About Assumption · Eden Valley, Minnesota
Assumption Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish in Eden Valley, Minnesota, historically rooted in the Diocese of New Ulm and today (since 2022) part of the Diocese of Saint Cloud. The parish serves Eden Valley and the surrounding rural area where Stearns and Meeker counties meet, and is currently twinned with the Church of St. Anthony in Watkins under one pastor. Its 1894-built church, dedicated by Bishop Otto Sardetti, remains the spiritual home of a community that has produced eight priests and twenty-four nuns and is known for its strong Eucharistic Adoration tradition.
- Established
- 1894
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Donald Wagner
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Cloud (previously Diocese of New Ulm until the 2022 merger)
Why belong here
Assumption is a small, multigenerational rural Catholic parish with a strong devotional life rooted in weekly Eucharistic Adoration, parish guild fellowship, and active men's, women's, and Knights of Columbus groups. Families are well served through K–6 and high school faith formation, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation) for adults, and a dedicated youth minister, while men gather Saturdays to pray the rosary in church over coffee and women meet twice monthly at St. Anthony in Watkins. With eight priestly and 24 religious vocations to its credit and a sacramental schedule backed by the 1894 church itself, Assumption offers an intimate parish family in which newcomers are quickly known by name.
Mass times at Assumption
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered Monday 8:00 AM through Friday 5:00 PM in the Holy Family Eucharistic Adoration Chapel; church doors are unlocked daily 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM. Weekly adoration has been maintained continuously since January 5, 1997.
Parish History
Before Eden Valley existed, Catholic settlers from the vanished town of Logering (two and a half miles east along the county line) attended Mass at a small mission church called 'Popple Bush.' When the Soo Line Railroad bypassed Logering in 1886, Frank Smith rerouted the line to the present Eden Valley site, and settlers poured in. Benedictine Father Joseph Bastien began offering Sunday Mass in a hall above a butcher shop on Main Street. The new Assumption Church was dedicated by Bishop Otto Sardetti on December 4, 1894, and the parish celebrated its centennial in 1992. Since the dedication, ten priests have served at Assumption, and the parish has produced eight priests and 24 nuns. Weekly Eucharistic Adoration, started January 5, 1997, is now a hallmark of the parish's spiritual life.
- Logering and the 'Popple Bush' mission church
- December 4, 1894 — dedication by Bishop Otto Sardetti
- Centennial celebrated in 1992
- Benedictine Sisters staffed schools for 70 years
- Weekly Eucharistic Adoration launched January 5, 1997 with 125 members
A Line through the Parish — Dioceses of St. Cloud and New Ulm
Eden Valley is bisected by the line between Stearns and Meeker counties, which is also the boundary between the Diocese of Saint Cloud and (formerly) the Diocese of New Ulm. Meeker County was once in the Archdiocese of St. Paul before the Diocese of New Ulm was created in 1957. In 2022 the Diocese of New Ulm merged into the Diocese of Saint Cloud, placing Assumption under its current diocesan jurisdiction.
- Diocese of New Ulm created in 1957
- 2022 merger into the Diocese of Saint Cloud
- Eden Valley straddles the old diocesan boundary
Worship & Schedule
Assumption offers the Mass and the sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick in the historic 1894 church. The parish publishes weekly bulletins and a calendar on its website; for current Mass times and confession times parishioners are referred to the bulletin/calendar pages. Eucharistic Adoration runs continuously in the Holy Family Chapel from Monday 8:00 AM to Friday 5:00 PM, with the church doors unlocked daily 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM.
- Eucharistic Adoration Monday 8 AM – Friday 5 PM
- Church doors unlocked daily 7 AM – 9 PM
- See website calendar and bulletins page for the current Mass and confession schedule
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Faith Formation at Assumption follows a family-friendly rhythm: K–6 students and their parents gather once a month at church, then complete take-home packets during the other weeks. High school youth meet twice a month on Wednesday evenings with an optional monthly Youth Night. First Holy Communion is prepared through this program and is typically celebrated in 2nd grade. The parish also offers OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation) for adults seeking to become Catholic or to complete initiation, plus a dedicated Youth Minister.
- Elementary (K–6): monthly gatherings + home packets
- High School: twice-monthly Wednesday nights + optional Youth Night
- First Holy Communion typically in 2nd grade
- OCIA for unbaptized adults and Catholics needing First Communion/Confirmation
- 2025–26 Faith Formation Registration Materials available on the parish site
Sacraments
Assumption prepares parishioners for the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist), the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Holy Matrimony, and the Anointing of the Sick. The parish's Reconciliation page walks Catholics through how to go to Confession — face-to-face or anonymously behind a screen — including an Act of Contrition and links to examination-of-conscience resources. Funeral lunches are coordinated through the Church Guild.
