About St. Catherine of Alexandria · Valley City, North Dakota
St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church is a warm and welcoming Roman Catholic parish located in Valley City, North Dakota, part of the Diocese of Fargo. With over 500 registered families, the parish serves the small-town community along with an attached parish school (K–6) and Little Saints Childcare. The church was opened in 1882, and the parish school next door has been in operation since 1916, making St. Catherine's one of the longest-serving Catholic institutions in the region. The parish combines the offerings of a larger community — daily Mass, a K–6 school, faith formation, Eucharistic Adoration, and multiple outreach ministries — with the close-knit feel of a small-town church family.
- Established
- 1882
- Patron
- St. Catherine of Alexandria
- Rector
- Very Rev. Paul Duchschere
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fargo
Why belong here
St. Catherine of Alexandria offers the rare combination of a robust Catholic parish life with the warmth of a small-town community. With over 500 registered families, daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays, a full K–6 parish school, RCIA / OCIA for adults, Religious Education and a youth group for children, ongoing adult Bible studies, and active outreach programs, the parish provides every opportunity to grow in faith, serve others, and raise children in the Catholic tradition. Visitors are welcomed into a family that takes seriously both the sacraments and the community that surrounds them.
Mass times at St. Catherine of Alexandria
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
- Monday: 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM
- Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM
- Tuesday: 8:15 PM – 9:30 PM
- Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM
- Thursday: 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM
- Friday: 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM
- Friday: 4:45 PM – 5:15 PM (During Lent)
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM
About St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish
St. Catherine of Alexandria is a Roman Catholic parish in Valley City, North Dakota, part of the Diocese of Fargo. The parish describes itself as a warm and welcoming Catholic family with over 500 registered families, balancing the program offerings of a larger parish with the close-knit feel of a small-town community. The website invites newcomers to learn about its liturgies, school and Religious Education opportunities, outreach programs, community life and special events, and parish leadership and service groups.
Parish History
St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church opened in 1882 in Valley City, North Dakota, and the adjoining parish school opened in 1916. The Franciscan Sisters of Rochester, Minnesota taught at the school for its first two years. After they withdrew in 1918, the Sisters of Mary of the Presentation took charge of the school. A high school department was added in 1930, a junior high wing in 1954, and a new gymnasium in 1957; the high school closed in 1969, and the Sisters of Mary ceased running the school on August 21, 1982.
- Church opened: 1882
- School opened: 1916
- Franciscan Sisters of Rochester, Minn. taught school (1916–1918)
- Sisters of Mary of the Presentation assumed the school in 1918
- High school department added 1930; closed 1969
- Sisters of Mary ended leadership of the school on August 21, 1982
St. Catherine Elementary School
St. Catherine Elementary School, located next to the church at 540 3rd Ave. NE, has been devoted since 1916 to educating the whole child — mind, body, and spirit — through faith, strong academics, and caring guidance. The school partners with families to help each child grow in confidence, character, and their Christian walk. Students begin each day with chapel time, and Father Paul Duchschere added a weekly student Mass in the school chapel on top of the monthly All-School Mass held in the church. Principal Mr. Nick Lee leads the school. The school also recently announced plans to expand into a school-based daycare model through Little Saints Childcare to address local childcare needs.
- Opened: 1916
- Grades: K–6
- Principal: Mr. Nick Lee
- Daily chapel time for students; weekly student Mass added under Fr. Paul
- Monthly All-School Mass in the church
- Future Little Saints Childcare expansion planned
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children in grades K–8 receive Religious Education, and a Youth Group serves high-school-age youth (grades 9–12). Adult faith formation includes an annual Bible study and ongoing classes; the current series is Ascension Press's 'Great Adventure: Luke — The Story of Salvation Fulfilled.'
- Religious Education (K–8)
- Youth Group (grades 9–12)
- Adult Religious Education & Bible Study (Ascension Press 'Luke')
- DRE: Carol Jabs
OCIA / RCIA
Adults seeking to become Catholic, or baptized Catholics completing their initiation, are welcomed through OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA). Children over the age of 7 seeking baptism also participate in a tailored preparation process through the OCIA program.
- Adult inquiry and formation
- Rite of Christian Initiation for unbaptized adults
- Preparation for baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation and Eucharist
Baptism Preparation
The parish website explains that Baptism is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion) and is the gateway to the life of grace. Baptisms may be scheduled within or outside of Mass. The page also outlines detailed requirements for godparents, who must be confirmed Catholics in good standing and not the child's parents, with one male and/or one female godparent permitted.
- Contact: Fr. Paul Duchschere at 701-845-0354
- Baptism within Mass or outside Mass
- Godparent requirements: confirmed Catholic, practicing the faith, one male and/or one female
- Children over age 7 prepare through OCIA/RCIA
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Very Rev. Paul Duchschere (Pastor) and supported by two deacons and lay staff in the parish office, faith formation, and liturgy offices.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Paul Duchschere — [email protected]
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Joe Leitner — [email protected]
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Tom Vanorny — [email protected]
- Parish Office Administrator: Jessica (Jess) Storhoff — [email protected]
- DRE / Liturgy Coordinator: Carol Jabs — [email protected]
- Liturgy Email: [email protected]
Contact Information
The parish maintains a main office line, fax, school office, rectory, childcare line, and thrift-store line, plus dedicated email contacts.
- Parish Office Phone: 701-845-0354
- Parish Office Fax: 701-845-0556
- School Office: 701-845-1453
- Little Saints Childcare: 701-490-3800
- Rectory: 701-845-0725
- Nearly Nu Store: 701-845-1022
- Parish Email: [email protected]
Outreach & Community Life
St. Catherine's runs several outreach and community-building programs in addition to its worship and formation schedule. The 'Nearly Nu Store' serves as a parish thrift and outreach ministry, and the parish regularly highlights community life and special events through its calendar and bulletins.
- Outreach programs
- Nearly Nu Store (thrift / outreach)
- Parish calendar and special events
- Parish Leadership and Service groups
Diocese & Wider Church
St. Catherine of Alexandria is one of the parishes of the Diocese of Fargo and is listed in the diocese's parish finder. It belongs to the Roman-Latin Rite.
- Diocese of Fargo
- Roman-Latin Rite