About St. Boniface · Cold Spring, Minnesota
Saint Boniface Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Cold Spring, Minnesota, and a founding member of the Centered on Christ Catholic Community (CCCC), an Area Catholic Community in the Diocese of Saint Cloud that unites four parishes and two schools. The parish has been a pillar of the community since 1878 and is named after Saint Boniface, the Apostle of Germany, whose letters inspire the parish's mission. It currently serves roughly 5,001 members with about 1,635 registered families, and operates Saint Boniface Catholic School (Pre-K through sixth grade), which has been integrating faith and education for over 100 years. Saint Boniface functions as the "Primary" church of the CCCC and hosts the community's central offices at 501 Main Street.
- Established
- 1878
- Patron
- Saint Boniface (the Apostle of Germany)
- Rector
- Father LeRoy Scheierl
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Cloud
Why belong here
Saint Boniface is the central parish of the Centered on Christ Catholic Community and has served Cold Spring since 1878, with daily and weekend Masses, a long-standing Catholic grade school, active faith formation for children and teens, and signature community events like BoniFest that bring parishioners and neighbors together. Its ministries span discipleship formation for grades 1–5, teen and youth ministry, sacramental preparation, music liturgy, and adult faith life — all rooted in the parish's mission of rooting daily life in Christ and His Church. Newcomers are invited to register via the New Member Request Form on the parish website.
Mass times at St. Boniface
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM (before the 4:00 PM Mass)
Saint Boniface Parish — Cold Spring, Minnesota
Saint Boniface Catholic Church has served Cold Spring, Minnesota, since 1878 and today functions as the 'Primary' church of the Centered on Christ Catholic Community (CCCC), an Area Catholic Community in the Diocese of Saint Cloud that unites four parishes and two schools. With about 1,635 registered families and roughly 5,001 members, Saint Boniface is the largest parish in the CCCC and houses the community's central offices. The parish is named for Saint Boniface, the eighth-century 'Apostle of Germany,' whose letters to his disciples inspire its mission: 'In her voyage across the ocean of this world, the Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life's different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship but to keep her on her course.'
- Parish founded February 2, 1878
- About 1,635 registered families; roughly 5,001 members
- Worship space capacity: 802 persons
- Typical attendance: ~41% Saturday vigil, ~49% Sunday morning
History of Saint Boniface Parish
The parish was founded on February 2, 1878, after Cold Spring's population had grown roughly 150 percent during the 1870s. Its origins are inseparable from the famous 'Grasshopper Chapel' — Assumption Chapel, also called Maria Hilf — that Father Leo Winter, OSB, helped build on a hill outside town in 1877 in thanksgiving for the end of the grasshopper plague. Father Leo, a young Benedictine assigned to the twin parishes of St. James (Jacobs Prairie) and St. Nicholas, partnered with Cold Spring merchant Marcus Maurin to raise funds for a parish church, and the parish was formally established early in 1878. A centennial history of the parish was published in 1978 by the parish's Centennial Committee: 'Amid hills of granite, a spring of faith: a history of Saint Boniface Parish, Cold Spring, Minnesota, 1878–1978.'
- Founded February 2, 1878
- Founder: Father Leo Winter, OSB (Benedictine)
- Grasshopper Chapel (Assumption / Maria Hilf) consecrated summer 1877
- Centennial history book published 1978
The Grasshopper Chapel (Assumption Chapel)
The Assumption Chapel — popularly known as the 'Grasshopper Chapel' — sits on a hill outside Cold Spring and is part of the Saint Boniface parish campus. Built in the summer of 1877 by parishioners from St. James (Jacobs Prairie) and St. Nicholas as a votive chapel in thanksgiving for the end of the grasshopper plague, it was dedicated on the feast of the Assumption under the title Maria Hilf (Mary Help of Christians). Father Leo Winter pledged to say Mass at the chapel every Saturday, weather permitting, and the original processions were held on the feasts of St. Boniface, St. Ulrich, and St. Magnus. Today it continues as a place of pilgrimage and the site of seasonal Rosary and Mass devotions.
- Built summer 1877 as a votive chapel during the grasshopper plague
- Dedicated on the feast of the Assumption as Maria Hilf / Mary Help of Christians
- Original processions on feasts of St. Boniface, St. Ulrich, and St. Magnus
- Still active today for Rosary and Mass devotions
Centered on Christ Catholic Community (CCCC)
Saint Boniface is a founding member of the Centered on Christ Catholic Community, an Area Catholic Community in the Diocese of Saint Cloud that brings together four parishes and two schools under a shared pastor and staff. The CCCC mission is to collaborate in forming 'missionary disciples on fire for Christ.' According to the parish's 'All Things New' plan, the four parishes will consolidate into a single parish corporation within 1–3 years while retaining each church's individual name. Saint Boniface will serve as the 'Primary' church because of its central location, large membership, large worship space, and the fact that the CCCC offices are located there.
