About Ss. Joachim and Anne (Marystown Church) · Shakopee, Minnesota
Saints Joachim & Anne (SJA) is a Roman Catholic parish in Shakopee, Minnesota, formed in 2012 through the merger of three historic Shakopee parishes — St. Mary (the receiving parish), St. Mark, and St. Mary of the Purification (commonly known as Marystown). The parish operates across three beautiful church campuses — St. Mark (1868, a striking example of German Gothic architecture), St. Mary (1865, built by Irish and French Catholics and home to the parish Adoration Chapel), and Marystown (founded 1855, the present stone church dating to 1882) — together with Shakopee Area Catholic School (SACS), which has been the parish school since 2013. Worship is offered in English and Spanish, weekday and Sunday Masses are celebrated across the three campuses, and the parish is supported by an active staff of clergy, deacons, school leaders, and many lay ministries.
- Established
- 2012
- Patron
- Saints Joachim and Anne (parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Reverend Michael Becker
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
Saints Joachim & Anne is a single parish family spanning three distinct, storied church campuses in Shakopee — St. Mark, St. Mary, and Marystown — offering daily and weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, near-daily Eucharistic Adoration in the St. Mary Chapel, and a full sacramental life including RCIA/OCIA, baptism, confirmation, marriage, and funeral ministry. Parishioners are formed through a robust Family Formation program (K–6), a two-year middle-school Confirmation program at Shakopee Area Catholic School (SACS), and dozens of lay ministries (Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, Altar Servers, Bible Study in English and Spanish, small groups, and outreach). The annual JACS JAM festival on the Marystown grounds each August, plus small groups like Men's Group, Women of Faith, and Ark of the Covenant, make it easy to find community here.
Mass times at Ss. Joachim and Anne (Marystown Church)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM (St. Mary campus)
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM (St. Mark campus)
- Sunday 8:30 AM – 8:50 AM (Marystown / St. Mary of the Purification campus)
- Sunday 11:45 AM – 12:20 PM (St. Mark campus; English / Spanish)
Adoration times
- Monday 4:00 AM – 11:59 PM (St. Mary Chapel)
- Tuesday 12:00 AM – 10:00 PM (St. Mary Chapel)
- Wednesday 4:00 AM – 11:00 PM (St. Mary Chapel)
- Thursday 4:00 AM – 11:00 PM (St. Mary Chapel)
- Friday 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM (St. Mary Chapel)
Parish Overview
Saints Joachim & Anne is a Roman Catholic parish in Shakopee, Minnesota, in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. It was formed in 2012 by the merger of three historic Shakopee parishes — St. Mary (the receiving parish), St. Mark, and St. Mary of the Purification (Marystown). The parish is supported by two priests, two permanent deacons, a director of catechesis and evangelization, a director of sacred music, a business administrator, communications and faith formation staff, and Shakopee Area Catholic School (SACS) leadership.
- Pastor: Rev. Michael Becker
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Frankie Floeder
- Deacons: Joel Neisen, Michael Daly
- Parish office phone: (952) 445-1319
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Our Three Church Campuses
SJA worships across three historic church buildings in the Shakopee area, each with its own architectural character and congregation.
St. Mark Church
Completed in 1868 and described as 'one of the finest examples of German Gothic Architecture in the Northwest,' St. Mark took three years to build. Its 163-foot tower was completed in 1879 and four harmonizing bells were installed in 1890. In August 2005 a massive electrical fire swept through the interior and required over 150 firefighters to extinguish. Originally designed to hold 600 people, the church was renovated from the inside out — everything was replaced except the stained glass windows and the pews.
- Address: 350 Atwood St S, Shakopee, MN 55379
- Sunday Masses: 10:00 AM (English, live-streamed), 12:30 PM (Spanish), 5:00 PM (English)
- Weekday Mass: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday at 8:00 AM
- Saturday Anticipatory Mass: 5:00 PM
- Confession: Saturday 3:30–4:45 PM; Sunday 11:45 AM–12:20 PM (English/Spanish)
St. Mary Church
St. Mary was built in 1865 by dedicated Irish and French Catholics. The intimate church today also houses the parish's Eucharistic Adoration Chapel (entry via the south doors with a security code).
