About Ss. Peter and Paul · Gilman, Minnesota
Sts. Peter & Paul is a small Roman Catholic parish located in the heart of Gilman, Minnesota, in Benton County. It is one of three parishes in a tri-parish cluster with St. Elizabeth in Brennyville and St. Joseph in Morrill, all served under the Diocese of St. Cloud. The present 1930 church — a brick, Beaux Arts building with twin steeples — is locally known as "a cathedral in the country" because of its ornate detail and grand stature for a rural congregation, and the church complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The parish was founded by Polish-American Catholic settlers in the 1860s and traces its roots through three earlier church buildings, including an 1872 log structure once known as St. Wenceslas.
- Established
- 1864
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul (Apostles)
- Rector
- Fr. Matthew Langager
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Cloud
Why belong here
Sts. Peter & Paul offers a small, historic rural Catholic community where worship, family, and Marian devotion are deeply woven together. Visitors and parishioners are welcomed to share in the Sunday Mass, the Gilman Christian Women's rosary devotion, faith formation for all ages, and beloved traditions like the packed Christmas Eve Mass and the ringing of three bronze bells before each service. The parish is part of a tight tri-parish cluster with St. Elizabeth and St. Joseph, giving worshippers the warmth of a tight-knit country parish backed by the broader mission and resources of the Diocese of St. Cloud.
Mass times at Ss. Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Sts. Peter & Paul Parish at a Glance
Sts. Peter & Paul is a small Roman Catholic parish in the rural community of Gilman, Minnesota, in Benton County. It is one of three parishes in a single tri-parish cluster with St. Elizabeth in Brennyville and St. Joseph in Morrill, all sharing one pastor and one parish office. The parish belongs to the Diocese of St. Cloud and currently counts about 384 households. Visitors are welcomed to share in Sunday Mass and in the parish's strong devotional and community life.
- Parish founded 1864 by Polish-American Catholic settlers
- Part of the Diocese of St. Cloud
- Tri-parish cluster: Sts. Peter & Paul (Gilman), St. Elizabeth (Brennyville), St. Joseph (Morrill)
- Present church built in 1930 in the Beaux Arts style
- Roughly 384 households
History of the Parish
Founded in 1864 by Polish-American settlers, Sts. Peter & Paul has worshiped in three successive churches. The first was a log structure built in 1872 and known as St. Wenceslas; the second, an 1880s frame church called St. Casimir's, was destroyed by fire in 1891 and replaced with a larger frame building. A three-story Catholic school was completed in 1909, and a brick rectory was added in 1924 under pastor Fr. Vincent Wotzka. The present brick church, designed in the Beaux Arts style by the Minneapolis firm Cordella & Olson, was built in 1930 — and during this period the parish took on the name Saints Peter and Paul. The complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
- 1872: First church — log structure, known as St. Wenceslas
- 1880s: St. Casimir's Church (frame structure)
- 1891: St. Casimir's destroyed by fire; larger frame church built
- 1909: Three-story Catholic school completed (still standing)
- 1924: Brick rectory built under Fr. Vincent Wotzka
- 1930: Present Beaux Arts brick church built by Cordella & Olson
- 1960: Three bronze bells cast in Holland installed
- 1982: Church complex added to the National Register of Historic Places
The Church Building
The present church was built in 1930 and is designed in the Beaux Arts style by the Minneapolis architectural firm of Victor Cordella & Olson. The brick building features two tall steeples and ornate interior detail, which has earned it the affectionate local nickname "a cathedral in the country." The 1924 brick rectory, also designed by Cordella & Olson, sits nearby along with the 1909 school, which is connected to the church by an underground tunnel originally used by Benedictine sisters who taught at the parish school. All three of these buildings — church, rectory, and school — are contributing elements of the parish's historic complex.
- Architect: Victor Cordella & Olson, Minneapolis
- Style: Beaux Arts
- Year built: 1930
- Notable feature: twin steeples and ornate interior
- Local nickname: "a cathedral in the country"
- National Register of Historic Places (added 1982, NRHP #82002932)
Bells and Sacred Sounds
Even in the earliest log church days, the parish had three bells, each rung for a different occasion. The bell that announced the arrival of a missionary priest was long remembered as the most welcome sound in the community. In 1960 three new bronze bells were cast in Holland and installed in the 1930 church. Today all three are still rung together, five minutes before Mass — a living link between the present parish and its 19th-century Polish-American founders.
