Good Shepherd, Rib Lake
513 State Road
(located along Highway 102 on the west end of the Village of Rib Lake in Taylor County)
Phone: 715-427-5259
Email:
Website: www.goodshepherdriblake.org
Year parish was established: 2005
Number of Households: 400
Pastor: Franciscan Fr. Otto Bucher
Weekend Masses: Saturday: 6 p.m.; Sunday: 9 a.m.
Describe your faith community
Our faith community is a close-knit parish family that is concerned for the needs of one another and those in our broader community.
We are people who seek out the God-given talents of its members and encourage use of those gifts to serve the Lord.
Members are caring and supportive of one another in our efforts to promote the Kingdom of God among us.
“When visitors come to our parish, they will…
… find a welcoming community. When you come, our greeters are there to open the church doors and welcome you in. They will show you how pleased we are that you are joining in the celebration of the Mass. We would hope that all feel welcome to join us and come back when they are in the area. The same is true for our socials and other festivities. ‘All are welcome’ has been a type of motto over the years.”
In what ways(s) does your parish proclaim the Gospel with its actions?
We provide Communion services, rosary and Mass at our local nursing home. We have food-stocked shelves for needy families. Faith formation classes have 79 students and 36 youngsters for VBS. There is a dedicated team of catechists and youth for these programs. More volunteers are active in ministry for Mass, at funeral dinners, our annual fall festival, Shepherd Knitters, buildings and grounds and more. We offer parish missions and pastor talks during the year. We strive to minister according to our mission statement (listed on our bulletin covers and website). Our council is discussing formation of a “Good Samaritan” group to encompass all committees, and provide opportunities for spiritual growth.
What is something about your parish most people might not know?
We strive to continue our legacy in this community after three area parishes were dissolved and a new parish corporation was formed in 2005. When new church windows were necessitated two years ago, parishioners agreed to incorporate the saints from the former parish cluster into the new stained glass windows. Depicted in our large church windows are the Good Shepherd (current Rib Lake parish), St. John the Baptist (former Rib Lake parish), Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (former Chelsea parish) and St. Teresa of Avila (former Westboro parish). The two smaller window spaces in the back side areas of the worship space include the small stained glass Stations of the Cross from Westboro. We are now working toward a new phase of renovation for our north church wall and entrance.
