Diocese of La Crosse

Called by Jesus Christ to Seek first the kingdom of God; we are the Diocese of La Crosse, a sacramental people, who worship God, teach the Catholic faith, and serve the needs of the human person. Established on March 3, 1868, our local Church, the Diocese of La Crosse, was born by decree of Blessed Pope Pius IX. Today, we are proud to serve 950,000 souls, of whom 150,000 are Roman Catholic among 159 parishes. Father Rene Menard had arrived within our bounds more than 200 years earlier, and after him came other missionaries, settlers, farmers, woodsman, trappers, and riverboat mariners. Since its inception, the Diocese of La Crosse has seen the growth and increase from many nationsPolish, German, Irish, Hmong, and Mexicanadded to its native peoples. It has seen the heroic witness of many, including Venerable Frederic Baraga, Venerable Samuel Mazzuchelli, Blessed Solanus Casey, Servant of God Father Joseph Walijewski, and Polonias Guatemalan Martyr Blessed James Miller. The territor...