About St. Bridget of Sweden · Lindstrom, Minnesota
St. Bridget of Sweden Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Lindstrom, Minnesota, part of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Founded in 1948 and dedicated in 1950, the parish grew from 40 founding families to more than 1,200 families today, serving the Chisago Lakes area of Chisago County. The community offers daily and weekend Mass in English, regular Reconciliation, Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration, a robust Faith Formation and Youth Ministry program, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), and a wide range of liturgical, music, outreach and pastoral-care ministries.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- St. Bridget of Sweden (Saint Birgitta of Sweden)
- Rector
- Father Dave Kohner
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Bridget of Sweden is a large, family-friendly parish of more than 1,200 households rooted in the Chisago Lakes community since 1950. Daily and weekend Masses, Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration, regular Reconciliation, and a full sacramental life (Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick) make it easy to practice the faith here. Lifelong faith is supported through Faith Formation for children, a Confirmation program, an active Youth Ministry for grades 6–12, OCIA for adults, a parish choir and music program, and dozens of ministries — from Greeters and Eucharistic Ministers to Meals on Wheels, New Pathways, and a Military and Emergency Responder Ministry — that welcome newcomers and serve neighbors in need.
Mass times at St. Bridget of Sweden
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Chapel, in the confessional)
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:40 PM (Chapel, in the confessional)
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Church; pauses 12:00–12:30 PM for daily Mass)
History of St. Bridget of Sweden
St. Bridget of Sweden began on August 3, 1947 when lay Catholics from Chisago City, Lindstrom and Center City gathered to discuss forming a new parish. With the help of Father John Garvey, the parish was incorporated on February 22, 1948. Land near U.S. Highway 8 was acquired in 1948–49, ground was broken on May 7, 1950, and the original church — built in a contemporary Swedish style modeled on the Convent of Saint Birgitta in Sweden — was dedicated on October 29, 1950. Beginning with forty families, the parish grew to 225 families by 1965 and, as the surrounding community shifted from farming and tourism to industry and residential growth, continued expanding. In 1982 parish leadership determined a larger worship space was needed; construction began in summer 1984 and produced the church used today. The parish now serves more than 1,200 families as the Roman Catholic presence in the Chisago Lakes area.
- Incorporated February 22, 1948 (with Fr. John Garvey)
- Ground broken May 7, 1950
- First church dedicated October 29, 1950
- Began with 40 families; 225 families by 1965
- Current worship space built in 1984
- Currently serves over 1,200 families
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Pastor Father Dave Kohner (651-257-2474 x131, [email protected]), with a lay staff supporting liturgy, formation, youth, music, pastoral care, business, and facilities. The Director of Pastoral Care, Larry Callahan (x125), and the Director of Liturgical Music are among the named team. The office also lists roles for a Parish Business Administrator, Facilities Care Coordinator, Custodian, Parish Operations Coordinator, Director of Youth & Adult Formation (Laura Schaad, x156), and Coordinator of Youth & Adult Formation (Lauren Linders, x158). Aubrey Gieske is the Safe Environment Coordinator (x121).
- Father Dave Kohner — Pastor
- Parish Business Administrator
- Director of Pastoral Care (Larry Callahan)
- Director of Youth & Adult Formation (Laura Schaad, x156)
- Coordinator of Youth & Adult Formation (Lauren Linders, x158)
- Director of Liturgical Music (Jim Kurash)
- Parish Operations Coordinator (Paul Cocherell)
- Facilities Care Coordinator (Tim Lack)
- Custodian (Aubrey Gieske)
- Safe Environment Coordinator — Aubrey Gieske, x121
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Bridget's Faith Formation programs aim to provide encounters with Christ, knowledge of the Catholic faith, and personal relationship with Jesus for parishioners of every age. Elementary Faith Formation classes meet Wednesday evenings during the school year. A High School Confirmation program uses YDisciple and Alpha Youth resources and meets on Wednesday nights from Fall through Spring, with candidates paired with a sponsor, completing service hours, attending a retreat, and engaging in discussion-based formation.
- Elementary Faith Formation (Wednesday evenings)
- High School Confirmation (typically 9th grade; one-year program)
- Confirmation uses YDisciple and Alpha Youth
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (begins each Fall)
- Director: Laura Schaad — [email protected], 651-257-2474 x156
- Coordinator: Lauren Linders — [email protected], 651-257-2474 x158
Youth Ministry (Grades 6–12)
St. Bridget's Youth Ministry serves middle and high schoolers with weekly gatherings, open social time, service opportunities, fundraising events, summer trips, and faith resources. The High School Youth Group meets Wednesdays during the school year from 8:00–9:15 PM in the Youth Room; topics are chosen by the youth themselves and discussed through a Catholic lens. Open Youth Room runs 6:00–6:50 PM before the 7:00 PM Faith Formation classes and offers snacks, video games, air hockey, foosball and fellowship. Annual opportunities include a Summer Mission Trip and Extreme Faith Camp, both needing adult chaperones and drivers.
