About Holy Trinity · South Saint Paul, Minnesota
Holy Trinity Parish in South Saint Paul, Minnesota, is a conservative, traditional Roman Catholic parish within the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis that uniquely serves both the faithful who attend the English Masses of Pope Paul VI and those who attend the traditional Tridentine Masses of 1962. The parish operates across two campuses roughly one mile apart: the Holy Trinity Church campus, which also houses a fully functioning pre-K through 8th grade Catholic grade school, and the Saint Augustine Oratory campus, which provides Tridentine Masses and Sacraments. All Masses, whether in Latin or English, are celebrated ad orientem at a high altar with communion rails. The parish offers seven weekend Masses for the Sunday obligation plus weekday and Holy Day Masses, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, a Catholic grade school, adult faith formation, and traditional Tridentine sacraments.
- Established
- 1917
- Patron
- Holy Trinity (Blessed Trinity)
- Rector
- Fr. John Paul Echert
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
Holy Trinity offers an unusually rich traditional Catholic life in one parish: seven weekend Masses for the Sunday obligation (including English Novus Ordo and Latin Tridentine 1962), perpetual Eucharistic Adoration open 24/7 (closed only during Sunday Masses and certain Holy Days), a fully functioning pre-K through 8th grade Catholic grade school on site, and adult faith formation through Fr. Altier's twice-yearly 'Fundamentals of Catholicism' class. Parishioners who join take part in a worship environment where every Mass — Latin or English — is offered ad orientem at the high altar with communion rails. Add a long-standing tradition of charitable outreach (a Home Visitation Ministry bringing Communion to the homebound) and the historic merger with Saint Augustine Oratory, and Holy Trinity is a rare, full traditional-Catholic parish home for the South Saint Paul area.
Mass times at Holy Trinity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday — St. Augustine campus: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
- Saturday — (Holy Trinity campus): 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration — Open 24/7
- Sunday: closed during Sunday Masses (open 12:00 AM – 7:00 AM and 1:00 PM – 11:59 PM)
- Entry to Adoration Chapel (inside HT Commons) requires a key code in the evening (7 PM – 7 AM), available only to regularly scheduled adorers
Parish Identity & Two Campuses
Holy Trinity Parish is a conservative, traditional Roman Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis that serves both the faithful who attend the English Masses of Pope Paul VI and those who attend the traditional Tridentine Masses of 1962. The parish operates across two campuses roughly one mile apart: the Holy Trinity Church campus (749 6th Ave S, South Saint Paul), which also houses a pre-K through 8th grade Catholic grade school, and the Saint Augustine Oratory campus, which provides Tridentine Masses and Sacraments. Every Mass — whether Latin or English — is celebrated ad orientem at a high altar and communion rails are used.
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
- Parish office located between the school and main church door
- Two campuses: Holy Trinity (English Masses + school) and Saint Augustine Oratory (Tridentine)
- Seven weekend Masses for the Sunday obligation between the two campuses
History
The parish was formed from two historic South St. Paul congregations. St. Augustine parish was incorporated June 11, 1896 by Fr. Joseph T. Busch; its wooden-frame church was dedicated by Archbishop Ireland on August 30, 1896. After a fire destroyed it on Holy Saturday, March 31, 1923, the current church was rebuilt and opened Christmas Day 1924. The Church of the Holy Trinity was incorporated by Archbishop John Ireland in November 1917; Father J. F. Siegienski became its first resident pastor in June 1940 and the first Mass was held June 30, 1940. The church was blessed by Archbishop John Murray in 1942. The parishes of Holy Trinity and Saint Augustine were first merged in 2010; Archbishop Hebda formally designated Saint Augustine as an Oratory effective April 24, 2023.
- St. Augustine incorporated June 11, 1896; first pastor Fr. Joseph T. Busch
- St. Augustine fire: March 31, 1923 (Holy Saturday); rebuilt for Christmas Day 1924 opening
- Holy Trinity incorporated November 1917; first resident pastor Fr. J. F. Siegienski (1940); first Mass June 30, 1940
- Blessed by Archbishop John Murray in 1942
- Monsignor Vincent Worzalla named pastor 1951; new convent and school built 1954
- Felician Sisters staffed school 1954–1978; lay teachers since 1978
- Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary on staff 1985–2000
- Holy Trinity 50th Jubilee celebrated in 1991
- Merged with Saint Augustine parish in 2010
- Saint Augustine formally designated an Oratory by Archbishop Hebda, effective April 24, 2023
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, a vicar, an assistant priest, a deacon, and lay staff supporting parish operations, the school, safe environment, and the parish bulletin.
