About Incarnation - Sagrado Corazon de Jesus · Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Church of the Incarnation / Iglesia de la Encarnación, also home to the Spanish-speaking community of Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, is a historic Roman Catholic parish in the Kingfield neighborhood of south Minneapolis at 3817 Pleasant Avenue South. Founded in 1909 by Father James M. Cleary with the blessing of Archbishop John Ireland, the parish originally served European immigrant families and grew into what is now a bilingual English/Spanish community of about 2,500 households. The present Italian Renaissance / Romanesque Revival church was designed by Emmanuel Louis Masqueray (architect of the Cathedral of Saint Paul and the Basilica of Saint Mary), completed in 1920, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today it operates as a single parish home to two intertwined communities — the English-speaking Incarnation congregation and the Latino Sagrado Corazón de Jesús chaplaincy — under one pastor, Father Kevin McDonough.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- The Incarnation of the Lord (Jesus)
- Rector
- Father Kevin McDonough
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
Incarnation is a place where two Catholic communities — a long-established English-speaking parish and the vibrant Latino Sagrado Corazón de Jesús — share one beautiful historic building and one pastor. You can worship in English, Spanish, or bilingual liturgies, send your children through faith formation, register to vote at parish events, receive free groceries and clothing through the food shelf that has run since 1983, or join one of the cultural celebrations that fill the church year (from the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Peruvian Señor de los Milagros). It is a parish that takes seriously both its 110-year-old immigrant heritage and its present call to welcome new immigrants, offering catechesis, sacramental life, and community outreach side by side.
Mass times at Incarnation - Sagrado Corazon de Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
History of the Church of the Incarnation
Incarnation was established in 1909 when members of St. Stephen's Church petitioned Archbishop John Ireland for a new parish south of Lake Street. Father James M. Cleary was named founding pastor; the first Mass was celebrated October 3, 1909 at the Ark Lodge. The 'Cathedral of the Cornfields,' as it came to be known, grew steadily: a basement church and school opened in May 1911, the rectory followed in 1912, and the permanent Masqueray-designed Italian Renaissance / Romanesque Revival church was completed in 1920. Subsequent school buildings came in 1935 (with a Dominican Sisters' convent) and 1962, and several of these buildings are today on the National Register of Historic Places, part of a designated Minneapolis Historic District.
- 1907 — St. Stephen's parishioners petition Archbishop John Ireland
- 1909 — Father James M. Cleary appointed founding pastor
- October 3, 1909 — First Mass at Ark Lodge public hall, ~200 families
- May 1911 — School and basement church completed
- 1912 — Rectory added
- September 4, 1911 — Cornerstone of permanent church laid
- 1920 — Present church completed (designed by E. L. Masqueray)
- 1935 — School building with Dominican Sisters convent
- 1962 — Additional school building
- March 9, 2022 — Fire in side chapel; subsequent restoration
Sagrado Corazón de Jesús — The Spanish-Speaking Community
By 2000 the Spanish-language Sagrado Corazón de Jesús community worshipping at St. Stephen's had outgrown its home, with 2,000–3,000 Sunday parishioners. In spring 2002 Archbishop Harry Flynn chose Incarnation as Sagrado Corazón's new home; Father Kevin McDonough, then Archdiocesan Chief of Staff, brokered the partnership. The first Sunday Mass in Spanish at Incarnation was celebrated November 11, 2002. Today Sagrado Corazón offers Masses at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 6:00 PM on Sundays, plus 6:00 PM Masses Monday through Friday, and is composed of parishioners from nearly every Latin American country — the largest groups being Mexican and Ecuadorian — with cultural feasts such as Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Lord of the Miracles, and the Virgin of Middle celebrated throughout the year.
- 2002 — Archbishop Harry Flynn decides Incarnation will host Sagrado Corazón
- November 11, 2002 — First Spanish Sunday Mass at Incarnation
- 2008 — Fr. Kevin McDonough named chaplain of Sagrado Corazón
- 2009 — Fr. Robert Monaghan retires; Fr. McDonough becomes pastor of both communities
- Centro Latino Sagrado Corazón de Jesús housed in former Incarnation School building
Architecture and Historic Buildings
The Church of the Incarnation was designed by Emmanuel Louis Masqueray in the Italian Renaissance and Romanesque Revival style and built by H. N. Leighton & Co., the firm responsible for the Foshay Tower and St. Mary's Basilica. Masqueray also designed the Cathedral of Saint Paul and the Basilica of Saint Mary. The cornerstone was laid September 4, 1911 and the church was completed in 1920. The 1935 school building (with a Dominican Sisters' convent) and the 1962 school building, along with the church, form a Minneapolis Historic District and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Following a March 9, 2022 candle fire in a side chapel that caused significant smoke and water damage, restoration work was undertaken to return the building to its original splendor.
