About St. Raphael the Archangel · Oshkosh, Wisconsin
St. Raphael the Archangel is a Roman Catholic parish in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, located just west of Highway 41 off the 9th Avenue exit on Westhaven Drive. As a member of the Diocese of Green Bay, the parish serves approximately 1,800 registered families on Oshkosh's west side. The parish offers daily and weekend Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, an extensive Religious Education program, youth ministry, adult faith formation, RCIA, and a wide range of outreach and service ministries. Its Sunday 8 am Mass is broadcast on local radio station 1490 WOSH, and Bishop David Ricken's Sunday 10:30 am Mass is televised on WFRV-Local 5 from the parish.
- Established
- 1978 (parish status; mission began 1972)
- Patron
- St. Raphael the Archangel
- Rector
- Fr. Tom Long
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
St. Raphael offers the spiritual nourishment and community life of a large, active parish: daily and weekend Masses (with the 8 am Sunday Mass broadcast on 1490 WOSH), weekly Reconciliation, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, and a year-round Rosary. Families can grow together through a robust Religious Education program (Grades K-12), Children's Liturgy of the Word, EDGE middle school ministry, high school youth ministry, Vacation Bible School, and a Young Adult Ministry for Catholics aged 18-39. Adults are accompanied through RCIA, ongoing faith formation, small groups, and a deep formation staff — all rooted in a parish that has served Oshkosh's west side for over fifty years and now includes roughly 1,800 families.
Mass times at St. Raphael the Archangel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 4:30-5:30 pm
- Saturday 3:30-4:30 pm
- Wednesday 8:00 pm (Labor Day–Memorial Day)
- 1st Thursday of the month 3:45-5:15 pm (during Holy Hour of Adoration)
- 2nd Sunday of the month 4:10-4:30 pm (September–May, during Second Sunday Holy Hour)
- By appointment: call the parish office at 920-233-8044
Adoration times
- Holy Hour of Adoration: 1st Thursday of the month, 3:30-5:30 pm in the main church (Reconciliation 3:45-5:15 pm)
- Second Sunday Holy Hour: 2nd Sunday of the month, 4-5 pm in the main church (September–May)
- St. Raphael Eucharistic Prayer Chapel available for quiet prayer — first door to the left upon entering the main church
- Divine Mercy Adoration Chapel supported by Oshkosh parishes — at Most Blessed Sacrament, St. Mary's Site, 605 Merritt Avenue
About St. Raphael the Archangel
St. Raphael the Archangel is a Catholic parish in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, serving the city's west side. With about 1,800 registered families, the parish is part of the Diocese of Green Bay and offers a wide range of liturgical, educational, and outreach ministries for all ages. The parish grounds include the main church on Westhaven Drive, a Eucharistic Prayer Chapel for quiet prayer, and Good Samaritan Hall for parish gatherings and coffee-and-donut Sundays. Staff and priests use a [email protected] email convention, and the parish office is reachable at 920-233-8044.
- Parish office: 830 S Westhaven Drive, Oshkosh, WI 54904
- Phone: 920-233-8044; email: [email protected]
- Diocese: Green Bay
- Approximately 1,800 registered families
- Office hours: Mon–Thurs 8 am–4:30 pm; Fri 8 am–1 pm
Parish History
The parish grew from a handful of families meeting in 1971 to one of the largest parishes in the Oshkosh area. Beginning as the Good Samaritan Catholic Community in 1972, it was granted full parish status in 1978 and renamed St. Raphael the Archangel. Through successive pastors and capital campaigns, the community built its first church (dedicated 1987), outgrew it, and moved to its current Westhaven Drive facility in 1994–1995, where Bishop Robert Banks dedicated the new building. The parish joined the Lourdes Academy Catholic School System in 1997 and celebrated its 50th anniversary of that first Mass in September 2022.
- 1971: Fr. Andrew Nelson meets with six Westhaven families
- 1972: Good Samaritan Catholic Community established; first Mass April 15, 1972 at Calvary Lutheran Church
- 1978: Parish status granted; named St. Raphael the Archangel
- 1987: First church dedicated by Bishop Adam Maida
- 1994-1995: Current Westhaven Drive church built and dedicated by Bishop Robert Banks
- 1997: Joined Unified Catholic School System (Lourdes Academy)
- 2003: 25th Anniversary with 2,800 families
- 2022: 50th anniversary of the founding Mass celebrated
Pastoral Team
The parish is shepherded by a team of priests, deacons, and lay ministers. Fr. Tom Long has served as pastor since August 2017, with Fr. Ben Pribbenow and Fr. Nathan Budde as parochial vicars. Sara Scheunemann serves as Pastoral Associate, focusing on adult faith formation, RCIA accompaniment, and spiritual direction. Three permanent deacons — John Ingala, Greg Grey, and Mark Leafgren — minister at Masses, baptisms, weddings, and funerals, and in various outreach roles. A larger parish staff supports liturgy/music, religious education, youth ministry, communications, business, and facilities.
