About St. James · Saint James, Minnesota
St. James is a Roman Catholic parish in Saint James, Minnesota, part of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. The parish traces its roots to European immigrant Catholic settlers who arrived in Watonwan County in the late 1860s, and it has served the community continuously for more than 140 years. Since 1999 it has been clustered with St. Mary Parish in Madelia and St. Katherine Parish in Truman, sharing pastoral leadership and a commitment to Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. The community gathers for both English and Spanish Masses, weekday morning liturgy, and 24-hour Adoration in a chapel converted from the former servers' sacristy in 2012.
- Established
- 1880
- Patron
- Saint James the Apostle
- Rector
- Father Timothy Hall
- Diocese
- Diocese of Winona-Rochester
Why belong here
St. James is a faith-filled, bilingual community where longtime Watonwan County families and newer Hispanic parishioners worship side-by-side. The parish shares a pastor and a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel with its sister parishes of St. Mary (Madelia) and St. Katherine (Truman), and it supports a Catholic school (St. Mary's) that has educated local children since the 1980s. Visitors are welcomed to daily Mass in English or Spanish, weekly Confession, and round-the-clock Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 1st Friday 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- 1st Friday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Thursday 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM (during Adoration)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (Adoration Chapel open 24 hours, shared by the three cluster parishes)
- 1st Thursday–Friday all night at St. James, 8:00 PM – 8:00 AM
- Every Thursday at St. James, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- 1st Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Parish History
St. James Parish traces its origins to the late 1860s, when European immigrant Catholic families settled in Watonwan County. Jesuit missionaries from Mankato built the first church in 1874, and Father Francis Pribyl became the first resident pastor in 1880. The present brick church, erected in 1934 under Father John Gregoire, is the third worship space in the parish's history. The parish was clustered with St. Mary (Madelia) and St. Katherine (Truman) in 1999 and committed to Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in 2012.
- Late 1860s: First Catholic settlers arrive in Watonwan County.
- 1874: Jesuit Fathers take over the mission; first church built under Father Richard, S.J.
- 1880: Father Francis Pribyl becomes first resident pastor.
- 1881: Father F. Elshorst builds the first rectory.
- 1886 (July 25): First Mass in the new brick church on the Feast of Saint James.
- 1934: Current brick church erected under Father John Gregoire.
- Mid-1950s: Modern school and stone convent built.
- 1989: New parish school built; entrusted to the Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester.
- 1999: Clustered with St. Mary (Madelia) and St. Katherine (Truman).
- 2012: Adoration Chapel created; Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration begun.
Parish Cluster & School
Since 1999, St. James has shared its pastor with St. Mary Parish in Madelia and St. Katherine Parish in Truman. The cluster also operates St. Mary's Catholic School, which has served the local community since 1989 under the care of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester and now offers daycare and preschool programs through grade six.
- St. Mary Parish, Madelia (cluster partner)
- St. Katherine Parish, Truman (cluster partner)
- St. Mary's Catholic School (Madelia)
- Daycare and preschool program at St. Mary Education Center (started 2000)
Faith Formation & Ministries
Religious education for the cluster is coordinated through the parish center housed in the former convent building. The parish welcomes bilingual liturgical ministry and supports a strong culture of Eucharistic devotion through its Perpetual Adoration program.
- Religious Education / Faith Formation
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) liturgical ministries
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration program
- Parish school partnership with St. Mary's
Visit & Contact
The parish office and church are located in central Saint James. Visitors and parishioners are encouraged to call the parish office for information on sacraments, the school, or any of the cluster parishes.
- Address: 707 4th Street South, St. James, MN 56081
- Phone: (507) 375-3542
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.maryjamesschool.org/st-james-church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Richard, S.J.1874–
Jesuit missionary from Mankato who oversaw construction of the first church.
- Father Francis Pribyl1880–
First resident pastor of Saint James Parish.
- Father F. Elshorst1881–
Built the first rectory; purchased the property on which the present parish buildings stand; also served missions at Mountain Lake, Windom, and Heron Lake.
- Father Peter Jung1884–
Began the brick church in 1885; first Mass in the new church celebrated July 25, 1886 (Feast of Saint James).
- Father John Meyer1909–1924
Built the parish convent; started the building fund for a new, larger church.
- Father John Gregoire1924–
Erected the present brick church in 1934.
- Father Urban Buchheit1957–1970
Built the new rectory (1958) and new convent.
- Father Urban Neudecker1970–1976
Complete renovation of the church; renovation of the cemetery.
- Father James Lennon1976–1983
- Father Richard Riordan1983–1996
- Father Hilary Brixius1996–1999
- Father James Berning1999–2005
First pastor of the three-parish cluster (St. James, St. Mary Madelia, St. Katherine Truman); old convent converted into a religious education and parish center.
- Father Thomas Cook2005–2011
Rectory renovations; restored sanctuary artwork to its original glory.
- Father Thien Nguyen2011–2013
Transformed the servers' sacristy into an Adoration Chapel; began Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration for all three parishes.
- Father Timothy Hall2013–2025
Reappointed pastor of St. James and St. Mary Madelia cluster parishes.