Meet the Staff

Please join us in welcoming Monsignor Larry Bakke as Parochial Administrator!

Monsignor Bakke is a native priest-son of our parish, a long-serving pastor in the Diocese of Madison,  and a respected leader who has many natural relationships and connections here at QP. He has graciously stepped out of retirement to join us and will remain the Director of the Apostolate to the Handicapped.

He shares, “From childhood, I have wanted to be a priest, so I entered the seminary as a freshman in high school, first in Illinois, then transferring to the newly opened Holy Name Seminary, Madison in 1964. After completing two years in college there, I finished college and four years of theology at St. Mary's Seminary, Houston, TX. I was ordained for the Diocese of Madison by Bishop O'Donnell on May 23, 1975.” With Monsignor Larry growing up in our QP Parish, his ordination was cause for a celebration here!

Monsignor Bakke’s pastoral assignments include: 

• 1975-1977: Associate Pastor, St. Bernard Parish, Madison
• 1977-1984: Diocesan Director of Youth Ministry, Religious Ed. Office, Madison
• 1979-1993: Director of Camp Gray, the Diocesan Summer Camp & Youth Center, Reedsburg
• 1984-1991: Associate Pastor, St. Albert the Great Parish, Sun Prairie
• 1991-2000: Pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish, Sun Prairie
• 2000-2004: Catholic Chaplain at UW Hospital & Clinics, Madison
• 2000-2002: Pastor at Holy Redeemer Parish, Madison
• 2004-2011: Parochial Administrator of St. Joseph Parish, Baraboo
• 2011-2021: Pastor at St. Clare of Assisi Parish, Monroe & Director of the Apostolate to the Handicapped

He was born and raised in Madison, WI, the son of the late Ted and Nelle Bakke. He has three siblings: Ted (Sonya) live in Baraboo; Mary lives in Denver, Brian (Rhonda) in Arizona.

Deacon Mark was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate in April 1989 - having been called to ministry by the people and staff of St. Mary of Vernon Parish, near Vernon Hills, Illinois. He was based at SMV until he and his wife recently moved to Wisconsin. He has been involved in a wide range of ministries before and after ordination. His focus in recent years - in addition to sacramental duties - has been facilitating an RCIA program and running an unemployment ministry. Mark and his wife Carol live in Fitchburg and have three adult children. 

At the departure of Fr. Rich in the summer of 2022, we welcome several area priests for sacramental assistance, especially Fr. Bill Nolan, Msgr. Jim Uppena, Msgr. Duane Mollenberndt, Msgr. Tom Baxter, Fr. Jim Kuhn, Msgr. Dan Ganshert.

Please give them a friendly QP welcome when they join us for Liturgy!