Pastors/Parish Staff:
Parochial Administrator - Fr. Francis Dias
Assisting Parochial Administrator - Msgr. John Hebl
Volunteer Coordinator - Barb Senes
Contact Us:
For volunteer opportunities at St. Ann's, please contact Barb Senes at 608-335-0197.
Cemetery Hours:
History:
From its early beginnings, St. Ann's has celebrated Catholic
Mass in Brooks, Wisconsin, with the help and generosity from parishioners,
community members, and visitors. In
1912, Edwin Huber donated land for the church and cemetery, which were originally
established and presided over by Fr. Leo Pollock. Twenty-five families from the original
congregation and various community members helped dig out the basement of the future
church building. Mass was held in this basement until the delivery of the
prefabricated white clapboard church in 1916 by Sears and Roebuck. The parish
appointed John Lehman as the first trustee, and since then, an active church
board, Women's Friendship Club, and other volunteers have kept the small,
quaint Church spreading God's word to locals and visitors alike.
After the passing of his father, George Lehman became the
president and financial chairman of a newly established church council in 1981.
By his leadership, his and his family's own contributions, and the donations of
others, the church was completely renovated with new pews, an altar, carpeting,
stained glass windows, a furnace, and air conditioning. Though various obstacles throughout the years
have tested the endurance of the
church, St. Ann's still stands and operates as a Catholic Oratory today thanks
to the generous donations of various families.
Some of the original and recent family contributors include Lillian
Huber and family, who donated the original electric organ; the Lehman, Lehman
Stowell, Bresnahan, Gruchot, and Hines families - various statues and
decorative symbols around the Church; Myron Waite - collections for a
fundraising dinner, with the help of George Lehman; Bernadette Foote - silver
chalice; the Stowell Family - votive light stand; the Wesolowski family - original
published monthly bulletin, taken over by Sue Wohlfert; Milton Jordan - fundraiser
for a statue of St. Ann; Glacier Lakes Nursery - trees and shrubbery; Joyce
Wolf and Pam Hines - Mary Prayer Garden; the Women's Friendship Circle - many
bake sales, pot luck luncheons, dinners, rosary sessions, and other social
events; Joe and Kathy Coon - recent land donation from their neighboring farm; and
many others.
Over the years, St. Ann's has celebrated many baptisms,
first communions, weddings, and funerals. As it has throughout its history, St.
Ann's operates under the love and care of its clergy, parishioners, volunteers,
and visitors. Since 2003, Fr. James P. McNamee has served as appointed Pastor
of St. Joseph's in Adams and St. Ann's in Brooks. Though the La Crosse Diocese deemed St. Ann's
a Catholic Oratory as of 2017, Msgr. John Hebl, a retired priest of the Madison
Diocese, still presides over Masses on Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. between the
Spring and Fall months. We always welcome our loyal parishioners, seasoned
visitors, and new guests to come celebrate God's love and Word in our Masses,
special ceremonies, social events, and Holy Day Masses. Please frequently check our calendar to know when these take place.