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
In the wake of Easter joy, we were met with sorrow at the news of Pope Francis' passing—a shepherd who lived out mercy, hope, and humility through both word and action, earning the title "The people’s Pope." As the world unites to honor his legacy, we also look ahead with hearts full of prayer as our parish celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday and the First Holy Communion of many of our children.
Read PostDespite reports of declining church attendance, signs of growth and renewal are all around us—from the twenty individuals entering into full communion with the Church at the Easter Vigil to the forty children receiving their First Holy Communion next weekend. As we reflect on the Paschal Mystery and the power of one person to ignite faith, we are invited to be part of the story of the Church’s growth by sharing the unchanging message of Christ with the world.
Read PostThis Palm Sunday, we are honored to welcome Bishop Powers to celebrate the 10:30 AM Mass with us, as he recognizes the Nelson family—last year’s Knights of Columbus Family of the Year—and several Scouts who have earned the Ad Altare Dei emblem. As we enter Holy Week, we invite you to join us for the beautiful liturgies, including Morning Prayer, Stations of the Cross, and the Triduum, with a few meaningful updates to this year’s celebrations.
Read PostThe Diocese of Superior's new pastoral plan, Maintenance to Mission, addresses both the decline in priests and the decreasing number of people attending Mass and receiving Sacraments, calling for a renewed missionary zeal. This week’s focus on the second, third, and fourth pillars highlights the roles of clergy, consecrated life, and laity, as well as structural elements of parishes and the diocese, including new parish evangelization teams and mission-driven goals.
Read PostThe Diocese of Superior's recently released "Maintenance to Mission Pastoral Plan" encourages parishes to shift from maintaining existing structures to actively living out the Church's mission of evangelization, reflecting the zeal of early missionaries. The plan's introduction and first pillar, "Church on Mission," emphasize the need for parishes to assess their activities through four guiding questions to ensure all efforts draw people into a deeper relationship with Christ.
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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.
