"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20)
SS. Andrew-Thomas Parish consists of faith‑filled parishioners from two churches with deep historical roots in Tennyson and Potosi, Wisconsin. Since uniting as one parish in 1970, the churches have shared ministries, traditions, and a strong commitment to worshiping Jesus Christ, the one true God (cf. John 17:3).
Our parish community proudly supports SS. Andrew–Thomas School, recognizing it as an essential part of our mission of faith formation. We also support Little Saints Daycare, which provides a strong foundation for early childhood development and offers an important service to our community. While religious instruction is not part of its curriculum, Little Saints Daycare plays a vital role in nurturing, educating, and caring for young children. Becoming a parishioner means joining a spiritual family committed to living the Gospel each day and seeking the guidance of our patron apostles, Saints Andrew and Thomas, who gave their lives in faithful service to God.
Sunday Mass:
St. Thomas Church - 8:00 AM
St. Andrew Church - 10:00 AM
Daily Mass:
Tuesday (St. Andrew) - 8:15 AM, Holy Hour Adoration to follow
Wednesday (St. Andrew) - 8:15 AM
Thursday (St. Andrew) - 8:15 AM
Friday (Ss. Andrew-Thomas School) 8:15 AM
Confession:
Sunday (St. Andrew) - 9:15 AM
St. Andrew Catholic Church, located in the village of Tennyson, Wisconsin, stands as a testament to the faith, perseverance, and unity of the community it serves. From its earliest beginnings, the parish has grown alongside the families who helped shape both the church and the surrounding area.
The roots of St. Andrew Parish trace back to the mid‑1840s, when German‑speaking settlers formed a Catholic community in what would become Tennyson. Under the guidance of its first pastor, Father Andrew Tusch, the parish was formally established in 1846. A year later, the first St. Andrew School was constructed, laying the foundation for generations of Catholic education and faith formation.
Between 1874 and 1877, the present church building was erected during the pastorate of Father Nicholas Thill. Completed in 1875, this enduring structure continues to serve as a sacred place of worship for parishioners today.
A major chapter in the parish’s history came in the mid‑1900s, when St. Andrew Parish joined with neighboring St. Thomas Parish to form SS. Andrew‑Thomas Parish, reflecting the evolving needs of the Catholic community in the region. In 1964, the two parishes collaborated to build the Ss. Andrew‑Thomas School along Highway 61, followed by the unification of parish administration and financial systems in 1971.
More recently, in 2014, St. Andrew Catholic Church received the gift of an automatic entrance door from the Apostolate to the Handicapped of the Diocese of Madison. This addition enhanced accessibility and reaffirmed the parish’s commitment to welcoming all who enter its doors.
Sunday Mass:
St. Andrew Church - 10:00 AM
Daily Mass:
Tuesday - 8:15 AM
Wednesday - 8:15 AM
Thursday - 8:15 AM
Confession:
Sunday - 9:15 AM
Adoration:
Tuesday - Following daily Mass until approximately 10:15 AM
Mass Intentions:
If you would like to schedule Mass Intentions, please call 608-723-4990. The cost is $20.00 for each intention. There may be limitations on how many intentions you can schedule based on availability.
Address: 101 Church St, Potosi, WI 53820
St. Thomas Catholic Church in Potosi, Wisconsin, stands as a lasting witness to the faith, perseverance, and dedication of its parish community. From its earliest days on the American frontier, the story of St. Thomas Parish has been closely connected to the growth and spirit of the people it has served.
The parish traces its beginnings to 1836, when Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, a Dominican missionary from Milan, Italy, arrived in Potosi. Amid the challenges of frontier life, Father Mazzuchelli ministered to a diverse population that included Native peoples, immigrants, miners, and farmers. Through his leadership, local Catholics were brought together to form St. Thomas Parish, and a modest log‑cabin church was constructed on the site now occupied by the parish parking lot. His dedication established a strong foundation for the parish’s future.
In 1847, under the direction of Father James Causse, the parish’s first resident pastor, the present St. Thomas Church was built. The brick structure, completed at a cost of $11,000, remains the oldest continuously used church building in the state of Wisconsin. Father Mazzuchelli’s influence extended well beyond Potosi; during his lifetime, he designed and constructed more than two dozen churches, including St. Thomas. In recognition of his heroic virtue and service to the Church, Pope John Paul II declared him Venerable in 1993.
A new chapter began in 1970 when St. Thomas Parish joined with neighboring St. Andrew Parish to form the Ss. Andrew and Thomas Parish, reflecting the evolving needs of the Catholic faithful in the region.
In 2011, the parish marked its 175th anniversary with a special celebration that included Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Father Richard Leffler, pastor of Ss. Andrew and Thomas Parish, and numerous priests from across the area. This milestone celebration highlighted the enduring faith of the parish community and the church’s continuing importance in Potosi.
Today, St. Thomas Catholic Church remains a vibrant center of worship and service. Grounded in a rich legacy of faith and strengthened by generations of devoted parishioners, the church looks forward with hope as it continues its mission to serve God and the community for years to come.
Sunday Mass:
St. Thomas Church - 8:00 AM
Daily Mass:
Not currently available at St. Thomas Church, please visit us at St. Andrew Church!
Confession:
Not currently available at St. Thomas Church, please visit us at St. Andrew Church!
Adoration:
Not currently available at St. Thomas Church, please visit us at St. Andrew Church!
Mass Intentions:
If you would like to schedule Mass Intentions, please call 608-723-4990. The cost is $20.00 for each intention. There may be limitations on how many intentions you can schedule based on availability.
Address: 129 S Main St, Potosi, WI 53820
Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, born on November 4, 1806, in Milan, Italy, came from a family engaged in commerce and finance. Despite his father’s objections and during a difficult period for the Order itself, Samuel chose to enter the Dominican Order of Preachers at the young age of seventeen. By 1828, at just twenty‑two years old, he set out for the American frontier, where Bishop Edward Fenwick of Cincinnati appointed him as a missionary priest to serve the vast Northwest Territory.
Father Mazzuchelli’s missionary work took him across an immense region stretching from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River and beyond. Traveling by horseback, canoe, and on foot, he ministered tirelessly to Native peoples, newly arrived immigrants, miners, farmers, political leaders, and both Catholic and Protestant communities.
Throughout his ministry, Father Mazzuchelli founded numerous parishes that remain active today and personally designed and constructed more than twenty‑four churches, including St. Thomas Church in Potosi. In 1836, he arrived in Potosi and gathered the local Catholic population into what became St. Thomas Parish. He also oversaw the construction of a log‑cabin church on the site where the parish parking lot now stands.
Father Mazzuchelli’s legacy continues to be recognized by the Church. In 1993, Pope John Paul II declared him Venerable, officially acknowledging his heroic virtue and beginning the formal process that may one day lead to his canonization as a saint.