About St. Edward · Bloomington, Minnesota
The Church of St. Edward is a Catholic parish in Bloomington, Minnesota, established in 1967 to serve the growing number of Catholic families on the south side of the Twin Cities metro. Named for St. Edward the Confessor, the parish is known for its hospitality, rich liturgies, and commitment to helping the less fortunate through local and international charitable outreach. The parish offers weekend and weekday Masses in English, Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation for children and youth, and a thriving music ministry, all centered on its campus on Nesbitt Avenue South.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- St. Edward the Confessor
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Edward offers a vibrant, mid-sized Catholic community on Bloomington's south side with weekend Masses (including a livestreamed Sunday Mass), weekday Masses Tuesday through Friday, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a Reconciliation schedule three days a week. Parish life is anchored by faith formation for children and youth, a strong music ministry celebrated for 'rich liturgies and great music,' and active outreach to neighbors in need through the Tegeder Fund and partnerships with charities such as The Urban Village, Conversations with Friends, and VEAP. Add in parish traditions like Donut Sunday, EDventure youth nights, and the Veggies for VEAP garden, and St. Edward is a welcoming home for Bloomington-area Catholic families.
Mass times at St. Edward
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
- Thursday: 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Adoration times
- Sunday: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (in the Chapel)
Parish History
St. Edward was established in 1967 to serve the growing Catholic population in Bloomington. In its earliest years the community gathered for Sunday Mass at Hubert Olson Junior High, a stop-gap that earned the tender nickname 'St. Hubert Olson' among founding families. The first Mass in the newly built church was celebrated in 1970 by founding pastor Fr. Paul Dudley, who was later named the sixth Bishop of Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1978. The parish campus was substantially expanded in 1989–1990 with the addition of a social hall, gathering space, administrative center, and education wing, giving St. Edward the physical footprint it uses today.
- Founded: 1967
- First Mass in new church: 1970
- Founding pastor: Fr. Paul Dudley (later Bishop of Sioux Falls)
- Major campus expansion: 1989–1990
Founding Pastor and the Dudley Legacy
Fr. Paul Dudley shepherded the parish from its founding through the mid-1970s. He was a beloved figure in the lives of the parish's first Catholic schoolchildren, including Jeff Cavins, the future Great Adventure Bible Timeline creator and EWTN catechist, who has publicly named Fr. Dudley as the priest most influential in his eventual return to the Catholic faith. Dudley was named the sixth Bishop of Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1978.
The Tegeder Years
Fr. Mike Tegeder served as pastor of St. Edward from 1998 to 2011 and remains a cherished figure in the parish's story. He was a steady pastoral presence for families in moments of both grief and celebration, including presiding at the funeral of 9/11 hero Tom Burnett Jr., whose family were founding members of the parish. The Tegeder Fund, named in his honor, continues to channel parish giving to local charities such as The Urban Village and Conversations with Friends.
- Tegeder Fund grants support local outreach
- Recent Tegeder grant recipients include The Urban Village and Conversations with Friends
Worship & Liturgy
St. Edward's liturgy is at the heart of parish life, with Mass celebrated in English seven days a week and a strong music ministry recognized for contributing to 'rich liturgies and great music.' The Sunday 9:00 AM Mass is livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. The parish is also home to a weekly hour of Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel.
Faith Formation & Children's Ministry
St. Edward's faith formation ministries begin at birth and walk children through the elementary years with relational, scripture-based programming. Programs meet on parish grounds during the school year, with Nursery care and Sunday School running alongside the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass, and elementary Faith Formation classes meeting Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 PM.
- Nursery (infants to age 3) during 10:30 AM Mass, October–May
- Sunday School (ages 4–5) during 10:30 AM Mass, October–May
- Elementary Faith Formation (grades K–5), Wednesday evenings 6:30–7:30 PM
- First Eucharist preparation for 2nd graders
- First Reconciliation preparation for 2nd graders
- Safe Environment & Baptism Coordinator: Laura Breidall
- Director of Parish Life & Discipleship: Patti Watkins
Youth & Family Life
Middle- and high-school students are invited to EDventure nights, a parish program designed to bring grades 6–12 together for fellowship, fun, and faith. Family-friendly traditions such as Donut Sunday in the Social Hall give parishioners a regular opportunity to connect with one another over coffee and donuts after Mass.
- EDventure (grades 6–12)
- Donut Sunday fellowship in the Social Hall
Outreach & Charity
Helping the less fortunate — a trait St. Edward's parishioners share with their patron, St. Edward the Confessor — is a defining mark of parish life. The parish supports local and international charities both directly and through the Tegeder Fund, which distributes grants each year to neighbors serving Bloomington and the surrounding community.
- Tegeder Fund grants
- The Urban Village (recent $5,000 grant recipient)
- Conversations with Friends
- VEAP (through the Veggies for VEAP garden)
- Wine & Weeding volunteer evenings in the parish garden
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
In addition to weekend and weekday Masses, the parish coordinates the sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist, First Reconciliation, and Funeral liturgies. Funeral Masses can be livestreamed when requested, and the parish's Prayer Ministry remembers deceased parishioners by name in the Prayers of the Faithful at Sunday Masses. Grief follow-up and education are available to parishioners through the Bloomington-Richfield Grief Support Coalition.
- Baptism coordination through the parish office
- First Eucharist and First Reconciliation for 2nd graders
- Funeral livestreams when requested
- Prayer Ministry remembrance at Sunday Mass
- Mass Intentions available by calling the parish office
Parish Identity & Future
The parish has recently published a Three-Year Strategic Plan outlining its vision for the coming years, building on more than five decades of ministry in Bloomington. Anchored by its patron's call to serve the poor and its long tradition of hospitality, rich liturgy, and great music, St. Edward continues to welcome Catholic families on the south side of the Twin Cities.
- Three-Year Strategic Plan released for the parish's future
- Named for St. Edward the Confessor
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Paul Dudleyc. 1967–1978
Founding pastor; celebrated the first Mass in the new church in 1970. Later named the sixth Bishop of Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1978.
- Fr. Mike Tegeder1998–2011
Long-serving pastor remembered for his pastoral presence with parishioners in times of need; the Tegeder Fund is named in his honor.