About St. Columban · Preston, Minnesota
St. Columban is a Roman Catholic parish in Preston, Minnesota (Fillmore County), part of the Holy Family Cluster of parishes served from Chatfield. The parish's faith life began in 1857 with the first Mass offered in a private home, and a church was built in 1875; the present brick church was constructed in 1928 and has been updated multiple times since, most recently with a new roof and an elevator added in 2015. St. Columban is now served by Fr. Nicholas Gawarecki (ordained for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in June 2024, appointed pastor of the cluster effective July 1, 2025), assisted by Deacon Terry Smith and a small cluster staff. Weekly Sunday Mass is celebrated at 10:30 AM in Preston, with a Tuesday 9:00 AM daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on the second Tuesday of each month, and active parish groups including the Council of Catholic Women, Knights of Columbus, a Grief Support Group, and a parish Prayer Team.
- Established
- 1857
- Patron
- St. Columban (Saint Columbanus of Ireland / Luxeuil)
- Rector
- Father Nicholas Gawarecki
- Diocese
- Diocese of Winona–Rochester (Bishop Robert Barron)
Why belong here
St. Columban is a small-town Catholic parish where parishioners genuinely know one another and their priest. Fr. Nicholas Gawarecki, the new pastor, has publicly said he wants to walk with people as they deepen their relationship with God and would love to sit down with anyone who has questions about the Faith. The parish offers the fullness of Catholic life — Sunday and weekday Mass, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, the sacrament of Confession, RCIA, marriage preparation, sacramental preparation for youth, and a two-year Confirmation program beginning in 8th grade. Active lay groups (Council of Catholic Women, Knights of Columbus, Liturgy Committee, a monthly Grief Support Group, and a parish Prayer Team) make it easy to plug in, serve, and belong.
Mass times at St. Columban
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 10:00–10:20 AM (check current bulletin to confirm)
Adoration times
- Second Tuesday of each month, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM at St. Columban, Preston
Parish History
St. Columban Parish was founded in 1857, just three years after Minnesota became a state, when the first Mass was offered in a private home in the Preston area. Traveling priests nurtured the small Catholic community until 1875, when the congregation was large enough to build its first dedicated church. Over the following decades the parish was guided by a succession of pastors, and in 1924 a brick rectory was added next to the church. The present brick church was constructed in 1928 to replace the original 1875 building, and has been continually refreshed ever since — with major interior updates in the late 1960s following Vatican II, a full redecorating in 2004, and a new roof plus elevator added in 2015.
- 1857 — First Mass celebrated in a private home
- 1875 — First church building constructed
- 1924 — Brick rectory built adjacent to the church
- 1928 — Present church built to replace the 1875 structure
- Late 1960s — Extensive interior updating
- 2004 — Major redecorating completed
- 2015 — Roof replaced and elevator added for accessibility
Holy Family Cluster
St. Columban is one of four parishes in the Holy Family Cluster of the Diocese of Winona–Rochester. The cluster shares pastors, staff, and many ministries across St. Mary (Chatfield, the cluster's hub), St. Patrick Oratory (Lanesboro), Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Canton), and St. Columban (Preston). The cluster Parish Office is located at 405 Bench St SW in Chatfield, and Sunday Mass is livestreamed from St. Mary's on Facebook and broadcast on 105.5 FM.
- St. Mary — Chatfield, MN (cluster office, 405 Bench St SW)
- St. Columban — Preston, MN (408 Preston St NW)
- St. Patrick Oratory — Lanesboro, MN
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Canton, MN
Clergy & Staff
Fr. Nicholas Gawarecki, ordained a priest of the Diocese of Winona–Rochester on June 8, 2024, is the current pastor of St. Columban and the Holy Family Cluster, having been appointed July 1, 2025. He grew up in Stewartville, MN and worked for several years before entering seminary. He is assisted by Deacon Terry Smith, a Rochester resident and recent retiree who serves the cluster parishes. Cluster staff include Parish Coordinator Maria Kreidermacher, Bookkeeper Laurie Opseth, and Communications & Volunteer Coordinator Kristi Ruesink.
