About Sacred Heart · Wilton, Minnesota
Sacred Heart Church in Wilton, Minnesota is a small Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Crookston, currently serving about 65 families along with seasonal snowbirds and summer residents. The parish was incorporated in 1914 with its first Mass celebrated in 1915, originally celebrated only once a month by a visiting priest from St. Philip's in Bemidji. After outgrowing its aging original church, the parish built a brand-new worship space in 1999–2002 — paying off the mortgage just three years later — and marked its centennial in August 2015. Today the community gathers for Sunday Mass at 9:00 am, is ministered to by Father John Christianson, and is known for its famous annual Fall Dinner (held every third Sunday in September) and its first-Sunday-of-the-month potluck.
- Established
- 1914
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Father John Christianson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Crookston
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a close-knit rural parish of about 65 families that genuinely welcomes everyone — single, married, lapsed, or curious — and embraces both permanent residents and seasonal visitors. The community sustains beloved traditions (a first-Sunday potluck, doughnuts and rolls after most Sunday Masses, and the legendary Fall Dinner every third Sunday in September) and offers the core sacramental life: Sunday Mass, Reconciliation on the 1st and 3rd Sundays, Holy Day Masses, religious education, music and choir, parish outreach, a cemetery, and Telecare volunteers who deliver groceries and medicines. If you're looking for an authentically Catholic small-town parish where you'll be known by name and put to work (in the best way), Sacred Heart is exactly that.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 1st & 3rd Sundays at 8:30 am (before Mass)
History of Sacred Heart Church
Sacred Heart Church Wilton was incorporated in 1914 and the original church was built that same year; the first Mass was celebrated in 1915. In the early decades, Mass was offered only once a month, by a visiting priest from St. Philip's Parish in Bemidji. The parish is today the spiritual home of approximately 65 families and welcomes all snowbirds, summer residents, and permanent residents. On August 23, 2015, Sacred Heart Church of Wilton celebrated its Centennial.
- 1906: Town of Wilton organized as a village (May 16)
- Pre-1914: First Catholic Masses held twice a month in the Brennan home with Father Phillipe
- 1914: Parish incorporated; original church built
- 1915: First Mass in the new church
- 1936: Father Ketter becomes first resident priest; Fall Dinner begins
- 1946: Old parish hall built; Fall Dinner moves there
- 1947: First Sunday of the Month designated as Pot Luck Sunday — tradition continues
- 1950: Pews hauled in from Grove, MN; statues painted
- 1965: Father Bill Mehrkens starts first Sunday School
- 1976: 12 parishioners confirmed by Bishop Victor Balke
- 1977: Used Lowry organ purchased
- 1980: Three Sisters take up residence in the parish house
- 1983: Sisters leave; parish house auctioned and removed
- 1984: Under Father Nistler, first Seder Meal held on Holy Thursday
- 1985: Youth group for grades 6–12 begins
- 1988: Confirmation held for the first time in 13 years
- 1998: Permission received from Diocese of Crookston to build a new church
- July 11, 1999: Last Mass at the old church; demolition begins the following week
- 2002: Church mortgage paid in full; mortgage-burning ceremony held
- 2015: Centennial celebration on August 23, 2015
- Recent: Family Recreation Area / playground completed through parishioner donations
Clergy, Staff & Parish Contacts
Sacred Heart is currently served by Father John Christianson, with Father Jerry Rogers also associated with the parish. A network of lay coordinators and a Pastoral Council keep parish ministries running. The parish phone (218-751-8446) rings to the social hall, where messages may be left.
- Pastor: Father John Christianson — [email protected]
- Father Jerry Rogers
- Bookkeeper: Deb Heineman — 218-444-3287
- Trustees: Richard Anderson (218-467-3275), Cheryl Pauly (218-243-7202)
- Pastoral Council: Christopher Agnes, Candy Barthel, Gloria Collyard, Lynn Eaton, Jim Sparke (meets 3rd Tuesday of Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov at 7:00 pm in the social hall)
- Religious Education: Mardelle Mohs or Fr. John
- Music & Choir: Polly Scotland — 218-766-5640
- Liturgy: Candy Barthel, Ann Illies, Lois Jenkins
- Maintenance: Karl Oestreich — 218-368-8476
- Bulletin: Ruth Walters — 218-308-1265 ([email protected])
Community Outreach, Cemetery & Fellowship Hall
Beyond Mass, Sacred Heart runs an active community-outreach ministry that supports both parishioners and neighbors. Telecare volunteers deliver groceries and medicines to those who need them, and the cemetery committee maintains the parish cemetery. The church and social hall can also be rented for weddings, reunions, and other events.
