About St. Francis de Sales · Moorhead, Minnesota
St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in north Moorhead, Minnesota, serving the Red River Valley community within the Diocese of Crookston. Founded in 1948 to meet the spiritual needs of Moorhead's growing north side, it is notable for being the only parish in the Crookston Diocese that hosts a regular Spanish-language Mass and for its decades-old Guadalupe Ministry, which serves roughly 250 Hispanic families across the region. Today the parish is pastored by Rev. Vincent Miller with Rev. Raul Perez-Cobo as Associate Pastor, supported by two deacons and a dedicated lay staff.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- St. Francis de Sales
- Rector
- Rev. Vincent Miller
- Diocese
- Diocese of Crookston
Why belong here
St. Francis de Sales offers a welcoming bilingual Catholic community in north Moorhead with daily and weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, weekly adoration, and Saturday confession. Families benefit from faith formation for all ages, vibrant liturgical ministries, and the parish's renowned Guadalupe Ministry, which serves about 250 Hispanic families across the region and is the only parish in the Diocese of Crookston that celebrates a regular Spanish-language Mass. With two priests, two deacons, and active pastoral and finance councils, it is a community grounded in outreach, devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, and longstanding service to the Red River Valley.
Mass times at St. Francis de Sales
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:50 PM
- Sunday 5:30 PM (at St. Joseph, before the 6:30 PM Mass)
Adoration times
- Sunday through Saturday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Thursdays at 6:00 PM (Guadalupe/Hispanic community adoration in the Adoration Chapel)
Parish History
St. Francis de Sales was incorporated on August 17, 1948 by Bishop Francis J. Schenk of the Diocese of Crookston to serve the rapidly growing north side of Moorhead. The vision for the parish began in 1940, when Bishop John P. Peschges purchased a full city block with the intention of building a new Catholic church for the Red River Valley community. Father Francis Ketter was appointed the first pastor that same day and celebrated the inaugural Sunday Mass on August 22, 1948 at Lincoln Elementary School.
- 1940 – Bishop Peschges purchases the property
- July 16, 1948 – Bishop Schenk announces the new parish
- August 17, 1948 – Parish incorporated; Father Francis Ketter appointed first pastor
- August 22, 1948 – First Sunday Mass at Lincoln Elementary School
- July 16, 1949 – Cornerstone laid for permanent church; building complete by December 1949
- First year – Parish grade school opened (later consolidated with St. Joseph's)
- June 26, 1996 – Bishop Victor Balke dedicates the present church on 15th Avenue North
- Spring 2009 – Red River flood forces brief closure; parishioners build sandbag dike and Mass moves to St. Elizabeth's, Dilworth
Our Patron Saint
The parish takes the name and patronage of St. Francis de Sales, the gentle Doctor of the Church known for his patient evangelization and pastoral care. The parish notes that his legacy of kind, persuasive preaching inspired the diocese's choice of patronage when the parish was incorporated in 1948.
- St. Francis de Sales
- Feast day: January 24
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by Rev. Vincent Miller as Pastor and Rev. Raul Perez-Cobo as Associate Pastor, supported by two deacons and a dedicated lay staff for liturgy, music, faith formation, evangelization, communications, finances, and facilities.
- Rev. Vincent Miller – Pastor
- Rev. Raul Perez-Cobo – Associate Pastor
- Deacon Dennis Ouderkirk
- Deacon Tom Cerar
- Lea Shulstad – Music Coordinator
- Jane Geiger – Bookkeeper
- Devan Hirning – Liturgy & Sacrament Coordinator
- Alonzo Cruz – Evangelization Associate
- Anthony Schefter – Bulletin/Web/Sign Editor
- Cindy Hulst, LSW – (Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator, 218-281-7895)
- Valerie Kringler & Nathan Dworshak – Custodians
- Ann Henne and John Kern – Trustees
- Pastoral Council members include Ann Henne, Erica Bakke, Dennis Heley, Kelli Simonson (Pastoral Council Liaison), John Kern, Brian Geffre, Bob Hawk, Ken Sims, John Villiard, René Gonzales, Angelina Borud, Irma Santos, Alberto Cruz, Lisa McDonald
Guadalupe Ministry (Hispanic/Latino Outreach)
The Guadalupe Ministry is the parish's flagship Hispanic outreach program, designed to welcome Latinos in the area, help them keep their identity and values, and grow in the Christian faith through the sacraments, Sunday Mass, Bible study, Holy Hour, and spiritual retreats. The ministry serves about 250 families and is supported by parishes across the region. According to InForum reporting, the tradition of reaching out to Hispanic families at St. Francis dates back to the 1940s, when the parish hosted the migrant school for children of seasonal farm workers in cooperation with religious sisters from the diocese.
- Spanish Sunday Mass – every Sunday at noon, followed by fellowship
- Bible Study – Sundays after the Spanish Mass
- Liturgical Ministry Courses – readers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers
- Visiting the Sick – home and hospital visits, Communion, anointing
- Teenagers Group – Sundays after Hispanic Mass
- Outreach Program – visits to Latino families not yet attending Mass
- Hispanic Mission – evangelization and intentional discipleship
- Spiritual Retreats for adults, including KOINONIA retreats with St. Cloud Diocese
- Stations of the Cross – Fridays of Lent; Good Friday procession on Moorhead streets
- Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe – December 12 (Mañanitas, Solemn Mass, Mexican meal, Mariachi band, traditional dances)
- Marian Vigil – last Friday of May
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Thursdays at 6:00 PM in the Adoration Chapel
- Quinceañeras – Christian preparation for young ladies (must be in Religious Education and active members)
- Tonantzin Folkloric Group – cultural dance for children and adults
Our Catholic Faith & Sacraments
St. Francis de Sales celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and provides preparation programs for baptism, first Eucharist, confirmation, marriage, anointing of the sick, and quinceañera. The parish's Liturgy & Sacrament Coordinator (Devan Hirning) helps families navigate these milestones, and the clergy are available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to anoint the sick.
- Baptism
- First Eucharist / First Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage preparation
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Quinceañera
Pastoral & Finance Councils
Parish governance is supported by an elected Pastoral Council and a board of Trustees, working with the pastor and associate pastor. Trustees and council members are listed on the parish website and include Ann Henne, John Kern, and Pastoral Council Liaison Kelli Simonson.
- Trustees: Ann Henne, John Kern
- Pastoral Council members: Ann Henne, Erica Bakke, Dennis Heley, Kelli Simonson (Liaison), John Kern, Brian Geffre, Bob Hawk, Ken Sims, John Villiard, René Gonzales, Angelina Borud, Irma Santos, Alberto Cruz, Lisa McDonald
Getting Involved & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (218) 233-4780 during office hours. The parish encourages participation in liturgical ministries, faith formation, the Guadalupe Ministry, and the Pastoral and Finance Councils. The Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator can be reached at 218-281-7895.
- Phone: (218) 233-4780
- Address: 601 15th Ave N, Moorhead, MN 56560
- Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator (Cindy Hulst, LSW): 218-281-7895
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francis Ketter1948–
First pastor, appointed by Bishop Schenk on August 17, 1948 when the parish was incorporated.