About Sts. Mary and Hyacinth · Antigo, Wisconsin
SS. Mary & Hyacinth Parish is one of three linked Catholic parishes serving Antigo and the surrounding Langlade County area in northern Wisconsin, sitting alongside St. John the Evangelist (also in Antigo) and St. Wenceslaus (in nearby Neva/Deerbrook) under a single pastor and ministry team. The parish church stands at 819 3rd Avenue in Antigo and is part of the Diocese of Green Bay's Northwest Vicariate. Its patron saints reflect the Polish immigrant roots of much of the local Catholic community, and the parish is most centrally known in the area for its Saturday Vigil Mass and early Sunday Mass, weekly confessions, Adoration on Tuesdays, and its role as the home of Tri-Parish Faith Formation for grades K–12 and several community groups.
- Established
- 1895
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Hyacinth of Poland (Jacek Odrowąż)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Joel Sember
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay (Northwest Vicariate)
Why belong here
SS. Mary & Hyacinth is a welcoming, mid-sized parish in the heart of Antigo with two accessible weekend Masses (Saturday 4:00 pm Vigil and Sunday 7:00 am), two weekly confession opportunities, and Tuesday-evening Adoration. As one of three linked Antigo-area parishes under Fr. Joel Sember, it shares a robust Tri-Parish Faith Formation program (K–12), the parish-linked All Saints Catholic School (4K–8), and active adult discipleship and Alpha-style groups. The parish's 819 3rd Avenue campus also opens its doors to community groups, making it a true neighborhood anchor in northern Wisconsin.
Mass times at Sts. Mary and Hyacinth
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm
- 1st Saturday following the 8:00 am Mass
- Tuesday: 5:30 pm – 6:15 pm (with Adoration beginning at 5:30 pm)
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 5:30 pm – 6:15 pm (immediately preceding the 6:30 pm Mass)
- 1st Saturday following the 8:00 am Mass (listed as part of the Saturday confession/devotion block)
Welcome to SS. Mary & Hyacinth Parish
SS. Mary & Hyacinth is a Catholic parish of the Diocese of Green Bay located at 819 3rd Avenue in Antigo, Wisconsin. The parish is one of three mission-linked parishes that together form the 'Antigo Area Catholic Churches,' sharing clergy and faith-formation staff with neighboring St. John the Evangelist (Antigo) and St. Wenceslaus (Neva/Deerbrook). Weekend Masses are offered Saturday at 4:00 pm and Sunday at 7:00 am, with a Tuesday-evening Mass at 6:30 pm and a Friday Mass at 7:15 am. The parish is also part of the Northwest Vicariate of the Diocese of Green Bay.
- Weekend Masses: Saturday 4:00 pm (Vigil), Sunday 7:00 am
- Weekday Masses: Tuesday 6:30 pm, Friday 7:15 am (1:30 pm on rotating 1st Friday)
- Phone: 715-623-4938 • Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 8 am–12 pm and 1 pm–4 pm
History and Heritage
The parish traces its origin to 1895, when Polish Catholic families in Antigo organized a parish under the patronage of St. Hyacinth — placing it squarely in the great wave of Polish immigration that built the lumber-and-railroad communities of northern Wisconsin in the late 19th century. It is one of the Polish-founded parishes documented in the Polish Genealogical Society of America's national register (entry #248). Like other Polish, German, and Belgian congregations in the region, it falls under the Diocese of Green Bay, which was itself erected in 1868 to serve these immigrant communities. Today the historic parish is one of three linked Antigo-area Catholic parishes that share a single pastor and faith-formation team.
- Founded 1895 as a Polish Catholic parish under the patronage of St. Hyacinth
- Documented in the PGSA list of U.S. Polish parishes (sequence #248)
- Part of the Diocese of Green Bay (established 1868), Northwest Vicariate
- Linked parishes: St. John the Evangelist (Antigo) and St. Wenceslaus (Neva)
Pastor and Clergy
The parish is currently shepherded by Very Rev. Joel Sember, who became pastor of all three linked Antigo-area parishes on August 3, 2020. Fr. Joel was ordained in 2007 for the Diocese of Green Bay and holds a B.A. in philosophy and Catholic studies from the University of St. Thomas, a bachelor's in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and a license in sacred theology from the Pontifical University Santa Croce in Rome. He previously served as associate pastor in Oshkosh and De Pere and as pastor of three parishes in southern Oconto County, where he helped rebuild St. Anthony Catholic School after an arson fire and built a new church for Holy Trinity Parish in Oconto. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. George Daniel and Deacons Andrew Bures and Peter Schlegel (the latter also serves as Business Manager and was ordained to the diaconate on May 18, 2024).
