About St. Ignatius · Annandale, Minnesota
St. Ignatius Catholic Church is a Latin-rite Roman Catholic parish located at 35 Birch Street East in Annandale, Minnesota, in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The parish worships in a Mankato-stone church dedicated in 1959 and continues a Catholic presence in the Annandale area that traces back to the 1870s and the pioneer French Lake settlement. It offers weekend and daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, reconciliation, faith formation for children and youth, a Vacation Bible School, a grief support group, a homebound ministry, and outreach to the local food shelf, and is staffed currently by Father John Meyer.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- St. Ignatius of Antioch
- Rector
- Father John Meyer
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Ignatius is a close-knit, mission-driven parish where faith is centered on the Eucharist and extended into the wider Annandale community. Parishioners are welcomed into a full sacramental life — weekend and daily Mass, reconciliation, monthly all-day Eucharistic Adoration, and faith formation for every age including Vacation Bible School and a Truth for Youth program — alongside ministries that reach outward, such as a homebound visitors ministry, a bereavement/grief support group, and active support of the Annandale Area Food Shelf. The parish's stated vision is to be a joyful, Spirit-filled community of faithful believers sharing in the mission of Christ through service to families and compassion for the poor.
Mass times at St. Ignatius
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (advertised on the parish schedule)
- Monday: 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM (before 6:00 PM daily Mass)
- Saturday: 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM (before the 5:00 PM Mass)
- Also by appointment; additional reconciliation offered during Advent/penance services
Adoration times
- Thursday: 8:30 AM – 7:30 PM (last Thursday of every month, all-day Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish Overview & Vision
St. Ignatius Catholic Church serves the Annandale area of Wright County, Minnesota, under the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The parish's published vision describes itself as 'a joyful, spirit-filled community of faithful believers, unified by one baptism, rooted to one identity in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,' with an 'ever unfolding spirituality centered in the Eucharist and a prayer life inclusive of many expressions of faith.' Under the guidance of the Blessed Mother Mary and St. Joseph, the community sees itself as 'a journeying community sharing in the mission of Christ to establish God's kingdom of justice, peace and love.'
- Latin-rite Roman Catholic parish
- Located at 35 Birch Street East, Annandale, MN 55302
- Part of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
- Live-streamed Sunday 8:30 AM Mass via Facebook
History
The parish grew out of Catholic missionary visits to the French Lake area of Wright County in the 1850s and 1860s. It was formally organized under the patronage of St. Ignatius of Antioch in 1873, with land purchased from Charles Chevalier in 1874 and a small church and cemetery built on the site of the present French Lake Cemetery. The parish was incorporated as 'The Church of St. Ignatius of French Lake, Minnesota' on October 9, 1882. A 1901 frame church in Annandale served the parish for nearly six decades before being replaced in 1959 by the present Mankato-stone church, which was followed by a major accessibility and gathering-space addition in 2007.
- 1873 — Parish organized under the patronage of St. Ignatius of Antioch
- 1874–1875 — First church built at the French Lake Cemetery site
- October 9, 1882 — Articles of Incorporation signed (Bishop Thomas L. Grace among incorporators)
- 1898 — Rev. Joseph Darche becomes first resident pastor in Annandale
- 1901 — Annandale church built for $6,538.08; dedicated July 4, 1902
- 1958 — Cornerstone laid for the current church
- April 21, 1959 — Present Mankato-stone church dedicated by Bishop Leonard Cowley
- November 2006 – March 2007 — Major addition (gathering space, chapel, offices, elevator); dedicated by Archbishop Harry Flynn
- 2000 — Parish census: 530 families, ~500 children in CCD
Architecture & Buildings
The current church is built of Mankato stone under plans by Bettenburg, Townsend, Stolte and Comb of St. Paul, with Ernest R. Hansen and Sons of Granite Falls as general contractor. Inside are 22 European mouth-blown stained glass windows and a large stained glass window of St. Ignatius. A 2006–2007 expansion added a new main entrance, a small prayer and reflection chapel, a spacious gathering space with a kitchen, parish offices, additional classrooms, a library, and an elevator.
- Mankato (Kasota) stone exterior
- 22 European mouth-blown stained glass windows
- Large stained glass window of St. Ignatius
- Adoration chapel added in 2006–2007 expansion
- Handicap-accessible elevator and new main entrance
Leadership & Clergy
St. Ignatius is currently served by Father John Meyer as pastor. The parish is also served by a parochial vicar, and the staff includes a Director of Religious Education (Anastacia, as referenced in VBS communications). The parish has maintained a long succession of resident pastors since 1898, beginning with Rev. Joseph Darche and including the long-tenured Fr. Patrick Keany (1939–1971) who guided construction of the present church.
- Pastor: Father John Meyer (since 2018)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Andrew Stueve (since 2018)
- Director of Religious Education (DRE): Anastacia
- Longest-serving pastor on record: Fr. Patrick Keany (32 years, 1939–1971)
Faith Formation & Youth
Religious education for parish children is provided through the Faith Formation/CCD program, which as of 2000 enrolled about 500 students. A free Vacation Bible School ('Totally Catholic: Rainforest Falls') is offered each summer for children entering kindergarten through 5th grade, and a youth ministry called 'Truth for Youth' meets on Sunday evenings. Busy Bags are available near the church entrance to help young children engage quietly during Mass.
