St. Francis Xavier

History & Parish Mission

St. Francis Xavier began in 1888 with about eight families in the Buffalo, Minnesota area. A small church was built near the present site in 1889, then rebuilt and roughly doubled in size less than ten years later. By 1912 the parish was debt-free under Father W.H. Blum, and construction of the present church — completed in 1917 with its 125-foot bell tower — was under way. The parish has continued to grow through the 1900s and into today, with additions for a rectory, offices, a 1937 school, the 1960 school expansion, and the 2006 Faith and Education Center that now houses parish offices, the adoration chapel, gym, and classrooms. The parish's stated mission is to operate out of love for God and neighbor by respecting all life from conception until natural death, professing the Catholic faith as received from the Apostles, sharing gifts for the benefit of all people, focusing on the family as the center of discipleship, and celebrating the sacraments for the greater glory of God.

• Founded 1888 with about 8 families
• Original 1889 church rebuilt and doubled within ~10 years
• Present church completed 1917; bell tower 125 feet tall
• Father W.H. Blum paid off church debt by 1912
• School opened 1937; expanded 1960
• New Faith and Education Center built 2006

Our Patron Saint

The parish is named for St. Francis Xavier, co-founder of the Jesuit order and one of the most celebrated missionaries of the Catholic Church. The parish honors his feast day on December 3.

Our Staff

Parish staff includes Fr. Nathaniel (Nate) Meyers as Pastor, Fr. Austin Barnes, Deacon Paul Buck, and a team of lay staff handling faith formation, music, business, administration, and maintenance.

• Fr. Nathaniel (Nate) Meyers — Pastor
• Fr. Austin Barnes
• Dcn. Paul Buck — Deacon
• Randy Mudge — Business Administrator
• Debbie Gladitsch — Director of Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
• Jody Klaphake — Pastoral & Faith Formation Assistant and Bookkeeper
• Laura Flynn — Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
• Alisa Louwagie — Administrative Assistant
• Dustin Austreng — Director of Music
• Travis Nelson — Maintenance
• Mark Huisman — School Principal
• Kristin Walters
• Tim Potvin — Head Maintenance

St. Francis Xavier School

St. Francis Xavier School is a Christ-centered Catholic school serving students from preschool through 8th grade. In partnership with families and the parish, the school fosters discipleship, academic excellence, and the development of each child in the light of faith. The school's modern facility — part of the Faith and Education Center — opened in 2006/2007, returning 7th and 8th grades to the building after a 37-year absence and providing classrooms, a gym, and other shared spaces.

• Preschool through 8th grade
• Christ-centered, parish-supported education
• Faith and Education Center facility opened 2006/2007

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith Formation at St. Francis Xavier runs from 1st through 8th grade and is designed to assist parents as the primary educators of their children in the Catholic faith. The program includes a Traditional Faith Formation track (classes typically 6:30–8:00 PM at the Education Center), a Homeschool Option, and Discipleship Groups. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion takes place in 2nd grade, with an additional $50 sacramental prep fee; an 8th-grade retreat (often a 3-day/2-night retreat in February, $150/student) is part of Confirmation preparation.

• Traditional Faith Formation — 1st through 8th grades
• Homeschool Option
• Discipleship Groups
• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Laura Flynn)
• Sacramental prep for First Reconciliation and First Communion (2nd grade)
• 8th-grade Confirmation retreat

Youth Ministry

STFX Youth Ministry builds up Catholic teens through evangelization, fellowship, education, and dynamic worship. Programs include monthly middle-school nights called 'Souled Out' (grades 6–8, held 7–10 PM at the Education Center on Fridays during the school year), monthly high-school nights called 'LIFTED — Living In Faith Together Everyday' (grades 9–12), the Teens For Christ (TFC) Leadership Team, summer camps such as Camp Blaze and Extreme Faith Camp, the December Winterblast middle-school lock-in, Mystery Squared/G Force summer middle-school groups, and trips including annual Steubenville Youth Conferences, mission trips, and the March for Life in Washington, D.C. or St. Paul. The Traveling Chalice Program is also part of youth ministry.

• Souled Out — middle school monthly group (grades 6–8)
• LIFTED — high school monthly group (grades 9–12)
• Teens For Christ (TFC) Leadership Team
• Living Stations during Lent
• 10th-grade Retreat
• March for Life
• Steubenville Youth Conferences and mission trips
• Winterblast middle-school lock-in (December)
• Extreme Faith Camp (summer)
• Camp Blaze
• Traveling Chalice Program

Parish Outreach & Service

St. Francis Xavier runs a wide network of parish groups for service, fellowship, and pastoral care. These include the Knights of Columbus #6608, the Council of Catholic Women (CCW), Men's and Women's groups, small groups, Brother's Keeper, Sharing & Caring Hands, the Olive Branch Support Group, Meals on Wheels, a Homebound/Nursing Home Ministry, Hospitality, and a Prayer Chain.

• Knights of Columbus #6608
• Council of Catholic Women (CCW)
• Brother's Keeper
• Sharing & Caring Hands
• The Olive Branch Support Group
• Meals on Wheels
• Homebound/Nursing Home Ministry
• Hospitality
• Prayer Chain
• Men's/Women's Groups
• Small Groups at St. Francis Xavier

Sacraments

The parish website lists dedicated pages for each of the seven Catholic sacraments: Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders. Sacramental preparation is offered in the parish for First Reconciliation and First Communion (typically in 2nd grade) and Confirmation (8th grade, with required retreat).

• Baptism
• Reconciliation
• Eucharist (First Communion in 2nd grade)
• Confirmation (8th grade)
• Marriage
• Anointing of the Sick
• Holy Orders

Cemeteries & Facilities

The parish maintains cemeteries as part of its campus ministry and oversees the Faith and Education Center — completed in 2006 — which is home to the parish offices, adoration chapel, gym, and classrooms used by both the parish school and faith formation programs.

Become a Member

Visitors and new parishioners can register through the parish's 'Become a Member' page. The parish warmly welcomes new members into its liturgical, educational, and service life.

Resources & Safe Environment

Parish resources include the weekly bulletin, a parish calendar, parish forms, a group directory, the Archdiocesan website, Catholic resources, the Wright County Serra Club, Family Assistance Groups, Formed, and the parish's Safe Environment (VIRTUS) program for protecting children and vulnerable adults.

• Bulletins
• Parish Calendar
• Parish Forms
• Group Directory
• Formed
• Safe Environment (VIRTUS)
• Wright County Serra Club
• Family Assistance Groups
• Archdiocesan Website
• Catholic Resources