About Our Lady of Peace · Mayville, North Dakota
Our Lady of Peace is a Roman Catholic parish in Mayville, North Dakota, belonging to the Diocese of Fargo. The parish worships at 846 5th Street SE and is part of a three-church rural cluster with St. Agnes in Hunter and St. Olaf's in Finley, currently served by Rev. Eric S. Olsen as pastor. The parish is rooted in a mission that began in 1898 with the first Mass in a private home, grew through decades of borrowed and purchased buildings, and celebrated its present church when it was dedicated by Bishop Leo F. Dworshak of Fargo in June 1951. Our Lady of Peace also welcomes students, faculty and staff from nearby Mayville State University.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- Our Lady of Peace
- Rector
- Rev. Eric S. Olsen
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fargo
Why belong here
Our Lady of Peace is a small but welcoming Catholic community serving the Red River Valley town of Mayville and surrounding farms. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass, regular Reconciliation, and is the hub of a three-parish cluster that also reaches Hunter and Finley, so you can worship in a familiar rural setting without losing the sacraments. The church actively invites Mayville State University students, faculty and staff to join its life, and its long roots in the area — going back to 1898 — make it a stable place for new and old families alike to belong.
Mass times at Our Lady of Peace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:50 PM (Our Lady of Peace)
- Sunday 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM (St. Agnes, odd-numbered months)
- Monday 5:30 PM – 5:55 PM
- Tuesday and Friday 8:30 AM – 8:55 AM
History of Our Lady of Peace, Mayville
Catholic worship in Mayville began quietly in 1898, when the first Mass was offered at the home of Thomas Kelly. A First Communion class met at the home of John Reinhardt in 1906, and by 1926 the mission was renting the local Episcopal church building for monthly Mass celebrated by Rev. J. G. Garland. The decisive moment came in 1945 with Rev. Ulric J. Proeller's arrival in nearby Hillsboro; he helped the Mayville Mission purchase the former Skarperud Funeral Home as its first home, and the first Mission Mass was held there in October 1947. The current Our Lady of Peace church was constructed on 5th Street SE in 1950 and was formally dedicated in June 1951 by the Most Rev. Leo F. Dworshak, Bishop of Fargo. The parish's tax-exempt status was formally recognized by the IRS in March 1946 (EIN 45-0351094).
- 1898 — First Mass in Mayville at the Thomas Kelly home.
- 1906 — First First Communion class at the home of John Reinhardt.
- 1926 — Episcopal church building rented for monthly Mass (Rev. J. G. Garland).
- 1945 — Rev. Ulric J. Proeller arrives in Hillsboro; helps the Mayville Mission.
- 1947 — First Mission Mass held in the former Skarperud Funeral Home (October).
- 1950 — Present church built on 5th Street SE.
- June 1951 — Church dedicated by Bishop Leo F. Dworshak of Fargo.
Parish Cluster and Diocese
Our Lady of Peace is part of the Diocese of Fargo. In June 2024, Bishop John T. Folda grouped Our Lady of Peace (Mayville), St. Agnes (Hunter) and St. Olaf (Finley) into a single parish cluster under one pastor, Rev. Eric S. Olsen, appointed to a six-year term beginning June 26, 2024. The cluster's mailing address and main office run from 846 5th St. SE, Mayville, and the cluster website is olpstagnes.org.
- Diocese: Fargo
- Bishop: Most Rev. John T. Folda
- Cluster parishes: Our Lady of Peace (Mayville), St. Agnes (Hunter), St. Olaf (Finley)
- Cluster pastor: Rev. Eric S. Olsen (appointed June 26, 2024, six-year term)
Staff and Clergy
The current pastor is Rev. Eric S. Olsen. He is listed in the Diocese of Fargo's priest directory and is assigned to serve the Mayville / Hunter / Finley cluster as a single pastorate. Older nonprofit filings also reference Msgr. Daniel Pilon and Fr. James Meyer as parish contacts in earlier years.
- Rev. Eric S. Olsen — Pastor (Our Lady of Peace, St. Agnes, St. Olaf)
- Msgr. Daniel Pilon — listed historically as in care of parish records
- Fr. James Meyer — listed historically as parish contact
Mayville State University Outreach
Our Lady of Peace is registered with the Newman Connection to welcome Mayville State University students, faculty and staff. The parish describes itself as a vibrant faith community with opportunities for Sacraments, Fellowship and Service, and invites the university community to join its worship and ministry life. Contact for university outreach is via the parish office phone (701-788-3234) or email [email protected].
- Welcomes Mayville State University students, faculty and staff
- Listed in the Newman Connection campus directory
- Parish phone: 701-788-3234
- University outreach email: [email protected]
Visiting, Contact and Practical Info
The parish office and main church are at 846 5th St. SE, Mayville, ND 58257. The main parish phone is (701) 788-3234, and the general parish email is [email protected] (a separate [email protected] address is used for university outreach). The website at olp-stagnes.org posts the current Mass schedule, confession times, today's readings, a parish calendar, and links to the Diocese of Fargo, the Holy See, and the National Catholic Register.
- Address: 846 5th St. SE, Mayville, ND 58257
- Phone: (701) 788-3234
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.olp-stagnes.org
- Links on site: Diocese of Fargo, The Holy See, National Catholic Register
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. J. G. Garlandfrom 1926
Celebrated monthly Mass at the rented Episcopal church building in Mayville.
- Rev. Ulric J. Proeller1945–
Based in Hillsboro; helped the Mayville Mission buy its first property and open the Mission in October 1947.
- Rev. Frank Hannaherby 1956 (four years of service noted)
Served the Mayville mission from Hillsboro; pastor at time of the 1956 Mayville Diamond Jubilee publication.
- Msgr. Daniel Pilon
Listed as in care of parish on nonprofit filing records.
- Fr. James Meyer
Listed as contact for Our Lady of Peace on older nonprofit filings.
- Rev. Eric S. OlsenJune 26, 2024– (six-year term)
Current pastor of the Our Lady of Peace / St. Agnes, Hunter / St. Olaf, Finley cluster per Diocese of Fargo appointment.