Who We Are

Staff

•         Name: Rev. Keith Joseph Kitzhaber, aka Padre José, Se Habla Español
• Ordained: June 28, 2008
• Parents: Bernard and Patricia Kitzhaber
• Background: Grew up on a dairy farm near Greenwood, WI. He is the eighth of nine children.
• Secular Education
  •     A.S. in Science – UW Marshfield. 
  •      B.S. in Electrical Engineering, UW-Platteville
•        Seminary Education

• Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus OH (2003-2008)
• B.A. in Philosophy; Masters of Divinity; M.A. in Ecclesiology

 Assignments

• Chaplain – Pacelli High School (2008 – 2009)
• Pastor – St. Mary’s Ridge, St. Augustine, Norwalk; St. John the Baptist, Summit Ridge (2009-2011).

• Pastor – St. Rose of Lima, Cadott; St. Anthony, Drywood; Sacred Heart, Jim Falls (2011-2012).
• Pastor – Holy Rosary, Owen; St. Anthony, Loyal; Hispanic Ministry – St. Bernard, Abbotsford (2012-2013).
• Pastor – St. Peter, Middle Ridge; Hispanic Ministry – St. James, La Crosse and St. Patrick, Sparta (2013-2014).
• Associate/Administrator – Holy Cross Parish, Santa Cruz, Bolivia (2014-2016).
• Pastor – St. Patrick, Sparta; St. John the Baptist, Summit Ridge (2016-2018).
• Presbyteral Council (2017-present)
• St. Joseph’s Priest Retirement Fund (2018-present)
• Pastor – Sacred Heart, Marshfield; Corpus Christi, Bakerville (2018-present)

•         The 5th of 10 children raised on a family farm west of Marshfield
• Graduated with honors from Marshfield Senior High in 1972
• Attended the University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County earning an Associate Degree in Science
• Employed at Norwood Health Center since 1974
  • Client Services Assistant on an Acute Psychiatric Unit.
• Married to his wife Joey
  • Father to two children, Isaiah and Angie
• Ordained as a Permanent Deacon in 2010 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman to serve the Diocese of La Crosse
• A 4th Degree member of the Father John Eisen Council of the Knights of Columbus
• Has been a Catechist for 30 years
• Director of Religious Education for 12 years entrusted with developing the Joint Religious Education Program for Sacred Heart and Corpus Christi
• Maintains Advanced Certification in Religious Education and Advanced Certification as a Marian Catechist as well as a Certificate in Youth Ministry
• A graduate of the Lay Formation Institute XIII
• Although he loves to work with children, he has been focusing on Bereavement, Hospice, and Jail Ministries since his Ordination
• Favorite Bible Verses
  • “Be Still & Know that I Am God” and “With God All Things Are Possible!”