- High School Youth Group — Wednesdays 8:00–9:15 PM (Youth Room)
- Open Youth Room — 6:00–6:50 PM before Faith Formation
- Summer Mission Trip
- Extreme Faith Camp
- Adult Chaperone & Adult Driver volunteer opportunities
- General Permission Form required to attend
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church. Infant baptism requires a catechetical class for parents (and godparents when possible); older children of catechetical age begin with an introductory meeting. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist programs typically begin in 2nd grade — Reconciliation is prepared in the Fall and received in late January, followed by Eucharist preparation in the Spring and reception in May. The Confirmation program is a one-year, 9th-grade experience with sponsor, service hours, and retreat. Adults seeking Baptism enter through OCIA. Marriage preparation is arranged through the Pastor, typically one year in advance. The Anointing of the Sick is coordinated through the Pastor or the Director of Pastoral Care.
- Baptism (Infant/Young Child, Older Children, Adults via OCIA)
- First Reconciliation (2nd grade, Fall/January)
- First Eucharist (2nd grade, Spring/May)
- Confirmation (9th grade)
- Marriage / Holy Matrimony — contact Pastor one year in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — Pastor (x131) or Director of Pastoral Care (x125)
Liturgical Ministries
St. Bridget's draws on many lay liturgical ministers to make the Mass run smoothly. Altar Servers are young people in grades 4 through 12 who assist the priest and receive training. Lectors proclaim the Scripture readings and Prayers of the Faithful; Sacristans prepare the altar and assist the priest before, during and after Mass; Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion distribute the Eucharist; Ushers greet, seat, take up the collection and dismiss for Communion. Greeters provide hospitality from 30 minutes before Mass, and a team of volunteers records Masses for the parish Vimeo page so homebound parishioners can stay connected. The Environment Design Team decorates the sanctuary for each liturgical season.
- Altar Servers (grade 4 and older)
- Lectors
- Sacristans
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Ushers
- Greeters
- Mass Video Recorders
- Environment Design Team
Music Ministry & Summer Concert Series
Music Ministry at St. Bridget's uses volunteer singers and musicians of all ages — Choir/Cantors, Instrumentalists and a Youth Choir — to lead Masses, funerals and weddings. The Director of Liturgical Music, Jim Kurash, welcomes new talent to audition. Each summer the parish hosts a free-will-offering Summer Concert Series of three one-hour concerts performed by Minnesota musicians across a variety of styles, intended to build community and share the gift of music.
- Parish Choir / Cantors
- Instrumentalists
- Youth Choir
- Director of Liturgical Music — Jim Kurash
- Annual Summer Concert Series (3 concerts, free-will offering)
Outreach & Pastoral Care
St. Bridget's Outreach is rooted in the call to act with justice, care and compassion. Pastoral Care ministries include visits to the homebound with Eucharist, funeral planning and bereavement support, and a Military and Emergency Responder Ministry honoring service members, veterans, police, fire rescue and EMTs. Community outreach partnerships include New Pathways (housing homeless families on site for a week at a time), Baby Blanket & Beyond Boutique (free clothing for those in need), Meals on Wheels, the parish Blood Drive, a Quilting Group that makes warm quilts for those in need and delivers them monthly to Joseph's Coat, and contributions to the Local Food Shelf, CLACA (Chisago Lakes Area Clergy Association), Emergency Relief Ministries and the Campaign for Human Development.
- Pastoral Ministry & Eucharist to Homebound
- Funerals (with parish-prepared funeral lunch)
- Military and Emergency Responder Ministry
- New Pathways — housing homeless families
- Baby Blanket & Beyond Boutique
- Meals on Wheels
- Blood Drive
- Quilting Group & Joseph's Coat Quilt Delivery
- Local Food Shelf & CLACA support
Becoming a Parishioner & Getting Involved
New parishioners may register online or by submitting a printed registration form to the Parish Office. The parish uses a "My Own Church" system (through ParishSoft Family Suite) that lets parishioners update family information, view giving history, access year-end statements, and browse the online directory. A Welcome Committee, formed after the 2021 Archdiocesan Synod, oversees the Greeters Ministry, New Parishioner Ministry and Busy Bag Ministry, and has renovated the parish library into a quiet retreat space for parents and young children. Volunteering is central to parish life — opportunities span liturgical, music, youth, outreach and formation roles, and VIRTUS Safe Environment training is required of all volunteers who work with children and vulnerable adults.
- New Parishioner registration (online or printable form)
- My Own Church online directory & giving portal
- Welcome Committee — JoAnne LaPlante, [email protected], 651-253-4188
- Greeters, New Parishioner, and Busy Bag Ministries
- VIRTUS Safe Environment training required for applicable volunteers
- Volunteer Appreciation Dinner held annually (May 8, 2025)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Garvey
Helped incorporate the parish on February 22, 1948 and guided its early formation.