About Our Lady of the Angels · Sauk Centre, Minnesota
Our Lady of the Angels is a Roman Catholic parish in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, belonging to the Diocese of St. Cloud. It serves the English-speaking Catholic community of Sauk Centre alongside its sister parish St. Paul's, and is part of the 'Parishes on the Prairie' Area Catholic Community (ACC) formed in 2019 with five other parishes. The parish traces its origins to about 1883 and its historic church stands at the corner of Ash and 7th Street South. Today Our Lady of the Angels offers weekend and weekday Masses, First Friday and First Saturday devotions, faith formation for children and youth, and a quiet Mary Garden tucked between the church and rectory.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Angels (Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of the Angels)
- Rector
- Fr. Mark Botzet
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Cloud
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Angels offers a long-standing parish community with daily and weekly Mass, First Friday and First Saturday devotions including Reconciliation and Eucharistic Adoration, and a beautiful Mary Garden open day and night for quiet prayer. Families can grow in faith through the Parishes on the Prairie K–11 faith formation program, senior-high youth ministry, Hispanic outreach, and support groups such as GriefShare and DivorceCare. As one of six parishes in the 'Parishes on the Prairie' Area Catholic Community, Our Lady of the Angels shares resources with neighboring parishes while keeping its own historic identity.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Angels
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Friday: 6:45 AM at Our Lady of the Angels
- First Friday: 7:35 AM – 8:30 AM at Our Lady of the Angels (additional time)
- First Saturday: 7:45 AM – 9:00 AM at Our Lady of the Angels
Adoration times
- First Saturday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM at Our Lady of the Angels (Eucharistic Adoration, in conjunction with First Saturday Mass and Reconciliation)
History of Our Lady of the Angels
The parish was organized about 1883 for the English-speaking Catholics of Sauk Centre and was originally served from St. Paul's Church. Rev. William Lange was the first pastor, followed by Rev. F. O'Reilly in 1886 and Rev. D. J. Cogan in 1888; Father Cogan died as pastor on January 16, 1889. The church, located at the corner of Ash and Seventh Street, was renovated in 1891. After the deaths of those early resident priests, the pastors of St. Paul's served Our Lady of the Angels for about six years before it again had its own resident clergy.
- Organized c. 1883
- First pastor: Rev. William Lange
- Rev. F. O'Reilly served 1886 – 1888
- Rev. D. J. Cogan served 1888 – 1889 (died in office)
- Church renovated in 1891
Building, Art, and the Mary Garden
The parish church has been cared for across the generations with major renovations in 2001 and 2004. The bell tower was stabilized and restored, with the tower's cross repaired, gilded, and returned to the top of the tower. The sanctuary floor was reconfigured and the interior was repainted, and new roof tiles, window work, gutters, and landscaping were completed. In 2004 artist Roger Reinardy painted an updated version of an 18th-century Tiepolo painting of the Virgin Mary in the sanctuary, at the bequest of the late parishioner Tom Kane.
- 2001: new roof tiles, windows, gutters, landscaping; sanctuary floor reconfigured; interior repainted; bell tower restored
- 2004: Tiepolo-inspired Virgin Mary painted in the sanctuary by Roger Reinardy
- 2009: Mary Garden established between the church and the rectory; tended by parishioners; open day and night
Clergy and Staff
The parish is served by Pastor Fr. Mark Botzet and Parochial Vicar Fr. Kevin Soenneker, with three deacons — Tom McFadden, Tim Pribula, and Kelly Marthaler — and retired priest Adam Saltmarsh. Lay staff who support the Sauk Centre office and parish operations include Karen VonWahlde (Sauk Centre Office Coordinator), Deb Himsl (Pastoral Assistant), Rachel Bosl (Sauk Centre Office Assistant), Adam Saltmarsh (Director of Operations), and Laura Lange (Director of Communications).
