Welcome to the Mother Parish of Eau Claire! Formed in 1858 as the "St.
Peter Mission" on North Barstow Street.  The Parish of Saint Patrick was
renamed in 1865. Sacred Heart Parish (German) was formed from St. Pat's in
1875. In 1882 Fr. John G. Collins completed a new $31,000 church/school at
Oxford & Fulton Streets despite complaints about the remote uninhabited
"wilderness" on this side of the river.


Fire destroyed the church on Oct 7, 1884. High water delayed the firemen
until a steam ferry transported the engine. James T. Campbell, a young man
of the parish, rescued the Blessed Sacrament from the church. Later, on
June 30, 1895 he celebrated his First Mass as the parish's first priest-son.
The present church was rebuilt by fall of 1885.


The legendary priest, Fr. A.B.C. Dunne ("Convert Maker of the West") was
pastor from 1889 to 1927. His popular Lenten lectures filled the church to
capacity with Catholics and Protestants alike. Legend has it William Jennings
Bryan remarked that if he'd talked like Fr. Dunne, he'd have been President
of the United States! Fr. Dunne invited Sr. Anatolia, OSB (who knew General
Custer), and three other Benedictine sisters (including his sister, Sr.
Theodore) from St Joseph MN to run the school in 1892. A new school was
erected in 1906, a convent in 1909 and rectory in 1914.
Fr. Dunne's assistant, Fr. Casper E. Dowd, succeeded him as pastor from
1927-1946. He introduced a four year high school in 1931, the predecessor
of Regis High School built in 1953 by then parish assistant & principal, Fr.
John J. Paul ( former Bishop). Under Fr. Bernard McGarty, the present
renovation was completed 1976 by the Conrad Schmitt Studio winning many
architectural awards. Of special interest are the Stations of the Cross by
Munich artist, Martin Feuerstein, and the delicate stained glass windows by
the Emil Frei Glass Co. The sonorous 20 rank Kimball organ (1920's?) was
rebuilt in 1983 by the Gustav Fabry Co of Chicago. Buildings reflect faith; our
parish has given the Church over 30 priestly and 55 religious vocations.


On January 1, 1999, after 124 years, Saint Patrick and Sacred Heart
Parishes were united. If the "past is prologue", we have a bright future
together.


We'd love to have you worship with us. As one parishioner puts it: "As long
as you're at St. Patrick's, you're Irish!"


For all that has been….THANKS; for all that will be…..YES!"


Dag Hammarskjold