Immaculate Conception

About Immaculate Conception Parish

Immaculate Conception is a small, historically Polish-Catholic parish in the unincorporated community of St. Anna, Avon Township, Stearns County, Minnesota. The parish is one of three that make up the Two Rivers Catholic Community (also referred to as the Three Rivers Catholic Community), sharing pastoral and administrative staff with All Saints in Holdingford and St. Columbkille in St. Wendel. The community's name comes from the 'Two Rivers' region: Holdingford sits on the ford of the South Two River, St. Anna lies near Two Rivers Lake, and St. Wendel is just south of Two Rivers Road. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Saint Cloud.

History of the Parish

Catholic Polish settlers began arriving on the shore of Pelican Lake in 1869 and built a small wood-frame church in 1887, dedicated September 21 of that year. After a devastating furnace fire on June 28, 1902 destroyed the original building, the community rallied and built the present cream-brick Romanesque Revival church during the winter of 1902; Bishop Trobec solemnly blessed it on October 14, 1903. The associated cemetery was relocated 300–400 feet east to make room for the larger building. In 1982 the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1995 it became part of the first five-parish cluster in the Diocese of Saint Cloud.

• 1869 — First Polish Catholic settlers arrive on Pelican Lake
• 1887 — Original wood-frame Immaculate Conception church built and dedicated Sept. 21, 1887
• 1887–1889 — Father (Peter) Chowaniec serves as first pastor
• June 28, 1902 — Original church destroyed by furnace fire
• Winter 1902 — Current yellow-brick church constructed
• October 14, 1903 — Solemn blessing of new church by Bishop Trobec
• April 15, 1982 — Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (#82003038)
• July 1995 — Becomes part of the first five-parish cluster in the Diocese of Saint Cloud

The Historic Church Building

The current church is a Romanesque Revival building constructed of cream-colored brick in the winter of 1902. Granite is used for the foundation, window sills, and water table. The façade is anchored by a square central entry tower topped by an octagonal spire; a polygonal apse flanked by one-story rooms extends from the rear of the building, and paired stained-glass windows form center-pointed arches along the nave. Three rock sculptures depicting floral and faunal motifs and a crucifix stand on the front lawn, and four small white frame outbuildings with single crosses sit between the church and the parish cemetery.

• Architectural style: Romanesque Revival
• Material: cream / yellow brick on granite foundation
• Front entry: square central tower with octagonal spire
• Rear: polygonal apse flanked by one-story rooms
• Window: paired stained-glass with center-pointed arches
• Grounds: three rock sculptures (floral/faunal) and a crucifix; four white frame outbuildings with crosses
• Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, April 15, 1982

Two Rivers Catholic Community

Immaculate Conception shares its pastoral team, faith-formation programs, and central offices with two neighboring parishes to form the Two Rivers Catholic Community. All three parishes are served by a single pastor and a shared staff that includes a business manager, parish secretary, faith-formation coordinator, confirmation directors, a youth minister, and an evangelization coordinator. The Central Office is located in Holdingford and processes registrations, baptisms, marriage preparations, and faith-formation enrollments for the entire cluster.

• All Saints — Holdingford (combines St. Hedwig's and St. Mary's parishes)
• Immaculate Conception — St. Anna / Avon
• St. Columbkille — St. Wendel / Avon
• Central Office — 311 River St W, Holdingford, MN 56340 — 320-228-0105
• Central Office hours: Mon.–Wed. 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; Thurs. 1:00–5:00 p.m.

Parish Staff

The Two Rivers Catholic Community staff serves Immaculate Conception alongside the two sister parishes. Fr. Gregory Mastey leads the cluster as pastor, supported by an evangelization coordinator / youth minister (Douglas Herbek), a parish secretary / bulletin editor (Julie Sorteberg), a business manager (Janice Wuebkers), a faith-formation coordinator (Katrina Kolles), confirmation directors (Bob Vouk and Jenny Revermann), confirmation assistants (Katie Urbanski and Vincent St. Marie), and a youth minister (Kyle VanOverbeke).

