A Prescott Parish Where Faith and a Capuchin Friar Both Took Root
St. Joseph Catholic Church stands on Dakota Street in Prescott, a small river town in Pierce County where Wisconsin meets the Mississippi. The parish is best known for two things: a thriving parish school and a quiet piece of American Catholic history. In 1870 an infant named Bernard Francis Casey was baptized within its walls. He grew up to become Blessed Solanus Casey, the Capuchin Franciscan priest remembered across the country for his life of humble service, and he was beatified by the Catholic Church in 2017. Today St. Joseph still honors him as one of its own, while serving as the spiritual home for hundreds of families in the Prescott area.
The church sits at 269 Dakota Street S., with the parish school next door at 281 Dakota Street S. Fr. Levi Schmitt serves as parochial administrator, with Deacon Jerry Rynda assisting. The life of the parish is summed up in three short phrases that frame everything it does: "In Christ. As Christ. For Christ."
Mass and Reconciliation
Weekend Masses are offered Saturday at 4:00 p.m. (Vigil) and Sunday at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Weekday Masses are celebrated Tuesday through Friday at 8:15 a.m. Each Mass is livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel so that those who cannot be present can still take part.
Confessions are heard Saturday at 3:00 p.m., Sunday from 7:30 to 7:55 a.m., and Tuesday through Friday from 7:45 to 8:10 a.m. Confessions can also be arranged by appointment with Fr. Levi Schmitt.
Sacraments for Children and Adults
Parents wishing to baptize an infant are invited to contact Deacon Jerry Rynda to arrange a meeting and schedule the celebration. Adults preparing for baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist take part in the parish's OCIA process (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults); the starting point is a conversation with Fr. Levi Schmitt.
First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are typically celebrated in the second grade, with a curriculum built into both the parish school and the parish Religious Education program. Adults who have not yet received these sacraments are likewise invited to speak with Fr. Levi Schmitt.
Couples planning to marry are asked to contact Fr. Levi Schmitt at least nine months before their wedding date. Marriages are usually not scheduled during Lent.
Holy Communion is brought to the sick and homebound each Tuesday; anyone interested in receiving the Eucharist at home can contact the parish office to make arrangements. For serious illness, medical emergencies, or upcoming surgery, Fr. Levi Schmitt can be reached at 715-262-2520 to request Anointing of the Sick.
The Parish School in the Heart of the Building
St. Joseph Parish School opened its doors in 1961, with the formal dedication taking place on October 15 of that year. Staffed at first by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration from La Crosse, with Sister Vincenza as the first principal, the school enrolled 109 students in grades two through seven. The school community grew over the next decade, and by the time the parish celebrated its own centennial in 1968 there were 164 students in grades one through six.
An addition completed in 1989 and 1990 brought a gym, kitchen, music room, and two classrooms. Kindergarten was added in 1992, and Pre-School began in 1996. In 2011 the school marked its 50-year jubilee with a CD release concert and an all-school reunion.
Today the school serves 4-year-old kindergarten through sixth grade under the slogan "Daily we live In Christ, As Christ, and For Christ." Chris Magee serves as principal and Vicki Olson as assistant principal. The school's vision is to cultivate the growth of each student as a whole person: body, mind, and soul, integrating academics, technology, and the arts with prayer, worship, sacraments, and virtues. Students participate in an annual "Walk for Virtues" fundraiser that provides tuition assistance, and the parish's partnership with FAIR (Financial Aid Independent Review) helps families apply for additional aid.
Tuition for the 2025-2026 school year is $3,100 per year for parish-member children and $3,400 per year for non-parish children, with a $60 nonrefundable registration fee per child. The school serves hot lunch each day; student meals cost $4.00 and always include fresh whole fruit plus a drink. Students wear uniforms, sourced through Lands' End or Donalds Uniforms.
An Open House is held each February, and registration for current families begins in early March. Preference is given first to Catholic students whose families are registered, supporting members of St. Joseph Parish, then to Catholic students of other parishes, and then to the wider public.
The School Remodel Campaign
A $1.5 million "Founded in Faith, Renewing for Tomorrow" campaign is currently underway to make critical infrastructure updates to the school building. Construction began on June 1 of this year. The improvements include replacing the original exterior façade with modern insulated materials, replacing the roof, upgrading the HVAC system and lighting to LED, redesigning the school entrance for stronger campus security, and abating asbestos. Generous donors have already helped raise $1.1 million toward the goal. Gifts can be made as a one-time contribution, as a 12-month recurring payment, or by check using a printable pledge card made out to the St. Joseph's School Remodel Fund.