- Father Nicholas Gawarecki — Pastor (ordained June 8, 2024; in Holy Family Cluster since July 1, 2025)
- Deacon Terry Smith — Deacon
- Maria Kreidermacher — Parish Coordinator (office Wed–Fri)
- Laurie Opseth — Bookkeeper
- Kristi Ruesink — Communications & Volunteer Coordinator (in office Mon–Tue)
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
The parish offers a structured religious education program for youth from September through April, organized by a Faith Formation Director with the help of volunteer catechists. The Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated after a two-year preparation program that begins in the eighth grade. In summers, the cluster partners with Totus Tuus for a week-long youth program that deepens Catholic faith formation across the cluster parishes. Each Advent the youth also present an annual Advent Program after Mass.
- Faith Formation classes (Grades K–7), September–April
- Confirmation Preparation — two years, beginning in 8th grade
- Totus Tuus summer youth program (cluster-wide)
- Annual Advent Program presented by parish youth
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. Columban has an active Liturgy Committee that works with the pastor on liturgical planning, and long-standing lay organizations that carry out much of the parish's outreach and fellowship. The Council of Catholic Women (CCW) meets monthly and runs the parish's signature Fall Dinner & Raffle fundraiser, with proceeds supporting local and international outreach. The parish men sponsor Knights of Columbus activities, parish breakfasts, and socials that raise funds for charitable causes. A monthly Grief Support Group meets at the parish on the last Sunday evening of the month, and a parish Prayer Team maintains a prayer chain for special intentions.
- Liturgy Committee
- Council of Catholic Women (CCW) — Fall Dinner & Raffle
- Knights of Columbus — men's fellowship and service
- Grief Support Group — last Sunday of the month, 7 PM
- Prayer Team / Prayer Chain
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments and offers preparation programs for each at the appropriate stage of life. Families seeking Baptism, children preparing for First Communion and Confirmation, engaged couples preparing for Marriage, adults journeying through RCIA, those discerning Holy Orders, and the homebound or sick in need of Anointing of the Sick are all served through the parish office.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Confession / Reconciliation
- First Holy Communion
- Marriage (preparation required)
- Holy Orders (vocations)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funerals / Christian burial
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Parish Cemeteries
The cemeteries belonging to St. Columban Parish are administered by elected parish trustees, who serve as the point of contact for parishioners and families arranging burials or seeking information about cemetery plots.
- Cemetery Trustee — Ann O'Connor, (507) 765-3603
- Cemetery Trustee — Jerry Gartner, (507) 765-4559
Outreach & Community Events
St. Columban takes part in several community-wide outreach efforts each year, the most visible being the Christmas in Fillmore County Advent gift drive that collects presents for children in families who might otherwise go without during the holidays. Gifts are placed under the parish tree by December 8. The parish also supports local and international outreach through the Council of Catholic Women, and funds charitable causes through Knights of Columbus breakfasts and social events.
- Christmas in Fillmore County — Advent gift collection (gifts due by December 8)
- CCW outreach projects (local and international)
- Knights of Columbus charitable fundraising
- Fall Dinner & Raffle (annual parish fundraiser)
Visiting & Contact
Visitors and parishioners are warmly welcomed at St. Columban. The cluster Parish Office at 405 Bench St SW in Chatfield handles most inquiries and is open limited weekday hours, with Maria Kreidermacher typically available Wednesday through Friday. The parish Facebook page livestreams the 8:00 AM Sunday Mass from St. Mary's in Chatfield and shares news and event updates across the cluster.
- Address: 408 Preston St NW, Preston, MN 55965
- Parish Phone: (507) 867-3148
- Cluster Office Phone: (507) 867-3922
- Website: hfcp.church
- Office hours: limited weekday hours at 405 Bench St SW, Chatfield
- Social: Facebook (Holy Family Cluster MN) — livestream + news
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Nicholas Gawarecki2025–present
Ordained a priest of the Diocese of Winona–Rochester on June 8, 2024; first served as Parochial Vicar in the Fairmont/Blue Earth cluster (June 2024–June 2025); appointed Pastor of St. Mary (Chatfield), St. Columban (Preston), St. Patrick Oratory (Lanesboro), and Assumption of the BVM (Canton) effective July 1, 2025. Grew up in Stewartville, MN.