St. Anne

Our Story — A Parish Founded in 1852

The Parish of St. Anne was founded in 1852, when Mass was first celebrated in a local parishioner's home by Rev. V. Sommereisen, who served from 1852 to 1860. In the early decades the parish had no resident priest and was tended by visiting clergy from neighboring towns. In 1859 the community began planning a permanent church; the first church was completed in 1864 at North Main and Dakota Streets. On April 2, 1880 Fr. Maximillian Wurst became St. Anne's first resident pastor, and the parish opened its first parochial school in 1882, originally under the School Sisters of Notre Dame and from 1902 under the Sisters of St. Joseph. Calvary Cemetery was opened in 1884 as an auxiliary to the original St. Anne's Cemetery. The present church and parish house were built and dedicated in 1925–26, and a new school and convent were added in 1957 — both still in use today.

• 1852 – Parish founded by Rev. V. Sommereisen; first Mass in a private home.
• 1864 – First church completed at North Main and Dakota Streets.
• April 2, 1880 – Fr. Maximillian Wurst appointed first resident pastor.
• 1882 – Parochial school opens under the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
• 1884 – Calvary Cemetery established.
• 1902 – School passes to the Sisters of St. Joseph.
• 1925–26 – Present Church of St. Anne and parish house built and dedicated.
• 1957 – New school and convent built (still in use).

Welcome and Parish Mission

The parish describes itself as a community of faithful stewards who believe all of life is a gift from God and who are committed to taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ out into the world. The Sunday gathering for Eucharist is called the highlight of the week and of who they are in Christ. St. Anne's explicitly welcomes all who seek God to come and worship, valuing the unique gifts, talents, and backgrounds of its parishioners.

Parish Staff

Day-to-day parish operations and faith formation are carried out by a small, named staff. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm.

• Father Chris Shofner — Pastor
• Tess Miller — Parish Administrative Assistant
• Anne Lewis — School Principal (St. Anne's Catholic School)
• Ann Gindt — Director of Faith Formation
• Amy Tolson — Director of Music Ministries
• Dave Maczkowicz — Head of Maintenance

Parish Life — Ministries and Organizations

The parish frames ministry using the image of the vine and the branches: "It is the branches through which nourishment enlivens the vine… so it is with parish ministries and organizations." A Parish Ministry Interest Form lists more than two dozen ways to get involved, from altar care to Applefest assistance to website/communication work.

• Council of Catholic Women (CCW)
• Knights of Columbus (Council # – meets 2nd Thursday of each month at St Anne's School)
• St. Anne's Men's Society (SAMS)
• Patrons of St. Anne's School
• Early Catholic Family Life (ECFL)
• Adoration, Altar Care, Altar Servers, Applefest Committee
• Bible Study / Faith Formation
• Building & Grounds Crew
• Eucharistic Ministers (incl. homebound and Ridgeview Le Sueur Nursing & Rehab)
• Funeral Help, Gift Bearer at Mass, Greeters, Lector
• Mission Sewing / Quilting, Prayer Chain, Project New Reach / Welcoming
• Scrip sales / management, Ushers, Website / communication

Faith Formation & Religious Education

St. Anne's Faith Formation Program "welcomes families, youth, and all adults to develop an active, living faith through discipleship," pursuing a desire for prayer, the sacraments, ongoing knowledge of the faith, community life, liturgical education, and service. Programming is directed by Ann Gindt ([email protected], 507-665-3811).

Music Ministry

Music Ministry at St. Anne offers three choral ensembles plus opportunities for cantors, accompanists, and instrumentalists. Amy Tolson is listed as Director of Music Ministries; a contact named Meghan Roby is also referenced for those wishing to get involved.

• Children's Choir — Grades 1–5, rehearses Wednesday afternoons (school year); sings at 5–6 Masses per year
• Youth Choir — Grades 6–11, rehearses twice monthly on Sunday mornings 9:00–10:00 am
• Adult Choir — open to any adult parishioner; rehearses Wednesdays 6:30–7:30 pm (September–May); sings twice monthly plus Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter
• Cantors, accompanists, and instrumentalists also needed

Sacraments

The parish's Sacraments page echoes the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1113): "The whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments." All seven sacraments — Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony — are celebrated. Penance is regularly scheduled on Saturday mornings and Saturday afternoons before the Vigil Mass.

• Seven sacraments celebrated (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, Matrimony)
• Penance: Saturdays 9:00–10:00 am and 4:00–4:45 pm
• Eucharist distributed to homebound parishioners by trained, commissioned Extraordinary Ministers

Parish Leadership — Pastoral Council

The Parish Pastoral Council is a consultative body of five parishioners elected by the parish membership who serve as liaisons to committees including Finance Council, Stewardship, Education, and Parish Life. Members serve rotating three-year terms (with the option of one additional term) and meet monthly. Candidates must be registered parishioners, 18 or older, and have received the sacraments of initiation.

• Five elected members, three-year terms
• Monthly meetings
• Liaisons to Finance Council, Stewardship, Education, and Parish Life committees
• Open nominations via the Stewardship / Ministry Interest process

Knights of Columbus — Le Sueur Council

The local Knights of Columbus council meets on the second Thursday of each month at St. Anne's School. The parish page traces the Order to Father Michael J. McGivney and the 1882 Connecticut charter, citing the Order's founding principles of charity, unity, and fraternity and its mission of financial aid, mutual assistance, and charitable service to members, families, and the wider community.

• Local council meets 2nd Thursday of each month at St Anne's School, 7:00 pm
• Founded nationally in 1882 by Fr. Michael J. McGivney
• Principles: Charity, Unity, Fraternity

St. Anne's Catholic School

St. Anne's operates a parish-affiliated Catholic elementary school sharing the parish campus in Le Sueur. The school's stated mission is "dedicated to working with parents to enable their children to be empowered by the spirit, to live the Gospel and to be prepared academically to reach their greatest potential." The school is also supported by a Patrons of St. Anne's School organization and welcomes parent volunteers through the parish's Early Catholic Family Life (ECFL) program.

• Principal: Anne Lewis
• Shares parish campus (school and convent built 1957)
• Mission: 'empowered by the spirit, to live the Gospel, academically prepared'
• Supported by Patrons of St. Anne's School and ECFL

Calvary Cemetery

Calvary Cemetery was established in 1884 as an auxiliary to the original St. Anne's Cemetery and has been the resting place of generations of parishioners ever since. A Cemetery Board is listed among the parish's leadership bodies.

• Opened 1884
• Auxiliary to the original St. Anne's Cemetery
• Overseen by a parish Cemetery Board

Giving, Online, and Live Stream

Parishioners can drop off or mail donations to the Parish Office at 503 N. 4th Street, give online through the parish's WeShare platform, or place their gift in the Sunday collection. The Saturday 5:15 pm Vigil Mass is livestreamed on the parish's Facebook page, with the recording made available afterwards on the parish's YouTube channel.

• Parish Office: 503 N. 4th Street, Le Sueur, MN 56058
• Online giving via WeShare (stanneslesueur.weshareonline.org)
• Saturday Vigil livestream on Facebook; recording on YouTube