St. Joseph Parish in Oneida is a Catholic parish centered on the Eucharist and shaped by service from childhood onward. At 145 St. Joseph Drive, visitors and new parishioners are welcome at Mass or in the parish office. Children can begin serving as altar servers in third grade, while adults share their gifts as cantors, Eucharistic ministers, ministers of the Word, hospitality ministers, sacristans, musicians, cleaners, and caregivers. The parish is known for liturgical worship, preparation for the sacraments, and practical care for people.
Mass, Rosary, and Monthly Adoration
St. Joseph celebrates its Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday Mass at 10:00 a.m. Thursday and Friday mornings begin with the Rosary at 7:30 a.m., followed by Mass at 8:00 a.m. Confession is offered Thursday and Friday from 7:30 to 7:50 a.m. and Saturday from 3:30 to 3:50 p.m. On the first Thursday of each month from September through May, Eucharistic Adoration continues from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
The parish office at 145 St. Joseph Drive is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and closed Friday. The parish phone number is 920-869-2244. Secure online giving is also available.
Faith Formation Grounded in the Sacraments
St. Joseph places First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion in grade 2. The parish presents Reconciliation as a sacrament of healing in which families learn of God's mercy and love, examine themselves, seek forgiveness, and grow in holiness. It asks parents to make Reconciliation a consistent priority. First Holy Communion prepares children to receive Jesus' Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity under the appearances of bread and wine, which the parish identifies with what takes place during Mass.
Confirmation is received in the spring of 11th grade. Its preparation centers on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, spiritual strengthening, unity, and the grace needed to share and defend one's faith. Attendance at Mass is required.
The Diocese of Green Bay's safe-environment commitment covers parishes, schools, faith formation programs, and every ministry, with particular care for children, youth, and people at risk. Rosie Baranczyk is the parish contact for safe-environment resources.
Serving at Mass and Preparing the Church
Parish life gives people concrete roles in preparing for and participating in worship. Training is provided for the principal serving ministries, allowing adults, families, and young people to contribute in ways suited to their responsibilities.
- Altar servers. Parishioners in third grade or older may assist the priest at Mass or other services. Altar servers are normally assigned once or twice each month, and Roselle Denny is the ministry contact.
- Ministers of Hospitality. Ushers and greeters welcome arrivals, direct people to seating, assist with needs, secure the monetary offerings, and guide movement during Communion. Lorie Francar is the ministry contact.
- Eucharistic Ministers. These volunteers proclaim the Bread of Life and Cup of Salvation and serve the people at God's heavenly banquet. Training is provided, volunteers may indicate a preferred Mass time, and the roster includes substitutes. Kathy Gorzelanczyk is the contact.
- Ministers of the Word. Confirmed parishioners over 18 may read Scripture at Mass or other services after training. Kathy Gorzelanczyk also serves as the contact for this ministry.
- Sacristans. Individuals or families open and close the church and set up for Mass. They serve about once a month, receive short training, and include tasks that a young child can undertake as he or she grows in faith. Lorie Francar is the contact.
Other work supports the physical setting for worship. Altar Linen Ministry volunteers collect, launder, and return the linens used during the previous week, a commitment that takes about an hour three or four times a year. Florence Banaszak is the contact. Nine cleaning teams dust, wash windows, and vacuum the sanctuary, assembly area, narthex, and entrances; each team serves once every four months. Audrey McCarey is the contact. The Church Environment group works throughout the entrance, assembly, sanctuary, and outdoor gardens to enhance Eucharistic celebrations and feasts throughout the liturgical year. Mary Hackel serves as its contact.
Training and Rotating Service
Training is provided for altar servers, Eucharistic ministers, Ministers of the Word, and sacristans. Eucharistic Minister schedules are prepared three months at a time and include preferred Mass times, switch arrangements, and a substitute list. Sacristans receive an availability survey before their schedules are prepared. These recurring patterns give volunteers a practical way to participate while accommodating changes in family and parish schedules.
