About St. John the Evangelist · Wahpeton, North Dakota
St. John the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic parish in Wahpeton, North Dakota, part of the Diocese of Fargo. According to its own mission statement, the parish is 'a Catholic community of faithful stewards, uniquely gifted, committed to living fully a spiritual life,' with a stated emphasis on celebrating a sacramental life, hospitality, generosity, and supporting people on their journey toward the Kingdom of God. The parish offers roughly a dozen Masses each week — including a Spanish Mass every other Sunday — together with a full confession and Eucharistic Adoration schedule. It also operates St. John's Academy (preschool through 8th grade), founded in 1882 as the oldest Catholic school still in operation in North Dakota, and serves as the Catholic presence on the campus of North Dakota State College of Science.
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Gregory Haman
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fargo
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist offers an unusually full sacramental life for a parish its size — twelve Masses a week with one celebrated in Spanish, daily confession opportunities on Tuesdays through Saturdays, and five separate periods of Eucharistic Adoration including a First Friday vigil. It also runs St. John's Academy (preschool–grade 8), the oldest continuously operating Catholic school in North Dakota, and a Director of Youth and Young Adult Formation who serves both parish youth and students at North Dakota State College of Science. Music Ministry, RCIA, parish day care, a Pastoral Council, and parish lay officers give parishioners concrete ways to live out the parish's stated mission as 'a Catholic community of faithful stewards.'
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM
- Wednesday 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
- Thursday 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- First Saturday 8:30 AM (listed on parish site)
Adoration times
- Monday 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM
- Tuesday 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
- Wednesday 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
- Friday 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
- First Friday 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Parish Mission & Identity
St. John the Evangelist of Wahpeton describes itself on its website as 'a Catholic community of faithful stewards, uniquely gifted, committed to living fully a spiritual life.' The parish identifies four pillars of that mission: celebrating a sacramental life; being a hospitable, generous, faithful, and forgiving people; serving as a renewing community of life and love; and supporting all people in their journey toward the Kingdom of God. Earlier parish bulletins (e.g., March 2012) also name two parish goals: maintaining inspiring and welcoming religious grounds that meet present and future needs, and promoting continual spiritual growth and fuller participation through renewal, evangelization, communication, and parish-school enrollment.
- Mission: 'A Catholic community of faithful stewards… committed to living fully a spiritual life.'
- Four ministry pillars: sacramental life, hospitality/generosity/faith/forgiveness, renewing community of life and love, journey toward the Kingdom of God.
- Parish Goal 1: Functional, inspiring, welcoming religious grounds for present and future needs.
- Parish Goal 2: Continual spiritual growth and fuller participation through renewal, evangelization, and communication.
History
St. John the Evangelist has been a presence in Wahpeton since at least the late 19th century: the parish school, now St. John's Academy, was founded in 1882, making it the oldest continuously operating Catholic school in North Dakota. By 1912 (the earliest parish bulletin available online) the parish already had three Sunday Masses, a Saturday vigil, deacons, a school, and a day care. Father George J. Mehok Jr. served as pastor for 39 years (1948–1987), and successive pastors — Rev. Dale Lagodinski (by 2012), Rev. Christopher Markman (mid-2010s), and now Rev. Gregory Haman with Parochial Vicar Rev. Robert Foertsch — have continued that ministry. The parish added a Spanish Mass to serve the area's Hispanic community and now engages in the National Eucharistic Revival.
- Parish school founded 1882 — oldest Catholic school still operating in North Dakota.
- Father George J. Mehok: pastor 1948–1987 (39 years).
- Rev. Dale Lagodinski: pastor by March 2012.
- Rev. Christopher Markman: pastor later in 2010s.
- Rev. Gregory Haman: current pastor.
- Rev. Robert Foertsch: current Parochial Vicar.
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Leadership
The parish is staffed by a pastor and parochial vicar, supported by a full parish office, school leadership, music ministry, and youth/young-adult formation staff. The day-to-day parish office is led by a Parish Life Coordinator/Secretary and an Office Assistant, with a separate Business Manager and Maintenance Supervisor. A Pastoral Council and Parish Lay Officers provide lay governance and pastoral counsel.
- Pastor: Rev. Gregory Haman
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Robert Foertsch
- Parish Life Coordinator / Secretary: Michelle Fehr
- Office Assistant: Ann Brandenburger
- Business Manager: Pat Keaveny (also listed in Music Ministry leadership)
- Music Ministry: Pat Keaveny
- Director of Youth and Young Adult Formation: Hayley Rice ([email protected])
- Principal: Joan Steckler
- School Secretary: Karrie Gregor
- Advancement Director: Melissa Sundquist (701-642-4922)
- Maintenance Supervisor: Brian Finnie
Faith Formation, Youth & Campus Ministry
Faith formation at St. John's spans the full life of the parish, from the parish school through youth programs, a dedicated Director of Youth and Young Adult Formation, and a Newman-style campus ministry serving students at North Dakota State College of Science across town. RCIA and First Eucharist/Confirmation preparation are advertised in parish bulletins, and the parish invites the un-baptized and those seeking full communion to inquire through the Parish Office.
