About St. Philip the Apostle · Rudolph, Wisconsin
St. Philip the Apostle is a Roman Catholic parish of about 200 households in the Village of Rudolph, Wood County, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of La Crosse. The parish is best known as the home of the Rudolph Grotto Gardens and Wonder Cave, a five-acre devotional landscape built in fulfillment of a promise made by its longtime pastor, Father Philip Wagner. The congregation gathers for Mass on Saturday evening, Sunday morning, and Wednesday morning, supported by a strong network of lay ministries, faith formation programs, and a Catholic grade-school-style religious education tradition that now uses Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- St. Philip the Apostle (church rededicated in his honor in 1961 to memorialize Father Philip Wagner, who had served as pastor from 1917 to 1959)
- Rector
- Father Barry Saylor
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse
Why belong here
St. Philip is a small but remarkably active parish where nearly every parishioner has a role to play — from choir, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, and greeters, to the Prayer Chain, Rosary leaders, Finance Council, and Parish Pastoral Council. The parish takes religious education seriously, offering Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (ages 3–12) in a Montessori-style Atrium, Confirmation preparation, and RCIA, alongside youth programs and a Homebound Ministry that brings Communion each Sunday after 9 a.m. Mass. Set on the extraordinary Rudolph Grotto Gardens, it offers a distinctive setting where worship, formation, and the wider community of central Wisconsin come together.
Mass times at St. Philip the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
- Saturday 3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
- Friday 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays of Lent immediately after the 8:45 a.m. Mass until noon
Parish History
St. Philip the Apostle traces its roots to 1876, when the original St. Philomena Church was built in the Village of Rudolph. Its story is intertwined with the life of Father Philip Wagner, who arrived in 1917 and founded the Rudolph Grotto Gardens in fulfillment of a Lourdes vow. The present church was built in 1959 and rededicated as St. Philip the Apostle in 1961 to honor Father Wagner's priestly legacy. Six pastors have shaped the parish community across nearly 140 years.
- 1876 — Original St. Philomena Church built
- 1884 — Father August Van Sever becomes first resident pastor
- 1885 — Parochial school opens under the Sisters of Notre Dame of Milwaukee
- 1917 — Father Philip Wagner arrives; property for the present parish is purchased
- 1920–1921 — Eight-room combined church/school/rectory/convent erected
- 1928 — Lourdes Shrine, first Grotto shrine, completed with Edmund Rybicki
- 1950–1951 — Combination church and rectory built
- 1959 — Present church built; Father Wagner dies All Saints Day; Father Garlan Muller assigned
- 1960–1961 — Present convent built
- 1961 — Church rededicated and renamed St. Philip the Apostle
- 1969 — Father Muller resigns; Father Robert Perkins assigned
- 1974 — Historic 1,000-pound bell suspended in new bell tower on All Saints Day
- 1983 — Final Grotto construction projects completed under Father Perkins
- 2015 — Father David Bruener becomes pastor; old school replaced by welcome center
- Summer 2025 — Father Barry Saylor becomes pastor with associate pastors Father Joseph Glatczak and Father Rajendran Anandan
The Rudolph Grotto Gardens
The Rudolph Grotto Gardens are a five-acre naturalistic devotional landscape adjoining the parish, designed and built by Father Philip Wagner beginning in 1919 with the help of Edmund Rybicki. Over three decades they hauled thousands of tons of local stone — rust-colored gossan from a local quarry — to create the Wonder Cave, twenty-six shrines, and a one-fifth-mile passage patterned after the Roman catacombs, with hand-carved plaques and statues made from Carrara marble in Italy. The Grotto welcomes thousands of visitors each year from around the world and is maintained largely by volunteers; it is documented as a historic property by the Wisconsin Historical Society (HI55904).
- Five acres of trees, flowers, and meandering paths
- Wonder Cave — 50-foot artificial hill with a one-fifth-mile interior passage and 26 shrines
- Carrara marble statuary carved in Italy to Father Wagner's specifications
- Open to the public; thousands of visitors annually
- Maintained by parish volunteers; see rudolphgrotto.org for visitor information
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Philip runs a robust faith formation program led by Religious Education Coordinator Samantha Golat, built around the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), a Montessori-based approach rooted in Sacred Scripture and Catholic liturgy. Children gather in a prepared environment called the Atrium across three levels spanning ages 3 to 12. Older students continue on through Confirmation preparation in grades 7–8.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level I (ages 3–6) — focused on the Parable of the Good Shepherd
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level II (ages 6–9) — focuses on the True Vine and prepares children for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level III (ages 9–12) — history of salvation and God's plan of cosmic communion
- Confirmation Preparation (Grades 7–8) — formation in grace, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and missionary discipleship
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults for those entering the Catholic faith
- Religious Education Coordinator — Samantha Golat ([email protected], 715-416-1710)
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for all the major sacraments of initiation, healing, and vocation. Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick are all accompanied by structured preparation, with several programs delivered in cooperation with neighboring parishes in the Wisconsin Rapids Deanery, particularly Our Lady Queen of Heaven.
