About St. Anthony · Watkins, Minnesota
The Church of St. Anthony is a Catholic parish in Watkins, Minnesota, founded in 1889, that serves as the spiritual and architectural centerpiece of the small community of Watkins. The parish belongs to the Diocese of New Ulm and is part of the Shepherd of Souls Area Faith Community, which also includes St. John in Darwin, St. Philip in Litchfield, and Our Lady in Manannah. St. Anthony's is currently pastored by Father Jeff Horejsi, with Father Mike Doyle serving as Associate Senior Pastor, and offers weekend and weekday Masses, reconciliation, faith formation, and youth ministry in the heart of central Minnesota.
- Established
- 1889
- Patron
- St. Anthony
- Rector
- Father Jeff Horejsi
- Diocese
- Diocese of New Ulm
Why belong here
St. Anthony's is a small, Christ-centered parish where the community still knows its neighbors by name — the same community that built the brick church in 1912-1913 continues to keep it alive and vibrant today. As part of the Shepherd of Souls Area Faith Community, the parish combines the warmth of a country Catholic parish with broader pastoral support, offering weekday and Sunday Mass, regular reconciliation, faith formation for children, and active youth ministry led by a dedicated staff.
Mass times at St. Anthony
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 9:00-9:30 AM
- Thursday 8:00-8:30 AM
- Sunday 9:30-10:00 AM
Parish History
The parish of St. Anthony in Watkins traces its roots to 1889, when Catholic settlers in the area organized a community and built an early wooden church. As the agricultural community around Watkins grew, the parish outgrew that first structure. In 1912, work began on the present brick church, which was finished in 1913. The building — and especially its tall steeple — has defined the Watkins skyline ever since. In 2014, Bishop John LeVoy joined the parish for a special Mass celebrating the 125th anniversary, after which the parish held its annual festival picnic in McCarthy Park.
- Parish founded 1889
- Current brick church construction began 1912, completed 1913
- 125th anniversary Mass with Bishop John LeVoir — June 1, 2014
- Annual June festival held in McCarthy Park
Shepherd of Souls Area Faith Community
St. Anthony's now operates as part of the Shepherd of Souls Area Faith Community, a collaborative grouping of parishes in the Diocese of New Ulm that share pastoral and administrative resources. Through this partnership, the people of St. Anthony worship and serve alongside the faithful of St. John in Darwin, St. Philip in Litchfield, and Our Lady in Manannah.
- St. John — Darwin
- St. Philip — Litchfield
- Our Lady — Manannah
- St. Anthony — Watkins
Staff & Clergy
The parish is served by a pastor and an associate senior pastor, with a small staff supporting faith formation, youth ministry, music, administration, and facility upkeep.
- Pastor — Father Jeff Horejsi
- Associate Senior Pastor — Father Mike Doyle
- Secretary — Jessica Teicher
- Maintenance — Adam Teicher
- Director of Faith Formation — (listed on parish staff page)
- Religious Education Assistant — Bonnie Meyer
- Youth Ministry — Sam Mettler
- Musician — Mary Streit
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education at St. Anthony's is coordinated by a Director of Faith Formation with the help of an RE assistant. Children preparing for First Reconciliation participate in home activities and parent-child preparation sessions, and must be active participants in the religious education program.
- Director of Faith Formation
- RE Assistant — Bonnie Meyer
- First Reconciliation preparation
- Confirmation preparation
Youth Ministry
St. Anthony's maintains an active youth ministry program coordinated by a dedicated youth minister, giving the parish's young people a place to grow in faith together within the wider Shepherd of Souls community.
- Youth Ministry leader — Sam Mettler
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. Anthony's is led by a parish musician who supports the sung prayer of the Sunday and weekday Masses celebrated by the parish community.
- Parish Musician — Mary Streit
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone or email, and the parish also shares news and updates through its Facebook page. The parish invites anyone interested in joining the community to 'come and experience one of our weekend liturgies.'
- Phone — (320) 764-2755
- Email — [email protected]
- Address — 201 Central Avenue S, Watkins, MN 55389
- Facebook — St. Anthony Watkins