About Resurrection · Rochester, Minnesota
The Church of the Resurrection is a Roman Catholic parish in southeast Rochester, Minnesota, belonging to the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. Founded in 1967 as an outgrowth of Saint Francis Catholic Church, it has grown from its humble first Mass in an old airport terminal to a community of roughly 1,375–1,575 families served today by a pastor, parochial vicar, and deacons. The parish describes itself with the mission statement, "An ever-growing Eucharistic community boldly serving others through God's love," and is especially known for its Perpetual Adoration chapel, designated a Divine Mercy Chapel. Located at 1600 11th Avenue SE near Mayo High School, Resurrection offers daily Mass, weekend Masses, a robust faith formation program from kindergarten through young adults, and a wide range of liturgical, prayer, music, outreach, and small-group ministries.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- The Resurrection of the Lord (Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Fr. James Steffes
- Diocese
- Diocese of Winona-Rochester
Why belong here
Resurrection is a thriving, mid-sized Rochester parish of more than 1,300 families where the Eucharist — celebrated in daily Mass, two Sunday Masses, and a 24/7 Perpetual Adoration chapel — is the centerpiece of parish life. Members can grow in faith at any age through a complete faith-formation program (birth through young adults, including a two-year Confirmation track), serve in one of more than a dozen parish ministries (liturgical, music, prayer, outreach, small groups, youth, young adult, social concerns), and gather as a community at parish events like the annual Summerfest. It is a welcoming, family-friendly parish that explicitly invites newcomers to register in person or online.
Mass times at Resurrection
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM (per parish schedule page)
- Saturday 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM (per parish bulletin, October 2017)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except during Mass), in Fr. Winkel's Chapel on the east side of the main church; scheduled adorers and walk-ins 7 AM–7 PM welcome
- Hours managed by Division Coordinators in four blocks: 6 AM–Noon (Gloria Flicek), Noon–6 PM (JoAnn Siple), 6 PM–Midnight (Therese Schoenfelder), Midnight–6 AM (Mary Lou Delaney)
- Adoration chapel is designated a Divine Mercy Chapel by Pope John Paul II; one adorer per hour is encouraged to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the dead or dying
About Resurrection Parish
Resurrection is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester serving southeast Rochester, Minnesota. Founded in 1967 as an outgrowth of Saint Francis Catholic Church, the parish community now numbers roughly 1,375–1,575 families. Its mission statement — 'An ever-growing Eucharistic community boldly serving others through God's love' — reflects the parish's identity as a Christ-centered, outreach-oriented community rooted in the Eucharist. The parish welcomes new members through in-person registration at the parish office or via an online form.
- Founded in 1967 by Bishop Edward Fitzgerald as an outgrowth of St. Francis Catholic Church
- Mission: An ever-growing Eucharistic community boldly serving others through God's love
- Approximately 1,375+ families currently registered
- Welcomes new parishioners — online and in-person registration available
History of the Parish
Resurrection began in 1966–1967 when Bishop Edward Fitzgerald announced a new parish for southeast Rochester. With no structure yet built, founding pastor Rev. Donald Zenk celebrated the first Masses in the old Rochester airport terminal at Lobb Field. In 1968 a multi-purpose parish center was built and the first Mass in 'Father Zenk Hall' was offered at midnight on Christmas Eve, with 365 families. Construction of the present church began in July 1988, and Palm Sunday 1989 saw the first Mass in the new worship space. Bishop John Vlazny dedicated the church on June 11, 1989. The parish celebrated its 45th anniversary in August 2012 at its annual Summerfest.
- 1966–1967: Bishop Fitzgerald announces new parish; founding pastor Rev. Donald Zenk begins
- 1967–1968: First Masses in old Rochester airport terminal at Lobb Field
- 1968: Father Zenk Hall built; first Mass there Midnight, December 24, 1968
- 1976: Rev. Donald Winkel becomes second pastor
- 1985: Rev. LeRoy Literski becomes third pastor
- 1987: Feasibility study launches 'Building for the 21st Century' campaign
- July 1988: Construction of present church begins
- Palm Sunday 1989: First Mass in the new church
- June 11, 1989: Church dedicated by Bishop John Vlazny
- 1991: Msgr. Donald P. Schmitz named pastor
- August 2012: 45th anniversary celebrated at Summerfest
Staff & Clergy Directory
The parish is led by Fr. James Steffes as pastor and Fr. Brian Klein as parochial vicar. The staff directory also lists deacons (including Deacon Rob, who preaches homilies at weekend Masses), liturgical, family, and music ministry staff, and office and maintenance personnel.
- Fr. James Steffes — Pastor ([email protected])
- Fr. Brian Klein — Parochial Vicar
- Deacons (including Deacon Rob, John Rowekamp)
- Family, Liturgical, and Music Ministries staff
- Office staff and ministry support
- Grounds & Building Maintenance
Sacraments
Resurrection prepares and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Information and registration for each is provided on the parish website, including Baptism, Confirmation (a two-year Wednesday-evening program combining ongoing faith formation with Confirmation prep), First Eucharist, Reconciliation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick, O.C.I.A. (formerly RCIA) for adults entering the Church, and Funeral Planning.