- Fr. John Paul Echert — Pastor (651-455-1229)
- Fr. Robert Altier — Vicar (651-789-1565); teaches the Fundamentals of Catholicism class
- Deacon Ronald Smisek — Assistant (651-230-6482)
- Fr. Robert Grabner — Assistant (651-455-1228)
- Business Administrator (parish staff)
- Sandra Chapdelaine — Office Manager
- Theresa Doyle — Safe Environment, Office & Bulletin
- Religious Education Director (parish staff)
Sacraments
Parishioners must be active, registered, and contributing members of the parish for at least 6 months before contacting the office to request a sacrament. Sacramental preparation for children is offered through the parish school, Religious Education Program, or home schooling. The parish also prepares children and adults for sacraments in the Tridentine Rite.
- Baptism — requires a mandatory baptismal meeting; parents register in advance
- First Confession and First Holy Communion — age of reason (age seven)
- Confirmation (Tridentine Rite) — candidates must be at least 10 years old
- Marriage / Weddings — must be scheduled at least 6 months in advance
- Holy Eucharist brought to the homebound via Home Visitation Ministry
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish offers adult faith formation as well as religious education for children preparing for the sacraments, including a special track for the Tridentine Rite.
- 'Fundamentals of Catholicism' — adult faith formation class taught by Fr. Robert Altier
- Twice yearly (September and January start dates)
- 12-week course held Wednesday evenings 7–9 PM in St. Augustine Hall (lower level)
- Open to adults seeking Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, or simply learning more about the Catholic faith
- No cost or pre-registration required
- Children's Religious Education Program — for First Confession, First Communion, Confirmation preparation
- Tridentine Sacramental Preparation for children and adults in the traditional rite
Holy Trinity Catholic School
A fully functioning pre-K through 8th grade Catholic grade school is located on the Holy Trinity Church campus at 745 6th Ave S, South Saint Paul, MN 55075. The school has been a continuous part of parish life since the 1954 construction of the convent and school building, originally staffed by the Felician Sisters of Chicago (1954–1978) and later the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1985–2000). Lay teachers have staffed the school since 1978.
- Grades: Pre-K through 8th grade
- Address: 745 6th Ave S, South Saint Paul, MN 55075
- Phone: 651-455-8557
- Administrator: Anita Davis ([email protected])
- Website: holytrinityssp.org
- Historically staffed by the Felician Sisters (1954–1978) and Presentation Sisters (1985–2000)
Ministries, Outreach & Devotions
Beyond Mass and the sacraments, the parish supports a Home Visitation Ministry for the homebound and offers traditional devotions such as the Holy Face of Jesus devotion group.
- Home Visitation Ministry — Visitation Coordinator available at 651-789-1563
- Holy Face of Jesus Devotion Group — meets at the St. Augustine Ambrose Room (2nd floor)
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration
- Adult Faith Formation / Fundamentals of Catholicism
Visiting & Contact
Visitors are welcome at either campus. The parish office handles registrations, Mass intentions, baptism and wedding scheduling, and general inquiries.
- Address: 749 6th Ave S, South Saint Paul, MN 55075
- Phone: 651-455-1302
- Email: [email protected]
- Fax: 651-455-7600
- Summer Office Hours: Mon & Fri 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM; Tue–Thu 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- Drop-off entryway open 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Online registration available via the parish website; in-person and email registration also accepted
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph T. Busch1896
First pastor of St. Augustine parish; oversaw building of the original wooden-frame church dedicated Aug 30, 1896.
- Fr. J. F. Siegienski1940
First resident pastor of Holy Trinity; first Mass held June 30, 1940.
- Monsignor Vincent Worzalla1951
Named pastor of Holy Trinity; oversaw construction of the new convent and school in 1954.