- Baptism — parents complete Baptismal Preparation classes before the baptism
- First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion — prepared through CGS Level II
- Confirmation — two-year preparation in grades 7–8
- Marriage — at least 6 months' notice; Married Love Program at Our Lady Queen of Heaven and Pre-Marriage Inventory (Focus)
- Anointing of the Sick / Homebound Communion — Sue Reber, 715-435-3651
- RCIA — for adults and older children entering the Catholic Church
Parish Ministries & Organizations
With about 200 households, St. Philip relies on broad lay involvement. The Adult Choir, Guitar Choir, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, greeters, servers, Prayer Chain, Rosary leaders, Homebound Ministry, Finance Council, and Parish Pastoral Council all provide ways for parishioners to participate. The Friends of St. Philip Youth group meets monthly, and there are committees for Buildings and Grounds, School Liturgy, and the annual Picnic.
- Adult Choir — Linda Hobbs, 715-435-3267
- Mass Servers — Megan Breu, 715-213-7181
- Eucharistic Ministers — Carol Kowieski, 715-435-3481
- Lectors — Carrie Mancl, 715-435-3516
- Ushers — Mary Ann Nash, 715-435-3560
- Greeters — Kathy Hamus, 715-435-3797
- Prayer Chain — Belva Brandl, 715-435-3550
- Rosary Leaders — Joan Elmhorst, 715-435-3543
- Homebound Ministry — Sue Reber, 715-435-3651
- Parish Pastoral Council, Parish Finance Council, Buildings and Grounds, Picnic Committee, Women Foresters, and the Friends of St. Philip Youth group
Parish Staff & Contacts
The parish office is staffed by Secretary and Greeters Coordinator Kathy Hamus, who also handles church envelopes (Barb Ziebell). The Grotto Gardens have their own team — Connie Jagodzinski and Kris Willfahrt — with a separate Grotto Bookkeeper, Leslie Kozicki. The parish is part of the Wisconsin Rapids Deanery of the Diocese of La Crosse; the dean is Father Schaller at Our Lady Queen of Heaven (715-423-1251).
- Pastor — Fr. Barry Saylor, 715-435-3286
- Rectory — 715-435-3286
- Religious Education Coordinator — Samantha Golat, 715-416-1710 ([email protected])
- Secretary & Greeters — Kathy Hamus, 715-435-3797
- Church Envelopes — Barb Ziebell, 715-435-3792
- Grotto Contacts — Connie Jagodzinski 715-323-6441; Kris Willfahrt 715-435-3247 / cell 715-459-5547
- Grotto Bookkeeper — Leslie Kozicki, 715-459-8716
- Dean (Wisconsin Rapids Deanery) — Father Schaller, 715-423-1251
- Bishop — Gerard W. Battersby (Diocese of La Crosse)
Getting Involved & Visiting
Visitors are welcomed to weekend Mass, weekday Mass, or to wander the Grotto Gardens any time. New parishioners are encouraged to register through the rectory. The parish runs a year-round calendar of events including the annual St. Philip Picnic and Cash Raffle, a pancake breakfast in November, Bingo in Wagner Hall, and seasonal socials such as the May Mass and Social honoring Firefighters, EMT, and Rescue Personnel on the Feast of St. Florian.
- Register as a parishioner through the rectory
- Volunteer for one of the many ministries listed on the parish website
- Visit the Grotto Gardens — see rudolphgrotto.org for seasonal hours
- Stay current via the weekly bulletin, posted on the parish blog (saint-philip.org/stphilblog/)
- Annual events include the St. Philip Picnic Cash Raffle, Pancake Breakfast, Bingo in Wagner Hall, and the Firefighters/EMT/Rescue Personnel Mass and Social
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father August Van Sever1884 – 1917
First resident pastor; oversaw construction of rectory and opened the parochial school (1885) under the Sisters of Notre Dame of Milwaukee.
- Father Philip Wagner1917 – 1959
Longest-serving pastor (42.5 years); built the 1920–1921 combined church/school/rectory/convent and founded the Rudolph Grotto Gardens in fulfillment of a Lourdes vow. Died All Saints Day, November 1959; buried in All Souls Cemetery.
- Father Garlan Muller1959 – 1969
Assigned November 24, 1959. Oversaw the 1959 construction of the present church (originally St. Philomena) and its 1961 rededication as St. Philip the Apostle. With Edmund Rybicki added the Sunken Gardens, Our Lady of Fatima Grotto, Shrine of the Annunciation, and Way of the Cross. Resigned October 29, 1969 due to failing health.
- Father Robert Perkins1969 – 1983
Redecorated the sanctuary, dining hall, and school. Suspended the historic 1,000-pound bell in the new bell tower on All Saints Day 1974 (the bell originally greeted the Sisters in 1885). Completed the final Grotto construction projects in spring 1983.
- Father David Bruener2015 – Summer 2019
During his tenure the old school was replaced by a new welcome center with a board room and meeting room.
- Father Barry SaylorSummer 2025 – present
Ordained June 30, 2018; grew up in the Wisconsin Rapids area; previously served Christ the King Parish in Spencer and Corpus Christi Parish in Bakersville. Joined by associate pastors Father Joseph Glatczak and Father Rajendran Anandan.