Church History
OF ST. JOSEPH, OUR LADY OF THE LAKES, & ST. JOHN
3 COMMUNITIES | 3 CITIES | 1 CHURCH
The Catholic Lakes Cluster Started July 01, 2025
Due to changing demographics and the decreasing numbers of ordained priests, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of Clear Lake, WI, joined the previously clustered parishes of St. Joseph in Amery, WI, and Our Lady of the Lakes in Balsam Lake, WI.
List of Services
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History of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Amery, WIList Item 1
On September 11, 1890, ground was broken for the first Catholic church in Amery. At this time the church was a mission for visiting priests from Turtle Lake. The first resident pastor, Fr. Roman Fassbender, was appointed in 1914. Shortly afterward, Georgetown, Apple River, and Clear Lake became missions of Amery. The congregation was comprised of people of many nationalities including French, Irish, German, Italian, Scandinavian, Bohemian, Polish and Belgian descent.
In 1935, the church was destroyed by fire. The parish, consisting of 65 families, rebuilt the church. By 1974 the parish had grown to 274 families and in 1990, the parish had grown to over 400 families. To meet the spiritual and educational needs of its members, which have grown to more than 515 families, a new church and parish center were built. The parish center includes parish offices, a religious formation wing and a social hall. Ground breaking took place on September 15, 2000. One year later, on September 20, 2001, Bishop Raphael M. Fliss dedicated the new church.
REFERENCE: Our Journey through Faith: A History of the Diocese of Superior,
by Sam Lucero, 2005.
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History of Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Balsam Lake, WIList Item 2
On June 28, 2003, Bishop Raphael M. Fliss dedicated Our Lady of the Lakes Church. The new church came to be through the consolidation of three parishes: St. Patrick Church in Centuria, Our Lady of the Pines in Balsam Lake, and Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Georgetown.
REFERENCE: Our Journey through Faith: A History of the Diocese of Superior,
by Sam Lucero, 2005.
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History of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Clear Lake, WIList Item 3
The history of St. John Parish dates back to 1890, when a group of families welcomed visiting priests into their homes for Mass. In 1913, the parish became a mission of St. Joseph Parish in Amery. At that time, with the help of the Catholic Church Extension Society and the parish founders, a church was purchased from the Congregational Church for $1,000.
The parish started with about 11 families and increased to over 45 by 1937. Between 1937 and 1955, the parish grew and a larger church was needed.
REFERENCE: Our Journey through Faith: A History of the Diocese of Superior,
by Sam Lucero, 2005.
