About Assumption of Our Lady · Menahga, Minnesota
Assumption of Our Lady is a Roman Catholic parish in Menahga, Minnesota, part of the Diocese of St. Cloud. Named for the Assumption of Mary — the dogma that the Blessed Virgin Mary was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory — the parish is one of eight churches that together form the Mary, Mother of the Church Area Catholic Community (ACC). Worshippers gather at the church on the west side of U.S. Highway 71 at 113 Aspen Avenue NW for weekly Mass, reconciliation, liturgical ministry, and discipleship, sharing pastoral resources and a Catholic school (Sacred Heart Area School in Staples) with the rest of the ACC.
- Patron
- The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Father Lauren Germann
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Cloud
Why belong here
Assumption of Our Lady is a small but active Catholic parish anchored in the Assumption of Mary and woven into a wider Area Catholic Community of eight parishes that share priests, a school, and faith-formation resources. Members gather for weekly Mass, the Sacraments, choir and men's groups, and discipleship programs led by a Director of Discipleship. Newcomers are warmly welcomed to register and become part of a rural Minnesota faith family that proclaims, learns, serves, and aids in the spirit of the gospel.
Mass times at Assumption of Our Lady
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment (per Catholic Index listing for Assumption of Our Lady)
About Assumption of Our Lady
Assumption of Our Lady is a Roman Rite Catholic parish in Menahga, Minnesota, in the Diocese of St. Cloud. It is named after the Assumption of Mary — the dogma that the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory — and its patron feast is the Solemnity of the Assumption on August 15. The parish belongs to the Mary, Mother of the Church Area Catholic Community (ACC), a collaboration of eight parishes in central Minnesota that share clergy, staff, faith formation, and the ACC's Catholic school, Sacred Heart Area School in Staples.
Mary, Mother of the Church Area Catholic Community
Assumption of Our Lady is one of eight parishes that make up the Mary, Mother of the Church ACC. The other parishes include St. Joseph (Bertha), St. Hubert (Bluegrass), St. John the Baptist (Bluffton), St. Michael (Motley), Sacred Heart (Staples), St. Frederick (Verndale), and St. Ann (Wadena). The ACC shares priests, deacons, a business administrator, directors of discipleship, and a communications office so that every parish can remain vibrant. Its guiding pastoral planning process, called 'All Things New,' identified five priorities: Missionary Discipleship, Sacramental Life, Engaging the Laity, Listening as a Way of Being Church, and Prudent Stewardship.
- St. Joseph — Bertha
- St. Hubert — Bluegrass
- St. John the Baptist — Bluffton
- St. Michael — Motley
- Sacred Heart — Staples
- St. Frederick — Verndale
- St. Ann — Wadena
- Assumption of Our Lady — Menahga
Clergy and Staff
Father Lauren Germann is the parish's pastor. The wider Mary, Mother of the Church ACC is also served by Father Aaron Kuhn (past pastor), Father Gabriel Walz and Father Rick Aubol (parochial vicars), Deacons Bob Shaffer, John Wolak, and Randy Altstadt (who also serves as ACC Business Administrator), and parish secretary Shirley Malone for the Menahga office, with Kate Waln as Director of Discipleship for Assumption of Our Lady.
- Father Lauren Germann — Pastor
- Father Aaron Kuhn — Pastor (ACC)
- Father Gabriel Walz — Parochial Vicar
- Father Rick Aubol — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Bob Shaffer
- Deacon John Wolak
- Deacon Randy Altstadt — ACC Business Administrator
- Shirley Malone — Parish Secretary (Menahga)
- Kate Waln — Director of Discipleship (Assumption of Our Lady)
Liturgical Ministries and Music
The parish maintains a liturgical minister schedule published on the ACC website and invites parishioners to serve as lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, sacristans, ushers, and altar servers. A parish Choir & Music Ministry supports the liturgy, and a Men's Group gathers on Tuesdays for fellowship and faith. The ACC-wide role of Director of Sacred Liturgy and Music has been advertised out of St. Ann in Wadena, supporting music and choirs across the parishes.
- Liturgical Ministers (scheduled monthly)
- Choir & Music Ministry
- Men's Group (Tuesday)
- Director of Sacred Liturgy and Music (ACC-wide)
Faith Formation and Youth Discipleship
Faith formation for children, youth, and families is coordinated through the ACC. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), a Montessori-based program, is offered in the region. In summer the ACC hosts Totus Tuus, a week-long Catholic youth program for grades 1–12 led by college students and seminarians with daily Mass and reconciliation, plus Vacation Bible School — 'The Great Journey with Jesus' — for children preschool through 5th grade, featuring crafts, songs, games, and Bible stories highlighting Mary's role in leading us to Jesus.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Level 1 training offered in the ACC)
- Totus Tuus summer program (grades 1–12)
- Vacation Bible School — 'The Great Journey with Jesus' (preschool–grade 5)
- Youth Discipleship (ACC-wide)
Sacred Heart Area School
The Area Catholic Community's Catholic school is Sacred Heart Area School in Staples, Minnesota. The school is supported by all eight parishes of the ACC, including Assumption of Our Lady, and is led by principal Justin Edin as part of the shared pastoral planning team.
- Sacred Heart Area School — Staples, MN
- Principal Justin Edin
Visiting and Becoming a Member
Visitors are warmly welcomed at every Mass. To become a registered member of Assumption of Our Lady, parishioners are invited to contact the ACC office at (218) 894-2296 or (218) 632-7309 for a registration form. The Menahga parish office can be reached at (218) 445-5204.
- Registration: call (218) 894-2296 or (218) 632-7309
- Menahga parish office: (218) 445-5204
- ACC main office: 514 1st Street SE, Wadena, MN 56482 — (218) 631-1593
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Aaron Kuhn
Served as pastor of the Mary, Mother of the Church ACC, which includes Assumption of Our Lady.
- Father Lauren Germann
Current pastor of Assumption of Our Lady.