About Our Lady of the Pines · Nevis, Minnesota
Our Lady of the Pines is a Roman Catholic parish in the small northern-Minnesota town of Nevis (Hubbard County), part of the Diocese of Crookston. The parish worships at Our Lady of the Pines Church at 205 Main Street in Nevis and is twinned with the historic mission church of St. Theodore of Tarsus in nearby Laporte, forming one combined parish community served by Fr. Tony Fernando. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass in English, regular Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, Confirmation preparation, a parish YouTube channel that livestreams weekend Masses, and a roster of lay ministries including a Liturgy Committee, Finance Council, and the St. Mother Teresa Council 15807 of the Knights of Columbus.
- Established
- 2002
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Pines
- Rector
- Rev. Antony (Tony) Fernando
- Diocese
- Diocese of Crookston
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Pines is a small but active rural Catholic community that pairs a daily-Mass schedule (five days a week plus Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses) with vibrant lay-led liturgy, a Knights of Columbus council, a year-round Rosary tradition in May and October, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a three-year family-style Confirmation program. Weekend Masses are livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel so homebound parishioners and seasonal residents can stay connected, and the parish welcomes new members through Baptism preparation and a 'Become a Member' registration process. If you are looking for a faith community rooted in northern-Minnesota small-town life, with Mass in English, regular Reconciliation, and a pastor who knows his people by name, Our Lady of the Pines and its sister mission of St. Theodore of Tarsus in Laporte are a faithful home.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Pines
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM at Our Lady of the Pines Church, Nevis
- Sunday 8:00 AM – 8:20 AM at St. Theodore's Church, Laporte
- Sunday 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM at St. Theodore's Church, Laporte
Adoration times
- Wednesday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Our Lady of the Pines Church, Nevis
- Friday 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM at Our Lady of the Pines Church, Nevis
Our Lady of the Pines & St. Theodore of Tarsus — Parish Overview
Our Lady of the Pines is one parish that worships in two churches: Our Lady of the Pines Church at 205 Main Street in Nevis and the historic mission church of St. Theodore of Tarsus in Laporte. The parish is part of the Diocese of Crookston and is pastored by Fr. Tony Fernando, whose office and mailing address are at PO Box 378, Nevis, MN 56467. The parish office phone is (218) 652-4005 and the pastor's residence can be reached at (218) 652-2785. The parish welcomes new members, publishes weekly bulletins, posts a Mass-Intention book, and maintains a parish calendar on its website.
- Parish website: https://nevislaportecatholics.org/
- Parish phone: (218) 652-4005
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor: Fr. Tony (Antony) Fernando
Parish History
Catholic life in this part of Hubbard County stretches back to about 1918, when Laporte-area Catholics attended Mass in Walker on Cass Lake and visiting priests from Bemidji celebrated in the railroad depot, a hotel, or in private homes. The present combined parish traces its identity to 2002, when the Akeley and Nevis parishes were merged under the patronage of Our Lady of the Pines in Nevis, with St. Theodore of Tarsus in Laporte continuing as a mission. A full chronological history is published on the parish website under 'Parish History.'
- c. 1918: First Masses offered in Laporte depot, hotel, and homes by visiting priests from Bemidji
- 1921: Fr. John Philippe buys a Laporte lot for $200; project transferred to Fr. Joseph Fraling
- 1926: Original nail-keg pews in St. Theodore's replaced with proper pews
- 1947: St. Theodore's detached from Bemidji; placed under Park Rapids hospital chaplain
- 1950s: Servants of the Paraclete Fathers of Two Inlets serve the mission
- 1958: Mission returns to Park Rapids care
- 1971: Laporte and Guthrie become missions of Akeley parish
- 1972: Guthrie church closes
- 1986: Ground broken for new Laporte church and hall; Fr. Frank Ringwelski dies two days later
- 1987: New St. Theodore's church completed
- 1988: Church dedicated by Bishop Victor Balke
- 2002: Akeley and Nevis parishes merge into one parish under the patronage of Our Lady of the Pines, Nevis
Sacraments
The parish prepares families and individuals for the Sacraments of Initiation and offers ongoing Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick through the pastor. Baptism is celebrated in the parish once the family has completed a one-hour preparation session; Confirmation is prepared through a structured three-year youth program; and adults seeking to become Catholic are welcomed through the Becoming Catholic / RCIA ministry.