- CCD / Faith Formation for parish children
- Vacation Bible School — 'Totally Catholic: Rainforest Falls' (K–5)
- Truth for Youth — Sunday evenings
- Director of Religious Education: Anastacia
Music Ministry
Music at weekend Masses is currently supported by a small team of pianists and the parish is actively recruiting. The parish is seeking a Pianist/Music Coordinator (to select music and accompany weekend liturgies) as well as additional pianists to accompany the Saturday 5:00 PM and/or Sunday 8:30 and 10:30 AM Masses; compensation ranges from $50–$100 per hour depending on skill and experience. Interested musicians are invited to contact Father Meyer at [email protected].
- Pianist/Music Coordinator position open
- Additional pianists sought for weekend Masses
- Compensation $50–$100/hour depending on skill
Parish Life & Fellowship
The parish runs a number of regular fellowship and spiritual-life activities. 'Donut Sunday' gathers parishioners after both Sunday morning Masses; the Council of Catholic Women (CCW) meets monthly; an annual Parish Picnic brings the community together each summer; and a busy calendar of seasonal liturgical and devotional events (Adoration, penance services, holy-day Masses, the Cares Center Mass, etc.) marks the parish year. The parish's bulletin, available on the website, carries weekly announcements and ministry sign-ups.
- Donut Sunday after 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM Masses
- CCW (Council of Catholic Women) monthly meetings
- Annual Parish Picnic
- Weekly bulletin and online events calendar
Outreach & Pastoral Care
St. Ignatius reaches beyond its walls through several pastoral-care and outreach efforts. The Homebound Ministry arranges visits and Holy Communion for parishioners who cannot attend Mass. The St. Ignatius Grief Support Group meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month from 6:00–7:30 PM (contact Marcy at 320-420-7505). The parish also actively supports the Annandale Area Food Shelf with a donation cart in the Gathering Space and monetary contributions, and offers Spiritual Direction to those seeking deeper prayer accompaniment.
- Homebound Ministry (Communion and visits)
- St. Ignatius Grief Support Group — 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 6:00–7:30 PM
- Annandale Area Food Shelf — donation cart in the Gathering Space
- Spiritual Direction
Sacraments
St. Ignatius celebrates the full sacramental life of a Catholic parish: weekday and Sunday Mass, Reconciliation on a regular schedule, monthly all-day Eucharistic Adoration, and Holy Communion brought to the homebound. Arrangements for Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and other sacraments are made through the parish office.
- Eucharist (weekend and daily Mass)
- Reconciliation (regular and seasonal)
- Eucharistic Adoration (monthly)
- Holy Communion for the homebound
- Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick — by arrangement through the parish office
French Lake Cemetery & Historic Sites
The original 1874–1875 St. Ignatius church stood on what is now the French Lake Cemetery, about five and a half miles southwest of the present Annandale church along the old Forest City Trail used by pioneers. Burials of early French and Irish settlers at the site date back as far as 1864. The 1899 parsonage, built under Rev. Joseph Darche, still stands as a private residence, and the 1901 Annandale church once stood on what is now the parish parking lot.
- French Lake Cemetery — original 1874 parish site, ~5.5 miles from present church
- Old Forest City Trail pioneer road still visible in front of the cemetery
- Earliest recorded burials from 1864
- 1899 parsonage still in use as a private residence
- 1901 Annandale church site is today's parish parking lot
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Ignatius by phone at (320) 274-8828, by email at [email protected], or through the website at http://www.stignatiusmn.com/. The Sunday 8:30 AM Mass is live streamed on the parish's Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.
- Phone: (320) 274-8828
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stignatiusmn.com/
- Sunday 8:30 AM Mass live streamed on Facebook
- Office mailing: 35 Birch St E, Annandale, MN 55302
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Darche1898–1899
First resident pastor; moved into the new Annandale parsonage.
- Rev. T. G. Plante1899–1903
Succeeded Father Darche; oversaw construction of the 1901 Annandale church.
- Rev. Charles Cavanagh1903–1906
- Rev. William Rhatigan1906–1907
- Rev. John Byrne1907–1908
- Rev. Denis SullivanJanuary 1908 – March 1914
- Rev. Innocentius DomesticiJune 1914 – September 1914
- Rev. F. J. McEwanSeptember 1914 – 1917
- Rev. Joseph Pothmann, O.M.I.1917–1922
- Rev. Michael O'Brien1923 – March 1939
- Rev. James F. CroninMarch 1939 – June 1939
- Rev. Patrick KeanyJune 1939 – 1971
Guided the design and construction of the present Mankato-stone church, dedicated 1959; served 32 years.
- Rev. Ambrose Filbin1971–1975
- Rev. William McNulty1975–1991
- Rev. Gerald Schunk1991–1995
- Rev. Christopher Russell1995–1997
- Rev. Stan Kozlak1997–2002
- Rev. Victor Valencia2002–2014
Guided the 2006–2007 building addition dedicated by Archbishop Flynn.
- Rev. George Kallumkalkudy2014–2018
- Rev. John Meyer2018–present
Current pastor.
- Rev. Andrew Stueve2018–present
Parochial Vicar.