About Our Lady of Guadalupe · Saint Paul, Minnesota
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (Our Lady of Guadalupe Diocesan Shrine) is a bilingual English/Spanish Catholic parish at 401 Concord Street on Saint Paul's West Side, with the distinction of being the first Spanish-speaking Catholic church in the state of Minnesota. Begun in 1931 as a 'Mexican Mission' for Mexican American and other Spanish-speaking Catholics on the West Side Flats, the parish has served generations of Latino immigrants and was designated a Diocesan Shrine by Archbishop Bernard Hebda on December 12, 2019 — the first and only diocesan shrine in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Today the parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish, offers Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, and continues its long tradition of educational and social outreach to the surrounding Latino community.
- Established
- 1931
- Patron
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Rector
- Fr. James Bernard
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
Our Lady of Guadalupe is the spiritual home for anyone seeking a bilingual Catholic community where English and Spanish Masses are celebrated side by side, with a deep devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and a rare gift of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. As a designated Diocesan Shrine — the first in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis — it draws first-generation Latino immigrants, multi-generational West Side families, and visitors seeking a place of conversion and renewal. The parish also continues the outreach legacy of Sister Mary Giovanni by supporting programs like the Guadalupe Alternative Programs (GAP) school for at-risk youth, making it a parish where faith and service to the Latino community of Saint Paul go hand in hand.
Mass times at Our Lady of Guadalupe
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- Wednesday 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- Thursday 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- Friday 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocesan Shrine chapel
- Chapel hours: Tuesday–Friday 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM; Sunday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Monday and Saturday closed)
- Sign-ups coordinated by Perpetual Adoration Coordinator Hilda Sevilla at the end of Mass
Our Lady of Guadalupe Diocesan Shrine — Parish Overview
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church is a bilingual parish at 401 Concord Street on Saint Paul's West Side, serving both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking Catholics. Officially titled Our Lady of Guadalupe Diocesan Shrine since December 2019, it is the first and only diocesan shrine in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The parish's bilingual character, its deep Marian devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, and its nearly century-long outreach to Saint Paul's Latino community make it a unique landmark in Minnesota Catholic life.
- First Spanish-speaking Catholic church in Minnesota (founded 1931).
- Designated Diocesan Shrine on December 12, 2019 (Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe).
- Pastored by Fr. James Bernard, with Deacon Luis Rubi serving as Director of Parish Operations.
- Music Director: Isis Valero.
- Office Coordinator / Safe Environment Coordinator: Maricruz Hernandez.
- Perpetual Adoration Coordinator: Hilda Sevilla.
History of the Parish
Founded in 1931 as a 'Mexican Mission' by the Guild of Catholic Women in a rented grocery store at 123 S. Wabasha, the parish grew into the spiritual center of Saint Paul's Mexican American community on the West Side Flats. It later moved to a former pool hall at 286 E. Fairfield before being formally incorporated in 1939 under the name Our Lady of Guadalupe. The parish's location — and the entire West Side Flats neighborhood — was demolished in the early 1960s, and in March 1961 the community moved to its present home at 401 Concord Street. Sister Mary Giovanni ('Sister G') of the School Sisters of Notre Dame joined the parish in 1963 and founded the Guadalupe Alternative Program (GAP) in 1967, a school that still serves at-risk youth on the West Side today.
- 1931 — Founded as a 'Mexican Mission' at 123 S. Wabasha on the West Side.
- Moved to 286 E. Fairfield (former pool hall) as the community grew.
- 1939 — Formally incorporated as a parish.
- 1961 — Current church at 401 Concord Street completed; West Side Flats demolished.
- 1963 — Sister Mary Giovanni ('Sister G'), SSND, arrives at the parish.
- 1964 — Summer school program launched for neighborhood children.
- 1967 — Guadalupe Alternative Program (GAP) founded by Sister G.
- 1970s — Other Latino groups integrated into parish life.
- December 12, 2019 — Designated Diocesan Shrine by Archbishop Hebda.