- Baptism
- Confirmation (two-year Wednesday program, 6:30–8:00 PM)
- Eucharist (First Communion preparation)
- Reconciliation
- Marriage preparation
- Holy Orders
- Anointing of the Sick
- O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Funeral Planning
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at Resurrection serves parishioners from birth through adulthood, with dedicated tracks for early childhood, elementary, middle school, high school, young adults, and adults. Grades 6–10 Faith Formation meets on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM (doors open at 6:00 PM for snacks and games). The two-year Confirmation track uses the YOU: Life, Love, and the Theology of the Body and Decision Point programs in Year 1 and the Altaration and 'Never Alone' programs in Year 2. All grades complete the Diocese of Winona's Circle of Grace safe-environment curriculum.
- Birth–Kindergarten
- Youth 1st–5th Grade
- Youth 6th–8th Grade (Middle School Youth Ministry)
- Youth 9th–12th Grade (Year One and Year Two Confirmation)
- Young Adults
- Adults
- Wednesday evenings 6:30–8:00 PM (doors open 6:00 PM)
- Curricula: YOU, Decision Point, Altaration, Never Alone, Circle of Grace
Middle School Youth Ministry & Camp Summit
The parish's Middle School Youth Ministry serves 6th–8th graders and includes Resurrection's involvement in Camp Summit, a diocesan Catholic adventure camp held at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro, Minnesota. Camp Summit features bonfires, a high ropes course, team building, Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, dynamic speakers, confession, small group discussions, and games. More than 250 youth and chaperones from across the Diocese of Winona-Rochester attend. Contact for middle-school ministry: Sheila Pelowski.
- Camp Summit — Catholic adventure camp at Eagle Bluff, Lanesboro
- Bonfires, high ropes course, team building
- Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, confession, small groups
- Diocesan event: 250+ youth and chaperones
- Contact: Sheila Pelowski
Parish Life & Ministries
Resurrection's 'Pick Your Ministry' page organizes parish life into eleven major ministry areas covering faith formation, leadership, youth, parish activities, small groups, social concerns and outreach, young adults, music, prayer, pastoral care, and liturgical service. The parish also publishes liturgical ministry schedules online and posts Sunday homilies (including Deacon Rob's homilies) for parishioners who cannot attend in person.
- Faith Formation Ministry
- Leadership Ministry
- Youth Ministry
- Parish Activities (including Summerfest and Mardi Gras)
- Small Groups Ministry
- Social Concerns & Outreach Ministry
- Young Adult Ministry
- Music Ministry
- Prayer Ministry (Perpetual Adoration, Electronic Prayer Line, Prayer Line Team)
- Pastoral Ministry
- Liturgical Ministry (Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, etc.)
- Sunday Homilies archived online
Prayer Ministry
Beyond Perpetual Adoration, the Prayer Ministry runs an Electronic Prayer Line — a distribution list of parishioners who receive prayer requests by email throughout the week and pray for them in their homes — and a Prayer Line Team that shares requests directly with members. Printed prayer resources such as Divine Mercy Chaplet pamphlets are kept in the adoration chapel kneelers.
- Perpetual Adoration in Fr. Winkel's Chapel
- Electronic Prayer Line (email-based intercession)
- Prayer Line Team
- Divine Mercy Chaplet pamphlets available in chapel
Map, Directions & Office Hours
The Church of the Resurrection and parish office are located at 1600 11th Avenue SE, Rochester, MN 55904, in southeast Rochester — south of Highway 14 and east of Highway 63, next to Mayo High School. The parish office is open Monday–Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and closed on weekends. Parking is available on-site near the 11th Avenue lot, which is also the entrance to the Perpetual Adoration chapel.
- Address: 1600 11th Avenue SE, Rochester, MN 55904
- Phone: 507-288-5528
- South of Hwy 14, east of Hwy 63, next to Mayo High School
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed weekends)
- Parking near the 11th Avenue lot
Diocese & Affiliations
Resurrection is one of 88 parishes in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, which covers the 20 southernmost counties of Minnesota. The parish is listed in the diocese's directory with Fr. James Steffes as pastor and Fr. Brian Klein as parochial vicar. The parish website links to the diocesan site, Rochester Catholic Schools, the USCCB, Formed.org, and Rochester Catholic Young Adult Ministry.
- Diocese of Winona-Rochester
- Diocesan directory listing: Steffes, Father James — Pastor; Klein, Father Brian — Parochial Vicar
- Parish phone on file with diocese: (507) 288-5528
- Affiliated links: dowr.org, Rochester Catholic Schools, USCCB, Formed.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Donald Zenk1967–1976
Founding pastor; the parish's Great Hall has been renamed Father Donald Zenk Hall in his honor. Served during the era of the church rodeo fundraiser.
- Rev. Donald Winkel1976–1985
Second pastor; oversaw major renovations during 1979–1981.
- Rev. LeRoy Literski1985–
Third pastor; led the parish during the late 1980s expansion planning.
- Msgr. Donald P. Schmitz1991–
Named pastor in 1991, the fourth priest to lead the congregation; oversaw dedication of the new church by Bishop Vlazny in 1989.
- Rev. Jim Berning
Listed among pastors in parish's 45th-anniversary history.
- Rev. Andrew Beerman (with Rev. Robert Horihan and Rev. Tom Loomis)
Served together as listed in parish's 45th-anniversary history.
- Rev. Kevin Connolly
Served as pastor prior to Fr. Peter Schuster.
- Fr. Peter Schuster
Pastor before Fr. James Steffes; authored a welcome-letter history of the parish.
- Fr. James Steffes
Current pastor, per the parish website and Diocese of Winona-Rochester directory.