- Telecare Volunteers: call 218-751-8446 if you need groceries or medicines delivered
- Parish Outreach: Deb Heineman — 218-444-3287
- Cemetery: Shelly Fredriksen (218-556-8023), Richard Anderson (218-467-3275), Clark Chambers (218-760-2936)
- Hall Rental / Community Outreach: Shelly Fredriksen — 218-556-8023
- Funerals coordinator: LeAnn Agnes — 218-289-2351
- Fellowship Hall phone: 218-751-8446
Religious Education & Youth
Faith formation has been a part of Sacred Heart's life since 1965, when Father Bill Mehrkens launched the parish's first Sunday School. A youth group for grades 6–12 was started in 1985 and has continued in various forms since. Today religious education is coordinated through Mardelle Mohs and Father John — families are invited to contact them for current programming.
- Sunday School founded 1965 under Fr. Bill Mehrkens
- Youth group (grades 6–12) founded 1985
- Confirmation preparation (Bishop Victor Balke confirmed 12 parishioners in 1976; next recorded class 1988)
- Religious Education contact: Mardelle Mohs or Fr. John Christianson
Music, Liturgy & Bulletin
Sacred Heart's liturgy is supported by a music ministry under Polly Scotland and a liturgy team. The parish maintains an active printed and emailed weekly bulletin, which is the main channel for parish news and announcements.
- Music & Choir director: Polly Scotland — 218-766-5640
- Liturgy coordinators: Candy Barthel (218-224-3466), Ann Illies (218-751-9254), Lois Jenkins
- First Lowry organ acquired in 1977
- Bulletin coordinator: Ruth Walters — 218-308-1265
- Bulletin info deadline: Thursdays by 7:00 pm
- Bulletins available by email — contact Ruth at [email protected]
- Scheduled lectors must call Lois Jenkins (218-444-8140) regarding substitutes
Beloved Traditions & Annual Events
Sacred Heart is a parish that loves to break bread together. The first-Sunday-of-the-month potluck, doughnuts after Mass every other Sunday, and the legendary Fall Dinner are the social glue of the community. Holy Week is marked by an annual Seder Meal on Holy Thursday, a tradition begun in 1984 under Father Nistler.
- Pot Luck Sunday (first Sunday of each month) — since 1947
- Doughnuts and rolls after Mass every other Sunday
- Annual Fall Dinner — third Sunday of September (since 1936, now in its 86th+ year)
- Annual Seder Meal on Holy Thursday — since 1984
- Centennial Celebration — August 23, 2015
Directions & Visiting
Sacred Heart is located in the small village of Wilton just west of Bemidji, Minnesota. Printed directions are available to download from the parish website. Visitors are warmly welcomed — whether they're permanent residents, snowbirds, or summer guests.
- Address: 135 3rd St. NW, Wilton, MN 56601
- Phone: 218-751-8446 (rings to the social hall; messages may be left)
- From Bemidji: US-2 West ~6.1 miles from Highway 2/Bemidji Avenue, then left onto 3rd St. NW for ~0.6 miles
- Welcome statement: 'No matter what your present status is in the Catholic Church… you belong to Jesus Christ and you belong to us.'
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father PhillipePre-1914
Celebrated the first Catholic Masses in Wilton twice a month in the Brennan home before the parish was formally organized.
- Visiting priest from St. Philip's, Bemidji1915–1936
Said Mass once a month in the original church for its first two decades.
- Father Ketter1936–
First resident priest of Sacred Heart; launched the parish's famous Fall Dinner.
- Father Bill Mehrkens1965–
Started Sacred Heart's first Sunday School.
- Father Nistler1984–
Presided over the parish's first Seder Meal on Holy Thursday.
- Father John Christianson
Current pastor; can be reached at [email protected].