About Saint Andrew Catholic Church · Elk River, Minnesota
Saint Andrew Catholic Church is a Roman Rite parish in Elk River, Minnesota, belonging to the Diocese of St. Cloud and the farthest southern and eastern parish in that diocese. Founded October 21, 1891 as a mission parish with eight families, it now serves roughly 2,225 registered households and offers Mass in both English and Spanish, with a vibrant Catholic school (KG–8) on the same campus. Under the leadership of Fr. Mark Innocenti, the parish describes its mission as 'building the kingdom of God here and now through the witness of a lived faith,' casting its net wide in welcome, generosity, education and service.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- Saint Andrew the Apostle
- Rector
- Fr. Mark Innocenti
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Cloud
Why belong here
Saint Andrew offers a full sacramental and faith-formation life in two languages — English and Spanish — anchored by three Sunday Masses, daily and weekday Masses, regular confession times, and nearly continuous Eucharistic Adoration from Sunday evenings through Friday nights. The parish runs a parish school (KG–8) on the same campus, a complete Faith Formation program for grades 1–12 plus OCIA for adults, and an unusually large network of outreach partners including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Knights of Columbus, CAER Food Shelf, Catholic Charities, the Respect Life Committee and the Secular Franciscans. With nine vocations (six priests) to its credit, it is a parish where Catholic faith, education, and service to the wider Elk River community are deeply woven together.
Mass times at Saint Andrew Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: After 6:00 PM Mass (not June 30)
- Saturday: 2:30–4:00 PM (Church Reconciliation Room)
- First Friday: After 6:00 PM Mass
- First Saturday: After 9:00 AM Mass
- Sundays in Spanish: 12:50–1:20 PM
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration in the Reservation Chapel: 7:00 PM Sunday through 11:00 PM Friday (enter Door B with code during evenings)
- Urgent adoration needs: Wednesdays 12:00 AM, Thursdays 8:00 PM
- Prayer Partner needed 4:00 AM Tuesday and 7:00 PM Friday; Permanent Adorer needed 1:00 AM Monday and 2:00 AM Tuesday
Parish History & Heritage
Saint Andrew Parish was established October 21, 1891 as a mission parish with eight families, served largely by mission priests who traveled from Dayton, Fletcher, St. Michael, or Anoka twice a month and on great feasts. The first church building appeared by 1912 and a basement church was completed in 1921. Father Joseph Trobec, who studied at St. Paul Seminary, was appointed pastor in 1919 and served until 1955, when the renovated church was completed and dedicated. The parish school was built in 1951, and the current church — described as 'a new concept for our area' — was built in 1997, with an addition in 2005 linking it to the school.
- Founded October 21, 1891
- Original patron chosen 'lost to history'
- Father Joseph Trobec served 1919–1955 (36 years)
- First church photographed in 1912; basement church completed 1921
- Current church built 1997
- School built 1951; parish-school addition in 2005
- 125th anniversary (parish) and 65th anniversary (school) celebrated in 2016
Clergy & Parish Staff
Fr. Mark Innocenti, ordained in 1999 and a former associate pastor at St. Anthony in St. Cloud and pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes in Little Falls, has served Saint Andrew since December 2015. He is assisted by three deacons — Deacon Kent Yoder (also Parish Administrator and Faith Formation Coordinator for Grades 5–7), Deacon Randy Bayerl (Pastoral Assistant), and Deacon Julio Tena Soria (Hispanic Ministry) — and a full team of parish staff handling liturgy, music, faith formation, Hispanic ministry, faith formation for grades 1–4, youth ministry for grades 8–12, safe environment, finance, administration, and maintenance.
- Fr. Mark Innocenti – Pastor (since December 2015)
- Deacon Kent Yoder – Parish Administrator & Faith Formation Gr. 5–7
- Deacon Randy Bayerl – Pastoral Assistant
- Deacon Julio Tena Soria – Hispanic Ministry
- Diane Pederson – Director of Liturgy and Music
- Stephanie Croteau – Director of Religious Education
- Maureen Nyflot – Parish & School Bookkeeper
- Julie Gerads – Parish Administrative Assistant
- Andrew Hanson – Coordinator of Faith Formation Gr. 8–12 & Youth Ministry
- Julie Loss – Coordinator of Faith Formation Gr. 1–4; Safe Environment
- Melissa Anderson – Special Projects/Volunteer Coordinator
- Lupita Cismowski – Hispanic Ministry Coordinator
- Neale Holleschau – Director of Maintenance
- Joyce Knobbe – Maintenance Staff
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at Saint Andrew spans children, youth, and adults. Children in grades 1–4 are coordinated by Julie Loss; grades 5–7 by Deacon Kent Yoder; and grades 8–12 along with Youth Ministry by Andrew Hanson. The parish also runs the OCIA process (formerly RCIA) for adults seeking to become Catholic — sessions typically run from late fall to Easter, with a spring/summer session sometimes offered — and welcomes older children (ages 7–17) who are unbaptized or come from another tradition into sacramental preparation for Eucharist, Reconciliation, or Confirmation. Stephanie Croteau serves as Director of Religious Education and Diane Pederson as Director of Liturgy and Music.