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Father Kevin McDonough (Pastor) and supported by Deacon Carl R. Valdez, Administrator Brad Capouch, Faith Formation Coordinator Gloria Tepozteco, Food Center Manager Maria 'Piti' Capouch, Development Director Daniel de St Aubin, Office Secretary Ricardo Gonzalez-Garcia (bilingual), Sister Margaret McGuirk, and maintenance staff member Victor Guillen.
- Pastor — Fr. Kevin McDonough — (612) 870-0415
- Deacon — Deacon Carl R. Valdez
- Administrator — Brad Capouch — (612) 870-0390 / (612) 209-3532
- Development — Daniel de St Aubin — (612) 822-2103
- Food Center Manager — Maria 'Piti' Capouch — (612) 483-7682
- Faith Formation Coordinator — Gloria Tepozteco
- Office Secretary — Ricardo Gonzalez-Garcia (bilingual)
- Sister — Margaret McGuirk — (612) 247-4426
- Mantenimiento — Victor Guillen — (612) 804-2259
Sacraments and Sacramental Life
In 2021 alone the parish celebrated 310 Baptisms, 189 First Communions, 150 Confirmations, 39 weddings, and 62 Quinceañeras. Funeral arrangements may be made by contacting the parish office or Father Kevin directly, and livestreaming support is available through volunteer Chris Pangle for families unable to attend in person.
- Baptism
- First Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage / Weddings
- Quinceañera
- Funeral liturgy (with optional livestream)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation at Incarnation is coordinated by Gloria Tepozteco and serves the bilingual parish community, preparing children and adults for the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation. The parish also offers sacramental preparation for Quinceañeras and marriage.
- Faith Formation Coordinator — Gloria Tepozteco
- Sacramental prep for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation
- Quinceañera preparation
- Marriage preparation
Outreach, Food Shelf, and Community Programs
Since 1983 Incarnation has operated as a resource for food and clothing distribution in south Minneapolis. By 2021 that ministry had grown to over 2,000,000 pounds of food distributed to 25,000 families in a single year. The parish has also hosted 17 COVID vaccination events administering 2,750 vaccinations and registered more than 750 voters. Centro Latino Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, housed in the former Incarnation School building, runs cultural, social, and educational programs including immigration advocacy, social justice work, English and Spanish classes, and free income-tax preparation workshops for low-income families.
- Food & Clothing Center (since 1983; manager: Maria 'Piti' Capouch)
- Centro Latino Sagrado Corazón de Jesús
- Immigration advocacy and social-justice ministry
- Spanish-language income-tax preparation workshops
- English and Spanish language classes
- COVID-19 vaccination events
- Voter registration drives
Cultural and Devotional Life
Because the parish community includes parishioners from nearly every country in Latin America — with the largest numbers from Mexico and Ecuador — the liturgical calendar is enriched by national devotions and feasts. Recent celebrations have included Mass for the Lord of the Miracles (Peru), the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico), the Ecuadorian feast of the Virgin of Middle (January 1), and the feast of St. Paul the Apostle from the state of Morelos, Mexico. The parish also sponsors Latin American dance groups and cultural events open to the wider neighborhood.
- Mass for the Lord of the Miracles (Peru)
- Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico)
- Feast of the Virgin of Middle (Ecuador, January 1)
- Feast of St. Paul the Apostle (Morelos, Mexico)
- Latin American dance and cultural groups
Contact and Visit
The parish office is open Monday–Friday from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM and is closed on weekends. The main parish phone is (612) 822-2101, with a fax line at (612) 822-7928; Father Kevin McDonough can be reached directly at (612) 870-0415. The parish is located at 3817 Pleasant Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55409, at the corner of Pleasant Avenue and 38th Street in the Kingfield neighborhood of south Minneapolis.
- Parish Office — (612) 822-2101
- Fax — (612) 822-7928
- Pastor direct line — (612) 870-0415
- Office Hours — Monday–Friday, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Office Secretary — Ricardo Gonzalez-Garcia (bilingual)
- 3817 Pleasant Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55409
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father James M. Cleary1909–
Founder and first pastor; celebrated first Mass at the Ark Lodge on October 3, 1909, with about 200 families.
- Father Robert Monaghan1978–2009
Previously pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in St. Paul; oversaw parish through the difficult economic times of the late 1970s and 1980s and the launch of food/clothing distribution in 1983. Retired in 2009.
- Father Kevin McDonough2009–present
Ordained 1980; served 26 years as pastor of St. Peter Claver in St. Paul; Archdiocesan Chief of Staff who brokered the Incarnation/Sagrado Corazón partnership in 2002; chaplain of Sagrado Corazón from 2008; became senior pastor of both communities in 2009.