Parish Staff Directory
Father Joe Stefancin (Fr. Joe)
Pastor
Father Joseph Anil Kumar Pasala (Fr. Anil)
Associate Pastor
John Hueg
Parish Administrator
John started as the Parish Administrator in May of 2021 after leaving 30 years of being in financial services. John attended the College of St. Thomas, where he studied Communications, and later continued his education in Organizational Development and Quality Management. John loves the relationships and connections with parishioners, staff, and community. “No two days are the same, and each one brings unforeseen blessings.”
John is very involved with music; his life without music would b flat. He plays the Euphonium in several ensembles. He also loves to work with youth. He is currently the “Voice of the Panthers” for Saint Croix Central’s soccer, basketball, and football teams. He also volunteers with marching band, and drum and bugle corps activities.
John and his wife Amy have lived in Hammond since 2004, where they raised their family. They love living in the country and all that it has to offer. John and Amy have three adult children, a rescue lab named Holly, and a flock of chickens. The Huegs are members of St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception.
“God calls us to use the many gifts given and I am blessed to be able to share my gifts with St. Bridget.”
Tammy Pitzen
Office Assistant
(715) 425-1879 ext. 101
Tammy started at St. Bridget in 2017 as the Office Assistant. Before coming to St. Bridget, she worked for HOPE Lutheran, the Pierce County Fair Office, and Greenwood Elementary. Tammy is the first friendly face you will see when entering the Parish Office, and she thoroughly enjoys greeting each and every person as they enter!
Tammy was born and raised in River Falls, and still resides here with her husband Brad, and their two kids Zach and Sy. They also have a dog, Ruby, and a cat, Cash.
Susan Landry
Accountant
(715) 425-1879 ext. 104
Susan Landry is our accountant at Saint Bridget Church. She is a member of Saint Patrick Church in Hudson, which no one seems to be holding against her since the staff and parishioners of Saint Bridget have been very welcoming. Before coming to Saint Bridget, she spent fifteen years working for a financial institution and two years as an accountant at a Catholic school. When Susan’s not indoors she’ll make up any excuse she can to be outdoors hiking, snowshoeing, or just plain loitering.
Barrett Grove
Coordinator of Liturgical Ministries
(715) 425-1879 ext. 108
Barrett started at St. Bridget in 2010 as the Coordinator of Liturgical Ministries. He wears a lot of hats in his role, but one of his favorites is leading music with musicians in the Praise Team on Sundays. Before coming to St. Bridget, Barrett was a Master Electrician in Minnesota. Watt!? How cool!
Barrett graduated from the Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis with a degree in Electrical Construction and Maintenance. He enjoys fixing things, working on jobs around the house, and buying things at auctions to resell. He is a lifelong member of River Falls, and St. Bridget Church, and even graduated from the Parish School! Barrett and his wife, Kris, have been married since 1994 and have been blessed with two adult children, Brian and Amanda, and a cat named Rascal. Barrett feels it is an honor to work in this community.
Jodie Rubenzer
Spiritual Direction & Discipleship
(715) 425-1870 ext. 110
Jodie has been working at St. Bridget since 1995. Her current role is Spiritual Direction and Discipleship, in which she really loves companioning people on their spiritual journey, whether it be through RCIA, marriage preparation, or Spiritual Direction.
“Each of us has our own story of how God is present in our lives and listening to these stories helps me to grow in my own faith journey.”
Jodie attended Chippewa Valley Technical College. She has also completed a two-year study in Youth Ministry through the Diocese of LaCrosse, a one-year study in Servant Leadership, and a three-year study in Spiritual Direction through the Franciscan Spirituality Center in LaCrosse. She worked at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire as a Unit Coordinator while her husband Dan finished up school.
In 1993, Jodie and Dan moved to River Falls, where he started working at the River Falls Area Hospital as a Radiologic Technologist, and she started at St. Bridget. They have three daughters, who are all graduates of St. Bridget School, and five grandchildren. Jodie enjoys spending time with Dan and her family in the outdoors. She also enjoys knitting and doing crafts, and spending time on the porch. Both Jodie and Dan feel it is a blessing to work in the community in which they live.
Tessa started at St. Bridget in 2004, serving as the Coordinator of Teen Faith Formation. Before coming to St. Bridget, she worked at a daycare center throughout high school and during summers/breaks in college. Tessa graduated from Viterbo University in La Crosse with a BA in Ministry and a minor in Spanish. ¡Bien hecho! She loves getting to know teens, listening to their faith experiences, and praying with them.
Tessa, her husband Chad, and their two children Priscilla and Levi, live in River Falls, in, according to Tessa, the best neighborhood in town! Tessa loves spending time with her family, drinking coffee, reading, hiking, snowshoeing, sitting around a campfire, and playing games.
Diane Wengelski
Coordinator of Children's Faith Formation
Diane started in 2006 as the Coordinator of Children’s Faith Formation. Before coming to St. Bridget, Diane worked in the high tech world as a Software Engineer Manager! That may seem intimidating, but don’t worry, her bark is worse than her byte!
Diane enjoys most all aspects of her job, but every year she especially looks forward to First Communion celebrations.
“Seeing the eagerness that the youth always have to receive Eucharist is so inspiring! And humbling! We should ALWAYS be that eager to receive!”
Diane was born and raised in Osceola, went to the University of Eau Claire for school, where she graduated with degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics, and then, after leaving the high tech world, attended the University of St. Thomas, where she completed her coursework for a Masters of Theology. Diane now lives in Hammond with her husband Chris. They have two adult children, Jacob and Kelly, and a rescue Chihuahua named Chevy – named supposedly after the vehicle that hit him as a puppy. Diane loves cooking and fitness, especially hiking in the mountains. To her, a “vacation” is going to Palm Springs and hiking 10+ miles per day! She also really enjoys reading, and learning just about anything – she wonders if her true vocation was “student”!
One of Diane’s favorite Gandhi quotes is:
"Be the change you want to see in the world."
Another is from Martin Luther King, Jr:
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
Diane says, “these quotes support my belief that Jesus calls us to RADICAL, unconditional, counter-cultural love. I pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to do that to the best of my ability!”
Kelly Wengelski
Website Project Manager/Social Media Specialist
(715) 425-1870 ext. 111
Kelly started working at St. Bridget in 2016, and in 2018 moved to Stevens Point to be closer to her family, and to finish her degree. When St. Bridget started working on the new website in the summer of 2021, Kelly came back to help. She is now the Website Project Manager/Social Media Specialist – working almost completely remotely from Stevens Point! Kelly graduated from Mid-State in Stevens Point with a degree in Human Resources. While finishing up her degree, she worked for Sentry Insurance. Since Kelly loves to golf, she says that she loved working there to be able to utilize their award-winning golf course.
Kelly says she loves working remotely from St. Bridget; even though she lives 3 hours away, everyone still makes her feel very included. Her mother, Diane, is the Coordinator of Children’s Faith Formation here at St. Bridget. Kelly and her boyfriend, Ethan, rescued a dog named Joe in February 2021. He had an unknown, but awful past, and had several surgeries within his few months with them. Thankfully, he is the happiest dog now, and comes out of his shell more and more each day.
If you have any questions about our Parish Website, don’t hesitate to email Kelly!
