St. John's Catholic Church
415 6th Ave.
Antigo, WI 54409
Ph: 715-623-2024
Mass:
Saturdays 5:10 p.m.
Sundays 9 & 11:00 a.m.
St. John the Evangelist parish in Antigo built their first church in 1882, just two years removed from the time the first Mass was celebrated on a dresser in the Deleglise cabin. That dresser still exists today at the Langlade County Historical Society Museum.
In 1884 the St. John parish was officially organized and granted a charter by the State of Wisconsin. During this time another church was being built by the parishioners as the first church was destroyed by fire in 1883. This second building would serve the parishioners until 1957. The Reverend Athanasius N. Buschle served as pastor during the 1885 transition to the newer church building.
The Reverend William Takken headed the church from 1886–1893. During this time the rectory was constructed as well as the original St. John school building in 1890. For over one hundred years the Franciscan Sisters of Charity from Manitowoc taught at the school, serving until 1983.
For the next 59 years, the Reverend Monsignor Conrad C. Saile served as pastor at St. John, the longest tenure of any pastor. During Monsignor’s leadership, a new convent was built, relocating the Franciscan Sisters from their quarters in the rear of the school. The parish has since expanded from a one-half city block area to its current full block presence bordered by Field and Sixth avenues, and Hudson St. and Seventh Ave.
The Very Reverend Leo F. Binder presided as pastor at St. John for the next 18 years until 1970. During his time, the present St. John church was built in 1957 including an attached rectory. Necessary remodeling to the 80-year-old school facility was also completed.
Reverend Robert LaLiberte served the St. John parish as pastor from 1970-1977. Added construction activity on the church block included construction of a parish center in 1976. This building was connected to the existing school and continues to host cultural, social and athletic events of the parish, school and community.
In the present time, the parish is led by Reverend Charles Hoffmann, pastor since 1977. Expansion events during this period included construction of a new school in 1991, addition of a gathering room, offices and rest room facilities comprising the church building’s west wing and church hall access via elevator undertaken in 2001.
