About St. Agatha · Rosemount, Minnesota
St. Agatha is a small Roman Catholic parish located in the unincorporated community of Coates, Minnesota (with a Rosemount mailing address), in the southern part of the Twin Cities metro area. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and is pastored by Fr. Brian Lynch, who has served as Pastor/Pastoral Administrator since November 1, 2024. It is a single Sunday-Mass country parish celebrating the Eucharist in English at 8:30 AM, with confessions offered after Mass or on request. Generations of Dakota County Catholics have worshipped at this little church, which traces its roots to the 1870s.
- Established
- 1871 (parish formed; church dedicated February 5, 1874)
- Patron
- St. Agatha of Sicily
- Rector
- Fr. Brian Lynch (Pastor/Pastoral Administrator since November 1, 2024)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Agatha is a small, intimate country parish where members genuinely know one another and where each family can play a visible role in parish life — from lectoring and serving at Mass to teaching faith formation, baking for a funeral luncheon, or maintaining the grounds and cemetery. The parish keeps Catholic tradition at the center: weekly Sunday Mass in English, the full seven sacraments celebrated for parishioners, a K-10 Faith Formation program that prepares children for Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation, and a Women's Club that quietly underwrites the parish's hospitality. For Catholics in southern Dakota County looking for a quiet, traditional parish rooted in over 150 years of local history — and with deep ties to two of the Archdiocese's most influential priests — St. Agatha offers a faithful spiritual home.
Mass times at St. Agatha
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- After Sunday Mass
- On request
About St. Agatha
St. Agatha is a small Roman Catholic parish in Coates, Minnesota (Rosemount mailing address), in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. It celebrates a single Sunday Mass in English at 8:30 AM and is pastored by Fr. Brian Lynch, who has served as Pastor/Pastoral Administrator since November 1, 2024. The parish describes itself as a 'Catholic Community in Coates, Mn' and welcomes those looking for a new spiritual home.
- Parish type: Catholic parish
- Location: Coates, MN (Rosemount 55068 mailing address)
- Pastor: Fr. Brian Lynch (since Nov 1, 2024)
- Sunday Mass: 8:30 AM English
History
St. Agatha's roots run back to about 1871, when the parish was formed in the small town of Vermillion, Minnesota. The first church was dedicated on February 5, 1874 at a cost of roughly $2,800, with priests from Inver Grove Heights and Mendota traveling in to serve the community. A larger second church was built in 1898 under the direction of Father William McGolrick. On August 8, 1913 lightning struck the Vermillion church and a fire totally destroyed it. Thanks to a generous donation of about two acres of land, a new church was erected in the neighboring farming community of Coates — the building that stands today.
- c. 1871 — Parish formed in Vermillion, MN
- Feb 5, 1874 — First church dedicated (cost ~$2,800)
- 1898 — Second (larger) church built under Fr. William McGolrick
- 1913 — Lightning/fire destroys the Vermillion church
- Post-1913 — Current church erected in Coates on ~2 donated acres
The Ryan Brothers — Coates' Two Famous Priests
Although St. Agatha is a small country parish, its community gave the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis two of its most distinguished priests, the Ryan brothers. Fr. Lawrence Ryan served for many years as rector of the Cathedral of Saint Paul and was responsible for much of that cathedral's interior decoration and design. Fr. John Ryan was an international authority on Catholic social teaching and labor issues whose thinking influenced the policy of U.S. Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman.
- Fr. Lawrence Ryan — rector of the Cathedral of Saint Paul
- Fr. John Ryan — Catholic social-justice pioneer, advisor to FDR and Truman
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Baptism is normally celebrated as part of Sunday Mass and includes a parent workshop and selection of Catholic godparents. First Reconciliation is offered at age 7 and is required before First Holy Communion. Confirmation is typically celebrated in the teen years. Couples wishing to marry at St. Agatha must contact Fr. Brian Lynch at 651-437-7498 at least six months in advance. Anointing of the Sick and Holy Orders are supported as well.
