About St. Cecilia · Saint Paul, Minnesota
St. Cecilia is a Catholic parish in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota, belonging to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The parish worships in a church built in 1913, after the Catholic Mission of St. Anthony Park began offering Mass in 1908 at the Odd Fellows Hall on Raymond Avenue. Known for its loyal, multi-generational congregation — many of whom travel some distance to remain members — St. Cecilia celebrates its patroness, the patron saint of music, with a notably strong music ministry. Weekly Mass is offered Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m., and the parish offers faith formation for children, youth, and adults, plus a range of liturgical ministries.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- St. Cecilia (patron saint of music and musicians)
- Rector
- Rev. John Hofstede
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Cecilia is a small, neighborhood-rooted parish whose members — many of whom live well beyond its physical boundaries — have kept it thriving for more than a century out of genuine loyalty and affection. Worship is shaped by a strong music ministry under a dedicated Director of Liturgical Music, fitting for a parish named after the patroness of music. Children are welcomed into Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based program for ages 3 through first grade, while the Whole Community Wednesday model gathers the whole parish monthly for intergenerational formation. Adults can grow through JustFaith, and parishioners can serve in a wide range of liturgical ministries — lectors, Eucharistic ministers, sacristans, acolytes, and the Ministry of the Environment — that keep the parish's worship running week after week.
Mass times at St. Cecilia
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 3:45 PM or by appointment
Parish History
St. Cecilia grew out of the Catholic Mission of St. Anthony Park, which Father William Hart organized in the Odd Fellows Hall on Raymond Avenue in the winter of 1908. After fund raising and a parish census, the mission received its first pastor, the Reverend Francis X. McDermott, in July 1912. Three lots at the corner of Bayless and Cromwell were purchased that October for $2,850; the finished church cost $23,000 and was dedicated on May 18, 1913, just days after Father McDermott's health gave out. The parish thrived through the 1920s, peaked at about 1,000 members, built a school in 1923 (classes began in 1924), and was devastated in turn by the Great Depression, World War II, and the construction of Interstate 94 and Highway 280 in the 1950s and 60s, which displaced roughly a third of South St. Anthony Park and forced the school to close in 1968. Many former parishioners continued to return to worship, and a 2002 remodeling added handicap accessibility. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
- 1908 – First Eucharist offered in St. Anthony Park at the Odd Fellows Hall, 977 Raymond Avenue
- July 1912 – Rev. Francis X. McDermott appointed first pastor
- May 18, 1913 – First Mass in the new Church of St. Cecilia
- 1914 – Father P. R. Cunningham becomes first resident pastor; installs rose window and round St. Cecilia window
- 1923 – School built adjoining the rectory at 923 Bayless Avenue; classes begin 1924
- 1968 – Parish school closes
- 2002 – Church remodeling completed, adding handicap accessibility
Music Ministry
Because Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of music, the parish places special emphasis on its Music Ministry, directed by Betsy Sullivan. The parish invites parishioners to share their gifts of time and talent through choir, youth choir, and instrumental ensembles; opportunities range from auditioned choirs to those playing a variety of instruments. Rehearsals are typically held on Tuesday evenings.
- Director of Liturgical Music: Betsy Sullivan (ext. 15)
- Adult choir and youth choir
- Opportunities for instrumentalists
- Tuesday evening rehearsals (October–May)
Youth Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. Cecilia is built around three programs for children and families, all intended to grow a relationship with God alongside the parish's worship life.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd – Montessori-based program for ages 3 through 1st grade, meeting during the 9:30 AM Mass (October–Pentecost)
- Family Formation / Whole Community Wednesday (WCW) – monthly intergenerational gatherings with prayer, a shared meal, and a large-group activity (October–May)
- Liturgy of the Word for Children – 2nd and 4th Sundays, October–May, using a children's lectionary
Adult Formation
Adults at St. Cecilia can deepen their discipleship through the parish's JustFaith program, which uses scripture, recommended readings, prayer, immersion experiences, and small-group sharing to help parishioners respond to God's call to compassion in the world.
- JustFaith – discernment, prayer, scripture, immersion experiences
- Contact: Marge Virnig, Pastoral Associate, 651.644.4502
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the Sunday and weekday liturgies in many roles; staff and ministry leaders provide training and ongoing formation. The Liturgy Team coordinates the parish's worship life and shapes its liturgical environment through the seasons.
- Ministry of Lector
- Ministry of Eucharistic Minister (including bringing Communion to the sick and homebound)
- Ministry of Acolyte (server) – open to youth and adults
- Ministry of Sacristan
- Ministry of the Environment (art and environment subcommittee)
- Liturgy Team / Liturgy Committee
Parish Staff & Contacts
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. John Hofstede and supported by a small staff handling liturgy, formation, administration, communications, and operations. The parish office can be reached at 651.644.4502.
- Pastor: Rev. John Hofstede (ext. 14)
- Pastoral Associate / Parish Operations & Safe Environment Coordinator: Marge Virnig (ext. 12; cell 651.247.0995)
- Director of Liturgical Music: Betsy Sullivan (ext. 15)
- Catechetical Ministry Coordinator: Linda Whiteneck
- Parish Administrative Assistants: Colleen Smith (ext. 18), Wendy Johnson (ext. 10)
- Maintenance: Kevin Ryan
Visit, Contact & Recorded Masses
St. Cecilia is located at 2357 Bayless Place in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood of Saint Paul. Recorded Sunday Masses and the Liturgy of the Word for Children are posted to the parish Vimeo channel for those unable to attend in person.
- Address: 2357 Bayless Place, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55114
- Phone: 651.644.4502
- Fax: 651.647.1445
- Office hours posted on the parish website
- Recorded Masses and Children's Liturgy of the Word on Vimeo (The Church of St. Cecilia channel)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis X. McDermott1912–1913
First pastor; oversaw building of the church but died just before its dedication.
- Rev. Martin I. J. Griffin1913–1914
Officiated at the first Mass in the new church on May 18, 1913.
- Rev. P. R. Cunningham1914–1916
First resident pastor; installed the rose window and the St. Cecilia round window.
- Rev. James E. Doyle1916–1929
Ministered to soldiers during WWI and the influenza epidemic.
- Rev. Alphonse Carey1929–1944
- Rev. Leon Klein1944–1967
- Rev. John O'Neill1967–1971
- Msgr. Terrence Berntson1971–1973
- Rev. Michael O'Connell1973–1975 (assistant); 1975–1991 (administrator)
- Rev. Michael Joncas1991–1993
- Rev. Paul Jaroszeski1993–2004
- Rev. J. Michael Byron2004–2012
- Rev. Thomas F.A. O'Brien2012–2013
- Rev. John Hofstede2014–present
Current pastor.