A Parish on Main Street in Onalaska
St. Patrick Catholic Church sits at 1031 Main Street in Onalaska, Wisconsin, just off the Great River Road and a short drive from La Crosse. Established by the Diocese of La Crosse in 1949, the parish has grown from a single summer Mass in the local park to a thriving community of more than a thousand worshipers each weekend, served by a parish school, a full music program, and ministries for every age. The current pastor, Msgr. Steven Kachel, was installed in October 2010 and received the title of Monsignor in the summer of 2012.
Sunday and Weekday Mass Schedule
The parish gathers for Mass several times each week. On Sunday, Mass is celebrated at 7:00, 8:45, and 10:30 in the morning. The 8:45 Mass is livestreamed each week on YouTube and Facebook for those who cannot attend in person. On Monday there is a Communion Service at 8:00 in the morning, while Tuesday through Friday each bring a daily Mass at 8:00. Saturday morning Mass is also at 8:00, followed by the regular opportunity for Confession. The weekend's vigil Mass is celebrated Saturday evening at 5:15.
Eucharistic Adoration
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is offered in two settings. On Friday mornings the main church is open for Adoration from 8:30 until noon. On Sunday evenings, from 6:00 to 8:00, the Adoration Chapel hosts quiet prayer. The parish ties this devotion to the words of Christ from the Cross, "I Thirst," from John 19:28.
Sacraments for Every Stage of Life
The parish prepares members and their families for each of the seven sacraments. Baptisms are typically celebrated on the second Sunday of the month after Mass and on the third Sunday of the month during Mass, with parents asked to attend a Baptism Preparation Session before their first child is baptized. The Sacrament of the Sick, Communion for the homebound, and visits to the Onalaska Care Center are coordinated through the parish office, with volunteers making weekly visits of about twenty minutes to bring the Eucharist to those who cannot come to church. Confession is heard following the 8:00 Saturday Mass and at additional times during Advent and Lent, with appointments available by calling the parish office. Marriages are scheduled with at least six months of notice in keeping with the common policy of the Catholic dioceses in Wisconsin, and weddings are presided over by either Msgr. Kachel or Deacon Frank Abnet. Couples meet with Deacon Frank to complete the necessary paperwork and learn about church guidelines, then choose and hire their own musicians, since the parish does not provide musicians for weddings.
A School and a Faith Formation Building Blocks
Faith formation for children begins early. The parish school, St. Patrick School, is part of the Aquinas Catholic Schools system and serves three-year-old preschool through sixth grade, with seventh and eighth graders joining Aquinas Middle School in La Crosse. In 2013, a kitchen, lunchroom, gym renovations, and a Religious Education office suite were added to the school building. In 2020 the sanctuary of the church was renovated to unify the appearance of the furniture with the marble altar, and two new murals and a crucifix were installed over a painted marble background. Religious Education continues through the parish for children who do not attend the parish school, with a CORE Team organizing catechists, small group leaders, hospitality crews, youth group leaders, and Liturgy of the Word for Children volunteers for the Sunday 10:30 Mass.
Youth Ministry from Elementary Through High School
Religious Education and Youth Ministry reach young people from first grade through high school. Elementary students in grades 1 through 5 gather for catechesis, while middle schoolers in grades 6 through 8 meet in small groups. Teens in grades 9 and 10 prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation, after which high school students are invited into the Ignite High School Youth Group, Life Teen, and the Dead Theologians Society. The parish registers families for the 2026-2027 Religious Education year online, and volunteers are needed as catechists, CORE team members, and prayer partners.
Music and Liturgical Ministry
Music is at the heart of the Sunday experience. The parish fields two Sunday choirs that lead singing at the 8:45 and 10:30 Masses, rehearsing together on Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00. The two choirs combine for the summer and for special feasts, holy days, and parish functions. A Resurrection Choir leads music at parish funerals, with members called in advance by the Music Director. Advanced singers are invited to serve as cantors and advanced instrumentalists to join the ensembles. Liturgical ministry also extends to lectors, commentators, sacristans, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, and ushers, with a Time and Talent form sent out every other spring so parishioners can choose where to serve.
Adult Ministry: The Forge and Hearts Ablaze
Two new monthly groups launched in September 2026 give adults a place to grow together. The Forge Men's Group meets the second Sunday of each month from 10:00 to 11:00 in the church basement, with the goal of becoming "true men of God by aligning our hearts with His heart, surrendering to His will, and faithfully answering His call in our daily lives." Hearts Ablaze, the women's group, meets the third Sunday of each month from 10:00 to 11:00 in the same space, gathering women to "cultivate a community of women, develop deep and passionate relationships with Christ through the integration of silent prayer and the Sacraments, setting our hearts ablaze with love for Jesus." The parish also offers an ongoing Adult Education series and welcomes those interested in becoming Catholic to the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, coordinated by the Assistant Director of Religious Education.
The Lenten Fish Fry and the Rummage Sale
Two traditions draw the wider Onalaska community to the parish each year. The Lenten Fish Fry, which the parish calls "basically famous," brings parishioners and neighbors together on Fridays during Lent. Each summer, a parish Rummage Sale fills the building with donated goods, and the parish welcomes volunteers to help with setup, sales, and cleanup.
Social Justice and Outreach
A Social Justice committee helps the parish live out its call to serve. Each month of the program year is paired with a particular cause. In November, volunteers work with Habitat for Humanity; in December, gifts are gathered for the Giving Tree; in January, support is directed to Birthright and Wisconsin Right to Life; in February, the parish partners with Causeway; in April, parishioners prepare Spring Gardens; and in May, the annual Mother's Day Rose Sale raises funds for the parish's outreach work. The committee also emphasizes respect for workers, just wages, and the dignity of labor.
Scrip, Giving, and Parish Finances
St. Patrick's participates in the Scrip gift card program, with rebates applied to parish needs or to the tuition of any student attending a Catholic school from kindergarten through college. Cards are kept on hand in the parish office for Kwik Trip, Woodman's, Festival, Noodles and Company, Domino's, Target, Old Navy, Walmart, Amazon, and many more, and online ordering gives access to more than seven hundred retailers. Online giving is available through the parish's WeShare platform, and the parish encourages regular and one-time gifts.
A Living Parish Rooted in Its Town
More than seven decades after that first Mass in Onalaska Park, St. Patrick's remains a Catholic anchor on Main Street. The parish school, the daily Mass schedule, the music program, the youth and adult ministries, the social justice outreach, and the signature Fish Fry and Rummage Sale together make the parish a year-round center of worship, formation, and community. To learn more about joining the parish, becoming Catholic, or supporting any of its ministries, the parish office can be reached at (608) 783-5535 or at secretary@stpatsonalaska.com.