- Address: 535 Lewis St S, Shakopee, MN 55379
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 AM (English)
- Wednesday School-Year Mass: 7:00 AM
- Saturday Morning Mass: 8:00 AM
- Confession: Saturday 8:30–9:30 AM
- Eucharistic Adoration: Monday 4 AM–11:59 PM; Tuesday 12 AM–10 PM; Wednesday 4 AM–11 PM; Thursday 4 AM–11 PM; Friday 8:30 AM–10 PM
Marystown Church (St. Mary of the Purification)
Marystown, as locals call it, was founded in 1855 by Benedictine Father George Keller along with 30 families. Set among the evergreens on 30 acres, it once housed a mission, a school, the nuns' house, and the rectory (which still stands). The community's church was destroyed by fire three times and rebuilt each time; the present stone church was completed in 1882, with the spire finished in 1883. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 17, 1980. Stained glass windows were renovated in 1991, the same year the new Parish Center was finished and dedicated; the church was later renovated again with a new interior and a stained-glass crucifix behind the altar.
- Address: 15850 Marystown Rd, Shakopee, MN 55379
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 AM (English)
- Confession: Sunday 8:30–8:50 AM
- Country setting about four miles south of Highway 169 on Marystown Road (County Highway 15)
- Host site of the annual JACS JAM parish festival in August on the weekend of the third Sunday
History of the Parish
Catholic life in Shakopee dates to 1855 with the founding of St. Mary of the Purification by Benedictine Father George Keller and 30 families. St. Mary (1865) and St. Mark (1868) followed as waves of Irish, French, and German Catholic settlers built their own churches. Through the 19th and 20th centuries the parishes endured fires, rebuilt, added schools, and built community — culminating in the 2012 merger under the Archdiocese's Strategic Plan, with St. Mary as the receiving parish. In 2013, Shakopee Area Catholic School (SACS), originally formed in 1970 by consolidating the three parish schools, officially became the parish school of Saints Joachim & Anne.
- 1855 — St. Mary of the Purification (Marystown) founded
- 1865 — St. Mary Church built by Irish and French Catholics
- 1868 — St. Mark Church completed in Gothic style
- 1879 — St. Mark's 163-foot tower completed
- 1882 — Marystown stone church completed
- 1890 — Four harmonizing bells installed in St. Mark tower
- 1970 — Shakopee Area Catholic School (SACS) formed
- 1980 — Marystown added to the National Register of Historic Places
- 2003 — New SACS building opened
- 2005 — Major electrical fire at St. Mark; full interior restoration completed
- 2012 — Three parishes merge to form Saints Joachim & Anne
- 2013 — SACS officially becomes the parish school of SJA
Faith Formation & Religious Education
SJA's Family Formation program is a family-centered catechetical model for grades K–6, with monthly meetings at Shakopee Area Catholic School and at-home lessons that put parents at the center of teaching the Faith. Faith Formation classes run September through April on Wednesday evenings at SACS. Tuition is $150 for the first child and $50 for each additional child through August 13, 2026 (increasing to $175/$75 on August 14, 2026), and financial assistance is available. Confirmation is a two-year program beginning in 7th grade, coordinated through SACS. Adult faith formation includes Catholicism 101 and RCIA/OCIA for those entering or deepening their Catholic faith.