- Faith Formation Grades 1–4 (Julie Loss)
- Faith Formation Grades 5–7 (Deacon Kent Yoder)
- Faith Formation Grades 8–12 & Youth Ministry (Andrew Hanson)
- OCIA / Becoming Catholic (adult formation – contact Tim Boesch at 763-221-4883)
- OCIA for older children & teens (ages 7–17, contact Fr. Mark)
- Stephanie Croteau, Director of Religious Education
- Safe Environment coordination (Julie Loss)
Sacrament Preparation
The parish welcomes baptized Catholics of all ages to receive the Sacraments of Initiation and Healing. Infant Baptism is normally celebrated the second weekend of the month — after the 5 PM Saturday Mass, after the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass, or after the 1:30 PM Spanish Mass — with preparation coordinated through Julie Gerads. Adult Baptism follows the OCIA process. Marriage preparation requires contacting Fr. Mark at least six months in advance, completing the 'Fully Engaged' premarital inventory through Deacon Randy Bayerl, attending a weekend retreat, and meeting with the priest/deacon and a married sponsor couple.
- Baptism (infant) — 2nd weekend of the month; contact Julie Gerads
- Baptism (adult) — through OCIA
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Marriage — contact Fr. Mark 6+ months ahead; 'Fully Engaged' inventory via Deacon Randy
- Anointing of the Sick — available on request
Liturgical & Music Ministries
Music is described by the parish as 'a vital part of our liturgy.' Volunteer singers and instrumentalists of every age serve in the Adult Choir, Men's Choir, Women's Choir (rehearsals on Thursdays), the Youth Choir for grades 6–12 and Children's Choir for grades 2–5 (both on Wednesdays), a Funeral Choir on call, a Summer Choir, and a Christmas/Triduum Choir that rehearses 6–8 weeks per year. Liturgical roles open to parishioners include Altar Servers (grades 4–9 and adults), Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Greeters, Ushers, Sacristans, Plants/Flowers, Fine Linens, and Sound Technicians. Diane Pederson, Director of Liturgy and Music, coordinates all sign-ups (763-441-1483 x311).
- Altar Servers (grades 4–9 + adults)
- Eucharistic Ministers (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)
- Lectors, Greeters, Ushers, Sacristans
- Adult, Men's, Women's, Youth (gr 6–12), Children's (gr 2–5) Choirs
- Funeral Choir, Summer Choir, Christmas/Triduum Choir
- Instrumentalists (flute, clarinet, guitar, violin, percussion)
- Sound Technicians
- Plants/Flowers, Fine Linens ministries
- Contact: Diane Pederson, Director of Liturgy and Music (x311)
Outreach, Charity & Community Groups
Saint Andrew parishioners serve a wide network of parish-based and community-facing ministries, including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (St. Andrew Conference), Knights of Columbus Council #5296, Secular Franciscans San Damiano Fraternity, Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, Respect Life Committee, Social Justice Mission Outreach, Great River Faith In Action, Elevier Women's Center, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud, and Community Aid Elk River (CAER) Food Shelf. Smaller in-house groups build community through service and crafts — the Baptismal Blanket Ministry, Prayer Shawl Ministry, and Saint Andrew Quilts and Crafts.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul – St. Andrew Conference
- Knights of Columbus Council #5296
- Secular Franciscans San Damiano Fraternity
- Diocesan Council of Catholic Women
- Respect Life Committee
- Social Justice Mission Outreach
- Great River Faith In Action
- Elevier Women's Center (pregnancy & resources)
- Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud
- Community Aid Elk River (CAER) Food Shelf
- Baptismal Blanket Ministry
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Saint Andrew Quilts and Crafts
St. Andrew Catholic School (KG–8)
Saint Andrew Catholic School serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade at 428 Irving Ave NW, Elk River, sharing a connected campus with the parish church. The school was built in 1951 and emphasizes 'spirituality, academics, and respect' — prayer is integrated throughout the day, Catholic teachings are woven into each subject, and students actively participate in weekly school Masses. The school is fully accredited by the Minnesota Nonpublic School Accrediting Association (MNSAA) and the National Federation of Nonpublic School State Accrediting Associations (NFNSSAA), and is a Star News Reader's Choice Best in Private Education recipient (2016–2025). Music, media, physical education specialists, and band for grades 4–5 complement a state-of-the-art mobile iPad Lab.
