Fr. John has served as the pastor of Saint Patrick Parish since 2012. He previously served parishes in Superior and Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Along with serving our parish, Fr. John serves as supervising pastor of twelve additional parishes in our Diocese. In this role and by serving on a variety of diocesan committees, he is strongly committed to helping the Church in Northern Wisconsin move to being missionary focused. He has always served at a parish with a Catholic School and continues to enjoy being a part of the life of our students and staff at Saint Patrick Catholic School. Leading discipleship groups of seventh grade and tenth grade boys helps him to stay young.
"Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger people." - Blessed Father Solanus Casey
Fr. John reflects on the unique needs of parishes across the Diocese of Superior, especially as priests are stretched to cover Masses due to illness and vacations, while reminding us of the beauty and faithfulness found in smaller communities. He encourages parishioners to take part in the September 27 diocesan workshop at Saint Patrick to learn how to pray with others and embrace the Church’s call to move from “Maintenance” to “Mission.”
Read PostSaint Patrick Parish closed FY26 with a $198,723 net income, significantly better than the budgeted deficit, thanks in large part to generous gifts, strong investment performance, and continued parish support that allowed us to complete important maintenance and improvement projects. Looking ahead, the parish has adopted a conservative FY27 budget while continuing to strengthen long-term financial planning, maintain our aging facilities, support a growing school, and steward parish resources wisely for the future.
Read PostThe St. Croix Valley Catholic Young Adults recently brought their faith into action through service at the Carmelite Monastery and Saint Patrick Parish, where they helped with projects and planted two donated maple trees that will become part of our parish landscape. As a new school year begins, we also give thanks for the many people who prepared Saint Patrick School for its students and ask God’s blessing upon our students, teachers, and staff for a safe and fruitful year.
Read PostSaint Patrick Parish’s free FORMED subscription gives parishioners access to a vast library of Catholic movies, Bible studies, videos, audiobooks, lectures, and family content—all available on demand for kids, teens, adults, and families. With hundreds of parishioners already using FORMED, signing up is easy and offers a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the Catholic faith and grow closer to Christ from wherever you are.
Read PostThe everyday experience of a parent going back into church to retrieve a child’s forgotten toy offers a simple picture of the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to search for the one who is lost. Just as a family cannot be fully at peace when one of its members is hurting or missing, God’s love relentlessly seeks each of us and calls us to care for those who are lost, hurting, or in need.
Read PostParish life is filled with opportunities to step outside our comfort zones, meet new people, and discover how God works through unexpected encounters. Whether through volunteering, joining a ministry, or participating in the sacraments, every invitation to become more involved is an opportunity to grow in faith and experience the adventure of Christian community.
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Saint Patrick Parish's mission is to joyfully proclaim, share, and celebrate the love and mercy of Jesus Christ through Word, Sacraments, prayer, and ministry.
