About Our Lady of Perpetual Help · Reynolds, North Dakota
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a small Roman Catholic parish in Reynolds, North Dakota, in the Diocese of Fargo, serving the farming community of Grand Forks County. It shares pastoral care with nearby St. Jude Parish in Thompson, ND, under the leadership of Rev. John Cavanaugh. The parish traces its roots to the late 1880s, when Catholic pioneers gathered for prayer in farm homes, and was formally incorporated in 1895 under Bishop John Shanley, with a frame church dedicated in 1898. Today the parish continues a century-old tradition of rural faith life centered on the Eucharist, the sacraments, and active lay ministries.
- Established
- 1895
- Patron
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Rector
- Rev. John Cavanaugh
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fargo
Why belong here
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a small, family-sized parish where the Catholic life pioneered by families like the Ackermans, Bertholds, Florys, and von Rudens still shapes community life. Weekend and weekday Masses are celebrated regularly, the parish shares CCD-style faith formation for children, and lay organizations such as the Christian Mothers have historically organized everything from church cleaning to the famous fall suppers that draw neighbors from across the area. The adjoining Calvary Cemetery and the long-standing partnership with St. Jude Parish in Thompson give parishioners a strong sense of rooted Catholic identity in rural Grand Forks County.
Mass times at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM (at the parish celebrating the Vigil Mass, alternating between OLPH and St. Jude)
Parish Identity & Location
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church is located at 424 5th Street in Reynolds, North Dakota, with a mailing address of PO Box 68, Reynolds, ND 58275-0068. It is a parish of the Diocese of Fargo and shares pastoral ministry with St. Jude Parish in nearby Thompson, ND. Together the two parishes serve the farming communities of Grand Forks County under one pastor, Rev. John Cavanaugh.
- Address: 424 5th St, Reynolds, ND 58275
- Mailing: PO Box 68, Reynolds, ND 58275-0068
- Phone: (701) 847-3096
- Website: http://www.olphsj.org
- Diocese of Fargo
History of the Parish
Catholic life in the Reynolds area predates the formal parish. Early pioneers such as the Florys, Bertholds, von Rudens, and Turks welcomed traveling missionary priests into their homes. In 1895 Joseph Ackerman and James McMenamy petitioned Bishop John Shanley for an incorporated parish and resident priest; the first church was dedicated June 11, 1898. The parish marked its 50th anniversary in 1945 and 75th in 1970, and continues a shared arrangement with St. Jude of Thompson established in 1970.
- Catholic worship in farm homes as early as the 1880s
- Incorporated parish established 1895 under Bishop John Shanley
- First church dedicated June 11, 1898
- 50th anniversary celebrated October 11, 1945
- 75th anniversary celebrated June 28, 1970
Ministries & Organizations
Lay life has always carried the parish. A twelve-member Parish Council governs with annual elections, and women's groups — the Christian Mothers (divided into four working groups), the Altar Society, the Martha's, and the Liturgical Committee — handle church cleaning, funeral and bridal dinners, and the famous fall suppers. A CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program, run by volunteer lay teachers, provides religious education for parish children.
- Parish Council — twelve elected members
- Christian Mothers — four groups; cleaning, funeral dinners, fall suppers
- Altar Society
- Martha's group
- Liturgical Committee
- CCD religious education for children
Faith Formation & CCD
Religious instruction began as diocesan Sisters taught summer vacation schools. When Sisters became unavailable, a Religious Education Committee was formed and lay volunteer teachers from the parish began the weekly CCD program that continues today.
- Lay-led CCD program for parish children
Calvary Cemetery, Reynolds
The parish manages Calvary Cemetery in Reynolds under the Diocese of Fargo Cemetery Policy (effective January 1, 2007). The cemetery is governed as a department of the parish under the Parish Finance Council and Parish Corporate Board. Burial plots are $150 for parishioners and $500 for non-parishioners; a Certificate of Deed is issued once payment is complete, though plots are filled in sequence rather than by reserved spot.
- Calvary Cemetery — operated by Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Parish Sexton: Robert Schumacher, (701) 599-2312
- Plot cost: $150 parishioners / $500 non-parishioners
- Headstone on west side of plot, family name facing the front of the cemetery
- Internments in sequence
Notable Parishioners & Memories
Phillip Ackerman, the only son of the parish to be ordained to the priesthood since its founding, was ordained June 11, 1978 at the Central Valley School gymnasium with hundreds in attendance. The parish also remembers three sons who died in military service: Thomas Mealy (WWI, France), Captain Joseph Hennessy, USMS, and PFC John McMenamy, U.S. Army (WWII). The 1948 parish house was built under Father Joseph Bellerose, and the 1976 interior redecoration marks the most recent renovation of the church building.
- Ordination of Phillip Ackerman — June 11, 1978
- Thomas Mealy — killed in WWI in France
- Captain Joseph Hennessy, USMS — killed in WWII
- PFC John McMenamy, U.S. Army — killed in WWII
- Present parish house built 1948
- Church interior redecorated 1976
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors are encouraged to call the parish office for the current Mass schedule and any changes. The mailing address and street address are both in Reynolds, North Dakota, and the parish shares its website and pastor with St. Jude Parish in Thompson.
- Parish phone: (701) 847-3096
- Parish Sexton (cemetery): Robert Schumacher — (701) 599-2312
- Pastor email listed with Diocese of Fargo: [email protected]
- Shared website: http://www.olphsj.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Benno Kauer1895
First pastor of the newly incorporated parish; served only briefly.
- Father Bernard Fresenborgcirca 1895–1896
In a pastorate of less than a year, planned and nearly completed the new frame church with tin sheet veneer for $4,000.
- Father Edward J. Geraghtycirca 1896–1898+
Newly ordained; saw the church completed and celebrated its dedication on June 11, 1898.
- Father Francis Meyerby 1922
Oversaw the 1922 enlargement and remodeling of the church.
- Father Joseph Belleroseby 1948
Built the present parish house in 1948. Retired and living in Texas as of 1980 — noted as the only living priest who had served the parish at that time.
- Father Kenneth Knoke1963–
Became pastor in 1963; on September 1, 1970, took the Thompson parish under his jurisdiction as well, and served both parishes alone after his assistant Father Eugene Connally departed on June 1, 1971.
- Rev. John Cavanaughpresent
Current pastor, also serving St. Jude Parish in Thompson under a shared arrangement.