About St. Peter · Rockland, Wisconsin
St. Peter's Catholic Church (commonly St. Peter's Parish, Middle Ridge) is a small rural Catholic parish perched atop one of the coulee-region ridges above Rockland, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of La Crosse. The community proudly calls itself the "Jewel on the Hill," and its brick-and-cut-stone church dominates the countryside of Bohemian Valley and Dutch Creek, with its bell said to call worshipers from miles around. The parish traces its roots to the late 1800s, when it grew out of a mission of St. Joseph's Ridge, and today it serves as a tight-knit worshiping community with Sunday Mass, weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and a famously home-cooked annual Sauerkraut Supper each October.
- Established
- 1899
- Patron
- St. Peter (Prince of the Apostles)
- Rector
- Rev. Sengole Vethanayagam (Father Sen)
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse
Why belong here
St. Peter's offers a small, family-sized Catholic community where the rosary is prayed together, the sick are anointed on the first Friday of every month, and the parish potluck picnic fills the local ballfield each summer. Members support one another through an active Parish Council of Catholic Women, a music ministry led by a coordinator and organist, religious-education classes (CCD) for children, and an active cemetery committee that tends the grounds of generations of local Catholic families. If you're looking for a welcoming rural parish with deep coulee-country roots, daily Mass several days a week, Eucharistic Adoration, and the famous October Sauerkraut Supper, St. Peter's Middle Ridge is a place where you will be known by name.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before Saturday evening Mass
- During Wednesday Adoration
- By appointment — call the parish office
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM (in the church Sacristy)
- Extended Hours: Wednesday 10:00 AM through Friday 10:00 AM (per parish bulletin)
Welcome to St. Peter's Parish
St. Peter's Catholic Church is nestled atop one of the many ridges in the coulee region of west-central Wisconsin and proudly calls itself the "Jewel on the Hill." The parish's welcome page invites visitors to slow down, take in the scenery, and give thanks for God's handiwork. The simple message at the bottom of the page says it all: "You are welcome here."
About Our Community
The parish describes itself as a vibrant community of young and old alike. Generations of farming families have worshipped at the brick-and-cut-stone church since it opened in 1921, and the community's signature social event is the annual Sauerkraut Supper every October, celebrated for its home-cooked fare.
- Annual Sauerkraut Supper (October)
- Annual Parish Potluck Picnic at the ballfield
- CCD Summer events for religious-education students
Parish History
Before St. Peter's was established, the area was considered a mission of nearby St. Joseph's Ridge, and a mission school ran in Middle Ridge for nearly ten years. The first church was officially opened in 1899; it was followed by St. Peter's School of Middle Ridge in 1908. The present-day brick and cut-stone church had its cornerstone laid in 1920 and was opened for worship on Palm Sunday of the following year. The parish notes it has been called one of the finest structures of any comparable-size parish in the nineteen counties that make up the Diocese of La Crosse.
- Mission of St. Joseph's Ridge (pre-founding)
- Mission school in Middle Ridge — ~10 years before founding
- First church opened — 1899
- St. Peter's School of Middle Ridge built — 1908
- Cornerstone of current church laid — 1920
- Current church opened for worship — Palm Sunday 1921
The Church Building
The current church is a brick and cut-stone building whose cornerstone was laid in 1920 and which opened for worship on Palm Sunday of 1921. Its bell calls worshipers from miles away across Bohemian Valley and Dutch Creek. The parish describes it as one of the finest structures ever erected by any comparable-size parish in the nineteen counties that now make up the Diocese of La Crosse. Hearing assistance is available.
Mass and Communion Schedule
Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday evening at 8:00 PM and Sunday morning at 10:00 AM. Weekday Masses are offered Wednesday and Friday at 8:00 AM. A Communion Service is held on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.
- Saturday Vigil — 8:00 PM
- Sunday — 10:00 AM
- Wednesday & Friday — 8:00 AM
- Wednesday Communion Service — 7:00 PM
Clergy and Staff
The Diocese of La Crosse directory currently lists Rev. Sengole Vethanayagam (Father Sen) as pastor. A 2024 parish bulletin also identifies Fr. Biju Chennala Kunjukutty, MSFS as pastor. Melissa Schaub serves as parish secretary and bookkeeper, with the office phone listed as 608-452-4680. The parish is served by an active team of lay ministers, sacristans, finance and pastoral council members, and liturgical musicians.