Diocesan Shrine Designation (2019)
On December 11–12, 2019, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish was formally elevated to the status of a Diocesan Shrine — the first and only such shrine in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The designation was requested by then-pastor Father Andrew Brinkman and granted by Archbishop Bernard Hebda; Auxiliary Bishop Andrew Cozzens presided at the anticipatory Mass on December 11 and Father Brinkman read the decree at the 5:30 PM feast day Mass on December 12. The decree notes that the 1531 apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico 'has brought the conversion of countless numbers to the Catholic faith' and calls the shrine 'a place of conversion and renewal in this local Church.'
- Designation granted December 12, 2019 by Archbishop Bernard Hebda.
- Requested by then-pastor Father Andrew Brinkman.
- First and only diocesan shrine in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
- Shrines are called to play a role in the new evangelization of society.
Sister Mary Giovanni and the Guadalupe Alternative Programs (GAP)
Sister Mary Giovanni Gourhan, SSND — known affectionately as 'Sister G' — is one of the most important figures in the history of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Born in 1914, she entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame at age 18 and began her career at Sacred Heart Mission School in Saint Paul, focusing on students who struggled in traditional classrooms. Sent to Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1963, she launched a summer school program for neighborhood children in 1964 and, in 1967, founded the Guadalupe Alternative Programs (originally Guadalupe Area Projects) to keep at-risk Latino youth in school. After merging with Change.Inc., the program is now known simply as GAP, an accredited diploma-granting school on Saint Paul's West Side. Sister Giovanni is honored in a mosaic over the GAP School doorway and is depicted in a West Side neighborhood mural.
- Sister Mary Giovanni ('Sister G'), SSND, sent to Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1963.
- 1964 — Founded a summer school program of crafts and recreation for neighborhood children.
- 1967 — Founded Guadalupe Alternative Programs (GAP), now an accredited diploma school.
- Honored in a mosaic over the GAP School doorway and in a West Side mural.
- GAP mission: relationship-based education for at-risk adolescents, adult literacy, youth employment and family services.
Staff and Parish Leadership
The parish is led by Fr. James Bernard, pastor, with the help of Deacon Luis Rubi, who also serves as Director of Parish Operations. Isis Valero is the parish Music Director, and Maricruz Hernandez serves as Office Coordinator and Safe Environment Coordinator. Hilda Sevilla coordinates Perpetual Adoration. Parish office hours are Tuesday 1:00–4:00 PM and Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 8:30 AM–4:00 PM (Martes 1:00–4:00 PM; Miércoles, Jueves y Viernes 8:30 AM–4:00 PM).
- Pastor: Fr. James Bernard — [email protected]
- Deacon / Director of Parish Operations: Deacon Luis Rubi — [email protected]
- Music Director: Isis Valero — [email protected], 651-999-3659
- Office Coordinator / Safe Environment Coordinator: Maricruz Hernandez — [email protected], 651-999-3657
- Perpetual Adoration Coordinator: Hilda Sevilla
Faith Formation, Outreach and Online Resources
Beyond Mass and the sacraments, Our Lady of Guadalupe offers online faith formation through FORMED, distributes a downloadable weekly parish bulletin, and participates in the National Eucharistic Revival. The parish supports online giving for tithing and provides ongoing catechetical content through the parish website. As a Diocesan Shrine it has become a center of pilgrimage and popular devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, drawing first-generation Latino immigrants and visitors seeking a place of conversion and renewal.
- FORMED — free online Catholic study and small-group platform for parishioners.
- Weekly parish bulletins available for download from olgcatholic.org.
- Online giving available through the parish website.
- Active participant in the National Eucharistic Revival; hosted the Marian Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage on May 28, 2024.
Contact, Location and Safety
The parish offices are located at 401 Concord Street, Saint Paul, MN 55107, next door to the shrine church. The parish phone is 651-228-0506, the fax is 651-224-5162, and the general email is [email protected]. The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Safe Environment program is administered locally by Maricruz Hernandez, in accordance with archdiocesan policies for the protection of children, youth, and vulnerable adults.
- Address: 401 Concord St., Saint Paul, MN 55107
- Phone: 651-228-0506
- Fax: 651-224-5162
- General email: [email protected]
- Parish Safe Environment Coordinator: Maricruz Hernandez, [email protected]
- Archdiocesan Safe Environment resources: safe-environment.archspm.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Andrew Brinkman
Pastor at the time the parish was designated a Diocesan Shrine (December 2019); requested the designation from Archbishop Hebda.