- Pastor: Fr. Mark Botzet
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Kevin Soenneker
- Deacons: Tom McFadden, Tim Pribula, Kelly Marthaler
- Retired Priest: Adam Saltmarsh
- Sauk Centre Office Coordinator: Karen VonWahlde (320-352-2196, [email protected])
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners of Our Lady of the Angels serve at Mass in a wide variety of liturgical roles. Altar servers (5th grade and older who have made First Communion) assist the priest at daily and weekend Masses, funerals, and weddings. Communion ministers distribute the Body and Blood of Christ and bring Jesus to the sick. Lectors proclaim the Word of God, ushers and greeters welcome the assembly, and sacristans prepare the liturgy. Gift bearers and rosary leaders also take part, while cantors, choirs, and instrumentalists lead music; the Resurrection Choir sings at funerals.
- Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (incl. to the sick)
- Lectors
- Ushers and Greeters
- Gift Bearers
- Sacristans
- Rosary Leaders
- Cantors and Choirs (monthly and special liturgies)
- Resurrection Choir (funerals)
- Instrumentalists
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
As part of the Parishes on the Prairie ACC, the Sauk Centre faith formation program serves students in grades 1–11, with separate coordinators for grades K–5 and 6–11. Youth Ministry offers meaningful opportunities for students in grades 6–12 to grow in faith, fellowship, and service, with both a middle school and senior high program. Hispanic outreach programs, as well as support groups such as GriefShare and DivorceCare, are also hosted at the Centre for Christ.
- Faith Formation, grades 1–11
- K–5 Faith Formation Coordinator
- 6–11 Faith Formation Coordinator
- Youth Ministry, grades 6–12 (middle school and senior high)
- Faith Formation Secretary
- Director of Faith Formation & Outreach: Kathy Knoblach
Outreach, Hispanic Ministry, and Community Support
The parish extends its care beyond the church walls through a Homebound Ministry that brings Holy Communion, prayer, and companionship to parishioners unable to attend Mass. Hispanic Outreach staff members Sonia Garcia and Emma Meyer coordinate parish ministry for the Spanish-speaking community, and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) services are available by appointment at the Centre for Christ on the second Tuesday of each month (call 320-656-6479). GriefShare and DivorceCare support groups also meet at the Centre for Christ.
- Homebound Ministry
- Hispanic Outreach / Hispanic Ministry
- WIC appointments at Centre for Christ (2nd Tuesday each month)
- GriefShare
- DivorceCare
Parishes on the Prairie — Area Catholic Community (ACC)
In 2019 the Diocese of St. Cloud combined six parishes into an Area Catholic Community called 'Parishes on the Prairie.' Over 30 names were submitted by parishioners, the ACC Leadership Team narrowed them to five, and parishioners of all six parishes voted for their favorite at weekend Masses. As individual parishes the ACC members work together, share resources, and strive to uphold the identity of each parish.
- Formed in 2019 by the Diocese of St. Cloud
- Member parishes: Our Lady of the Angels (Sauk Centre), St. Paul's (Sauk Centre), St. Francis de Sales (Belgrade), St. Alexius (West Union), St. Donatus (Brooten), Sts. Peter & Paul (Elrosa)
- Pastoral Leadership Team (PLT), Finance Council, and Trustees serve the ACC and each parish
Contact and Visiting
The Sauk Centre parish office is located at 304 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378, with office hours Monday – Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM and Friday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. The parish can be reached at (320) 352-2196 or by email at [email protected]. The church itself stands at 207 7th Street So., and visitors are warmly invited to stop by the Mary Garden between the church and the rectory any time of day or night.
- Office: 304 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378
- Phone: (320) 352-2196
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM; Fri 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Church: 207 7th Street So., Sauk Centre
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William Langec. 1883
First pastor of the English-speaking congregation; also served from St. Paul's.
- Rev. F. O'Reilly1886 – 1888
Resident at the church.
- Rev. D. J. Cogan1888 – 1889
Died as pastor on January 16, 1889; resident at the church.