- Pastor: Fr. Tom Long (ext. 224)
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Ben Pribbenow (ext. 226)
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Nathan Budde
- Pastoral Associate: Sara Scheunemann (ext. 228)
- Pastoral Minister: Deacon John Ingala (ext. 236)
- Deacons: Greg Grey, Mark Leafgren
- Pastoral Care Facilitator: Jill Eaton
- Business Manager: Mark Lindekugel; Facilities: Howard Frank
- Coordinator of Liturgy/Music: Karen Moehn
- Director of Religious Education: Jessie Adrians
Education & Faith Formation
The parish runs a comprehensive faith formation program for children, youth, and adults. Religious Education classes are held for Grades K-5, with a Families of Faith whole-family catechesis option and Sunday School for 4K/K. Middle school youth participate in the EDGE program, and high school youth ministry covers Grades 9-12. Adult Faith Formation offers ongoing learning opportunities, the Young Adult Ministry (ages 18-39) brings together younger Catholics for spiritual and social events, and RCIA forms adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. CIC (Christian Initiation of Children) prepares children for the sacraments of initiation. All youth faith formation volunteers must complete Virtus training and pass a background check.
- Religious Education Grades 1-5; Sunday School 4K/K
- Families of Faith (4K-10) — once-monthly meetings plus home teaching
- EDGE Middle School Ministry (Grades 6-8)
- High School Youth Ministry (Grades 9-12)
- Confirmation Preparation with Confirmation Mentors
- Vacation Bible School (PK-5) each summer
- RCIA for adults; CIC for children
- Young Adult Ministry (ages 18-39)
- Adult Faith Formation ongoing programs
Ministries & Volunteer Opportunities
St. Raphael's parish life is sustained by many lay ministries. Education and formation ministries include RCIA sponsors, catechists, CLOW leaders, VBS volunteers, and Confirmation mentors. Parish support ministries include the Building Maintenance team, the Holy Dusters, the Outdoor Environment Team (gardens and planters), the Mail Crew, Welcome/New Parishioner Information, and Funeral Luncheons. Liturgical and pastoral ministries include the music ministry, Eucharistic ministers, lectors, ushers, the homebound ministry, pastoral care, the grief support group, and the Baptism Prep program. Each ministry lists a time commitment, and volunteers can sign up through the parish office or the Education & Formation Form on the website.
- RCIA Sponsors (Monday evenings Sept–Easter)
- CLOW, Sunday School Catechists, VBS leaders
- EDGE & High School Mentors
- Building Maintenance, Holy Dusters, Outdoor Environment, Mail Crew
- Funeral Luncheon Ministry
- Welcome / New Parishioner Information (first weekend of the month)
- Liturgy & Music Ministry, Social Communication
Catholic Schools & Lourdes Academy
Since 1997, St. Raphael the Archangel has been a full member in the Unified Catholic School System, now known as Lourdes Academy, which serves PreK through Grade 12. The parish supports Catholic education across the Oshkosh area and the wider Diocese of Green Bay, with Fr. Ben Pribbenow serving as Chaplain at Lourdes Academy in addition to his duties at St. Raphael.
- Member of Lourdes Academy Unified Catholic School System (PreK-12) since 1997
- Fr. Ben Pribbenow serves as Lourdes Academy Chaplain
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
The parish prepares and celebrates all seven sacraments. Baptism Preparation is led by a deacon; marriages are supported with preparation and annulment advocacy; the Anointing of the Sick and home visits are coordinated by the Pastoral Care Facilitator. RCIA and CIC accompany adults and children into full communion with the Church, and Confirmation is celebrated with parish mentors walking alongside candidates.
- Baptism with Baptism Prep program
- First Communion and Reconciliation preparation
- Confirmation (Grades 9-11) with Confirmation Mentors
- Marriage preparation and annulment advocacy
- Anointing of the Sick, homebound ministry, grief support
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. David Barrett1972
First priest assigned to serve the Good Samaritan Catholic Community mission; celebrated the inaugural Mass on April 15, 1972.
- Fr. Andrew Nelson1976
Assigned as part-time pastor of the Good Samaritan community; grew it to 100 families.
- Fr. Robert Groher1978-1979
First full-time pastor after parish status was granted and the name St. Raphael the Archangel was given in 1978.
- Fr. Joseph Bestler1979-1983
Succeeded Fr. Groher as pastor.
- Fr. Gerald Foley1983-1991
Succeeded Fr. Bestler; oversaw the 1985 Capital Campaign and 1987 dedication of the first church.
- Fr. Daniel Felton1991
Shepherded the move to the current Westhaven Drive facility, dedicated by Bishop Robert Banks in 1995.
- Fr. Tom Long2017-present
Current pastor since August 2017; previously Vocation Director and Vicar for Clergy & Pastoral Leaders for the Diocese of Green Bay.