- Built 1951; connected to 1997 church via 2005 addition
- Address: 428 Irving Ave NW, Elk River, MN 55330
- Phone: 763-441-2216
- Principal: Maria Hayman-Becker
- Grades: KG–8
- Five-day and three-day pre-kindergarten options
- Weekly school Masses; Catholic teachings integrated across subjects
- Music, media, physical education specialists, and band for grades 4–5
- Fully accredited by MNSAA and NFNSSAA
- Star News Reader's Choice – Best in Private Education 2016–2025
- Mobile iPad Lab and majority of students scoring above national average on NWEA
Pastor, Vocation Culture & Coffee Project
Fr. Mark Innocenti — a Roseville native who worked in St. Cloud before entering St. John Vianney Seminary in 1993 and being ordained in 1999 — has served Saint Andrew since December 2015. Under his leadership the parish has cultivated a notable vocation culture, with nine vocations (six priests) having come from within the parish to serve inside and outside the Diocese of St. Cloud. Fr. Mark also runs the St. Andrew Coffee Project, buying coffee directly from farmers in Guatemala, having it roasted by Roastery 7 (a parishioner-owned roastery), and donating all proceeds to St. Andrew Catholic School and other Catholic schools through the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of St. Cloud.
- Fr. Mark Innocenti — Pastor since December 2015
- Roseville, MN native; ordained 1999
- Former pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Little Falls (11 years)
- Former co-pastor of St. Michael/St. Joseph cluster, St. Cloud/Waite Park (~3.5 years)
- Nine vocations (six priests) from the parish
- St. Andrew Coffee Project — Guatemala coffee roasted by Roastery 7
- Proceeds benefit St. Andrew School and other diocesan Catholic schools
Annual Events & Parish Life
The parish's biggest annual events are the Fall Festival — which in 2016 simultaneously marked the parish's 125th anniversary (with Bishop Donald Kettler presiding at the 10:30 AM Mass) and the school's 65th anniversary — and the School Gala held each May. Both are major fundraisers that parishioners look forward to each year, featuring Mass, dinner, live entertainment, games, live and silent auctions, and traditional fare. The Fall Festival typically includes walking tacos, hamburgers, hot dogs, baked potatoes, tamales, and beer.
- Fall Festival – parish anniversary celebration with Mass, dinner, auctions, entertainment
- School Gala – held each May as a major fundraiser
- 125th anniversary (parish) and 65th anniversary (school) marked together in 2016
- Bishop Donald Kettler presided at the 10:30 AM Anniversary Mass
- Sunday Mass livestreamed (Saturday 5:00 PM) for homebound parishioners
Visit, Contact & Parish Office
Newcomers are warmly invited to worship, join a ministry, and register as parishioners. The parish office is open Monday through Wednesday 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM, Thursday 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM, and Friday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Memorial Weekend through Labor Day Weekend). Main church entrance is from the Gates Avenue parking lot; the parish office entrance faces 4th Street NW.
- Parish Office: 566 4th Street NW, Elk River, MN 55330
- Phone: 763-441-1483
- Office hours: Mon–Wed 8:00 AM–3:30 PM; Thu 8:30 AM–3:30 PM; Fri 8:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Church entrance: off Gates Avenue parking lot
- Office entrance: off 4th Street NW
- Website: https://www.saint-andrew.net
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Joseph Trobec1919–1955
Studied at St. Paul Seminary; appointed pastor of St. Andrew's in 1919 and served for 36 years. The renovated church was completed and dedicated during his tenure in 1955.
- Fr. Mark InnocentiDecember 2015–present
Grew up in Roseville, MN; ordained in 1999. Previously associate pastor at St. Anthony in St. Cloud, pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes in Little Falls (11 years), and co-pastor of the St. Michael / St. Joseph cluster in St. Cloud/Waite Park (about 3.5 years). Founded the St. Andrew Coffee Project benefiting Catholic schools.