455
- Phone: 715-693-2650 · [email protected]
Parish History
Catholic life in Mosinee began in 1845 when Fr. Louis Dale visited local lumber camps. After three decades of visiting priests saying Mass in private homes and even the village hotel, Fr. Theodore Richard organized the parish in 1874, and the cornerstone of the first St. Paul Church was laid in September 1878. The parish was assigned its first resident pastor, Fr. Gilbert Nuanno, in 1885, and built its first rectory in 1890. The first formal parish organizations — the Knights of Columbus and the Altar Society (now St. Monica Council) — were established in the 1890s.
- 1845 — Fr. Louis Dale visits lumber camps in 'Little Bull Falls' (Mosinee)
- 1878 — First church cornerstone laid; completed 1879 at $1,800
- 1885 — Fr. Gilbert Nuanno becomes first resident pastor
- 1890s — Knights of Columbus organized
- 1897 — Altar Society (now St. Monica Council) founded in September
Building the Present Campus
The parish's growth required larger facilities throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries. Fr. James Brzezinski oversaw construction of the second St. Paul Church in 1922; Fr. Joseph Cysewski built St. Paul School in 1938; Fr. Joseph Tetzlaff added a 1959 school wing and led the parish through Vatican II; and the Tetzlaff Center (gym, stage, classrooms) was dedicated in 1988. The most recent and largest project was the new church, built over a decade of planning and fundraising and dedicated November 6, 2011 by Bishop William P. Callahan, OFM Conv.
- 1922 — Second church built ($54,000); dedicated April 15, 1923 by Bishop Alexander J. McGavich
- 1928 — 50th anniversary; statue of St. Paul enshrined above the main doors
- 1938 — St. Paul School opens with 213 students and six Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration from La Crosse
- 1959 — School addition built under Fr. Tetzlaff ($83,000)
- 1978 — Centennial celebrated May 21
- 1988 — Tetzlaff Center dedicated in honor of Fr. Tetzlaff's 29 years of service
- 2003 — 125th anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Raymond L. Burke
- 2011 — New church dedicated November 6 by Bishop William P. Callahan, OFM Conv.
- 2018 — St. Paul School closed in August due to low enrollment and staffing shortages
Mass & Sacraments Schedule
St. Paul celebrates eight Masses each week — a Saturday Vigil, two Sunday Masses, and five daily Masses from Tuesday through Saturday. Confession is offered three times each week, and Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held continuously from midday Wednesday through Saturday morning. A separate Lenten schedule is published on the parish website each year.
- Saturday Vigil Mass — 4:30 p.m.
- Sunday Masses — 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
- Tuesday Mass — 5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday–Saturday Mass — 8:00 a.m.
- Confessions: Saturday 8:45–9:45 a.m. and 3:00–4:15 p.m.; Sunday 7:00–8:15 a.m.
- Eucharistic Adoration: Wed 12 p.m.–midnight; Thu midnight–7:40 a.m.; Fri 12 p.m.–midnight; Sat midnight–7:40 a.m.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Paul's Faith Formation Program serves children in grades 1 through 10, recognizing parents as the primary religious educators of their children. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist is offered in second grade (with Reconciliation in January and First Eucharist after Easter), and Confirmation preparation is a three-year commitment in grades 8 through 10. The program meets Wednesday evenings and is supported by catechists, program assistants, and adult volunteers.
- Faith Formation Grades 1–10 — Wednesday evenings
- First Reconciliation (Grade 2) — celebrated in January
- First Eucharist (Grade 2) — celebrated after Easter
- Confirmation (Grades 8–10) — three-year program culminating in spring Confirmation
- Director of Faith Formation & Evangelization: Stacy Stubbe
- Religious Education Office: 715-693-2675 · [email protected]
Youth Ministry
Beyond classroom Faith Formation, St. Paul offers dedicated youth ministry programming for parish teens, including retreats such as the Immersion Retreat, Bible study, and service opportunities. Youth are encouraged to take an active role in parish life and to grow as 'adult members of the parish community.'
- Youth Minister: Anna McCarty
- Immersion Retreat weekend for high-school youth
- Confirmation candidates receive prayers and support of the parish community
- 4th-grade Bible presentation
Adult Faith Formation & Bible Study
Adult parishioners gather for ongoing formation through parish-wide scripture series. The 'A Quick Journey Through the Bible' series has been offered both Sunday evenings and Tuesday mornings in Room 202 of the school building. The parish also publishes a weekly bulletin with spiritual reflections and hosts periodic special speakers and Year-of-Faith programming in cooperation with neighboring parishes in the Diocese of La Crosse.
