Text Box: Holy Family Parish The pioneer Jesuit explorer Father Marquette, passed through the Wisconsin River edge of Sauk county in the 1670’s. Catholic Parish origins date back to 1845 when Sauk County was part of the Diocese of Milwaukee until 1868 when the Diocese of La Crosse was started and in 1948 became part of the Madison Diocese. In 1917, Holy Family parish built its first church under the guidance of Fr. Kriel. The fervor and dedication of Holy Family parish resulted in a beautiful church being ready for its first celebration of Mass in September 1917. Total cash outlay: $5,139.75 for the building…and additional $400 for an acre of land. The church building itself has the sweat of many early members in its stone, timbers and bricks. In 1940 an additional parcel of land was donated by Herman and Dorothy Diece. The church building was enlarged to accommodate the growing community. At the same time the basement was upgraded. In 1964 under the direction of Father Heindl water was finally piped up the rock cliff to the church, restrooms and a kitchen were installed in the lower level. Classrooms were added on the upper level. Percy Brimmer, now deceased, remembered it took three years to dig the trench for the water main.. In 1985 Father Lorin Bowens became pastor of Holy Family. Under his leadership the parish has updated and expanded its ministry in both spiritual and physical areas. February 10, 2016 Rev. Fr. Scott Emerson joined our faith family as Pastoral Administrator. January 21, 2017 Rev. Fr. Sanctus Ibe becomes Pastor of our Tri-Parish Catholic Community. Council of Catholic Women All Catholic women are welcomed to be members of National Council of Catholic Women, through membership in Holy Family Council of Catholic Women. NCCW provides many opportunities for women to live their faith and participate actively in building the Kingdom of God. Our Liturgy We want the Tri-Parish Catholic Community to be a home for those who come from near and far. The CELBRATION OF EUCHARIST (Mass) is the way our members, regular visitors and guest meet and celebrate. Because of diversity of our members we strive to make a wide variety of people welcome as a praying community. We believe that our parishes are a faith community which exists to make one’s faith become living and active. Each parish has a choir or a cantor leading community in song. We have various other roles for participation of members as lectors, prayer leader, servers, communion ministers, ushers, greeters, or gift carriers. Whether you’re here for the summer, an occasional weekend or on a permanent basis, you are an important part of our Tri-Parish Catholic Community.