Recent fundraisers have also supported the school in other ways. A "Totally 90's Knight" Gala raised a net of $62,336, which funded a new hardwood gym floor. Other longstanding fundraisers include Mama K's Pizza nights, a Gertens Spring Plant Sale, the Walk for Virtues, and the annual Penny War organized by the sixth grade.
Religious Education and Youth Ministry
Children who attend public school take part in Religious Education classes held on Wednesdays at St. Joseph School. Grades 1 through 5 meet from 3:30 to 4:40 p.m., with bus transportation available from Malone Elementary and Malone Intermediate schools. Grades 6 through 8 meet from 6:45 to 8:00 p.m. Confirmation preparation spans grades 9 and 10 with Wednesday evening sessions as well. First Reconciliation and First Communion classes are held for second graders during the Wednesday program, with First Communion celebrated in the spring.
A Sunday School for children ages 4 to 6, including kindergartners, meets during the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass during the school year. Registration carries a $35 fee.
Youth Ministry, led by Isabel Sutter, joins with St. Francis in Ellsworth to host monthly gatherings focused on food, faith, and fellowship for fourth through twelfth graders. The program also coordinates a summer Mission Trip, partnered with other parishes in the Diocese of Superior, and a week of Adventure Camp at CrossWoods in northern Wisconsin. Rachel Miller is the Director of Religious Education; she can be reached at catholic.ed@stjosephprescott.com.
Music Ministry
The parish choir sings at the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass from September through May, performing a blend of choral and liturgical music from traditional to contemporary. New members, men or women, are always welcome; reading music is helpful but not required. Choir practice is held Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The choir is coordinated by Monica Laust (715-262-3610) and Beth Voss (715-262-5810).
Liturgical Roles and the Body of Parishioners
Parishioners serve in a wide variety of liturgical roles: greeters, lectors, altar servers, ushers, video recorders, and catechists. Anyone interested in any of these ministries can contact the parish office at 715-262-5310.
Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus Council #7342 is a fraternal organization of Catholic men who serve both the parish and the wider community. Activities include the Red Cross Blood Drive, Coats for Kids, the Tootsie Roll Drive supporting Special Olympics, a Free Throw Basketball Contest, donations to the Prescott American Legion, high school scholarships, and donations to the Prescott Food Shelf. The Council has also funded ultrasound equipment for Options for Women in River Falls and Total Life Care in Hastings, Minnesota. Within the parish, the Knights support the Capital Campaign, stained-glass window repairs, a new tabernacle table, student scholarships (Kans for Kids), sixth-grade field trips, rosaries for First Communicants, a Family Picnic, Pancake Breakfasts, and the Fall Festival.
The Women's Council
A Women's Council is forming at the parish, open to women of all ages and stages of life who want to grow in faith, build community, and serve together. Monthly meetings are held in the Gathering Space and devote at least 30 minutes to small-group discussion, Bible study, or prayer, with the remainder of the evening set aside for council business. Short-term goals focus on prayer, connection, and faith formation; long-term goals, beginning in mid-2027, will expand into three core pillars of Spirituality, Service, and Leadership.
The Stitchers Sewing Group
The Stitchers, a small group of women, meets on Tuesdays in the lower level of the parish house. They embroider dish towels and pillowcases, cut and sew material for hooked rugs, make baby blankets for baptism baskets, and stitch full-size quilts. Some quilts are donated to Sharing & Caring and to Pierce County Social Services; others are sold at the Fall Festival. Anyone interested in sewing, crocheting, or embroidering is welcome to join.
The Living Memory of Blessed Solanus Casey
The parish keeps a special tribute to its most famous son, Blessed Solanus Casey (1870-1957). Born Bernard Francis Casey in Prescott, he was baptized at St. Joseph Catholic Church as an infant. He entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order in 1897 and took the religious name Solanus. Ordained in 1904, he spent most of his priestly life as a porter and spiritual companion at Capuchin friaries in New York and Detroit. He is remembered for listening patiently, offering prayer and encouragement, trusting in God's providence, and serving faithfully in ordinary, everyday ways. He was beatified by the Catholic Church in 2017. His words, "Deo Gratias - Thanks be to God," remain a touchstone for the parish.
Visiting and Getting Involved
First-time visitors are warmly welcomed. Saturday Vigil is a good entry point, and the parish is happy to provide worship aids that walk through the order of Mass, the postures, and the prayers. Visitors who do not share the Catholic faith about the Eucharist are invited to come forward in the procession with arms crossed over their chest to receive a blessing. Dress is respectful but casual; comfortable summer attire is fine, while others prefer their Sunday best. There is no expectation that a visitor put anything into the offering basket.
St. Joseph Catholic Church belongs to the Diocese of La Crosse. The parish office, at 269 Dakota Street S., Prescott, WI 54021, can be reached at 715-262-5310.