About Our Lady of the Prairie · Belle Plaine, Minnesota
Our Lady of the Prairie is a Roman Catholic parish in Belle Plaine, Minnesota, in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The parish was formed in 1972 through the merger of Sacred Heart (the historic Irish parish dating to 1860) and Sts. Peter and Paul (the German parish founded 1868), bringing the town's Irish and German Catholic communities back together under one roof. Today the parish serves the Belle Plaine community with weekend and weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, a parish school and preschool, religious education, and active lay leadership through parish, school advisory, and finance councils.
- Established
- 1972
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Prairie (the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of the Prairie)
- Rector
- Father Michael C. Kaluza
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Prairie is a community-rooted parish where the descendants of Belle Plaine's 19th-century Irish and German Catholic settlers still worship together. Parishioners gather for daily and weekend Mass in English, with weekday confession a half-hour before each Mass and a full day of Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday. A parish school and preschool, Totus Tuus summer program, active parish, school advisory, and finance councils, plus a registered active membership of around 1,300 families, make it a real place to grow in faith, raise children in the Catholic tradition, and serve neighbors in Belle Plaine.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Prairie
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM
- Sunday: 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
- Sunday: 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
- Tuesday: 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
- Half hour before each Mass (parish site summary)
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Adoration follows Wednesday Mass until 10:00 PM; visitors welcome anytime — contact the parish office to select a regular Holy Hour)
About Our Lady of the Prairie
Our Lady of the Prairie is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, serving the town of Belle Plaine in Scott County, Minnesota. The parish's mission statement describes it as 'Serving the Catholic Community of Belle Plaine,' a phrase that reflects its roots in the Irish and German Catholic settlers who arrived in the 1850s and built two separate churches before reuniting under one parish in 1972.
- Approximately 1,301 registered active member families
- Part of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
- Worship, formation, school, and outreach on the Belle Plaine campus at 200 East Church Street
History of the Parish
Catholic life in Belle Plaine began with Irish settlers arriving in 1856, served by Father Cornelius Wittman, O.S.B., who rode in from Shakopee to celebrate Mass in private homes. By 1860 the local Catholics—about 100 Irish and German families—built their own church on Block 145, originally named St. Martin and later renamed Sacred Heart. In 1868 the 40 German families formed their own parish, building Sts. Peter and Paul, dedicated December 8, 1871; a larger replacement church was dedicated November 14, 1905. In 1972 Archbishop Coadjutor Leo C. Byrne merged the two parishes under the name Our Lady of the Prairie. Sacred Heart Church closed for regular worship in 1972, hosted weddings and funerals by request through 1974, and was torn down in March 1989.
- 1856: First Catholic Masses celebrated in Belle Plaine homes by Fr. Cornelius Wittman, O.S.B., of Shakopee
- 1860: St. Martin (later Sacred Heart) Church built on Block 145
- 1868: German families separate and form Sts. Peter and Paul parish
- December 8, 1871: Original Sts. Peter and Paul Church dedicated
- November 14, 1905: Present larger Sts. Peter and Paul Church dedicated
- 1972: Sacred Heart and Sts. Peter and Paul consolidated as Our Lady of the Prairie
- December 1, 1972: Sacred Heart closed for regular worship
- March 1989: Sacred Heart Church demolished
- Source: Leo J. Albrecht, 'Belle Plaine 150 Years, 1854–2004'
Lent, Advent & Holy Week
Beyond the regular schedule, the parish observes the seasons of Lent and Advent with special devotions. Stations of the Cross are prayed on Fridays during Lent at 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM, with a 3:00 PM Stations on Good Friday. Ash Wednesday Masses, a Communal Penance service, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Resurrection of the Lord liturgies are all scheduled annually. A Divine Mercy Celebration is also offered in April.
- Stations of the Cross: Fridays in Lent at 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM; Good Friday at 3:00 PM
- Ash Wednesday Masses
- Communal Penance (Advent and Lent)
- Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper
- Good Friday liturgy
- Easter Vigil and Resurrection of the Lord Mass
- Divine Mercy Celebration
Parish School & Preschool
Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic School has been a part of Belle Plaine Catholic life for more than 150 years and today serves preschool through sixth grade. The school office is open Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM at 200 East Church Street. Sheila Hendricks serves as both Principal of the Parish School and Preschool Director. Registration for the 2025–2026 school year was open for preschool through 6th grades, with affordable tuition promoted by the parish.
