About St. Peter the Apostle · Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
St. Peter the Apostle is a Roman Catholic parish serving the rural Tilden Township east of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of La Crosse. Founded by mid-19th century German, Bohemian, and Luxembourgish settlers, it is the spiritual home of St. Peter Catholic Grade School (one of the oldest parish schools in the area) and operates as part of a cluster with neighboring St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Chippewa Falls. The parish offers Mass on Friday morning, Saturday evening, and Sunday morning, and its identity is rooted in faith, family, and a long agricultural heritage.
- Established
- 1857
- Patron
- St. Peter the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Timothy (Tim) Oudenhoven
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse
Why belong here
St. Peter the Apostle offers a small, tight-knit rural Catholic community rooted in 170 years of faith and family. Parishioners can worship at three weekly Masses (Friday morning, Saturday vigil, and Sunday morning), send their children to the historic parish school that has educated local families since 1872, and participate in lay-led ministries such as the Christian Mother Society and Elizabeth Ministry. As part of the St. Charles Borromeo cluster, the parish also benefits from shared pastoral leadership, faith formation, and parish councils — making it an ideal spiritual home for families seeking both tradition and community.
Mass times at St. Peter the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 6:00 PM – 6:25 PM (before Vigil Mass)
- By request
History of St. Peter the Apostle
St. Peter the Apostle traces its roots to the early 1850s, when German, Bohemian, and Luxembourgish immigrants settled Tilden Township east of Chippewa Falls and vowed to build a church in thanksgiving for their safe voyage. The first resident pastor, Father A. Koke, was appointed by Bishop Michael Heiss of La Crosse in 1869; the parish built a Roman basilica-style church in 1875 and its enduring school in 1905. The present church, dedicated in 1942 after the 1875 structure was taken down, continues to serve the rural Tilden community today as part of the St. Charles Borromeo cluster.
- Settled in the early 1850s by immigrants from Rhine, Bavaria, Bohemia, and Luxembourg
- First priest (Father Migneault) arrived in 1857
- Father Smedding organized the congregation in 1858; first church foundation laid in 1860
- Father A. Koke appointed first resident pastor on July 31, 1869
- 1875 Roman basilica-style church built on the present site
- Present church built and dedicated in 1942
Parish School (St. Peter Catholic Grade School)
St. Peter Catholic Grade School in Tilden is one of the oldest continually operating parish schools in the Diocese of La Crosse, with roots going back to 1869 when Father Franz Stoffel first taught in the church. The School Sisters of Notre Dame arrived in 1872, and Father Joseph Reister built the present three-story school building in 1905 — the same building, with subsequent upgrades, still houses students today. The school celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2020 and now serves grades 4K through 8 with a staff of full-time teachers, a music instructor, and an administrative assistant.
- Founded 1869 (Father Franz Stoffel began teaching); Sisters of Notre Dame arrived March 1, 1872
- Three-story school built in 1905 by Father Joseph Reister — still in use
- 150th anniversary celebrated in 2020
- Current enrollment: 58 students in grades 1–8 (2020 figures)
- Staffed by four full-time teachers, one part-time teacher, a music teacher, and an administrative assistant
- Welcomes grades 4K–8 for 2026–27 school year
- Participates in the Wisconsin School Choice Program
School Faculty and Staff
The school is led by a faculty of full-time and part-time teachers under Pastor Father Tim Oudenhoven and Associate Pastor Father Alex Kren, with Janelle Dachel serving as Parish School Head Teacher.
- Kris Shellenbarger — Grades 1 & 2
- Diane Boetttcher — Grade 4
- Dakotah Naser-Stellar — Grades 5 & 6
- Janelle Dachel — Grades 7 & 8 (also Parish School Head Teacher)
- Lisa Albrecht — Music
- Cathy Greenseth — Administrative Assistant
- Father Tim Oudenhoven — Pastor
- Fr. Alex Kren — Associate Pastor
Parish Ministries and Groups
St. Peter the Apostle sustains a small but active set of lay-led ministries rooted in family life and Catholic tradition. The Christian Mother Society — known as the St. Peter Parish Family — and the Elizabeth Ministry are the two named lay organizations, alongside parish council representation and faith formation offerings shared with the St. Charles cluster.
- Christian Mother Society / St. Peter Parish Family
- Elizabeth Ministry
- St. Peter Parish Pastoral Council
- Faith Formation (cluster-wide)
- Wisconsin School Choice Program
Cluster Partnership with St. Charles Borromeo
St. Peter the Apostle shares pastoral leadership and administration with St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Chippewa Falls. Both parishes are served by the same pastor (Rev. Timothy Oudenhoven), associate pastor (Rev. Alex Kren), and deacon (Daniel Rider), and share a central parish office reachable at 810 Pearl Street. The two parishes maintain separate pastoral councils, with cross-membership from appointed leaders representing faith formation, finance, and the parish school.
- Shared pastor: Rev. Timothy Oudenhoven
- Shared associate pastor: Rev. Alex Kren
- Shared deacon: Daniel Rider
- Central parish office: 810 Pearl St, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
- Phone: 715-723-4088
- Email: [email protected]
Sacramental Life
The parish celebrates the Eucharist three times a week and offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation before the Saturday Vigil Mass. Members seeking Baptism, Marriage, or the Anointing of the Sick are asked to contact the parish office, which coordinates with the cluster clergy.
- Sunday and Vigil Mass obligations fulfilled Saturday 6:30 PM or Sunday 9:00 AM
- Weekday Mass on Fridays
- Confession Saturdays before Vigil Mass or by appointment
- Baptism, Marriage, Anointing by request through the parish office
Visit and Contact
St. Peter the Apostle's church is at 11358 County Highway Q in Tilden Township, east of Chippewa Falls. The parish shares administrative staff with St. Charles Borromeo, so mail and calls are routed through the central office at 810 Pearl Street, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729.
- Church address: 11358 County Hwy Q, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
- Mailing address: 810 Pearl St, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729-1729
- Phone: 715-723-4088
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stcharles-cf.com/
- School website: https://www.stpetersschooltilden.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Migneault1857
First priest to serve settlers in Tilden.
- Father Smedding1858–c.1869
Organized St. Peter's congregation; in 1860 laid the foundation for the first church building.
- Father A. Koke1869–
Appointed by Bishop Michael Heiss on July 31, 1869 as the first resident pastor.
- Father Franz Stoffel1869 (October)
Began teaching the first parochial school classes in the church.
- Father Joseph Reister1905
Had the present three-story school building constructed.