- Family Formation (K–6) with monthly meetings + at-home lessons
- Confirmation: 2-year program beginning 7th grade (Joan Fering, SACS Confirmation Coordinator)
- Catholicism 101 adult faith formation
- RCIA / OCIA for adults
- Tuition assistance and payment plans available — no family turned away for financial reasons
- Volunteer opportunities with tuition discounts (teachers, childcare, hall monitors, hospitality, substitutes)
Shakopee Area Catholic School (SACS)
Shakopee Area Catholic School is the parish school of Saints Joachim & Anne. SACS was established in 1970 as a consolidation of the three Catholic parish schools in Shakopee, moved into a new building in 2003, and officially became the SJA parish school in 2013. The school shares its building with the parish office and houses the SACS Chapel, which is used for the Wednesday 8:00 AM school Mass during the academic year (livestreamed).
- Principal: Nikki Giel
- Enrollment & Communications: Mary Holmes (ext. 183)
- Director of Advancement: Vivian Pritchard (ext. 115)
- School phone: (952) 445-3387
- Admissions: [email protected]
- Website: SacsSchools.org
Youth & Family
SJA offers a range of formation and fellowship opportunities for children, middle schoolers, high schoolers, and families. SJA Youth Events include retreats, service, and fellowship for Middle and High Schoolers. The parish runs a PreK summer camp (Vacation Bible School / VBS) each year, and Confirmation formation begins in 7th grade as a two-year journey culminating in the sacrament.
- SJA Youth Events for Middle & High Schoolers
- VBS PreK summer camp
- Family Formation (K–6)
- Two-year Confirmation program starting in 7th grade
- JACS JAM parish festival at Marystown each August
Music & Liturgy
Music ministry is led by Carol Diethelm, Director of Sacred Music. The parish is served by the Laudate Choir and additional choirs at weekend Masses. Liturgical roles — including Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, and Altar Servers — are open to lay volunteers and are central to the worship life of all three campuses.
- Director of Sacred Music: Carol Diethelm
- Laudate Choir and additional parish choirs
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors (proclaim the Word of God at Mass and other liturgical celebrations)
- Ushers (welcome, seating, collection, questions)
- Altar Servers (assist the priest at the altar)
Small Groups, Bible Study & Adult Faith
SJA fosters adult faith through small groups and ongoing study. Larger groups include the Men's Group (led by Fr. Becker and Dcn. Joel), Women of Faith, and Ark of the Covenant — each with a teaching element and small-group prayer time. Smaller groups of twelve or fewer meet in homes and on campus, including Lord, Teach Us to Pray; Praying with God; How to Share Jesus with Young Children (led by SACS principal Nikki Giel); and Women of the Word. Bible study is offered in both English and Spanish (Clase de Biblia en Español).
- Men's Group — 1st Monday, 7–8:30 pm, St. Mark
- Women of Faith — 2nd Monday, 6:30–8 pm, St. Mark
- Ark of the Covenant — 1st & 3rd Thursday, 7–8:30 pm, St. Mark
- Lord, Teach Us to Pray — Tuesdays, 6–7:30 pm, Shakopee home
- Praying with God — Tuesdays, 6:30–8 pm, St. Mark Library
- How to Share Jesus with Young Children — Thursdays, 9–10:30 am, SACS
- Women of the Word — Sundays, 7–8:30 pm, Shakopee home
- English Bible Class and Spanish Bible Class (Clase de Biblia en Español)
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
The parish ministers the seven Catholic sacraments across its three campuses and supports parishioners through life's milestones. Dedicated coordinators handle funeral ministry, marriage preparation, and the parish's faith formation pathways. Sacramental emergencies outside office hours are routed through the parish main line.
- Marriage Coordinator: Sophie Melo
- Funeral Coordinator: Lucy Huppert
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick available
- After-hours Sacramental Emergencies: (952) 445-1319, press #
Outreach & Community
Beyond worship and formation, SJA hosts Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and welcomes groups for fellowship and recovery. The annual JACS JAM festival — held on the Marystown grounds in August on the weekend of the third Sunday — is the parish's signature community-building event.
- Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at the parish
- JACS JAM annual festival on Marystown grounds (third Sunday weekend in August)
- Volunteer opportunities across music, liturgy, formation, and hospitality