About Church of Saint Stephen - Holy Rosary · Minneapolis, Minnesota
Church of Saint Stephen – Holy Rosary is a merged urban mission parish of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, formed on July 1, 2022 from the union of St. Stephen (founded 1885) and Holy Rosary (founded 1878). It operates across two historic campuses in south Minneapolis — St. Stephen at 2211 Clinton Ave S and Holy Rosary at 2424 18th Ave S — and is the largest Latino Catholic community in Minnesota, with more than 1,600 families. Worship is celebrated in English and Spanish, with daily Mass, weekend Masses, daily Eucharistic Adoration, and a sacramental life centered on outreach to immigrants and the poor.
- Established
- 1878 (Holy Rosary) / 1885 (St. Stephen); merged 2022
- Patron
- Saint Stephen
- Rector
- Reverend James Stiles
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Stephen – Holy Rosary is a bilingual (English/Spanish) urban mission parish where more than 1,600 families — predominantly Latino immigrants — worship together across two historic Minneapolis campuses. It offers daily Mass in Spanish, weekend Mass in both languages, robust daily Eucharistic Adoration, and a missionary identity rooted in neighborhood evangelization. For Catholics seeking a parish where the sacraments are central, the immigrant community is embraced, and the historic brown sandstone churches of late-19th-century Minneapolis are still in daily use, St. Stephen – Holy Rosary is a distinctive spiritual home.
Mass times at Church of Saint Stephen - Holy Rosary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM (St. Stephen Campus)
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (Holy Rosary Campus)
- Also by appointment (St. Stephen Campus) — Holy Hour & Confessions Friday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Adoration times
- Sunday 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Monday 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Tuesday 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Wednesday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Saturday 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Stephen – Holy Rosary is described by the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis as a 'merged urban mission parish with two campuses, serving a predominantly Latino immigrant community.' Both parishes shared a long history of active ministries and service to the poor prior to their 2022 merger, and that missionary DNA — taking the Church to the streets and to neighbors' doors — remains central.
- Formed July 1, 2022 from St. Stephen (est. 1885) and Holy Rosary (est. 1878)
- Two campuses: St. Stephen (2211 Clinton Ave S) and Holy Rosary (2424 18th Ave S)
- Bilingual parish: English and Spanish
- Largest Latino Catholic community in Minnesota (1,600+ families)
History of St. Stephen Campus
St. Stephen parish was established in 1885 as the ninth Catholic parish in Minneapolis, originally serving a largely Irish immigrant community. The current brown sandstone church in the Whittier neighborhood was designed by Frederick Corser and constructed in 1889–1891 of sandstone, brick, concrete, and copper. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 as a well-preserved example of Richardsonian Romanesque / Romanesque Revival architecture. A parish school followed in 1915 and was staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph until 1991.
- Founded 1885 — 9th Catholic parish in Minneapolis
- Current church dedicated 1891; designed by Frederick Corser
- Romanesque Revival / Richardsonian Romanesque
- NRHP listed 1991 (ref. #91001058)
- Parish school opened 1915 (Sisters of St. Joseph, 1915–1991)
History of Holy Rosary Campus
Holy Rosary was founded in 1878 by the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Albert the Great — one of the earliest Dominican foundations in the Twin Cities. The current church and priory were built in 1888, and the parish school was established in 1879. The Sinsinawa Dominican sisters served at the school and later the parish until 2015. In 2020 the Dominican Friars made the decision to leave Holy Rosary, which led directly to the 2022 merger with St. Stephen.
- Founded 1878 by the Dominican Friars (Province of St. Albert the Great)
- Current church and priory built 1888
- Parish school established 1879
- Sinsinawa Dominican sisters served from early on until 2015
- Dominican Friars departed in 2020
The 2022 Merger
On July 1, 2022 the parishes of St. Stephen and Holy Rosary were merged into a single parish, St. Stephen – Holy Rosary, under a decree from Archbishop Bernard Hebda. At the same announcement (June 16, 2022), Fr. James Stiles was assigned as pastor, Fr. Clayton Forner was named parochial vicar, and Bishop Joseph Williams (who had led St. Stephen since 2008) was transferred to become parochial administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Saint Paul.
- Effective July 1, 2022 under Archbishop Hebda's decree
- Fr. James Stiles named pastor
- Fr. Clayton Forner named parochial vicar at merger
- Bishop Joseph Williams transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saint Paul
Pastor & Clergy
The current pastor is Fr. James Stiles, appointed June 16, 2022. The parish was led for fourteen transformative years (2008–2022) by Fr. Joseph A. Williams, who Pope Francis named auxiliary bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in December 2021. Fr. Randall Skeate was assigned parochial vicar in June 2025 (ordained May 31, 2025).
- Rev. James Stiles — Pastor (since 2022)
- Bishop Joseph A. Williams — Pastor 2008–2022 (now Auxiliary Bishop)
- Rev. Clayton Forner — Parochial Vicar at the time of the merger
- Rev. Randall Skeate — Parochial Vicar (assigned 2025)
Faith Formation, School & Outreach
The parish runs children's faith formation, youth and young adult ministry, and adult sacramental preparation. Catholic school education for the area is provided through Risen Christ School, formed in 1993 from the consolidation of the former St. Stephen and Holy Rosary parish schools. The parish is widely known for its street-evangelization model — teams of lay parishioners visiting parks, grocery stores, and homes to invite neighbors to Mass and formation.
- Children's faith formation and sacramental preparation
- Youth and young adult ministry
- Adult faith formation / RCIA
- Risen Christ School (consolidated K-8, formed 1993)
- Street evangelization (legacy of Bishop Williams; continues especially during Holy Week)
- Outreach to immigrants and the poor
Languages & Liturgical Life
St. Stephen – Holy Rosary is officially bilingual: Mass, faith formation, and outreach are offered in both English and Spanish, with Spanish predominating in daily Mass and many weekend liturgies — reflecting the parish's identity as the largest Latino Catholic community in Minnesota.
- English and Spanish
- Spanish daily Mass on most weekdays
- Spanish weekend Masses at both campuses
- Bilingual parish staff and lay leadership
Locations & Contact
Parishioners can worship at either of the two historic campuses in south Minneapolis. Both are in the Whittier / Phillips neighborhood area, within walking distance of one another.
- St. Stephen Campus — 2211 Clinton Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404-3656
- Holy Rosary Campus — 2424 18th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404-4006
- Phone (St. Stephen): 612-767-2430
- Email: [email protected] (historic parish email)
- Website: http://www.ststephenscatholic.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/ststephenscatholic
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph A. Williams2008 – July 1, 2022
Rebuilt the parish into the largest Latino Catholic community in Minnesota; appointed auxiliary bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis by Pope Francis in December 2021 and ordained January 25, 2022; remained as pastor through the merger.
- Fr. James Stiles2022 – present
Assigned as pastor of the merged parish of St. Stephen – Holy Rosary on June 16, 2022, transferring from the parishes of St. Mary of Le Center, St. Henry in Sharon, Nativity in Cleveland, and Immaculate Conception in Marysburg.