About St. Francis Xavier · Sartell, Minnesota
St. Francis Xavier is a Roman Catholic parish in Sartell, Minnesota, belonging to the Diocese of Saint Cloud. Founded in 1948 by 100 founding families drawn from Sacred Heart in Sauk Rapids and Holy Angels in St. Cloud, it now counts more than 1,800 households and roughly 5,500 baptized members. The parish runs an affiliated Catholic elementary school (Pre-K through Grade 5) and an extensive Faith Formation program for Grades 1–10, and it is part of the One in Christ Area Catholic Community. Its mission statement describes it as 'a growing community of disciples of Jesus Christ committed to loving God, loving others and making disciples.'
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- St. Francis Xavier
- Rector
- Fr. Patrick Hoeft
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Cloud
Why belong here
St. Francis Xavier is a large, family-oriented parish that has grown from 100 founding families in 1948 to over 1,800 households today, while still describing itself as a warm and open community where 'you and your family will feel welcomed and at home.' Members can raise their children in the parish school (Pre-K through Grade 5), continue faith formation all the way through 10th grade and Confirmation, join parish groups from the Social Justice Concerns Committee to the prayer line, and serve as liturgical ministers, faith-community nurses, trustees, or catechists. It is a place where lifelong faith formation, school life, music and liturgy, and outreach are intentionally woven together.
Mass times at St. Francis Xavier
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Parish History
Founded in 1948 by 100 families — 80 from Sacred Heart in Sauk Rapids and 20 from Holy Angels in St. Cloud — St. Francis Xavier has grown from a Village Hall mission parish to a community of more than 1,800 households and roughly 5,500 baptized members. Named for St. Francis Xavier in honor of Father Francis Pierz's patron, the parish's first church was built on land donated by Martin and Susie Traut, with Fr. Edward C. Ramacher as its first pastor. A 1960 school and convent, an expanded 1980 church and parish house, a 1993 gym addition, and the 2000–2001 classrooms and Gathering Place trace the parish's physical growth across more than seven decades.
- 1948 — parish founded; first Mass in Sartell Village Hall
- First pastor: Fr. Edward C. Ramacher (from Little Falls, MN)
- Land for the first church donated by Martin and Susie Traut
- 1960 — elementary school and convent built
- 1980 — groundbreaking for present church and parish house
- 1993 — school gym and four classrooms added
- 1998 — 50th-anniversary history book published
- 2000–2001 — four more classrooms and the Gathering Place built
- Today: 1,800+ households and ~5,500 baptized members
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is currently shepherded by Pastor Fr. Ron Weyrens, with Fr. Tom Knoblach serving as ACC (Area Catholic Community) Priest. Deacon Stephen Pareja assists with ministry, and Sandee Kremers serves as Pastoral Associate. The parish office staff includes Business Manager Tom Offerdahl and Parish Secretary Becky Dingmann. Liturgy is directed by Mark Levandowski, with Karen Dembowski as Choral Director. Heidi Schloe serves as Principal of St. Francis Xavier School.
- Fr. Tom Knoblach — ACC Priest
- Deacon Stephen Pareja
- Sandee Kremers — Pastoral Associate (Ext. 403)
- Tom Offerdahl — Business Manager (Ext. 405)
- Becky Dingmann — Parish Secretary (Ext. 400)
- Mark Levandowski — Liturgy Director (Ext. 407)
- Karen Dembowski — Choral Director
- Heidi Schloe — Principal, St. Francis Xavier School
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Francis Xavier is built around the conviction that parents are 'the first and foremost Catechists' of their children. The parish runs a whole-family faith formation model with two evening time slots (4:45–6:15 p.m. or 6:30–8:00 p.m.), plus an optional family dinner from 4:30–6:30 p.m. Programming includes Rooted Family Formation, First Sacraments (Grade 2), Confirmation (Grade 10), Vacation Bible School, Children's Liturgy of the Word (K–3), a parish home program for Grades 1–7, and youth ministry for Grades 6–12. The curriculum walks students through the Old Testament in Grade 6, Church history in Grade 7, what makes the Catholic Church distinctive in Grade 8, moral decision-making in Grade 9, and Confirmation preparation in Grade 10.
