About St. Bernard · Cologne, Minnesota
St. Bernard Catholic Church is a historic parish in Cologne, Minnesota, serving approximately 230 families in the Cologne–Benton area of Carver County. The parish is twinned with the Church of the Ascension in neighboring Norwood Young America, and the two share pastoral leadership, faith formation programs, and other resources under the umbrella site ascensionstbernardparishes.org. As a long-standing rural parish in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, St. Bernard offers daily and weekend Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a Pre-K through Confirmation faith formation program, and an active Prayer Chain and Knights of Columbus fish fry fundraiser — the kind of rooted, family-oriented Catholic life the area has known since the 1850s.
- Established
- 1856
- Patron
- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
- Rector
- Fr. Abraham Kochupurackal CMI
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Bernard offers the rhythms of a small, rooted rural parish: a weekly schedule of weekday Masses, a Sunday 10:00 a.m. Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, regular Confession, and a Pre-K through Confirmation faith formation program that meets weekly (with an optional dinner for busy families). The parish pairs its devotional life with practical fellowship — a Knights of Columbus Fish Fry that benefits the parish, an active Prayer Chain coordinated by parishioners, and the shared life of the twinned parishes of St. Bernard and Church of the Ascension. For Catholics in the Cologne–Benton area, it's a place to worship in a building their forebears have prayed in since 1877.
Mass times at St. Bernard
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays (1st and 3rd): 4:30–4:50 PM
- Wednesdays: 7:30–7:50 AM
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 2:00–6:00 PM
Parish History
The Catholic Church in the Cologne–Benton area traces back to 1856, when nineteen families gathered for Mass at the John Mohrbacher home; the first recorded baptism followed in 1859. The parochial school was built in 1876 and the current church structure was dedicated in May of 1877. A newer school and convent went up in 1880, and the school building in use for most of the modern era was constructed in 1954. The school was staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame and, more recently, the Sisters of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation from India; it remained in operation from 1876 until 2015. The parish continues to worship in the same 1877 structure today.
- 1856 – first Mass celebrated at the John Mohrbacher home
- 1859 – first recorded baptism
- 1876 – parochial school built
- 1877 – current church structure dedicated in May
- 1880 – new school and convent
- 1954 – current school building constructed
- 2008 – church addition under Fr. Martin Shallbetter
- 2015 – parish school closes after 139 years
- 2019 – interior beautification under Fr. Gregory Abbott
Architecture & Interior Beautification
The church that parishioners worship in today is the 1877 structure, with a 2008 addition that added a gathering space, sacristy, meeting rooms, and rest rooms under the supervision of Fr. Martin Shallbetter. In 2019, a volunteer committee guided by Fr. Gregory Abbott completed an extensive interior beautification project, made possible in part by a legacy gift from a long-time parishioner. The sanctuary dome was redone in gold foil and the ceiling painted with exquisite artistry. Design features honoring the parish's patron, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, were incorporated throughout — including bees and honeycomb imagery referencing Bernard's nickname, the 'Mellifluous Doctor' ('honey-sweet doctor').
- Gold-foil sanctuary dome
- Painted ceiling with Saint Bernard of Clairvaux motifs
- Bees and honeycomb symbolism (Doctor Mellifluus)
- 2008 gathering space, sacristy, meeting rooms, rest rooms
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The combined faith formation program of the two parishes begins in Pre-K and continues through Confirmation. Younger children follow the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, which combines Montessori methods with hands-on learning about Jesus and the Church. Fourth and fifth graders use The Great Adventure Bible Timeline, and middle-school students follow the Edge program. A two-year Confirmation preparation begins in 9th grade. Classes meet weekly, and families have the option of participating in a Faith Formation Dinner — convenient for those coming from sports or other activities.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Pre-K through 3rd grade)
- The Great Adventure Bible Timeline (4th and 5th grade)
- Edge Middle School program
- Two-year Confirmation Program (begins 9th grade)
- Faith Formation Family Dinner option
- 2024–25 program began Wednesday, September 11
Parish Staff
Pastoral and administrative leadership at St. Bernard is shared with Church of the Ascension in Norwood Young America. The pastor, Fr. Abraham Kochupurackal CMI (a member of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate), leads both parishes. Virginia Hanson serves as Business Administrator and Safe Environment Coordinator across both parishes. Two Directors of Religious Education divide responsibility by grade band, and a Bulletin Coordinator and Prayer Chain coordinators round out the listed lay staff.
- Fr. Abraham Kochupurackal CMI – Pastor (952-856-1050)
- Virginia Hanson – Business Administrator / Safe Environment Coordinator (Ascension 952-777-0110; St. Bernard 952-856-1051)
- Kara Wickenhauser – DRE, Pre-K to 5th Grade (952-250-3620)
- Julie Kleindl – DRE, Grades 6-10 (952-807-3522)
- Patricia 'Patsy' Quinn – St. Bernard Bulletin Coordinator
- Patsy Quinn – St. Bernard Prayer Chain (952-466-3304)
- Carol Dahl – St. Bernard Prayer Chain
Prayer Chain & Devotions
Parishioners at St. Bernard can request prayers through the parish Prayer Chain, coordinated by Patsy Quinn and Carol Dahl. Weekly Eucharistic Adoration is offered on Wednesdays from 2:00 to 6:00 PM, and the parish also hosts an annual 40 Hours of Adoration each year. Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation flows from the parish's faith formation program.
- St. Bernard Prayer Chain – Patsy Quinn (952-466-3304)
- St. Bernard Prayer Chain – Carol Dahl ([email protected])
- Weekly Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesdays 2:00–6:00 PM
- Annual 40 Hours of Adoration
Fellowship & Fundraising
Like many small rural parishes, St. Bernard sustains its mission through the hands-on involvement of its members. The Waconia Knights of Columbus host an annual Fish Fry to benefit St. Bernard, with parishioners invited to sign up and volunteer. The parish also supports an E-Giving program for online contributions and publishes regular bulletins (including seasonal Easter Flower inserts) to keep the community informed.
- Waconia Knights of Columbus Fish Fry (benefit for St. Bernard)
- E-Giving online giving program
- Weekly parish bulletin
- Easter Flower memorial inserts
Contact & Visiting
St. Bernard's parish office is located at 212 Church Street E., Cologne, MN 55322, and is open Tuesday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The parish phone line is 952-466-2031, and general inquiries can be emailed to [email protected]. The parish is part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and shares its combined parish website at ascensionstbernardparishes.org, where bulletins, the Faith Formation registration, and a school building survey are also published.
- Address: 212 Church Street E., Cologne, MN 55322
- Parish phone: 952-466-2031
- Email: [email protected]
- St. Bernard office hours: Tuesday 10–2, Friday 9–2
- Website: ascensionstbernardparishes.org/st-bernard
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Martin Shallbetter
Supervised the 2008 church addition (gathering space, sacristy, meeting rooms, rest rooms).
- Fr. Gregory Abbott
Guided the volunteer committee for the 2019 interior beautification project.
- Fr. Abraham Kochupurackal CMI
Current pastor of the twinned parishes of Church of the Ascension and St. Bernard.