- Pastor: Very Rev. Joel Sember (since August 3, 2020)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. George Daniel
- Deacon: Andrew Bures
- Deacon / Business Manager: Peter Schlegel (ordained May 18, 2024)
- Predecessor in the Antigo cluster: Fr. Matt Simonar (now at Nativity of Our Lord, Ashwaubenon)
Faith Formation and School
Faith formation for children and youth across the three Antigo-area parishes is coordinated through the Tri-Parish Faith Formation office, located at 819 3rd Avenue and led by Coordinator Kristen Rolling (K–12). The parish also partners with All Saints Catholic School, the shared parish school for the cluster, which serves students from 4K through 8th grade at 419 6th Avenue in Antigo under Principal Paul Galuska. The parish's vision statement frames its formation work as building 'intentional missionary disciples' — children and adults alike who encounter Christ, grow in their homes, and witness to the Gospel.
- Tri-Parish Faith Formation (K–12): Coordinator Kristen Rolling, 715-623-5255
- All Saints Catholic School (4K–8): 419 6th Ave., Antigo, 715-623-4835; Principal Paul Galuska
- Faith Formation 2025–2026 schedule published each program year
- Motto: 'The Youth are the church of today… intentional discipleship'
Discipleship, Alpha, and Adult Faith Formation
Working with the Diocese of Green Bay's 'Disciples on the Way' initiative under Bishop David Ricken, the parish runs the Alpha Course — a 10-to-12-week introduction to the Christian faith that meets weekly over a shared meal, a short talk, and small-group discussion, typically in a home, restaurant, or parish space. Alpha is open to anyone, regardless of background or belief, and 'no question is out of bounds.' Small Discipleship Groups supplement Alpha by helping parishioners grow together as motivated disciples of Christ. The parish also sponsors Fit Shepherds (men's) and Faustina Fit (women's) Saturday-morning fitness gatherings, alongside ongoing adult faith-formation opportunities.
- Alpha Course: 10–12 week intro to Christianity, weekly meal + talk + discussion
- Discipleship Groups: ongoing small-group faith sharing in homes and the parish
- Fit Shepherds (men) and Faustina Fit (women): Saturday-morning fitness
- Adult Faith Formation opportunities listed on the parish website
Parish Life, Community Use, and Outreach
Beyond its sacramental and formation work, the parish campus at 819 3rd Avenue functions as a true community hub in Antigo. Local non-profit groups regularly use its classrooms and meeting rooms — for example, Langlade County Community Ceramics meets every Monday and Friday from 9 am to noon in Classroom 8, and Overeaters Anonymous gathers Mondays at 7:00 pm in Room 4. Online Mass recordings and homilies extend the parish's reach beyond Antigo via the Antigo Area Catholic Churches YouTube channel and Fr. Joel Sember's 'Pilgrim Priest' homily podcast. The parish also participates in the diocesan Safe Environment / Awareness Incident Reporting program and welcomes volunteers age 13 and older.
- Hosts Langlade County Community Ceramics (Mon/Fri 9 am–noon, Classroom 8)
- Hosts Overeaters Anonymous (Mon 7 pm, Room 4)
- Online Mass recordings on the Antigo Area Catholic Churches YouTube channel
- Fr. Joel's 'Pilgrim Priest' homily podcast at pilgrimpriest.us
- Safe Environment / Awareness Incident Reporting through the Diocese of Green Bay
Giving and Online Support
Parishioners and friends can support SS. Mary & Hyacinth through the Tithe.ly online giving platform on the parish website, with the option to direct gifts to SS. Mary & Hyacinth, St. John, or St. Wenceslaus as desired. The parish also publishes a printable monthly Church Calendar on its website.
- Online giving via Tithe.ly (antigoareacatholicchurches.com)
- Monthly Church Calendar available to view/print online
- Mailing address for donations: 819 3rd Ave., Antigo, WI 54409-1930
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Matt Simonarbefore August 2020
Preceded Fr. Joel Sember as pastor of the Antigo cluster; moved on to Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Ashwaubenon in 2020.
- Very Rev. Joel SemberAugust 3, 2020 – present
Named pastor of the three linked Antigo-area parishes (SS. Mary & Hyacinth, St. John, St. Wenceslaus) effective August 3, 2020; previously pastor of three parishes in southern Oconto County; ordained 2007 for the Diocese of Green Bay.