St. Mary's Parish
About Us
Our Staff:
Fr. Matt Marshall
Amy Stafslien
Meet Fr. Matt
Fr. Marshall is from Our Lady of Peace Parish in Marshfield, WI. Born March 30th, 1988 to Carol & John Marshall, he has one sister, Amanda, and a brother, Tyler, both living in La Crosse. He went to Our Lady of Peace Grade School and Holy Family Middle School. Through the Dare to Follow Days retreat, Fr. Marshall began to discern a call to the priesthood. Learning of the House of Formation in La Crosse, he asked his parents if he could give it a try. He began studies at Aquinas High School in 2002, graduating in 2006. He continued his seminary studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN at St. John Vianney Seminary with theological studies at Mundelein Seminary, He was ordained June 28, 2014. His first pastoral assignment was at St. Anne Parish and Newman Catholic Middle and High School in Wausau. He continued at St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral, and then became associate pastor at Roncalli Newman Center/Blessed Sacrament Parishes in La Crosse before becoming Pastor here, in Coon Valley, on May 8, 2018. He enjoys reading, disc golf, tennis, languages, many kinds of music, and trying new foods. In addition to being our new pastor, Fr. Marshall will continue his other ministries as the Chaplain to the Hmong Community in La Crosse and Chaplain at Aquinas Middle and High School.
Pastoral History of St. Mary's Parish
August 14, 1910 - Church officially dedicated by Fr. Louis
Kaluza, Fr. Theo Fraling pastor
1923 - Fr. Theo Fraling assigned to another parish and Fr. Leo J. Lang as appointed
1930 - Fr. Tony Fischer assigned to St. Mary's
1935 - Fr. Joseph Kundinger became pastor for a few months, then St. Mary's became attached to Cashton and Fr. Timmeraman served
Sept. 1936 - John B. Pinion was appointed
1945 - Fr. J. Burgraft and Fr. Anderal alternated coming to Coon Valley
1947 - Bishop John P. Treacy asked Fr. Thomas J. Halloran to come and say one Mass and it turned into 25 years of service to St. Mary's
1960 - 1st Rectory purchased
1965 - Home next to parish was for sale and purchased to replace the original Rectory
June 1972 - Fr. Wagner appointed because Msgr. Holloran was having health issues.
Aug. 1981 - Fr. Edmund Doerre as appointed new pastor
1989 - Interim priest Fr. Norm Boneck Fr. Doerre appointed elsewhere
Sept. 1989 - Fr. Robert Hundt pastor along with St. Peter's of Middle Ridge
Oct. 1991 - Fr. David Kunz was assigned to St. Mary's and he was also an instructor at Aquinas High School
June 1995 - Fr. John McHugh assigned and connected with Aquinas High School
1996 - Fr. Maryon Jordan becomes pastor of St. Mary's
Dec. 1998 - Fr. Maryon C. Jordan assigned
Jan 1998 - Fr. Robert Cook assigned as Parochial Administrator
Dec. 1998 - Fr. Zbigniw Kucharski from Poland becomes pastor
Aug. 2002 - Fr. Michael Klos became pastor
July 2004 - Fr. Dunklee assigned
2006 - Fr. Wayne Kidd assigned to St. Mary's
June 30, 2010 Fr. Kidd retires for health reasons
July 2010 Fr. Gorman, Dean of the La Crosse Deanery becomes administrator of St. Mary's
Oct. 2010 - St. Mary's aligned with St. Peters, Middle Ridge and St. Joseph's Parish, St. Joseph's Ridge administered by Fr. Francis Abuah-Quansah
July 2011 - St. Mary's remains aligned with St. Peter's and St. Joseph's under Fr. Joseph Nakwah
June 26, 2012 - Fr. William Dhein of Eau Claire becomes pastor and St. Mary's is aligned with St. Charles Borromeo, Genoa, WI
July 1, 2014 - Fr. Timothy Welles becomes pastor and St. Mary's is aligned with St. Joseph Rigde Parish
August 9, 2015 - Fr. John Selva Manohar is assigned pastor of St. Mary's and Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Viroqua
February 2016 - Fr. Mano resigned due to complications with his Visa from India. Msgr. Michael J. Gorman has taken over as Parochial Administrator of St. Mary's and the Annunciation of the BVM, Viroqua.
June 2017 to February 2018 Fr. Joseph Maria Arokiam, OFM Cap
Mar 1, 2018-Pastor position vacant
May 8, 2018- Fr. Matthew Marshall joins St. Mary's from Roncalli Newman/Blessed Sacrament Parishes and continues his other ministries as the Chaplain to the Hmong Community in La Crosse and Chaplain at Aquinas Middle and High School.