- Whole Family Faith Formation (Grades 1–10)
- First Sacraments — Reconciliation and Eucharist (Grade 2)
- Confirmation preparation (Grade 10)
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (K–3)
- Parish Home Faith Formation option (Grades 1–7)
- Youth Ministry (Grades 6–12)
- Director: Melissa Fox; Pastor of Faith Formation: Sandee Kremers; Youth Ministry: Kristen Neuman
St. Francis Xavier Catholic School
Founded in 1960 and affiliated with St. Francis Xavier Parish, the school is part of the Catholic Community Schools (CCS) system and serves Preschool through Grade 5 at 308 2nd St N., Sartell. The school describes itself as a supportive, faith-filled learning community 'guided to serve the needs of our community,' with about 17 students per class, one to two sections of each grade, and 34 teachers and staff. Programs include Crusader Youth Sports, Math & Reading Specialist teachers, Spanish, Band, and Knowledge Bowl, with a 'whole child' approach to academic, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual development.
- Preschool through Grade 5
- Approximately 17 students per class
- 34 teachers and staff
- Programs: Crusader Youth Sports, Math & Reading Specialists, Spanish, Band, Knowledge Bowl
- Principal: Heidi Schloe — (320) 252-9940
Liturgy, Music & Sacraments
Liturgy at St. Francis Xavier is led by Liturgy Director Mark Levandowski and Choral Director Karen Dembowski. Weekend Mass is celebrated Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m., with weekday Mass Tuesday through Friday mornings (Friday moves to 8:00 a.m. during summer). The Rosary is prayed 20 minutes before Mass on Wednesdays and Fridays. Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons, and parishioners can prepare for Baptism through classes held five times a year in Xavier Hall; Marriages must be arranged at least six months in advance.
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:00–3:30 p.m.
- Rosary: 20 minutes before Mass on Wednesdays and Fridays
- Baptism classes: five times per year at 6:30 p.m. in Xavier Hall
- Marriage: minimum 6 months advance arrangement
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Beyond liturgy and formation, St. Francis Xavier sustains a network of ministries that put faith into action: a Social Justice Concerns Committee, a parish Prayer Line, three Faith Community Nurses, a Gathering in the Arts program, and a Liturgy of the Word for Children. Two elected Parish Trustees — Jeff Eikmeier and Kathryn Kelly — and a Pastoral Council chaired by Doris Lodeermeier guide parish governance.
- Social Justice Concerns Committee ([email protected])
- Prayer Line (Margaret Stang)
- Faith Community Nurses (Karen Reinholz, Bev Wiehoff, Julie Kouba)
- Gathering in the Arts (Geri Blais)
- Parish Trustees: Jeff Eikmeier, Kathryn Kelly
- Pastoral Council Chair: Doris Lodeermeier
Area Catholic Community
St. Francis Xavier is part of the One in Christ Area Catholic Community within the Diocese of Saint Cloud, working collaboratively with neighboring parishes. Fr. Tom Knoblach serves as ACC Priest, supporting the parish's pastoral presence and sacramental coverage alongside Pastor Fr. Ron Weyrens.
- One in Christ Area Catholic Community
- Diocese of Saint Cloud
Visiting & Contact
New parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Fridays 8:00 a.m. to noon (summer hours May 24 through Labor Day). The parish encourages newcomers to call and register as members of the parish family. Faith Formation can be reached at (320) 252-8761 and the school office at (320) 252-9940.
- Parish Office: 219 2nd Street North, P.O. Box 150, Sartell, MN 56377
- Phone: (320) 252-1363 • Fax: (320) 259-7090
- Faith Formation: (320) 252-8761
- School Office: (320) 252-9940
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Fri 8 a.m.–noon (summer)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Edward C. Ramacher1948–
First pastor; came to Sartell from Little Falls, MN.