About St. John Nepomuk · Lastrup, Minnesota
St. John Nepomuk is a small Roman Catholic parish in the rural community of Lastrup, Minnesota, part of the Diocese of Saint Cloud. Settled originally by families of Bohemian heritage who were part of the territory first served by the pioneer missionary Father Francis Xavier Pierz, the parish was formally established in 1900 and worships in a brick-veneered church built in 1901. Today the parish numbers about 197 households (roughly 510 members) and is served by Fr. Aaron Nett, who also pastors neighboring parishes in Buckman, Harding, and Pierz. The community is a tight-knit country parish where Mass, the Sacraments, and lay liturgical ministries are central to parish life.
- Established
- 1900
- Patron
- St. John of Nepomuk (Jan Nepomucký), 14th-century Bohemian priest and martyr, patron saint of Bohemia, confessors, and bridges
- Rector
- Fr. Aaron Nett
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Cloud
Why belong here
St. John Nepomuk is a small, family-friendly country parish where parishioners genuinely know one another and where lay involvement in the liturgy is strongly encouraged — the parish publishes regular schedules for lectors, ushers, and altar servers and invites members to sign up online. Rooted in a Bohemian Catholic heritage but welcoming all backgrounds, it offers weekly Mass, regular times for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and an active Parish Council and Finance Council. For Catholics in the Lastrup area it is a stable, devotional, generational parish where one can serve, worship, and raise a family in the faith.
Mass times at St. John Nepomuk
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:30 PM – 6:50 PM (before weekday Mass)
- Saturday 3:15 PM (before the Vigil Mass)
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM (before Mass)
Parish History
St. John Nepomuk was founded in 1900 by roughly 80 Bohemian-heritage Catholic families who had previously belonged to the Pierz Church territory established by Father Francis Xavier Pierz. The ecclesiastical corporation was signed on November 21, 1900, and the present church — sited on a hill above the young town of Lastrup — received the Blessed Sacrament for the first time on Christmas Eve 1901 after Mass had previously been celebrated in the local post office. A steeple, communion railings, and pews were added in 1907, and in 1910 the building was veneered in brick, the finish that still defines it today. In 2000 the interior was tuckpointed, replastered, repainted, and recarpeted, and the parish today numbers about 197 households.
- 1898 — Post office established; beginning of the town of Lastrup
- November 21, 1900 — Ecclesiastical corporation signed, parish formally founded
- Christmas Eve 1901 — Solemn procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the new church
- 1907 — Steeple completed; communion railings and pews installed
- 1910 — Brick veneer added
- 2000 — Tuckpointing, plastering, painting, and new carpet
- Today — 197 households, 510 members
Our Patron: St. John of Nepomuk
The parish takes its name from St. John of Nepomuk (c. 1345–1393), a Bohemian priest martyred for the seal of confession and venerated as the patron saint of Bohemia, confessors, bridges, and protection against floods and calumnies. His traditional feast day is May 16, and the parish's Bohemian heritage gives the dedication a special cultural resonance for its members.
- 14th-century Bohemian priest, vicar general of the Archbishop of Prague
- Martyred for refusing to violate the seal of confession
- Canonized in 1729
- Patron of Bohemia, confessors, mariners, bridges
- Feast day May 16
Pastor and Pastoral Team
Since June 28, 2023 the parish has been served by Fr. Aaron Nett, who pastors St. John Nepomuk as part of a four-parish cluster that also includes St. Michael in Buckman, Holy Cross in Harding, and St. Joseph in Pierz. The parish's lay leadership — including trustees and members of the Parish Council and Finance Council — is published on the parish website.
- Pastor: Fr. Aaron Nett
- Trustees: Colin & Julie
- Parish Council members (listed on the website)
- Finance Council members (listed on the website)
Liturgical Ministries
Lay liturgical involvement is a hallmark of life at St. John Nepomuk. The parish maintains rotating schedules and online sign-up forms for lectors, ushers, and altar servers, and publishes the current schedules on its website. New volunteers can use the Liturgical Ministry Sign Up Form to get involved.
- Lector schedule (published; online sign-up)
- Usher schedule (published; online sign-up)
- Altar Server schedule (published; online sign-up)
- Liturgical Ministry Sign Up Form
Parish Councils and Governance
Parish life is supported by two governing bodies whose members are listed on the parish website: a Parish Council and a Finance Council, alongside elected trustees. Together with the pastor they oversee the temporal and spiritual affairs of the community.
- Parish Council Members (published)
- Finance Council Members (published)
- Trustees: Colin & Julie
Stay Connected
Parishioners can keep up with photos, updates, and special Mass times by following the parish's Facebook page, linked from the parish website. The parish office can be reached by phone or email for day-to-day needs.
- Facebook page linked from stjohnlastrup.org
- Office phone: (320) 468-2111
- Office email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Aaron NettJune 28, 2023 – present
Appointed pastor of St. John Nepomuk, Lastrup, together with St. Michael, Buckman; Holy Cross, Harding; and St. Joseph, Pierz.
- Fr. Jose Chettoor, V.C.Prior to June 28, 2023
Served as parochial administrator of Holy Cross, Harding, and St. John Nepomuk, Lastrup, before being reassigned to parishes in Elbow Lake, Herman, and Kensington.