About St. John · Foley, Minnesota
St. John Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Foley, Minnesota, within the Diocese of St. Cloud. The parish traces its origins to the 1880s with the small pioneer mission called the 'Church in the Wilderness' and grew alongside the town founded by the Foley lumbering family. Today's parish offers weekend and weekday Masses, an active faith formation program, a youth group called Ignite, American Sign Language (ASL)-interpreted Masses, and the only area Catholic elementary school (St. John's Area School). It serves as a worship and community hub for the broader Foley area of Benton County.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- St. John (named for John Foley, the benefactor who left $25,000 for the church; original pioneer mission was dedicated to St. John the Baptist)
- Rector
- Fr. Michael Wolfbauer
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Cloud
Why belong here
St. John offers a complete Catholic life for Foley-area families: weekend Mass in a historic Benton County church, weekday Masses Tuesday through Thursday, an active Thursday Eucharistic Adoration with Guardians, the Ignite youth group, faith formation classes, an ASL-interpreted Mass on the fourth Sunday of the month, and the only local Catholic elementary school (St. John's Area School). The parish actively welcomes visitors and supports both online giving and traditional stewardship.
Mass times at St. John
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 2:45–3:30 pm
- By appointment (call Parish Office 320-968-7913)
Adoration times
- Thursdays 9:00 am–7:00 pm (September–May)
- Thursdays 9:00 am–12:00 pm (June–August)
- No Adoration on February 26 or March 5
Parish History
The Catholic presence in Foley began in the mid-1880s with the 'Church of the Holy John Baptist,' known locally as the 'Church in the Wilderness.' After that wood-frame structure burned in 1894, the community built St. Bridget's north of town in 1895, with Father Patrick Mooney arriving as the first resident pastor in 1896. Father Al Kittowski, who took over in 1905 with 65 families, broke ground for the present church in 1907 using a $25,000 bequest from John Foley, the lumber baron who founded the town. The church was completed in 1909 and renamed St. John's in his honor. In 2023 the parish publicly marked 150 years of Catholic worship in the Foley area.
- Mid-1880s: 'Church in the Wilderness' founded
- 1894: Pioneer chapel destroyed by train-sparked fire
- 1895: St. Bridget's erected
- 1896: Fr. Patrick Mooney named first resident pastor
- 1905: Fr. Al Kittowski appointed with 65 families
- 1907: Construction of current church begins under Fr. Kittowski
- 1909: Present St. John's Catholic Church completed and named for John Foley
- 2023: Sesquicentennial celebrated
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. John runs an ongoing Faith Formation program for parish children. The parish website posts registration materials and detailed program information, and classes are in session each year. Parents may download registration forms from the parish website or contact the parish office for details.
- Registration materials available on parish website
- Faith Formation information page linked from stjohnschurchfoley.weebly.com
Ignite Youth Group
St. John's middle- and high-school youth ministry is called Ignite. The group meets regularly through the school year and gives Foley-area young Catholics a place for fellowship, formation, and service. More information and the current schedule are posted on the parish website.
- Ignite Youth Group meetings
- Information available via parish website link
St. John's Area School
St. John parishioners support St. John's Area School, the parish-affiliated Catholic elementary school serving Foley-area families. School calendars, registration, and event information are cross-posted on the parish website under 'Upcoming St. John's Area School Events,' linking parish life with the school community.
- Parish-affiliated Catholic elementary school
- School events posted on the parish website
ASL-Interpreted Mass
Each month St. John offers an American Sign Language (ASL)-interpreted Mass to welcome the deaf community. The ASL Mass has been moved from the third Sunday to the fourth Sunday of the month; recent ASL Sundays listed by the parish include January 25, February 22, March 8 and April 26, with no ASL Mass on March 22.
- ASL-interpreted Mass — fourth Sunday of the month
- All are welcome; interpreter provided at the 10:00 am Sunday Mass
Lenten Devotions & Seasonal Services
During Lent, St. John joins with neighboring parishes (St. Lawrence, Duelm and St. Patrick, Sauk Rapids) to host a rotating schedule of Stations of the Cross, evening Masses with reflection, and communal Confessions. Lent 2026 events already announced on the parish calendar include Stations of the Cross on multiple Wednesdays and a Lenten Mass with reflection and confessions on Saturday, February 28 at St. John Church, Foley.
- Lenten Stations of the Cross — rotating with nearby parishes
- Lenten Mass with Confessions — Feb 28, 2026 at St. John Foley
Parish Stewardship & Online Giving
The parish encourages continued giving whether or not parishioners can attend in person. Online Giving is set up through the parish website, and donations can also be mailed to PO Box 337, Foley, MN 56329.
- Online giving link on parish homepage
- Mail-in donations: PO Box 337, Foley, MN 56329
Location & Contact
St. John Catholic Church is at 621 Dewey Street in Foley, Minnesota (mailing address PO Box 337, Foley, MN 56329). The parish office can be reached by phone at (320) 968-7913. The pastor is Fr. Michael Wolfbauer. Foley is the county seat of Benton County, and the parish is listed on the Diocese of St. Cloud's parish directory.
- Address: 621 Dewey Street, Foley, MN 56329
- Mailing: PO Box 337, Foley, MN 56329
- Phone: (320) 968-7913
- Pastor: Fr. Michael Wolfbauer
- Part of the Diocese of St. Cloud
- Directions: East on Hwy 23 to 7th Ave, right 2 blocks to steeple
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Patrick Mooney1896–
Irish priest; first resident pastor of St. Bridget's, predecessor parish
- Father Al Kittowski1905–
Resident pastor with 65 families; began construction of the current St. John's church in 1907