- Original log church had three bells for different events
- Three new bronze bells cast in Holland in 1960
- All three rung together five minutes before Mass
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at Sts. Peter & Paul is described by the parish as a lifelong process, with programs serving children, youth, and adults. The parish uses the historic 1909 school building on Wednesdays for religious education classes, continuing a learning tradition that began with the Benedictine sisters more than a century ago. Sacramental preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is offered through the Faith Formation program.
- Family-based catechesis for children and adults
- Wednesday religious education classes held in the 1909 school building
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Faith Formation Director: Rhonda Stay
Gilman Christian Women
Sts. Peter & Paul is fortunate to have a dedicated women's group at the heart of its parish life. Formally known for many years as the Gilman Christian Mothers' Rosary Society, the group now goes by Gilman Christian Women. The women are dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to her Son, Jesus Christ, and through the rosary they see Mary as a guide for all Catholic women to live a life of honor and dignity. The group supports the parish both spiritually and through service.
- Formerly the Gilman Christian Mothers' Rosary Society
- Marian devotion and rosary as the spiritual core
- Supports the parish through prayer and service
Music and the Parish Choir
Sts. Peter & Paul is known locally for having a particularly strong choir. Their singing is a highlight of the Christmas Eve Mass, which many former parishioners and families make a point of attending when they return to the area for the holidays. Music is a living part of how the parish celebrates its Catholic faith and welcomes people home.
- Parish choir noted for excellent singing
- Christmas Eve Mass is the choir's biggest moment of the year
Parish School (Historic)
In about 1909 the small town of Gilman built a three-story Catholic school that also housed four or five Benedictine sisters who taught there. The school building is connected to the church by an underground tunnel the sisters used to walk to class. The parish-funded school operated until 1969, when the Foley school district leased the building as a public school and bused students in until 1975. Today the building is used on Wednesdays for religious education classes, keeping its original educational purpose alive in a new form.
- Built c. 1909 as a three-story Catholic school
- Housed Benedictine teaching sisters
- Underground tunnel connects school to church
- Operated as Catholic school until 1969
- Leased by Foley public school district 1969–1975
- Today used Wednesdays for Faith Formation classes
Parish Life, Fundraisers, and Community Events
Beyond weekly Mass, the parish and its tri-parish partners host a steady rhythm of community events that knit the rural Catholic community together. These include seasonal Burger Basket Drive-Thru fundraisers at Sts. Peter & Paul, the annual St. Elizabeth Church Festival in late June, and the ongoing Scrip gift-card fundraising program (with cards sold before the 8:00 AM Masses or at the parish office). Periodic Latin Mass practices are also offered for parishioners interested in the Traditional Latin form of the liturgy.
- Burger Basket Drive-Thru (summer Fridays at Sts. Peter & Paul)
- St. Elizabeth Church Festival (annually, late June)
- Scrip gift-card fundraiser (before 8:00 AM Sunday Mass and at the office)
- Latin Mass practice (periodic)
Tri-Parish Cluster with St. Elizabeth and St. Joseph
Sts. Peter & Paul shares one pastor and one parish office with St. Elizabeth Church in Brennyville and St. Joseph Church in Morrill. Together the three parishes form one collaborative rural Catholic community under the Diocese of St. Cloud. Weekend Masses rotate across the three church buildings, and the parish office in Gilman handles administration for all three.
- St. Elizabeth — 16454 125th Ave NE, Foley, MN 56329 (Brennyville)
- St. Joseph — 33009 Nature Rd, Foley, MN 56329 (Morrill)
- Sts. Peter & Paul — 10495 Golden Spike Rd NE, Foley, MN 56329 (Gilman)
- Shared pastor: Fr. Matthew Langager
- Shared tri-parish office in Gilman
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Vincent Wotzkaearly 1920s
Pastor who had the brick rectory built in 1924, designed by Cordella & Olson.
- Fr. Leo Moenkedick2011–
Grew up in Perham; entered seminary 1979, ordained 1986; served parishes in Melrose, Kent, Breckenridge, Sobieski, Flensburg, and Randall before being assigned to the Sts. Peter & Paul / St. Elizabeth / St. Joseph cluster in 2011; former U.S. Air Force chaplain.
- Fr. Matthew Langager
Current pastor of the tri-parish cluster; contact: [email protected].