St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
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7176 Esker Road, Custer, WI 54423
7176 Esker Road, Custer, WI 54423
Parish History
Parish History
Immaculate Conception Church
Séipéal Naomh Mhuire Gan Smál
One-half mile north of the small settlement of Custer standing on the hillside is a Catholic Church dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of Mary, usually known at St. Mary’s.
The first Mass was celebrated in 1840 in the home of Owen Fehely. This home was on the north side of Highway 10 E across from the Weisbrot farm. First settlers were mostly Irish immigrants coming directly from Ireland. Some Polish families had settled in and around Stevens Point but came in greater numbers in the 1860s. The spiritual needs of the people were in the care of missionary priests, some coming from as far as Milwaukee.
In 1853, St. Stephen’s was established in Stevens Point and the people of Custer were visited quite regularly by the priest of the congregation. In 1875 the church was built under the supervision of contractor Michael Herbert. Most of the work was done by the parishioners. On November 16, 1875, the church was dedicated by Bishop Francis Xavier Krautbauer of the Diocese of Green Bay. On January 7th, 1946 the parish was transferred to the Diocese of La Crosse under Bishop Alexander Joseph McGavick.
Since that time, the parish has undergone many changes with a new front entrance, choir loft, and bathrooms done in the 1960s. A new side addition was added in the 1970s. The parish has an active Pastoral/Finance Council, as well as Sacred Worship, Education, Family Life and Social Justice Committees: which serve the parishioners in various needs. During the 1990s many family activities were started by various parish committees, such as the coffee and doughnut social on Sundays once a month.
The parish also has many members who are active as altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, greeters, ushers, cantors and music ministers. Through the past 142 years many changes have occurred but the Holy Spirit has remained an intimate part of the lives of the people of St. Mary's Immaculate Conception Parish in Custer.
History of Parish Leadership
1886-1890 Fr. Joseph Geisser
1890-1892 Fr. J.D. Schwartzmeyer
1892-1894 Fr. John Hummel
1894-1899 Fr. J.A. Bourgmeyer
1899-1905 Fr. E.P. Lorigan
1905-1908 Fr. E.A. Schwaeble
1908-1910 Fr. C. Ulrich
1910-1913 Fr. George Schemmer
1913-1919 Fr. Joseph Bartelme
1919-1923 Fr. Louis Schorn
1923-1927 Fr. Victor Kaude
1927-1929 Fr. H. Van de Castle
1929-1938 Fr. Joseph Schafer
1938-1945 Fr. Harry Schuller
1945-1950 Fr. James Geyer
1950-1962 Fr. Emil Hodnik
1962-1968 Fr. Bernard Novak
1968-1969 Fr. Andrzewski
1969-1970 Fr. Ray Peters
1970-1972 Fr. Paul Fladd
1972-1980 Fr. John Wisneski
1980-1987 Fr. Dan Kozlowski
1987-1989 Fr. Herb Zoromski
1987-1992 Deacon Florian Hurrish
1989-1995 Fr. Al Wozniak
1992-2000 Sr. Annette Marie Johnson, Pastoral Assoc.
1995-1996 Fr. Lyle Schulte
1995-1997 Fr. Steve Kachel Associate Pastor
1996-1997 Fr. Joseph Konopacky
1997-1999 Fr. Steve Kachel
1997-1999 Fr. Steve Kachel
1999-2003 Deacon Art Schaller
1999-2003 Fr. Robert Schaller
2000-2003 Chris Burr, Pastoral Assoc.
2003-2006 Fr. Sotico Florida
2006-2009 Fr. George Thayilkuzhithottu, MSFS
2009-2012 Fr. Rajen Anandan
2012-2015 Fr. Jude Dioka
2015-2016 Fr. Daniel Hackel
2016-2019 Fr. Gregory Michaud
2019-2021 Fr. Alan Guanella
2021-Present Fr. Mark Miller