About Holy Spirit · Nortonville, North Dakota
Holy Spirit Catholic Church is a mission parish in the tiny prairie community of Nortonville, North Dakota, in the Diocese of Fargo. It is served jointly with Transfiguration Catholic Church in nearby Edgeley, sharing one pastor (Fr. Jake Miller) and one parish office. Holy Spirit offers Sunday Mass in a rotating morning schedule that reflects the realities of a small rural congregation on the Northern Plains, where two communities share a single priest. The parish belongs to the long Catholic mission tradition of LaMoure County, served since the early 20th century by priests who traveled by foot, Model-T, and even airplane to reach scattered homesteads.
- Patron
- Holy Spirit
- Rector
- Rev. Jake Miller
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fargo
Why belong here
Holy Spirit Nortonville is a tight-knit prairie Catholic mission that keeps the faith alive in one of the smallest communities of LaMoure County. Members share one pastor with Transfiguration in Edgeley and celebrate Sunday Mass in a rotating morning schedule designed to serve both congregations faithfully. It is a place where generations of farm and ranch families have worshipped, supported by a permanent deacon and a parish vision of being 'the presence of God in the Spirit through Jesus Christ.' Visitors and newcomers will find a faithful, welcoming rural community committed to growing in worship and service.
Mass times at Holy Spirit
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM (at Transfiguration, Edgeley)
About Holy Spirit Catholic Church
Holy Spirit Catholic Church is the Catholic mission parish of Nortonville, North Dakota, a small farming community in LaMoure County. It is administered jointly with Transfiguration Catholic Church in nearby Edgeley, and together the two parishes share a single pastor (Rev. Jake Miller), a permanent deacon (Deacon Neal Schlosser), and one parish office. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Fargo.
- Diocese of Fargo
- Type: Mission (administered with Transfiguration, Edgeley)
- Address: 201 5th Ave., Nortonville, ND 58454
- Parish office phone: (701) 493-2387
History & Heritage
Nortonville's Catholic roots reach back to the pioneer era of the Edgeley mission field. Fr. Calvin became the first resident pastor of the area in 1915, and Fr. Victor Long succeeded him in 1916. For the next 34 years, Fr. Long shepherded an enormous mission territory — more than 5,000 square miles, the largest in the Diocese of Fargo — which included Nortonville along with Ashley, Forbes, Ellendale, Fullerton, Monango, Jud, and Gackle. He traveled first by horseback, then by Model-T Ford, and famously acquired an airplane in 1934 to reach his scattered flock. Fr. Long retired in 1950 and died on April 4 of that year. After his departure, Nortonville continued to be served from Edgeley as part of a multi-mission pastorate under Frs. Joseph Hylden (1950-60), Cleophas Jaillet (1960-61), Ulric Proeller (1961-63), Donald Cote (1963-79), Stephen Dickinson (1979-81), Maurice Mueller (1981-93), and Duaine Cote (1993-2009). In 2009, Fr. Thai Arul, Ph.D., a Catholic priest from India who came to the Diocese of Fargo in 1997, took over. Fr. Jake Miller succeeded him in July 2016 and continues to serve as pastor of both Holy Spirit and Transfiguration today.
- Fr. Victor Long's 1934 airplane ministry is part of Nortonville's heritage.
- Edgeley and Nortonville have shared a pastor continuously for over a century.
- Transfiguration Catholic Church in Edgeley celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2014.
Clergy & Staff
Holy Spirit Nortonville and Transfiguration Edgeley share their pastoral team. The current pastor is Rev. Jake Miller, and the permanent deacon serving both parishes is Deacon Neal Schlosser.
- Rev. Jake Miller — Pastor (since July 2016)
- Deacon Neal Schlosser — Permanent Deacon (ordained November 17, 2012)
- Pastoral email (Fr. Miller): [email protected]
- Parish office phone: (701) 493-2387
Vision & Mission
The two linked parishes of Transfiguration (Edgeley) and Holy Spirit (Nortonville) share a single pastoral vision and mission statement, reflecting their identity as 'two small rural communities with a big heart.'
- Vision: 'To be the presence of God in the Spirit Through Jesus Christ.'
- Mission: 'Two Small Rural Communities with a big heart committed To Christ and His Church, Striving in all earnest to grow in faith, worship and service.'
Parish Identity & Patron
The parish takes its name from the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, called upon at every Mass and at every Confirmation. The feast of the Holy Spirit is celebrated at Pentecost, the 'birthday of the Church,' and again on the Solemnity of the Holy Spirit the following Sunday in the traditional Roman calendar.
- Patron: The Holy Spirit
- Traditional feast: Pentecost Sunday (and the Solemnity of the Holy Spirit the following Sunday)
Visiting & Contact
Holy Spirit is a mission-style rural parish — visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office is administered jointly with Transfiguration in Edgeley, and special-event Mass schedules should be confirmed by phone. The church is reached by traveling 14 miles north of Edgeley on Highway 281, then 2 miles west on 59th St. SE.
- Phone: (701) 493-2387
- Parish office (joint): 205 Main Street, Edgeley, ND 58433
- Directions: 14 miles north of Edgeley on Hwy 281, then 2 miles west on 59th St. SE
- Check masstimes.org or call the office for current Mass schedule and Holy Day times
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Calvin1915
First resident pastor of the Edgeley area, serving Nortonville as a mission.
- Fr. Victor Long1916-1950
Served the largest territory in the Diocese of Fargo (>5,000 sq mi). Nortonville was one of his many missions; he famously acquired an airplane in 1934 to reach them.
- Fr. Joseph Hylden1950-1960
Active in the national Catholic Rural Life Conference; promoted rural blessings and farm shrines.
- Fr. Cleophas Jaillet1960-1961
One-year pastorate serving Edgeley, Jud, and Nortonville.
- Fr. Ulric Proeller1961-1963
Served Edgeley, Jud, and Nortonville together.
- Fr. Donald Cote1963-1979
Built the present Transfiguration church in Edgeley (dedicated 1970 by Bishop Dworschak).
- Fr. Stephen Dickinson1979-1981
- Fr. Maurice Mueller1981-1993
Remembered for fatherly pastoral leadership and love of the Liturgy.
- Fr. Duaine Cote1993-2009
Pastor of both Transfiguration (Edgeley) and Holy Spirit (Nortonville).
- Fr. Thai Arul, Ph.D.2009-2016
Catholic priest from India who came to the Diocese of Fargo in 1997.
- Fr. Jake Miller2016-present
Current pastor of both parishes; succeeded Fr. Thai in July 2016.