- Reconciliation (Confession): face-to-face or anonymous, by appointment and per published schedule
- First Eucharist via 2nd-grade Faith Formation; adult pathway available
- Confirmation via Faith Formation / OCIA
- Holy Matrimony — contact parish office (320-453-2788)
- Anointing of the Sick and Funeral Ministry
Parish Groups & Organizations
Small-group life is at the heart of Assumption. Discipleship Quads are same-gender groups of four that meet weekly for faith, prayer, and fellowship. The Church Guild divides parishioners into 12 rotating groups that handle funeral lunches, annual church cleaning, fundraisers, and parish events. The Men's Group meets Saturdays at 7:30 AM at Assumption to pray the rosary and share coffee; the Women's Group meets the 2nd and 4th Saturdays at St. Anthony in Watkins. Knights of Columbus meet the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM.
- Discipleship Quads (same-gender groups of four)
- Church Guild (12 groups; funeral lunches, cleaning, fundraisers)
- Knights of Columbus — 3rd Wednesday, 7:00 PM
- Men's Group — Saturdays 7:30 AM at Assumption
- Women's Group — 2nd & 4th Saturday at St. Anthony, Watkins
Staff & Leadership
The parish staff is led by Pastor Rev. Donald Wagner, with Faith Formation directed by Bonnie Meyer and supported by Faith Formation Assistant Stephani Peters. Jessica Teicher serves as Parish Secretary/Bookkeeper and is the general office contact. Samuel Mettler is the parish's Youth Minister. Office phones reach the parish at 320-453-2788 and the faith formation/youth office at 320-453-5765.
- Rev. Donald Wagner — Pastor ([email protected], 320-453-2788)
- Bonnie Meyer — Director of Faith Formation ([email protected], 320-453-5765)
- Stephani Peters — Faith Formation Assistant
- Jessica Teicher — Parish Secretary/Bookkeeper ([email protected], 320-453-2788)
- Samuel Mettler — Youth Minister ([email protected], 320-453-5765)
Contact, Location & Visiting
Assumption Catholic Church sits at 464 State Street N in Eden Valley, Minnesota 55329 (mailing address: PO Box 9, Eden Valley, MN 55329). The parish office can be reached at 320-453-2788 or [email protected]. Visitors to the Holy Family Eucharistic Adoration Chapel are encouraged to use the parking-lot entrance through the east-facing doors of the new addition.
- Address: 464 State St N, Eden Valley, MN 55329
- Mailing: PO Box 9, Eden Valley, MN 55329
- Phone: (320) 453-2788
- Email: [email protected]
- Adoration Chapel: enter via parking lot, east doors of the new addition
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph Bastien, OSBpre-1894 – c. 1894
Benedictine priest already serving Logering and old St. Nicholas; offered Mass every other Sunday in Eden Valley hall before the parish was built.
- Father Kastigar1895–1896
Stationed in Watkins; first priest in charge of the new Assumption Parish; organized St. Joseph's Society on St. Patrick's Day Sunday, 1896.
- Father Isadore Hentgartenc. 1896 – c. 1899
First resident priest; built the first rectory during his 2½ years.
- Father Nicholas Peipfer1899 – c. 1934
Served 35 years; brought Assumption Parish to full development.
- Father Peter Gruenes1934–1949
Native of Eden Valley; oversaw the 1937 cruciform enlargement and importation of Bavarian altars and Stations of the Cross; died of a heart attack in 1949 during construction of the new $160,000 school.
- Father Al Gruenesafter 1949 – 1957
Brother of Father Peter; died of heart failure while pastor.
- Father Sylvester Renner1957–1964
- Father Francis Hohnc. 1964 – c. 1968
Served four years; oversaw construction of new rectory and Education Center.
- Father Peter Snyers1968–1980
Tuckpointed the church exterior and redecorated the interior in 1976.
- Father Leo Leisen1980 – c. 1992
Served 12 years; created the Catholic Faith Community of Eden Valley, twinning Assumption and St. Peter parishes under one pastor.
- Father Jerome Naduvathaniyil, OSB2013–2014
Benedictine priest from India who served as pastor when Assumption was twinned with St. Anthony, Watkins; elected abbot of his monastery and returned to India in 2014.
- Father Aaron Nett2014 –
Took over as pastor in 2014 (parish history notes him as pastor at that time).