| 281 Dakota Street South, Prescott, WI, 54021 |
St. Joseph
In Christ.
As Christ.
For Christ.
As Christ.
For Christ.
Catholic Church
| St. Joseph Parish History |
The presence of Catholic settlers in the community extends back to 1855, when the
first recorded settlers of Irish and German immigrants, and of our faith, came to
Prescott. The first documented Holy Mass for the Prescott/Big River area was on All
Saints Day, 1861, at the Peter Fasbender home in Big River. It was attended by about
25 families and single men.
By 1867 there was a larger community of Catholics in Prescott who wanted a church
building of their own, separate from Big River-St. Mary’s (which was then a mission of
the Hudson church). In 1868, a 24 x 60 foot wooden church was built in Prescott, on
the same site as the present St. Joseph Church. This new church became a mission
church of St. Mary’s, then later of St. Bridget’s-River Falls. During the mission period
services were held every other Sunday, and there were 54 families in the parish. The
total yearly collection was about $500.
On October 31, 1905, St. Joseph Catholic Church was incorporated as a parish. Fr.
Joseph Baur was the first resident pastor. The home south of the church was
purchased for use as a rectory.
In 1912 a larger church was necessary, and work began on the present St. Joseph
Church. In 1915 the front entrance was added, bringing the total church costs to
approximately $24,000. At that time the congregation consisted of 69 families.
In 1950, the present rectory was built. A school building project was started in 1959,
with a dedication of the new building on October 15, 1961, with 109 students enrolled.
A convent was built in 1981. In 1988 a multi-purpose addition, including a gymnasium,
was built on the south end of the school.
In 1999, the exterior of the church was tuckpointed and the roof was reshingled. The
domes were covered with aluminum shingles, and custom-made stainless steel
crosses were installed on the domes (replacing the galvanized shingles and crosses
which were rusting and deteriorating). In 2002, the area behind the altar was
redesigned to provide a place for our music ministry groups. The sanctuary screen
was removed and custom cabinetry was installed in its place.
In 2005, there were 587 registered families at St. Joseph, with 164 children enrolled in
the preschool through sixth grades at St. Joseph School.
first recorded settlers of Irish and German immigrants, and of our faith, came to
Prescott. The first documented Holy Mass for the Prescott/Big River area was on All
Saints Day, 1861, at the Peter Fasbender home in Big River. It was attended by about
25 families and single men.
By 1867 there was a larger community of Catholics in Prescott who wanted a church
building of their own, separate from Big River-St. Mary’s (which was then a mission of
the Hudson church). In 1868, a 24 x 60 foot wooden church was built in Prescott, on
the same site as the present St. Joseph Church. This new church became a mission
church of St. Mary’s, then later of St. Bridget’s-River Falls. During the mission period
services were held every other Sunday, and there were 54 families in the parish. The
total yearly collection was about $500.
On October 31, 1905, St. Joseph Catholic Church was incorporated as a parish. Fr.
Joseph Baur was the first resident pastor. The home south of the church was
purchased for use as a rectory.
In 1912 a larger church was necessary, and work began on the present St. Joseph
Church. In 1915 the front entrance was added, bringing the total church costs to
approximately $24,000. At that time the congregation consisted of 69 families.
In 1950, the present rectory was built. A school building project was started in 1959,
with a dedication of the new building on October 15, 1961, with 109 students enrolled.
A convent was built in 1981. In 1988 a multi-purpose addition, including a gymnasium,
was built on the south end of the school.
In 1999, the exterior of the church was tuckpointed and the roof was reshingled. The
domes were covered with aluminum shingles, and custom-made stainless steel
crosses were installed on the domes (replacing the galvanized shingles and crosses
which were rusting and deteriorating). In 2002, the area behind the altar was
redesigned to provide a place for our music ministry groups. The sanctuary screen
was removed and custom cabinetry was installed in its place.
In 2005, there were 587 registered families at St. Joseph, with 164 children enrolled in
the preschool through sixth grades at St. Joseph School.
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