- Baptism — preparation session with Fr. Fernando; family must be a registered parishioner; at least one parent must be a practicing Catholic committed to raising the child in the faith
- Confirmation — three-year program (Year 1: The Creed; Year 2: Morality; Year 3: The Sacraments); classes Wednesdays, October–April, 6:30–7:30 PM
- Becoming Catholic (RCIA) — for adults inquiring about the Catholic faith; directed by Linda Van Matre
- Reconciliation — Saturday and Sunday (see schedule above)
- Eucharistic Adoration — weekly (see schedule above)
Parish Staff & Lay Leadership
The parish is led pastorally by Fr. Tony (Antony) Fernando and is supported by a small staff and an active set of parish councils and committees. The OLP Liturgy Committee oversees seasonal planning, coordinates liturgical ministries, and sets the proper art and environment for liturgical celebrations; its current members include Linda Wurm, Maureen Waltman, Jenny Hall, Margo Bernardy, and Dustin Wroolie, with the pastor as an ex officio member.
- Pastor — Fr. Tony (Antony) Fernando
- Director of Becoming Catholic Ministry — Linda Van Matre
- Director of Music & Liturgy — Doug Sandusky
- Director of Finance & Facilities — Patty Biolchini
- OLP Liturgy Committee — Linda Wurm, Maureen Waltman, Jenny Hall, Margo Bernardy, Dustin Wroolie (with Fr. Fernando)
Organizations & Ministries
Parish ministry is supported by councils and committees that advise the pastor, and by church-associated organizations that serve the wider community. The St. Mother Teresa Council 15807 of the Knights of Columbus is the parish's principal fraternal organization, while liturgical, financial, and music ministries are led by lay directors who work closely with the pastor.
- OLP Liturgy Committee — full, conscious, active participation in the liturgy; seasonal planning
- Pastoral Council — advisory body to the pastor
- Finance Council / Finance & Facilities — stewardship of parish resources
- Music & Liturgy — Doug Sandusky, Director
- Becoming Catholic / RCIA — Linda Van Matre, Director
- St. Mother Teresa Council 15807 — Knights of Columbus
Stay Connected — Bulletins, Calendar & Livestream
The parish posts a weekly bulletin, an online parish calendar, and a Mass-Intentions page on its website. Weekend Masses from Our Lady of the Pines are livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel so that parishioners who are traveling, homebound, or away for the season can still participate. The site also embeds the daily Mass readings, Bishop Barron's reflections, Word on Fire videos, and Catholic-Link articles to support daily prayer and formation.
- Online bulletin
- Parish calendar
- Mass Intentions
- Become a Member registration
- YouTube livestream of weekend Masses
- Daily Mass Readings
- Word on Fire daily reflections
- Bishop Barron's Sunday Gospel reflections
Visit & Contact
Our Lady of the Pines welcomes visitors and new parishioners. The parish office is located in Nevis at 205 Main Street West (mailing address: PO Box 378, Nevis, MN 56467). From Highway 34 in Nevis, turn onto Highway 2, go north to Main Street, and turn left; the church is two blocks along Main Street.
- Address — 205 Main Street West, Nevis, MN 56467
- Mailing — PO Box 378, Nevis, MN 56467
- Parish Office — (218) 652-4005
- Pastor's Residence — (218) 652-2785
- Email — [email protected]
- Website — https://nevislaportecatholics.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Philippecirca 1918–1921
Bemidji pastor who purchased the village lot in Laporte and planned the first church; transferred to Warroad before construction.
- Fr. E.J. Powerscirca 1918–early 1920s
Associate of Fr. Philippe; traveled to Laporte to offer Mass.
- Fr. Joseph Fralingearly 1920s
Built St. Theodore's after Fr. Philippe's transfer; parishioners donated much of the labor.
- Fr. Frank Ringwelskid. 1986
Pastor when ground was broken for the present Laporte church and hall in 1986; died suddenly two days later.
- Fr. Tony (Antony) Fernandopresent
Current pastor; reappointed July 1, 2025 by Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens.