Ss. Joachim and Anne (St. Mark Church)

Parish History & the 2012 Merger

Saints Joachim & Anne was formed in 2012 when the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, under its Strategic Plan, merged the three historic Shakopee parishes — St. Mark, St. Mary, and St. Mary of the Purification (Marystown) — into a single parish, with St. Mary designated as the receiving parish. The community's roots, however, go back more than 150 years, to the 1855 founding of Marystown. St. Mary's stone church (the present one, dating to 1882) has been destroyed by fire three times and rebuilt each time. St. Mary Church itself was built in 1865 by Irish and French Catholics and today also houses the parish's Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. St. Mark's main body was constructed between 1866 and 1868, with a 163-foot tower added in 1879 and four harmonizing bells installed in 1890. After an August 2005 electrical fire brought more than 150 firefighters to the building, the church was renovated from the inside out, preserving only the original stained glass windows and pews.

• 1855 — St. Mary of the Purification (Marystown) founded
• 1865 — St. Mary Church built by Irish and French Catholics
• 1866–1868 — main body of St. Mark Church constructed
• 1879 — St. Mark's 163-foot tower completed
• 1882 — present stone Marystown church built
• 1890 — four harmonizing bells installed in St. Mark tower
• 1970 — three parish schools consolidated into Shakopee Area Catholic School (SACS)
• 2003 — new SACS building constructed
• 2005 — electrical fire guts St. Mark interior; over 150 firefighters respond
• 2012 — three parishes merge as Sts. Joachim & Anne (St. Mary receiving parish)
• 2013 — SACS officially becomes the parish school of Sts. Joachim & Anne

Worship Sites & Architecture

After the merger, the unified parish retained all three of its predecessor church buildings, so the geography of worship in Shakopee literally tells the history of Catholic life in the town. Each campus plays a different role today.

• SJA – St. Mark Church — 350 Atwood St S, Shakopee, MN 55379. Called 'one of the finest examples of Gothic Architecture in the Northwest'; primary English/Spanish Sunday Mass site.
• SJA – St. Mary Church — 535 Lewis St S, Shakopee, MN 55379. Built in 1865; now also houses the parish's Eucharistic Adoration Chapel.
• SJA – St. Mary of the Purification (Marystown) — 15850 Marystown Rd, Shakopee, MN 55379. Stone church dating to 1882; destroyed by fire three times and rebuilt each time.

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith Formation at Saints Joachim & Anne uses the Family Formation model for grades K–6, putting parents at the center of catechesis through monthly meetings at Shakopee Area Catholic School (SACS) and at-home lessons. The parish emphasizes that the whole family grows in the Catholic faith together, and notes that tuition payments cover less than 25% of program costs — the balance is supported by parish giving. Confirmation is a two-year program beginning in 7th grade. Adult Faith Formation (Catholicism 101 / RCIA) is also offered, and the staff includes a bilingual (English/Spanish) Director of Catechesis & Evangelization and a Faith Formation Coordinator serving grades K through Confirmation.

• Family Formation (K–6) — monthly meetings + at-home lessons
• Confirmation — two-year program starting in 7th grade
• Adult Faith Formation / Catholicism 101 (RCIA)
• Tuition: $150 first child / $50 each additional child (through Aug 13, 2026); $175/$75 thereafter
• Volunteer discounts: $100 for teachers/childcare; $75 for hall monitors, hospitality, substitutes
• Financial assistance and payment plans available — no family turned away
• Staff: Cathy Wideman (Director of Catechesis & Evangelization, bilingual); Ellie Groothausen (Faith Formation Coordinator K–Confirmation)

Youth Ministry & Summer Camps

Beyond weekly Faith Formation, the parish runs a robust youth calendar. Summer programs include Damascus/Extreme Faith Camp for middle schoolers, Totus Tuus for grades 1–12, and Vacation Bible School 'Holy Kids' for ages 3 through entering kindergarten. During the year, the parish hosts the Emmaus Mass (a Mass, dinner, prayer, and short faith presentation) and other youth events. The parish also maintains a Summer Camp Fund with a long-term $200,000 endowment goal, championed by Father Becker, to help young teens — especially those from lower-income families — afford camp.

