About St. Boniface · Stewart, Minnesota
St. Boniface is a small Catholic parish in Stewart, Minnesota, founded in 1877 by German Catholic settlers and historically serving the farming community south of Hutchinson. Today it operates as part of the Area Faith Community (AFC) with St. Anastasia Church in neighboring Hutchinson, sharing a pastor (Fr. Paul Wolf), staff, faith formation, and sacramental ministry. The parish gathers for weekend Mass on Saturday evenings at 6:30 p.m., with Confessions and the Rosary preceding Mass at 6:00 p.m., and is part of the Diocese of New Ulm.
- Established
- 1877
- Patron
- St. Boniface (patron of Germany)
- Rector
- Rev. Paul Wolf
- Diocese
- Diocese of New Ulm
Why belong here
St. Boniface is a small, historic German-Catholic parish in rural McLeod County that has worshiped on the same block in Stewart since 1903. As a member of the St. Anastasia Area Faith Community, it offers full sacramental life — Saturday Vigil Mass, Reconciliation, Baptism, Marriage preparation, Anointing of the sick, RCIA, and funeral liturgies — together with shared faith formation for children and youth, a Knights of Columbus council, a prayer chain, and a Cemetery Association serving families for more than a century. For anyone looking for a close-knit parish rooted in a small farming town but with the full resources of a larger faith community behind it, St. Boniface is a welcoming home.
Mass times at St. Boniface
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 6:00–6:30 PM at St. Boniface Church (preceded by Rosary)
Parish History
St. Boniface traces its origins to 1877, when German Catholic farming families built a small frame church on the Fred Forcier farm just south of Stewart. The parish was formally incorporated in 1884, established its cemetery in 1890, and moved into its present church building on February 1, 1903. A parish school run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Crookston served the community from 1927 until it closed in 1969. In 2005 St. Boniface entered the Area Faith Community with St. Anastasia in Hutchinson, where it shares pastoral leadership, faith formation, and sacramental preparation today.
- 1877 — first frame church built on Fred Forcier farm
- 1884 — Articles of Incorporation filed (August 25)
- 1890 — parish cemetery established
- 1903 — first Mass in the present church (February 1)
- 1927 — parochial school built; staffed by Sisters of St. Joseph of Crookston
- 1969 — parish school closes after 40+ years
- 1982 — church basement remodeled for RE, meetings, and socials
- 2005 — joins St. Anastasia AFC in Hutchinson
Clergy & Staff
St. Boniface is led by Fr. Paul Wolf, pastor of the St. Anastasia / St. Boniface Area Faith Community. He can be reached through the Area Faith Office in Hutchinson at 320-587-6507 (cell: 507-829-0965; [email protected]). On-site parish administration is handled by LaMae Maiers (320-583-1302) and Merri Schaufler (contributions, 320-562-2245).
- Fr. Paul Wolf — Pastor, AFC
- Msgr. Eugene Lozinski — frequently celebrates the Saturday Mass at St. Boniface
- LaMae Maiers — St. Boniface Administration
- Merri Schaufler — Contributions / Administration
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Religious education for St. Boniface children and youth is coordinated through the Area Faith Community. Karen Maiers serves as Religious Education Director for St. Boniface (320-833-6020, [email protected]), and Jake Burmis directs Youth Ministry for the AFC out of St. Anastasia. Sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and RCIA is arranged through Fr. Paul Wolf and the Area Faith Office.
- Karen Maiers — RE Director, St. Boniface
- Jake Burmis — Youth Ministry Director (AFC)
- RCIA for adults — contact Fr. Paul Wolf
- Pre-Baptism program for parents
St. Boniface Cemetery
The parish cemetery was established in 1890 and remains an active ministry of the parish, located one mile south of Stewart on County Road 7. The cemetery is maintained by a volunteer leadership team, and plots and information are available through the Cemetery Association.
- Location: 1 mile south of Stewart on County Road 7
- Terry Maiers — Cemetery Co-Manager (320-894-8758)
- Adam Tanata — Cemetery Co-Manager (320-583-4345)
Sacraments
St. Boniface celebrates the full sacramental life of the Catholic Church through the Area Faith Community. Parents should contact Fr. Paul Wolf early to schedule a Baptism and the required pre-Baptism program. Couples planning to marry should contact the Area Faith Office at least six months in advance. The sacrament of Reconciliation is offered every Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at St. Boniface, every Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at St. Anastasia, or by appointment. The Anointing of the Sick and home/hospital visits are arranged by calling the Area Faith Office.
- Baptism — Fr. Paul Wolf, 320-587-6507
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 6:00 PM (St. Boniface) and 3:00 PM (St. Anastasia), or by appointment
- Marriage — at least 6 months' notice; pre-marriage program required
- Anointing of the Sick / hospital visits — Area Faith Office
- RCIA — call Fr. Paul Wolf
- Funeral liturgies — through the Area Faith Office
Prayer Life & Devotions
The Rosary is prayed at St. Boniface before each Saturday Vigil Mass, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Parishioners may also enter prayer intentions in the Book of Communal Prayer located in the Eucharistic Chapel at St. Anastasia, and an AFC-wide Prayer Chain lifts up personal prayer requests. During May the parish joins the AFC Men's Ministry for a holy hour of prayer before the Eucharist asking Our Lady's intercession.
- Saturday 6:00 PM Rosary at St. Boniface
- Book of Communal Prayer in the Eucharistic Chapel
- AFC Prayer Chain (contact Janet Hall, 320-455-7927)
- Men's Ministry holy hour (May, Marian devotions)
Parish Office, Bulletins & Giving
Although St. Boniface shares pastoral leadership with St. Anastasia, day-to-day administration for the Stewart site is handled locally by LaMae Maiers and Merri Schaufler. The Area Faith Office in Hutchinson (460 Lake Street, 320-587-6507, [email protected]) is open Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Weekend bulletins, the AFC worship schedule, and online giving are all available through the parish website.
- St. Boniface office phone: 320-562-2344
- Area Faith Office: 460 Lake Street, Hutchinson, MN 55350 — 320-587-6507
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Emergencies (after hours): Fr. Paul Wolf, 507-829-0965
- Online giving available via the parish website
Reporting Abuse
In accord with the Diocese of New Ulm's safe-environment policies, anyone who has suffered sexual abuse by a priest, deacon, or other person involved in Church ministry is encouraged to report it immediately to local law enforcement. Victims and survivors may also contact the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator or the Bishop's Delegate in Matters Pertaining to Sexual Misconduct at 1421 6th Street North, New Ulm, MN 56073, or 507-233-5313, for counseling or other assistance.
- Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator: 507-233-5313
- Bishop's Delegate, 1421 6th Street North, New Ulm, MN 56073
- Full county-by-county reporting contacts listed at dnu.org/report-abuse