About St. John Vianney · South Saint Paul, Minnesota
Church of St. John Vianney is a Roman Catholic parish in South St. Paul, Minnesota, belonging to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Founded in 1946 in the post-war boom that established 11 parishes in a single year — the most in the archdiocese's history — it grew from Masses celebrated in the lodge at Kaposia Park to a combined church-and-school completed in 1955 that still serves the parish today. The community is known for its extensive religious education programs, active pastoral outreach, weekday adoration, and an unusually broad roster of lay-led ministries run by more than 50 weekend volunteers.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- St. John Vianney (Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, the Curé d'Ars)
- Rector
- Fr. Antony Skaria, CFIC
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. John Vianney is a medium-sized, volunteer-driven parish where more than fifty parishioners serve at each weekend's liturgies, and where the same hands-on spirit shows up in everything from a parish Pig Roast and SJV Feast Day to Mobile Meals delivery and Reduce-Reuse Sales. It offers daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses, non-perpetual Eucharistic adoration, a robust K-8 religious education program and Confirmation preparation, an active Knights of Columbus council, prayer groups and a Fatima Cell, plus concrete outreach like Feed My Starving Children packing, Project Home, Neighbors ministry, and Senior Contact visits. For Catholics in South St. Paul looking for a parish that still runs on personal involvement and visible community care, SJV is exactly that kind of church.
Mass times at St. John Vianney
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 7:30–8:00 AM
- Friday 7:30–8:00 AM
- Saturday 4:00 PM (also listed as 4:00–4:50 PM on archdiocesan page)
- Anytime by appointment — call 651-451-1863
Adoration times
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament — non-perpetual (scheduled days, typically Wednesday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, with sign-up at the Welcome Desk; check weekly bulletin for the current week's schedule)
Parish History
Saint John Vianney parish was founded in 1946 in South St. Paul as one of eleven parishes established that year in the Archdiocese of St. Paul — the most in any single year of the archdiocese's history. Its founding pastor, Father Harold E. Whittet, was a WWII Army chaplain whom Archbishop John Murray rewarded with the new parish under his policy of placing returning chaplains in their own parishes. The community first worshipped at the lodge in Kaposia Park, then in a frame church built from two salvaged Army barracks (completed April 1947), then in the present combined church-and-school building (completed 1955) with the rectory and offices added in 1960. The original 1947 church was repurposed for many years as a convent for the Sisters of St. Casimir who staffed the school. The parish marked its 75th anniversary in 2021.
- Founded 1946
- First Mass — Kaposia Park lodge
- First church completed April 1947 (Army-barrack construction)
- 1950 — basement roller rink built as fundraiser
- 1955 — combined church and school completed (current church building)
- 1960 — rectory and office building added
- Old frame church used as convent for the Sisters of St. Casimir
- 75th anniversary celebrated 2021
Mission, Vision & Pastoral Identity
The parish states on its website: 'The Saint John Vianney Catholic Church welcomes all to celebrate and live as the Body of Christ. We embrace our commitment to continue this founding legacy, care for future generations, and advance the Kingdom of God.' Its vision is to be 'a dynamic and growing parish' through worship, service, welcoming new members, pastoral care, and stewardship. The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis describes St. John Vianney today as 'a growing and active parish, known for its extensive religious education programs and pastoral outreach to the community.'
- Welcomes all to celebrate and live as the Body of Christ
- Cares for future generations and advances the Kingdom of God
- Fivefold vision: faith and worship, service, welcoming, pastoral care, stewardship
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is served by a small staff of clergy and lay employees. Fr. Antony Skaria, CFIC, is the current pastor. Deacon Scott Wright assists in the office on Tuesday mornings and coordinates Baptism and RCIA preparation. Grace Rauchwarter serves as Director of Religious Education, Lori Lencowski as Director of Music, LouAnn Goossens as Parish Assistant, Patrick (Pat) Dold as Accountant, and Kent Trkla as Maintenance.
