About Holy Rosary · North Mankato, Minnesota
The Church of the Holy Rosary is a Roman Catholic parish serving North Mankato, Minnesota, within the Diocese of New Ulm. Founded in 1924 and worshipping in its present church building since 1950, the parish gathers for weekend Masses on Saturday evening and twice on Sunday morning. Its mission statement centers on uniting 'faith, family and community through sacred worship, education, family life, social justice, outreach and responsible stewardship,' and the parish is pastored by Father Paul van de Crommert, who led a major interior renovation of the church completed in 2022 — the first such renovation in 70 years.
- Established
- 1924
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Rosary (Holy Rosary)
- Rector
- Father Paul van de Crommert
- Diocese
- Diocese of New Ulm
Why belong here
Holy Rosary welcomes newcomers with two easy online registration options and offers multiple weekend Masses (Saturday 5 PM, Sunday 8:30 and 10 AM) plus weekday Masses, a Wednesday Mass at Oak Terrace Assisted Living, and First Reconciliation prep through the parish. The parish runs RCIA for adults exploring Catholicism, a Faith Formation/Religious Education program (387-345-6765), an active Council of Catholic Women with Circles, a Sewing Group, a Funeral Committee, and Social Justice & Concerns outreach — giving newcomers many ways to plug in beyond Sunday Mass.
Mass times at Holy Rosary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30–4:50 PM (also available by appointment)
About Holy Rosary
Church of the Holy Rosary is a Catholic parish in North Mankato, Minnesota, in the Diocese of New Ulm. The parish's stated mission is to unite faith, family and community through sacred worship, education, family life, social justice, outreach and responsible stewardship. Visitors are welcomed to register online through two options linked from the parish home page and to join the parish family for Sunday or weekday Eucharist.
- Address: 525 Grant Avenue, North Mankato, MN 56003
- Phone: (507) 387-6501
- Email (parish office): [email protected]
- Diocese: Diocese of New Ulm (Deanery 1)
- Pastor: Father Paul van de Crommert
Parish History & Centennial
Holy Rosary was founded in 1924-25 to serve North Mankato Catholics. The first Masses were celebrated in the North Mankato fire hall, then at the school chapel of SS. Peter and Paul's Mankato. A parish school was built early on, taught for decades by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, and the present church was begun in 1950 under Pastor Rev. Alphonse Schladweiler. The parish celebrated its centennial in 2024-25, culminating in a dedication/consecration Mass with Bishop Chad Zielinski, alongside a Mass in the Park at Wheeler Park and November Fest with historical memorabilia.
- Founded 1924-25; first Masses in the North Mankato fire hall
- School Sisters of Notre Dame taught at the parish school for decades
- Present church groundbreaking in 1950 (Rev. Alphonse Schladweiler)
- Rev. Joseph Freisleben served long term, living in a small second-floor room of the old school
- Centennial 2024-25: consecration Mass with Bishop Chad Zielinski, Mass in the Park, November Fest, and a parish directory
- Longtime member Margaret Ayers (1900s-2024) helped locate the original chapel in the old school
Parish Staff
Holy Rosary is led by a small parish staff that combines ordained ministry with pastoral and administrative support. Inquirers and parishioners can contact the pastor or the office staff through the parish phone number or the online email form on the website.
- Father Paul van de Crommert, Pastor
- Cathy Neve, Pastoral Associate
- Curtis Peters, Accounting/Administration
- Lorraine Klaseus, Ministry for Sick & Homebound/Office Support
- Donna Wenkel, Office Administrator
Sacraments
Information for each sacrament is published on the parish website, including required preparation sessions and contact information. Sacramental preparation for children is coordinated through the parish's Faith Formation program or via the Catholic school.
- Baptism — by appointment; Pre-Baptism class required (2nd Thursday of Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec at 7:30 PM, Conference Room 1)
- First Reconciliation — Grade 2 norm, through parish Faith Formation or Catholic school
- Marriage — arranged through the parish office; resources via the Diocese of New Ulm
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion to the Sick and Homebound — coordinated by Lorraine Klaseus
- RCIA — process for adults inquiring about becoming Catholic, directed by Father Paul
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Holy Rosary's Faith Formation (Religious Education) program prepares children for the sacraments and supports ongoing catechesis. First Reconciliation is prepared in Grade 2 as the norm, with parents notified of meetings whether the child attends parish Faith Formation classes or the Catholic school.
- Faith Formation office: 507-345-6765
- First Reconciliation preparation in Grade 2
- All sacramental preparation coordinated through the parish
Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
Adults who are unbaptized, or baptized in another Christian tradition, journey toward full communion with the Catholic Church through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Inquiry involves a communal setting of listening, learning and conversation with no commitment required until the moment of Baptism itself. Those interested are encouraged to contact Father Paul van de Crommert at the parish office.
- RCIA Inquiry — questions welcome, no commitment
- Contact: Father Paul van de Crommert at 387-6501 or via the website email form
Parish Life & Ministries
Beyond the sacraments, Holy Rosary is sustained by active lay groups that handle the practical and social fabric of parish life. The Council of Catholic Women (CCW) is the umbrella women's organization, and several sub-groups (Circles, Sewing, Funeral Committee) make its work visible. Social Justice & Concerns connects the parish with broader outreach.
- Council of Catholic Women (CCW) — meets first Monday of the month at 6:30 PM in the Parish Center (first Tuesday in September; no meetings in January, June, July, August)
- Circles — organized by first letter of last name; volunteer callers needed
- Sewing Group — weekly gatherings during the school year to make quilts and rugs
- Funeral Committee — serves funeral lunches at the parish
- Social Justice & Concerns
- Ministry for Sick & Homebound (Lorraine Klaseus)
Volunteer Opportunities
The parish maintains an active list of volunteer openings — from CCW Circle callers and funeral-lunch help to general ministry needs. Volunteers can contact the parish office or submit a printed form via the collection basket.
- Contact parish office at 387-6501 to volunteer
- Volunteer interest form available as a printable PDF on the Areas for Volunteers page
Stewardship & Online Giving
Holy Rosary offers online giving through WeShare for weekly offerings and other parish collections. Donors can set up one-time or recurring gifts, edit them later, and view their giving history online. The parish office can also assist newcomers with parish registration, available through two online options linked from the parish homepage.
- WeShare Online Giving — one-time or recurring donations
- Parish registration — two online registration options on the home page
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Freisleben
Long-serving pastor of Holy Rosary; gave up the rectory to live in a small second-floor room of the old school building.
- Rev. Alphonse Schladweiler
Pastor who broke ground on the present church building in 1950.
- Father Paul van de Crommert
Current pastor; led the 2022 interior renovation (~$750K) and hosted the 100th-anniversary consecration Mass with Bishop Chad Zielinski.