About St. John the Baptist · Minnesota Lake, Minnesota
St. John the Baptist is a small Catholic parish in the farming community of Minnesota Lake, Minnesota, founded in 1865 by German Catholic pioneers who first settled in Danville Township. Today the parish shares pastoral ministry with two neighboring communities — Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Easton and St. Casimir in Wells — forming a Tri-Parish Faith Community under the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. Worship is celebrated in a 1952 church built on the same site as the pioneer frame church of 1886, lovingly maintained and made handicap-accessible in 2008. Generations of the same farm families — Kremers, Sonneks, Stencel, Staloch, Bach and others — have kept the parish alive for more than 150 years.
- Established
- 1865
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Father Pratap Reddy Salibindla, OFM (Diocese of Winona-Rochester directory listing as Pastor of the Tri-Parish; parish staff page also references Fr. Timothy Hall as Parochial Administrator of the Tri-Parish community)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Winona-Rochester
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is a faithful, multigenerational farming-community parish where many of the same families that built the first church in 1865 still worship together today. As part of the OLMC–STC–STJB Tri-Parish, members share weekly Mass (Thursday 8:30 AM and Saturday 5:00 PM at STJB), a coordinated Faith Formation program, RCIA for adults, weekday Eucharistic Adoration, and a daily Rosary, plus three historic Catholic cemeteries stewarded by parish families. The 2008 accessibility renovation and the cluster's shared staff of priests, deacon and lay ministers make this a small but welcoming place for new Catholics, returning Catholics, and visitors passing through south-central Minnesota.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Reconciliation: times and place published in the Tri-Parish weekly bulletin (Tri-Parish office: 507-553-5391)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesday 9:00 PM through Thursday 10:00 PM at St. Casimir, Wells
Welcome to the Tri-Parish Faith Community
St. John the Baptist, Minnesota Lake is one of three parishes in a single Tri-Parish Faith Community: Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) in Easton, St. Casimir (STC) in Wells, and St. John the Baptist (STJB) in Minnesota Lake. The parishes share a pastor, staff, bulletin, Faith Formation program and many ministries, while keeping their own historic buildings and local identity. The Tri-Parish office is at St. Casimir, 320 2nd Ave SW, Wells, MN 56097, phone 507-553-5391, email [email protected]. The web site invites newcomers and visitors warmly and asks them to introduce themselves to the parish.
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) — Easton, MN; founded 1866
- St. Casimir (STC) — Wells, MN; joined the cluster in 2005
- St. John the Baptist (STJB) — Minnesota Lake, MN; founded 1865
Parish History — From Danville Prairie to 2024
St. John the Baptist traces its roots to 1856, when German Catholic pioneers settled in Danville Township and, in April 1865, built a small church hauled in with lumber from Mankato. In 1884 Bishop John Ireland sent Fr. Henry Jazdzenski to move the community into the village of Minnesota Lake; Archbishop Ireland dedicated the new $4,000 frame church in July 1886. Father Syxtus Burg arrived in November 1950 and led the construction of the present church (completed March 9, 1952) and a 1957 convent for the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Three former pastors have since been elevated to Monsignor: Gerald Kosse, Thomas Cook, and Richard Coletti. The parish has been clustered with OLMC since the early 1990s and with St. Casimir since 2005; Deacon Eugene Paul has served as the cluster's spiritual and administrative assistant.
- 1856 — first settlers in Danville Township
- April 1865 — pioneer church built three miles NE of Minnesota Lake
- 1884 — Fr. Henry Jazdzenski sent by Bishop Ireland; move into town begins
- July 1886 — frame church dedicated by Archbishop Ireland
- November 1950 — Fr. Syxtus Burg arrives; longest-serving pastor
- March 5, 1951 — last Mass in the 65-year-old frame church
- March 9, 1952 — present $155,661 church dedicated
- 1957 — convent built for the School Sisters of Notre Dame
- Early 1990s — clustered with Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Easton
- 2005 — St. Casimir, Wells, joins the cluster
- 2008 — handicap-accessible renovation of the 1952 church
Sacraments of the Church
The Tri-Parish community prepares Catholics for the seven sacraments through classes, mentoring and personal meetings with the priest or deacon. Baptisms and weddings require early contact with the Tri-Parish office; burials are coordinated through each parish's cemetery contact.
- Baptism — contact the parish office one month in advance; Baptism Mentoring Sessions required
- Marriage — meet with a priest at least six months before the wedding (even in a non-Catholic venue); contact the Tri-Parish office one year ahead
- Christian Burials — Bob Drager (STJB), 507-995-0160
- Reconciliation — see the Tri-Parish bulletin for times and location
- RCIA — for adults seeking to become Catholic; contact the Tri-Parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the Tri-Parish office
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation is shared across the Tri-Parish and is staffed by Kristen Dulas (507-317-2301) and Dianne Rauenhorst (507-525-0900). Families wishing to enroll their children in the program can complete the parish registration form and mail it to the address listed on the parish website. RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) is also offered for adults exploring the Catholic faith.