• Fr. Gregory Mastey — Pastor
• Douglas Herbek — Evangelization Coordinator / Youth Minister
• Julie Sorteberg — Parish Secretary / Bulletin Editor
• Janice Wuebkers — Business Manager
• Katrina Kolles — Faith Formation Coordinator (All Saints & Immaculate Conception)
• Bob Vouk & Jenny Revermann — Confirmation Directors
• Katie Urbanski & Vincent St. Marie — Confirmation Assistants
• Kyle VanOverbeke — Youth Minister

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith formation for Immaculate Conception is coordinated through the Two Rivers Catholic Community office in Holdingford. The cluster offers Generations In Family Faith Together (GIFFT) for students in grades 6–10, alongside Confirmation preparation, First Communion classes, and the EPIC youth nights for grades 6–12. Faith-formation nights include a free-will-offering light supper served before class for busy farm families. Sign-ups use the Remind app for weekly updates.

• GIFFT (Generations In Family Faith Together) — Grades 6–10
• Confirmation program — directors Bob Vouk & Fr. Gregory
• First Communion preparation
• EPIC Youth Nights — Grades 6–12, Wednesdays 7:45–8:30 p.m.
• Light Supper served before class each week
• Remind app for weekly notifications
• Faith Formation Coordinator — Katrina Kolles (320-292-1575)

Parish Groups & Fellowship

Two Rivers Catholic Community hosts a striking variety of lay groups that Immaculate Conception parishioners can join, including a men's group meeting Saturday mornings, a women's group meeting on the 1st and 3rd Mondays, a Well Read Mom book club for women of all vocations, a Bible study, and a Rural Catholic Singles group for ages 19–59 that meets on the second Saturday of each month at All Saints–St. Mary's basement. A new Evangelization Coordinator position was recently listed to assist the pastor in ministry and oversee RCIA.

• Men's Group — Saturdays 8:00 a.m., All Saints–St. Mary's basement
• Women's Group — 1st & 3rd Mondays, 10:30 a.m., All Saints–St. Mary's
• Well Read Mom Group — 2nd Tuesday, 7:00 p.m., at Fisher's in Avon
• Bible Study — contact parish secretary
• Rural Catholic Singles Group — 2nd Saturday, 8:00 p.m., All Saints–St. Mary's basement
• St. Wendel Christian Women — meetings on Thursdays
• Evangelization Coordinator — open cluster position overseeing RCIA

Sacraments

Sacramental preparation is coordinated through the Central Office. Couples are asked to begin marriage preparation 6–12 months in advance and to meet with Fr. Gregory before setting a date; Diocesan Marriage Preparation Classes are required. Baptisms are scheduled by calling the Central Office. The Anointing of the Sick is offered on designated days (see the bulletin), and homebound visits are arranged by calling the parish office.

• Baptism — call the Central Office to schedule
• Marriage — 6–12 month preparation; meet Fr. Gregory before setting date; Diocesan prep classes required
• Confirmation — directed by Bob Vouk & Fr. Gregory
• First Communion — via Faith Formation office
• Anointing of the Sick — on designated days per bulletin
• Homebound visits — call the parish office

Outreach & Charity

The parish participates in 40 Days for Life prayer vigils in Holdingford and at the local Planned Parenthood, and parishioners support the annual Diocesan Catholic Appeal through the MinisTree Cards fundraiser (each completed card earns $5 for the parish, up to $500 annually). Cluster Mass and special collections are used to support a range of local and diocesan charities, and the parish welcomes new parishioners to introduce themselves to Fr. Gregory after Mass and call the Central Office to register.

• 40 Days for Life prayer vigils (Holdingford & St. Cloud)
• MinisTree Cards parish fundraiser (up to $500/year)
• Diocesan Catholic Appeal
• Homebound ministry
• New parishioner registration via Central Office

Visiting & Contact

Immaculate Conception is located at 37186 County Road 9 in the unincorporated community of St. Anna, Avon Township, MN 56310. The mailing address is PO Box 308, Holdingford, MN 56340-0308. The Central Office (311 River St W, Holdingford) is the main contact point and is open Monday–Wednesday 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. and Thursday 1:00–5:00 p.m.; visitors are encouraged to call (320) 228-0105 or email [email protected]. Newcomers are warmly invited to introduce themselves to Fr. Gregory after Sunday Mass.

• Address — 37186 County Road 9, Avon, MN 56310
• Mailing — PO Box 308, Holdingford, MN 56340-0308
• Central Office — 311 River St W, Holdingford, MN 56340
• Office phone — (320) 228-0105
• Rectory — (320) 746-2231
• Office hours — Mon.–Wed. 10–3; Thurs. 1–5