• Damascus / Extreme Faith Camp — middle school grades 6–8
• Totus Tuus — grades 1–12
• Vacation Bible School 'Holy Kids' — ages 3 through entering K
• Emmaus Mass — Mass, dinner, prayer, short faith presentation
• Summer Camp Fund endowment goal of $200,000

Music, Liturgy, and Sacred Music Ministry

Liturgical music is led by Carol Diethelm, the parish's Director of Sacred Music and Funerals. Mass at St. Mark is also live-streamed for parishioners who cannot attend in person. The parish bulletin confirms that the music ministry supports weekend Masses and funerals across the three campuses.

• Director of Sacred Music: Carol Diethelm
• Funerals coordinated through the music office
• Sunday Mass at St. Mark available via live-stream

Shakopee Area Catholic School (SACS)

Shakopee Area Catholic School was founded in 1970 as a consolidation of the three Catholic parish schools that served St. Mark, St. Mary, and Marystown. A new school building was constructed in 2003, and in 2013 SACS officially became the parish school of Saints Joachim & Anne. Today the school shares the parish office building at 2700 17th Ave E and hosts Wednesday Faith Formation classes and the school-year 8:00 AM Mass.

• Founded 1970 as consolidation of three parish schools
• New school building opened 2003
• Officially became SJA parish school in 2013
• Hosts Wed. Faith Formation classes and 8:00 AM Wed. school-year Mass

Parish Staff & Clergy

The parish is led by Pastor Reverend Michael Becker and Parochial Vicar Reverend Frankie Floeder, supported by Deacons Joel Neisen and Michael Daly, plus a full lay staff handling catechesis, music, communications, business, and facilities.

• Rev. Michael Becker — Pastor
• Rev. Frankie Floeder — Parochial Vicar
• Deacon Joel Neisen
• Deacon Michael Daly
• Cathy Wideman — Director of Catechesis & Evangelization (bilingual)
• Ellie Groothausen — Faith Formation Coordinator (K–Confirmation)
• Julie Bennett — Business Administrator
• Carol Diethelm — Director of Sacred Music
• Amanda Grommesch — Director of Communication & Marketing
• Juanita Menke — Parish Secretary
• Corinna Benz — Facilities Coordinator
• Ken Beckman — Maintenance Supervisor

Giving, Outreach, and Endowment Funds

The parish accepts Sunday envelopes, EFT, online plate offerings, and recurring electronic donations through Vanco, and maintains several targeted funds. Outreach funds include Hands of Christ and the Endowment for the Unborn; school-related funds include the SACS Annual Fund and SACS Endowment; parish-level funds include the SJA Parish Endowment and JACS JAM.

• Sunday Collection
• Building Maintenance
• SJA Parish Endowment
• JACS JAM
• Hands of Christ (charity/outreach)
• Endowment for the Unborn
• SACS Annual Fund
• SACS Endowment
• In Honor / Memorial Donations
• Recurring donations via Vanco (weekly, biweekly, monthly, semi-monthly, quarterly)

Safe Environment & Volunteering

All SJA volunteers who work with minors or vulnerable adults must complete the Archdiocese's 'Enhanced Essential 3' every three years: a Code of Conduct, Virtus Safe Environment Training, and a background check. Volunteer opportunities are available even for those without children in the program, including roles as teachers, hall monitors, childcare helpers, hospitality helpers, substitutes, and prayer team members.

• Code of Conduct (Archdiocese requirement)
• Virtus Safe Environment training
• Background check
• All three must be re-credentialed every three years
• Volunteer roles: teachers, hall monitors, childcare, hospitality, substitutes, prayer team

SJA Strategic Planning

The parish website highlights an active 'SJA Strategic Planning' effort, asking parishioners to 'learn more about our parish's future as we discern a new church.' This reflects the long-term planning conversation underway about the unified parish's facility needs across its three historic campuses.