- Tri-Parish Faith Formation for children and youth
- RCIA for adults seeking to become Catholic
- Baptism Mentoring Sessions for parents
- Marriage preparation (six-month process)
- Registration form available at https://olmcstcstjb.org/images/Registration_Form.pdf
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. John the Baptist is served by the clergy and staff of the Tri-Parish. The Diocese of Winona-Rochester directory lists Father Pratap Reddy Salibindla, OFM, as Pastor; the parish staff page also references Fr. Timothy Hall as Parochial Administrator. Deacon Gene (Eugene) Paul — himself a son of OLMC parish — is the cluster's long-time spiritual and administrative assistant.
- Father Pratap Reddy Salibindla, OFM — Pastor (Diocese of Winona-Rochester directory)
- Fr. Timothy Hall — Parochial Administrator of the Tri-Parish (parish staff page)
- Deacon Eugene (Gene) Paul — Tri-Parish spiritual & administrative assistant (507-854-3676)
- Rhonda Drager — Administrative Assistant / Bookkeeper for STJB ([email protected])
- Kristen Dulas — Faith Formation (507-317-2301)
- Dianne Rauenhorst — Faith Formation (507-525-0900)
Contact, Address & Hours
St. John the Baptist is located in the small town of Minnesota Lake, Minnesota. Parish office hours vary; the Tri-Parish office in Wells is staffed Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Mailing address for parish business is PO Box 158, Minnesota Lake, MN 56068.
- Church: 100 Park Street N, Minnesota Lake, MN 56068-1399
- Parish Center / Office: 109 Park Street S, PO Box 158, Minnesota Lake, MN 56068
- Phone: (507) 462-3636
- Email: [email protected]
- Tri-Parish office (St. Casimir): 320 2nd Ave SW, Wells, MN 56097 — 507-553-5391 — [email protected]
- Tri-Parish office hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Cemeteries & Christian Burials
Each Tri-Parish parish maintains its own historic Catholic cemetery. The Danville Township churchyard — the site of the original 1865 pioneer church — is the resting place of many of the parish's founding families. For all burials in any of the Tri-Parish cemeteries, families are asked to contact the parish cemetery representative directly.
- St. John the Baptist cemetery contact — Bob Drager, 507-995-0160
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel cemetery contact — Don Linder, 507-787-2571
- St. Casimir cemetery contact — Tom Schindler, 507-553-3062
- The historic 1865 Danville churchyard remains a burial site of the founding families
Parish Vocation Story
St. John the Baptist is proud of its sons and daughters who entered religious life. Father Gregory Stenzel, son of Anton and Julia Stenzel, was ordained December 17, 1949, at Sacred Heart Seminary in Shelby, Ohio. Seven women of the parish became religious sisters: Sister Mary Angelica Osdoba, Sister Theresa Mary Bach, Sister Mary Bernard Bach, Sister Mary Elise Evan, Sister Mary Magdalene Kapfer, Sister Carmen Sonnek, and Sister Mary Patricia Volz.
- Father Gregory Stenzel — ordained Dec. 17, 1949, Sacred Heart Seminary, Shelby, Ohio
- Sister Mary Angelica Osdoba
- Sister Theresa Mary Bach
- Sister Mary Bernard Bach
- Sister Mary Elise Evan
- Sister Mary Magdalene Kapfer
- Sister Carmen Sonnek
- Sister Mary Patricia Volz
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Sommereisen (Mankato)early mission era
Said Mass in settlers' homes from Mankato before the Danville church was built
- Fr. Theodore Venn
From St. Mary's, Wisner's Grove; ministered to the pioneers
- Fr. Bernard Baumann
Last priest to hold regular services in the little Danville church
- Fr. Henry Jazdzenski1884–?
Sent by Bishop Ireland to organize the move of the parish into Minnesota Lake; built the 1886 frame church
- Fr. John CiezynskiJanuary 1899–
Sent by Bishop Ireland
- Fr. Hieronimus Daszkowski1901–1903 and 1916–1933
Returned for a long second tenure
- Fr. John Mikolai
- Fr. E.J. Van Hoenacker
- Fr. M.J. Holper
- Fr. Leo Gossmann
- Fr. Clement Steger
- Fr. John Hurynowicz
- Fr. John Misiak
- Fr. Syxtus BurgNovember 1950–
Longest-serving pastor in parish history; oversaw construction of the present 1952 church and 1957 convent
- Fr. Donald Loosbrock
- Fr. Francis Ryan
- Fr. Francis Glynn
- Fr. Eugene Stenzel
- Fr. William Kulas
- Fr. John Wilmot
- Fr. Mark McNea
- Fr. Thomas Niehaus
- Fr. Andrew Vogel
- Monsignor Gerald Kosse
Former STJB pastor, later elevated to Monsignor
- Monsignor Thomas Cook
Former STJB pastor, later elevated to Monsignor
- Monsignor Richard Coletti
Former STJB pastor, later elevated to Monsignor