- Member parishes: Saint Boniface (Cold Spring), Saints Peter & Paul (Richmond), Mary of the Immaculate Conception (Rockville), Saint James (Jacobs Prairie)
- Saint Boniface designated as the 'Primary' church
- CCCC offices located at Saint Boniface
- Single Pastor, Parochial Vicar, and shared staff
Clergy, School Leaders & Staff
Saint Boniface and the wider CCCC are served by a shared pastoral, school, and administrative team. Father LeRoy Scheierl serves as Pastor, Father Joseph VanDenheuvel as Parochial Vicar, and Father Cletus Connors, OSB as Retired Clergy Assistant. Two deacons assist with sacramental preparation and parish life. Saint Boniface Catholic School is led by Principal Heather Pfannenstein and Assistant Principal Kim Baumgarten (who also serve Saints Peter & Paul School). A central administrative team handles finance, communications, and parish operations.
- Pastor: Father LeRoy Scheierl
- Parochial Vicar: Father Joseph VanDenheuvel
- Retired Clergy Assistant: Father Cletus Connors, OSB
- Deacon Larry Sell — Director of Sacramental Preparation
- Deacon Dan Dullinger
- School Principal: Heather Pfannenstein (SB & SSPP)
- Assistant Principal: Kim Baumgarten (SB & SSPP)
- Director of Finance / Admin Team Lead: Merrilee Stang
Saint Boniface Catholic School
Saint Boniface Catholic School has integrated faith and education for over 100 years. It is a Pre-Kindergarten through sixth-grade Catholic school supported by the parish faith community of Saint Boniface and other parishes in the Cold Spring area. The school fosters a stimulating, nurturing environment that emphasizes Christian values, academic excellence, and social development. Current enrollment is approximately 242 students. Heather Pfannenstein serves as principal, with Kim Baumgarten as assistant principal.
- Pre-K through Grade 6
- Over 100 years of Catholic education
- Current enrollment: ~242 students
- Principal: Heather Pfannenstein
Faith Formation & Discipleship
Discipleship Formation (Elementary) for students in Grades 1–5 meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at Saint Boniface from 6:15–7:15 PM, with students entering through the Saint Boniface School entrance. Registration for the 2026–2027 year is open. Teen discipleship and youth ministry is led by Kaly Bloch; children and adult discipleship is led by Sherry Braegelmann. Sacramental preparation is directed by Deacon Larry Sell.
- Grades 1–5: 2nd & 4th Wednesday, 6:15–7:15 PM at Saint Boniface School
- Director of Children and Adult Discipleship: Sherry Braegelmann
- Director of Teen Discipleship and Youth Ministry: Kaly Bloch
- Sacramental Preparation: Deacon Larry Sell
Liturgy & Music
Music ministry for Saint Boniface is coordinated by Mary Middendorf (SB Music Liturgy Coordinator). The parish's 800-seat worship space is supported by an active music program that serves weekend and weekday Masses. Lisa Drontle coordinates music liturgy for the partner parishes of SSPP, SJJP, and MIC within the CCCC.
- SB Music Liturgy Coordinator: Mary Middendorf
- SSPP / SJJP / MIC Music Liturgy Coordinator: Lisa Drontle
- Worship space capacity: 802 persons
Sacraments
Saint Boniface celebrates the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage, and continues to host Funeral Masses and burials in line with the 'All Things New' plan. Some of these sacraments may also be celebrated in the CCCC's partner churches. Sacramental preparation is coordinated by Deacon Larry Sell, Director of Sacramental Preparation.
- Baptism
- First Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Funeral Masses and burials
Parish Cemetery
Saint Boniface maintains a parish cemetery with its own chapel on the parish campus. According to the CCCC 'All Things New' plan, the cemetery will retain its income, expenses, and endowments and continue to function under a cemetery committee in perpetuity, regardless of any future parish consolidation.
- Cemetery with its own chapel on parish grounds
- Governed in perpetuity by a cemetery committee
BoniFest & Community Life
BoniFest is the parish's signature annual community festival, held on the Saint Boniface grounds and featuring live music, great food, kids' activities, fireworks, raffles, auctions, and more. It brings together parishioners, neighbors, and visitors from across the area for a weekend of community, fellowship, and celebration.
- Live music, food, kids' activities, fireworks, raffles, auctions
- Open to parishioners, neighbors, and visitors
Getting Involved & Contact
Newcomers are invited to join the faith community by completing the New Member Request Form on the parish website or by contacting the parish office directly. Volunteer opportunities are coordinated through Janet Stang, Volunteer Coordinator.
- New Member Request Form on christcatholic.com
- Volunteer Coordinator: Janet Stang
- Parish office phone: (320) 204-1111
- Office email: [email protected]
Visit, Address & Directions
Saint Boniface Church is located at 501 Main Street, Cold Spring, MN 56320. From Hwy 23, turn north on County Road 2 in Cold Spring, then left on Main Street. The parish office can be reached at (320) 204-1111 or [email protected]. The parish is part of the Diocese of Saint Cloud, led at present by Bishop Patrick Neary, C.S.C.
- 501 Main Street, Cold Spring, MN 56320
- Phone: (320) 204-1111
- Email: [email protected]
- Directions: Hwy 23 → north on Co. Rd. 2 → left on Main St.