St. Bridget

History of St. Bridget's

St. Bridget's has deep pioneer roots in the Irish Catholic settlement of northern Olmsted County. The parish traces to 1853, when the Michael Buckley family settled on the future parish land; Fr. Michael Prendergast offered the very first Mass in the Buckley log cabin, roughly 500 feet west of the present church, and Buckley himself donated the land for the church and cemetery. The limestone church was raised by parishioners in 1859, and Fr. Edward Stack became the first resident pastor in 1879. The parish website's history page closes with the line: 'St. Bridget's parish lives on as a tribute to the past and a promise of the future.'

• 1853 — Michael Buckley family arrives; first Mass offered in the log cabin by Fr. Michael Prendergast.
• 1859 — Limestone church built by parishioners; door originally faces south toward Winona stage road.
• Pre-1883 — Tornado destroys the church roof; rebuilt with the door re-oriented north toward Simpson.
• 1872 — St. Matthew's Temperance Society builds a hall still in occasional use.
• 1879 — Fr. Edward Stack becomes first resident pastor; large brick rectory built.
• 1914 — Bell tower and sacristy added, completing the present church.
• 1924 — Bronze Crucifixion group erected at the west entrance to the cemetery.
• 1964–1965 — New parish hall, rectory, and parish center built.

Parish Patron — St. Brigid of Ireland

St. Bridget is named for St. Brigid of Ireland (c. 451–525 AD), an early Irish Christian nun, abbess, and one of the patron saints of Ireland. The patron reflects the early Irish settler character of the parish, founded in a log cabin on land donated by an Irish Catholic farmer.

Mass & Liturgy

St. Bridget's is currently scheduled for Sunday Mass at 8:30 AM, with weekly Mass times published on the sbsbparishes.org calendar. The parish also has the Reconciliation schedule (currently Sundays 8:00–8:25 AM) published on its calendar. The Sunday Mass is shared with members of St. Bernard's, and both parishes worship in the Roman Rite in English.

• Sunday Mass — 8:30 AM at St. Bridget's
• Reconciliation — Sunday 8:00–8:25 AM (before Mass)

Sacraments

As a small twinned parish, St. Bridget's celebrates the normal sacraments of a Roman Catholic parish — Baptism, Confirmation (in cooperation with the Diocese of Winona–Rochester), Eucharist, Reconciliation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick — through its shared parish office at St. Bernard's in Stewartville.

• Baptism — contact the parish office
• Marriage — contact the parish office
• Reconciliation — Sundays 8:00–8:25 AM at St. Bridget's, Saturdays 4:00–4:30 PM at St. Bernard's

Parish Councils

St. Bridget's maintains both a Pastoral Council and a Finance Council, in keeping with the Code of Canon Law and diocesan norms. The Pastoral Council consults the pastor on the well-being and mission of the parish; the Finance Council assists with the parish budget, reviews revenues and expenses, oversees the care of buildings and grounds, and signs the financial reports sent to the Diocese.

• St. Bridget's Pastoral Council — consults the pastor on parish mission and well-being.
• St. Bridget's Finance Council — required under Canon Law; advises on budget, finances, properties, and signs diocesan reports.

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith Formation for both St. Bridget's and St. Bernard's is run out of the Stewartville office at 116 4th Ave SE, with a dedicated Religious Education Office reached at 507-533-8192. The 1964 parish hall serves as the center for catechetics, and a Vacation Bible School program is offered jointly each year. The parishes also share a subscription to FORMED, providing free online Catholic studies, movies, audio dramas, e-books, and children's content (sign up at formed.org with zip 55976).

• Religious Ed Office — (507) 533-8192
• Vacation Bible School — annual, registration pamphlet available on the website
• FORMED online Catholic platform — free for parishioners (formed.org, zip 55976)
• The Courier — diocesan monthly newsletter, available through the parish website

Parish Buildings & Grounds

The St. Bridget's campus preserves three historic structures: the 1859 native-limestone church (with its 1914 bell tower and sacristy), the 1872 St. Matthew's Temperance Society hall, and the 1879 brick rectory. The 1924 bronze Crucifixion group stands at the west entrance to the parish cemetery. Today's day-to-day parish center (built 1964/65) houses Faith Formation and shared parish offices.

• 1859 native-limestone church (completed by 1914)
• 1872 St. Matthew's Temperance Society hall
• 1879 brick rectory (still standing)
• 1924 bronze Crucifixion group at the cemetery entrance
• 1964/65 rectory and parish center — now site of Faith Formation

Contact, Mailing & Registration

Although the church building sits at 2123 County Road 16 SE in Simpson, the parish office and mailing address is at St. Bernard's in Stewartville (116 4th Ave SE, Stewartville, MN 55976). Mail should not be sent to the Simpson address. Online registration is available through the sbsbparishes.org website.

• Parish office — 507-533-8257
• Office email — [email protected] (Pastor & secretary)
• Religious Ed Office — 507-533-8192
• Mailing address — St. Bernard's, 116 4th Ave SE, Stewartville, MN 55976
• Online giving link available via the home page
• Parish Registration form on the St. Bridget's page