- Baptism (during Sunday Mass)
- Reconciliation (Penance / Confession)
- Holy Eucharist (First Communion)
- Confirmation
- Matrimony (6-month notice required)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
Faith Formation
St. Agatha's Faith Formation Program serves children in grades 1 through 10 and is designed to strengthen their knowledge of the Catholic faith while preparing them for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation. Classes meet on Sundays after Mass from September through the beginning of May. Registration opens in August and costs $60 per student or $100 per family. Yearly activities include Faith Formation Masses, the Christmas Choir, bake sales for local charities, volunteering at Feed My Starving Children, a pizza party and an end-of-year kickball game.
- Grades 1–10
- Meets Sunday after Mass, September–May
- Registration in August
- Cost: $60/student or $100/family
- Activities: Faith Formation Masses, Christmas Choir, bake sales, Feed My Starving Children service, pizza party, kickball
Parish Ministries & Groups
Parishioners serve the church in many ways — at the altar, in the parish office, in the classroom and around the parish grounds. Liturgical ministries include lectors, ushers and Communion distributors. Parish leadership is shared through the Parish Council and the Finance Committee, while parish life is sustained by the Women's Club, the Decorating Committee, the Director of Maintenance (who also oversees the cemetery), and several 'overall assistants.'
- Lectors
- Ushers
- Communion Distributors
- Parish Council
- Finance Committee
- Women's Club
- Faith Formation catechists
- Decorating Committee
- Maintenance / Cemetery oversight
Women's Club
The Women's Club is a long-standing volunteer organization that quietly underwrites much of St. Agatha's hospitality. Members are split into two alternating groups that provide support on an as-needed basis. Their work touches nearly every gathering at the parish.
- Funeral luncheons
- Food service & table setup
- Groceries as needed
- Bake sales
- Parish picnic
- Church decorations
- Church cleaning supplies
Parish Council & Finance Committee
The Parish Council assists the pastor by recommending the parish's vision for the future, evaluating pastoral ministries, setting priorities and goals, and fostering communication within the parish and with the diocese. The Finance Committee assists the pastor in overall financial management, including budget oversight, financial planning, audit management and supervision of the parish's financial affairs.
- Fr. Brian Lynch — Pastor/Pastoral Administrator
- Chyerl Gores — Trustee
- Ted Wagner — Trustee
- Paul Neisen — CPA / Parish Accountant
- Dick Traen — Finance Chairman, President Parish Council
- Nancy Traen — Records / Envelope Contributions
- Brian Sabo — Website Director
- Carol Kiihbauch — Sacristan & Secretary
- Sandy & Donna Karnik — Women's Club
- Helen Raway — Decorating Committee
- Dennis Tennison — Vitrus Coordinator
- Tom Fahey — Director of Maintenance, oversees Cemetery
- Mike & Rita Troseth — Overall Assistants
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Agatha by phone at 651-437-7498 or in person at 3700 160th Street East, Rosemount, MN 55068 (physically in Coates, MN). The church bulletin and map/directions link are available on the parish website. To register children for sacraments or arrange a baptism, marriage or funeral, contact Fr. Brian Lynch after Sunday Mass or leave a message at the parish phone number.
- Phone: 651-437-7498
- Address: 3700 160th St E, Rosemount, MN 55068 (Coates, MN)
- Website: saintagatha.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Priests from Inver Grove Heights and Mendota1870s–1890s
Traveling priests from neighboring parishes served the Vermillion congregation in its earliest decades.
- Fr. William McGolrick1898
Oversaw the construction of the second (1898) church in Vermillion.
- Fr. Lawrence Ryan
Raised in the Coates community; longtime rector of the Cathedral of Saint Paul and designer of much of its interior.
- Fr. John Ryan
Raised in the Coates community; international authority on Catholic social teaching whose work influenced Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman.
- Fr. Brian LynchNov 1, 2024 – present
Current Pastor/Pastoral Administrator.