St. Wencel's Catholic Church
N5340 Church Rd.
Deerbrook, WI
Ph: 715-627-2126

Mass:
Sunday 9:00 a.m.

In the fall of 1897, early Bohemian and German settlers drew up a charter for a Catholic Church in the town of Neva in Langlade County, in north central Wisconsin. On October 12th, 1897, they met with Bishop Messmer of the Green Bay Diocese where the document was signed.  The name designated for the parish was St. Wenceslaus, in honor of the Bohemian Prince and martyr for whom the people of Neva had a great devotion.  The first Mass was said by Father Casimir Bianiarz, a Polish-speaking priest, from the parish of St. Hyacinth in Antigo.

The Bohemian pastor to serve St. Wenceslaus (and St. Mary parish in Antigo) was Father Francis Kolar from 1900 to 1903.  From 1903 to 1935, the following priests presided over the parish in varying lengths of time: Fr. Emmanuel Kabat; Fr. John Vorlicheck; Fr. Joseph Kalishek; Fr. William Koutnik; and Fr. Emil Shimek.

In 1935, Fr. Henry Hubert was appointed permanent administrator of the St. Wencelslaus community and later in 1946, he was named the first resident pastor of the Neva parish.

Under the leadership of Fr. Hubert, plans for a new church were established in 1939 as the church of that time had become too small to serve the needs of the growing and flourishing parish.  The new cornerstone was laid on June 28, 1950 and a dedication and blessing was held for the present day church on October 25, 1953.

Fr. Hubert’s design of the church is based in Catholic dogma with different parts of the building representing Catholic teachings.  It is hailed today as a “church building before its time” with its centered altar and color schemes playing out much of the Catholic tenets of faith formation.

Upon the retirement of Fr. Hubert in 1977, Fr. Omer Kelley was named the Administrator of St. Wenceslaus parish and later named Pastor.  He served the needs of his parishioners until the appointment of Fr. Jeremiah Worman, an Antigo native son, in 1995.  Fr. Worman along with Deacon Tom Hanley provide the spiritual leadership for St. Wenceslaus and their faith-filled and faithful parishioners.

St. Wencel Parish is a young and growing parish whose members are active.  We welcome new members.

Deacon Tom Hanley