- Director of Youth and Young Adult Formation: Hayley Rice
- Wahpeton Young Adults & Campus Ministry — Catholic presence at NDSCS
- RCIA: contact Parish Office (701-642-6982)
- First Eucharist / Confirmation preparation advertised seasonally
- Baptism preparation required for each new baby (experienced parents mentor new parents)
St. John's Academy (Parish School)
The parish's K-8 school — now known as St. John's Academy — was founded in 1882 and is recognized by the City of Wahpeton as the oldest Catholic school still in operation in the State of North Dakota. The school offers preschool options for 4- and 5-year-olds, full-day every-day kindergarten, and a comprehensive faith-based education through sixth grade (with eighth grade mentioned in the Academy's own mission statement). All faiths are welcome. The Academy pairs academic accreditation with a Virtue program, daily prayer, classroom priest visits, regular Mass, reconciliation, and Adoration, plus a middle-school Servant Leadership class.
- Founded 1882 — oldest continuously operating Catholic school in North Dakota
- Preschool for 4- and 5-year-olds, full-day kindergarten, grades 1–6 (and 7–8 per the Academy's mission statement)
- Vision: 'Recognized in our region as an institution that forms the whole child through an authentic Catholic education.'
- Mission: 'Academic excellence in a Catholic environment to inspire lives reflective of the Gospel.'
- Faith practices: morning/mealtime/end-of-day prayer, priest visits, Mass, reconciliation, Adoration
- Special celebrations: Grandparents' Day, First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, All Saints Day, Advent, Lent, Easter, May Crowning
- Principal: Joan Steckler (701-642-6116); School Secretary: Karrie Gregor
St. John's Day Care
The parish campus also houses St. John's Day Care, separately directed on-site, providing an additional faith-based care option for parish families. The day care is referenced in parish bulletins and on the parish phone listing alongside the school.
- Day Care (on the parish campus, separate director)
- Listed alongside St. John's Academy in parish bulletins
Music Ministry & Liturgical Life
Music Ministry at St. John the Evangelist is directed by Pat Keaveny, who also serves in parish business administration — a sign of how rooted lay liturgical leadership is in the parish. The parish celebrates a full sacramental life (12 Masses a week plus First Friday Adoration), actively participates in the National Eucharistic Revival, and livestreams at least one Mass for those unable to attend in person.
- Music Ministry Director: Pat Keaveny
- Livestream Mass via parish website
- First Friday Adoration with extended hours
Pastoral Council & Lay Leadership
Lay governance is part of the parish's identity. A Pastoral Council and Parish Lay Officers support the priests in setting direction and tending to parish life. The 2012 bulletin listed named council members and lay officers with phone numbers, illustrating the close-knit, personally known character of the parish community.
- Pastoral Council — provides counsel to the pastor
- Parish Lay Officers — coordinate parish-level lay leadership
- Active recruitment and stewardship of lay gifts is part of the parish mission statement
Eucharistic Revival & Devotional Life
The parish is participating in the United States' National Eucharistic Revival, a movement to restore understanding and devotion to the Eucharist. Locally, that commitment looks like five weekly Adoration windows — including an extended First Friday vigil — and a daily Mass schedule that exposes the parish to the Eucharist nearly every day of the week.
- Participating in the National Eucharistic Revival
- Five weekly Adoration windows plus extended First Friday Adoration
- Daily Mass Monday–Saturday (with school-year adjustments on Thursday)
Getting Involved & Contact
Newcomers are explicitly welcomed to register by contacting the Parish Office. The parish invites everyone — long-time residents, new arrivals, NDSCS students, and visitors — to take part in Mass, confession, Adoration, faith formation, and the parish school. Summer cookouts hosted by Fr. Haman and (formerly) Fr. Kuhn at the rectory are a current way for parishioners to meet their priests in an informal setting, and online payments and the parish bulletin are available through the website.
- Parish Office: 115 N 2nd St, Wahpeton, ND 58075-4505 — (701) 642-6982
- Office Hours (per 2012 bulletin): Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–Noon and 1:00–5:00 PM; Friday 1:00–3:00 PM (confirm current hours)
- Online Payments available via website
- Latest Bulletin and Newsletter published online
- Livestream Mass link on home page
- Registration: Contact Parish Office to register as a parishioner
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. George J. Mehok Jr.1948–1987
Longest-tenured modern pastor of St. John's (39 years). Czech-American priest ordained at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fargo, by Cardinal Aloisius Muench in 1937. Also served as Assistant Editor of The Catholic Action News (1938–1951). Died May 28, 1994 in Fargo. His research notes on early Fargo-diocese Catholic life are held at NDSU.
- Rev. Dale Lagodinski
Listed as pastor in the March 11, 2012 parish bulletin.
- Rev. Christopher Markman
Referenced as pastor in third-party listings during the 2010s.