- Rev. Sengole Vethanayagam (Father Sen) — Pastor (Diocese of La Crosse directory)
- Fr. Biju Chennala Kunjukutty, MSFS — Pastor (parish bulletin, June 2024)
- Melissa Schaub — Secretary / Bookkeeper
- Christopher Pundzak — Parish Webmaster
Parish Councils and Committees
Lay leadership is exercised through several standing councils and committees, with members' names published in the parish bulletin.
- Parish Pastoral Council — Tom Schaub, Mark Stephenson, Rob Slattery, Peter Benzing, Kathy Flock, Sarah Gronemus
- Parish Finance Council — Fr. Biju, Mark Nicolai (Chair), Rachel Persson, Brandon Flock, Louisa Peterson (liaisons: Peter Benzing, Leo Leis)
- Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW)
- Cemetery Committee — Leo Leis (Chair), Mark Gronemus, Pat Lucey, Don Halderson, David Scharping
- Cemetery Sexton — Tom Schaub
- Funeral Committee Chair — Debra Leis
- Sacristans — Richard Korish, Austin Menn
Music and Liturgy
Music is led by Music Coordinator Terese Slattery and Organist Leland Gregorich. Members of the parish are invited to join the music ministry to help support weekend and weekday liturgies.
- Terese Slattery — Music Coordinator
- Leland Gregorich — Organist
Religious Education (CCD)
The parish runs a religious-education program (CCD) for children on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings during the school year. A summer CCD event — a sleepover and outdoor movie with food and games at the St. Peter's ballfield — was held in June 2024, with parishioners invited to join. As of mid-2024 the parish was seeking a Director of Religious Education (DRE) to manage registrations, schedule, program content, staff, budget, and to serve as the parish safe-environment coordinator.
- Sunday-morning and Wednesday-evening CCD classes
- CCD Summer events (sleepover, outdoor movie)
- Open DRE position (paid bi-annually) — contact Fr. Biju or parish office
Sacraments
Parishioners are invited to contact the parish office to make arrangements for Baptism, Marriage (Weddings), joining the parish, Anointing of the Sick, or visits to the homebound. Anointing of the Sick is offered on the first Friday of the month after daily Mass; in urgent cases, parishioners may call the pastor's cell phone.
- Baptism
- Marriage / Weddings
- Anointing of the Sick (First Friday after daily Mass, or by cell)
- Homebound visits
Parish Life and Outreach
St. Peter's is known for its strong community life. The famous October Sauerkraut Supper draws families from across the coulee region, and a parish potluck picnic is held at the ballfield each summer. A group of ladies stands ready to help with meals or visits for parishioners or family members in need. In 2024 the parish also formed a fundraising committee to explore new ways to support parish finances.
- Annual Sauerkraut Supper (October)
- Parish Potluck Picnic at the ballfield
- Meals / Visitation Ministry (contact LaVonne, 608-317-9541)
- Fundraising Committee (contact Rachel Persson, 608-386-9543)
Bulletin and Communications
The parish publishes a regular bulletin that carries the Mass and Adoration schedule, the pastor's email and cell phone, parish council and committee updates, CCD news, financial summaries, and announcements about feast days and parish events. Bulletins are archived on the parish website.
- Current Bulletin — published on saintpetersparish.org
- Bulletin archive — saintpetersparish.org/bulletins
- Bulletin deadline — Wednesday 3:00 PM
Directions and Location
The parish is located at W697 State Road 33 in Middle Ridge (mailing address: Rockland, WI 54653), in the La Crosse Deanery of the Diocese of La Crosse. The church sits high on a ridge with sweeping views of Bohemian Valley and Dutch Creek.
- Physical address: W697 State Road 33, Rockland, WI 54653
- Mailing address: W697 State Road 33, Rockland, WI 54653-9414
- Diocese of La Crosse — La Crosse Deanery