- Preschool through 6th grade
- Principal & Preschool Director: Sheila Hendricks ([email protected])
- Registration information via the parish office (952-873-6564)
- Affordable tuition advertised in parish bulletin
Faith Formation & Youth Programs
Faith Formation (religious education) is directed by Mark Simons and prepares children and families for the sacraments. The parish also hosts Totus Tuus, a Catholic summer youth catechetical program featuring parish-trained teacher teams who lead students in a week of formation, and Vacation Bible School. High school scholarship applications are also promoted through the parish.
- Director of Religious Education: Mark Simons ([email protected])
- Totus Tuus summer program (annual)
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
- High school scholarships offered through the parish
- Faith Formation staff and registration/permission slip pages on the parish website
Parish Staff & Clergy
Father Michael C. Kaluza is the current pastor. Supporting him are a Business Administrator/Safe Environment Coordinator, Administrative Assistants, a Principal & Preschool Director, a Director of Religious Education, a Facilities Manager, and a Cemetery Caretaker. The parish also lists a number of part-time and program staff on its staff directory. The parish staff page notes a prior pastor, Father Brian Lynch, whose biography remains on the site.
- Pastor: Father Michael C. Kaluza — [email protected]
- Business Administrator / Safe Environment Coordinator: Kelly Pumper — [email protected]
- Administrative Assistants: Anita Glisczinski and Bonnie Weber — [email protected]
- Principal & Preschool Director: Sheila Hendricks — [email protected]
- Director of Religious Education: Mark Simons — [email protected]
- Facilities Manager: Patrick Schroers — [email protected]
- Cemetery Caretaker: Keith Heitkamp — [email protected]
Lay Leadership & Councils
The parish is governed with the help of elected and appointed lay leadership. The Parish Council, School Advisory Council, Finance Council, and Trustees help guide parish life and decision-making. Trustees and council members are listed in the parish bulletin and renewed on a rotating basis.
- Parish Trustees: Charlotte Mulroy, Sue Schultz
- Parish Council: Mike Buchanan, Dan Flynn, Ginny Morgan, Allen Schmitz, Ty Buesgens, Renee Schultz, James Fogarty, Brian Berger, Joan Brueggemeier, Bob Smith, Susan Cole, Greg O'Brien
- School Advisory Council: Ashley Simons, Matt Offerdahl, Loni Scheff, Danielle Campos, Kim Baltus
- Finance Council: Dan Neisen, Maria Tracy, Jerome Flaherty, Joe Vandermark, Jim Koepp
Visiting & Getting Involved
New parishioners are welcomed publicly in the bulletin (e.g., 'Taylor & Morgan Lenz' were welcomed as new parishioners in the July 2025 bulletin). The parish encourages stewardship through automatic contributions, ministry sign-ups, and participation in the school, faith formation, and liturgical life. Hospitality is a named ministry theme of the parish.
- Welcome for new parishioners in weekly bulletin
- Automatic Contributions stewardship option
- Hospitality ministry
- Totus Tuus, VBS, parish school, and faith formation as engagement paths
Cemetery
The parish maintains a cemetery with a designated Cemetery Caretaker on staff. Inquiries about the cemetery can be directed to the parish office.
- Cemetery Caretaker: Keith Heitkamp ([email protected])
- Inquiries through the parish office at (952) 873-6564
Locations, Directions & Contact
Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic Church is located at 200 East Church Street, Belle Plaine, MN 56011. The campus is at the intersection of Chestnut and Church Streets, with the Parish and School offices east of the church. Detailed driving directions from Highway 169 and Highway 25 are published on the parish website.
- Address: 200 E Church St., Belle Plaine, MN 56011
- Main phone: (952) 873-6564
- Parish email: [email protected]
- From Hwy 169: Main Street exit, west to Chestnut, right to Church Street
- From Hwy 25: turn right onto Church Street and continue two blocks
- Parish office hours: Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (summer 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
- School office hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Cornelius Wittman, O.S.B.1856–1860s
Traveled from Shakopee to celebrate Mass in Belle Plaine Catholic homes before any local church existed.
- Father Brian Lynch
Has a staff page on the parish website (archived URL on site).
- Father Michael C. Kaluzacurrent
Current pastor. Previously served at Divine Mercy Faribault, Saint Patrick Shieldsville, Saint Michael Kenyon, the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Saint Vincent de Paul, was pastor of Our Lady of the Prairie for four years before returning; also served Divine Mercy Faribault and Mary Queen of Peace.