- Pastor — Fr. Antony Skaria, CFIC ([email protected])
- Deacon — Scott Wright ([email protected])
- Director of Religious Education — Grace Rauchwarter
- Director of Music — Lori Lencowski
- Parish Assistant — LouAnn Goossens
- Accountant — Patrick (Pat) Dold
- Maintenance — Kent Trkla
- Community of Saints liaison — Bridget Kramer
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's faith-formation program is led by Director of Religious Education Grace Rauchwarter. Sunday-morning catechetical classes meet for one hour at 9:15 AM for youth in grades K-8, running from late September through late April each year. First Reconciliation and First Communion are prepared for in Grade 2 (family-based preparation), and Confirmation is prepared for in Grade 8. Adult faith formation and RCIA (the 'Become Catholic' process) are offered throughout the year on an as-needed basis; inquiries go through the parish office or Deacon Scott Wright. The parish is always looking for new catechists.
- K-8 Religious Education — Sundays 9:15 AM, Sept–April
- First Reconciliation / First Communion — Grade 2, family-based
- Confirmation — Grade 8
- Adult Faith Formation
- RCIA — Become Catholic (Deacon Scott Wright)
- Catechist recruitment ongoing
Liturgical Ministries
Each weekend Mass at St. John Vianney requires more than 50 volunteers. Liturgical ministries include greeters, ushers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, music ministry/choir, and church decorators. The parish notes that volunteers 'bless us with their talents and time' to ensure a spiritually fulfilling worship experience; inquiries go through Jill Vujovich-Laabs (liturgical coordinator) or the parish office at 651-451-1863.
- Greeters
- Ushers
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Altar Servers
- Music / Choir (Director Lori Lencowski)
- Decorations
Outreach, Charity & Community Life
St. John Vianney runs an unusually wide range of lay-led outreach and fellowship ministries, many coordinated by named parishioner volunteers. These include Mobile Meals delivery, Project Home, Feed My Starving Children packing events, the Neighbors ministry, Senior Contact visits, Community Care/Life, Coffee & Donuts after Mass, Funeral Luncheons, the Knights of Columbus, Crafters nights, the annual Reduce-Reuse (Rummage) Sale, the Bake Sale, SpringFest, and the parish Pig Roast / SJV Feast Day. The parish is one of the founding member communities of Community of Saints, a regional Catholic school collaborative.
- Mobile Meals
- Project Home
- Feed My Starving Children
- Neighbors Ministry
- Senior Contact
- Community Care / Life (Deb Luskey)
- Knights of Columbus
- Coffee & Donuts
- Funeral Luncheons
- Reduce-Reuse / Rummage Sale
- Bake Sale, SpringFest, Pig Roast / SJV Feast Day
- Crafters Night
- Community of Saints regional school collaboration
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments and lists preparation pathways on its site. Baptisms are coordinated through the parish office (and Deacon Scott Wright). First Reconciliation is typically celebrated in spring as part of family-based preparation that runs alongside First Communion (Grade 2). Confirmation is prepared for in Grade 8. RCIA welcomes adults seeking Baptism, Eucharist, or full communion with the Catholic Church. Weddings, anointing of the sick, and funeral liturgies are coordinated through the office.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation & First Communion (Grade 2)
- Confirmation (Grade 8)
- Eucharist
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- RCIA — Becoming Catholic
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders — referrals through the diocese
- Funeral Liturgy
Contact, Location & Visiting
The parish office is located at 789 17th Avenue North, South St. Paul, MN 55075, with a parking lot off 17th Avenue North. The church itself sits at 840 19th Avenue North, with its parking lot off 19th Avenue North (some records also list 1815 Bromley Street as a parish address). The mailing/office phone is (651) 451-1863, fax (651) 451-1864. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–3:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM–noon. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
- Office: 789 17th Ave N, South St. Paul, MN 55075
- Church: 840 19th Ave N, South St. Paul, MN 55075
- Phone: 651-451-1863
- Fax: 651-451-1864
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–3 PM, Fri 9 AM–12 PM
- Office parking off 17th Ave N
- Church parking off 19th Ave N
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Harold E. Whittet1947–1968
Founding pastor of St. John Vianney. A WWII U.S. Army chaplain who had studied at the American College in Louvain, Belgium, and was ordained in June 1940. He oversaw construction of the first church (from Army barracks, completed April 1947), the fundraising roller rink (1950), the combined church and school (1955), and the rectory/office building (1960). Subsequently pastor of St. Rose of Lima in Roseville, MN, before retiring in 1977.
- Fr. Antony Skaria, CFICpresent
Current pastor; a member of the CFIC religious institute. Listed as pastor in parish bulletins from at least 2019 onward.