- 'A Quick Journey Through the Bible' — Sunday 6:30 p.m. and Tuesday 9:00 a.m.
- Bible series held in Room 202 of the parish school building
- Cooperation with 'Central Wisconsin Catholics' programming
Parish Organizations & Service
St. Paul has a long tradition of lay organizations serving worship, fellowship, and outreach. The Knights of Columbus was the first to organize in the 1890s, and the women's Altar Society (now St. Monica Council / PCCW) was founded in September 1897. The parish has run the ecumenical Circle of Joy food pantry since 1982 and supports St. Vincent de Paul, a Cemetery Association, and a Home and School Association. Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils were established following the Second Vatican Council.
- Knights of Columbus — men's fraternity organized in the 1890s
- St. Monica Council (PCCW) — successor to the 1897 Altar Society; rosary and meeting first Tuesday of the month
- Circle of Joy Food Pantry — founded 1982; ecumenical community pantry
- St. Vincent de Paul — referenced in parish bulletins
- Home and School Association (historically linked to St. Paul School)
- St. Paul Cemetery Association
- Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council (post-Vatican II)
Worship, Music & Devotions
Liturgical life at St. Paul centers on the Eucharist, the Word, and Eucharistic Adoration. The pipe organ carried over from the 1922 church continues to support congregational singing in the new worship space. Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers — instituted under Vatican II during Fr. Tetzlaff's tenure — exercise their ministries at each Mass, and the parish gathers for the rosary before monthly St. Monica meetings.
- Pipe organ refurbished from the 1922 church
- Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers instituted after Vatican II
- St. Monica Rosary — 6:15 p.m. on first Tuesdays, in the Church
- Continuous weekly Eucharistic Adoration (Wed–Sat)
- Communion Calls to the homebound by the pastor
Campus & Facilities
The St. Paul campus at 603 4th Street includes the present church (dedicated 2011), the Tetzlaff Center (gymnasium, stage, classrooms — 1988), and the original St. Paul School building (1938). After the school closed in August 2018, its classrooms (including Room 202, which hosts adult Bible study) continue to support Faith Formation and parish activities. The site of the 1922 church now serves as additional parking.
- Present church dedicated November 6, 2011 (640 general seats + 168 overflow)
- Tetzlaff Center — gymnasium, stage, locker rooms, classrooms (1988)
- St. Paul School building (1938) — now used for Faith Formation and parish programs
- Handicap-accessible 2011 church design
- Expanded parking on the former 1922 church site
Getting Involved at St. Paul
St. Paul welcomes new parishioners and visitors to register through the parish office and to join the many ministries that sustain parish life. Catechists, program assistants, lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Knights of Columbus members, St. Monica Council volunteers, and food-pantry helpers are among the ongoing needs. The parish office is open Monday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Tuesday–Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Parish registration via the parish office (715-693-2650)
- Volunteer catechists and program assistants for Faith Formation
- Knights of Columbus service projects
- Circle of Joy food pantry donations
- Parish Office hours: Mon 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Tue–Fri 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Theodore Richard1874–1885
Visiting priest from Wausau who organized the parish and helped build the first church (cornerstone 1878, completed 1879, $1,800).
- Fr. Gilbert Nuanno1885–1888
First resident pastor, assigned by Bishop Kilian Flasch.
- Fr. Albert Mendel1888–1889
Second pastor; left after one year due to poor health.
- Fr. Costantine Nau1890–
Third pastor; oversaw construction of the first parish rectory (1890, $1,900).
- Fr. James Brzezinski1918–1932
Ninth pastor; built the second St. Paul Church ($54,000), dedicated by Bishop McGavich in 1923; died suddenly at age 40 in 1932.
- Fr. Joseph Cysewski1932–1958
Tenth pastor; paid off the church debt and built St. Paul School in 1938 ($44,000, 213 students, staffed by Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration from La Crosse).
- Fr. Joseph Tetzlaff1958–1987
Eleventh pastor; led the parish through Vatican II, added to the school (1959, $83,000), and is honored by the Tetzlaff Center (1988).
- Rev. Donald L. Przybylski2001–2018
Fourteenth pastor; led the capital campaign and oversaw the building of the new church dedicated November 6, 2011 by Bishop Callahan.
- Rev. Donald L. Meuret2018–2022
Often called 'Fr. Don #2'; took over in July 2018 and oversaw the August 2018 closing of St. Paul School. Died unexpectedly on October 29, 2022 at age 67.
- Rev. Aaron J. Becker2022–present
Appointed parochial administrator November 25, 2022; officially named pastor on September 5, 2023.