Music for Sundays and Special Liturgies
Cantors lead the congregation in song at weekend Masses and special liturgies. They may sing solo or with another person, practice before Mass, and choose to be scheduled as little or as often as they wish. Christina Kime Valdez coordinates music and serves as the contact for cantors.
The choir sings on the second and fourth Sundays of each month from September after Labor Day through May before Memorial Day, with practice before Mass. Additional singers are welcome for Christmas and Easter. Instrumentalists, including students and adults, may accompany these celebrations or other special liturgies. The same musical ministry also recruits singers for funerals during the week and on Saturdays.
Baptism, Marriage, and Care of the Sick
Baptism preparation classes are offered by appointment only. Baptisms are celebrated at 8:00 a.m. Sunday at Immaculate Conception, 4:00 p.m. Saturday at St. Joseph, and 10:00 a.m. Sunday at St. Joseph. The baptism may occur before, during, or after Mass.
The parish describes Marriage as a covenant and a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving one another and God. Preparation classes must begin at least eight months before the wedding date.
The Anointing of the Sick belongs to the Rite of Pastoral Care of the Sick. In this pastoral care, priests pray for and anoint those who are sick.
Care Beyond the Parish Buildings
Ministry reaches beyond St. Joseph's own buildings. Members of St. Joseph and Immaculate Conception volunteer to celebrate the Eucharist with residents of Anna John Nursing Home on Sundays. The parishes alternate months, and Donna Laabs is the ministry contact.
Visits are available to people in hospitals and to homebound parishioners, while an anointing may be requested for someone in the hospital. The Good Samaritan and Social Concerns ministry responds to people who are poor, hurting, or in need through compassionate charitable service, with Mary Van Schyndel as its contact.
The Prayer Network is a group of parishioners who pray for people who need prayer. Its contacts are Marge Doxtator and Mary Olson. The Respect Life mission encourages education about the value of life at every stage and seeks ways to promote, celebrate, and demonstrate total respect for life. It also emphasizes sharing that growing knowledge with everyone who is listening. Kathy Gorzelanczyk serves as its contact.
Knights of Columbus Council 6464 defines its business as caring about people. The parish also holds Knights of Columbus food collections as a practical expression of community support.
Parish Life, Funerals, and the Cemetery
Fundraising and fellowship are woven into parish life. SCRIP sales and order pickup are available before and after weekend Masses, including Kwik Trip cards. Bake sales are held periodically, with proceeds supporting various parish needs. Bernie's Take-out Booyah Bash is a spring and fall gathering after the 10:00 a.m. Mass, and coffee and donuts are offered after that Sunday Mass.
For funerals, lunch servers cook and serve a meal for parishioners, families, relatives, neighbors, and friends, generally between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m. Mary Olson is the contact. Funeral choir members sing during the week and on Saturdays, with Faye Robertson as the choir contact.
The parish cemetery is on Seminary Road in Oneida. Jacob LeMere serves the cemetery, and a dedicated Cemetery Committee oversees this part of parish ministry.
Leadership and Stewardship
Father Paul Paider serves as pastor. Christina Kime Valdez is music coordinator, Beverley Rittenhouse leads faith formation, and Deacon Bobby Doxtator serves the parish. Day-to-day support comes from parish secretary Brenda Rybicki-Smith, maintenance staff member Mike Wagner, and cemetery staff member Jacob LeMere.
The Pastoral Council works with the pastor and staff to prayerfully discern and carry out God's will for the parish in the present and future. It meets five times a year, generally once every two months. The Finance Council also meets five times a year and works with the pastor to manage material goods, prepare and monitor the budget, support fundraising, and maintain parish facilities.
The Fundraising Committee develops and carries out ideas for supporting parish needs. The Buildings and Grounds Committee works with the Pastoral and Finance Councils to maintain buildings and plan major capital improvements. The Worship Committee meets monthly to prepare for the seasons of the liturgical year, Mass, and Holy Days of Obligation.
St. Joseph's parish life is centered on the Eucharist, formation for the sacraments, care for people, and service offered by members of the parish.