About St. Joseph · Red Wing, Minnesota
The Church of St. Joseph is a Roman Catholic parish in Red Wing, Minnesota, part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Tracing its roots back to 1862 and dedicated under the patronage of Saint Joseph on Trinity Sunday 1865, the parish has served the Red Wing area for over 160 years. Today the parish offers weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, daily Mass in the chapel, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and a robust slate of ministries including youth ministry, faith formation, Stephen Ministry, Knights of Columbus, Latino Ministry, and a 150th-anniversary parish museum. Its mission is described on the website as 'Forming disciples to know, love, and serve God.'
- Established
- 1862
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Jose 'Ze' Cortes
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a long-standing, bilingual Catholic faith community (English and Spanish) rooted in Red Wing since 1865, with a daily Mass schedule, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and frequent Confession. Whether you want faith formation for children, a high school youth group, Latino Ministry outreach, walking with purpose or centering prayer small groups, Stephen Ministry, the Knights of Columbus, or simply a warm place to worship with a greeter and hospitality ministry — there is a real way to plug in. The parish also maintains Calvary Cemetery and a 150th-anniversary Parish Museum that reflects its deep history in the community.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:00 PM – 5:20 PM (before 5:30 PM Mass)
- Wednesday 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM (before 8:00 AM Mass)
- Thursday 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM (before 8:00 AM Mass)
- Friday 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM (before 8:00 AM Mass)
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM (before 5:00 PM Vigil Mass)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM (in the Chapel, following 8:00 AM Mass)
Parish Identity & Mission
The Church of St. Joseph describes itself as a Catholic Faith Community centered in the Eucharist and Gospel of Jesus Christ. Its parish vision is 'Forming disciples to know, love, and serve God,' and its parish mission commits the community to building a stronger parish, cultivating a greater Catholic presence in Red Wing and the surrounding area, and providing God's healing love to those in need. As disciples sent to transform the world, the parish commits to worship, grow, serve, connect, and give.
- Vision: Forming disciples to know, love, and serve God
- Mission: devoted to building a stronger parish community, cultivating a greater Catholic presence within Red Wing and the surrounding area, and providing God's healing love to all those in need
- Five commitments: worship, grow, serve, connect, give
Our History
St. Joseph's roots stretch back to 1858, when Father Felix Tissot began serving the 15 Catholic families of Red Wing from the surrounding mission. The first church — a modest wood-frame structure seating about 100 — was built in 1862 and dedicated under Saint Joseph's patronage on Trinity Sunday 1865. A larger stone church followed in 1877 under Father John N. Stariha, and the present sixteen-sided, circular church opened in January 1965 under Father H. Derham Ryan. Holy Family Hall was added in 2000, and a Parish Museum was established to mark the parish's 150th anniversary.
- 1862 – first wood-frame church built for 15 families
- Trinity Sunday 1865 – formal dedication under Saint Joseph by Bishop Thomas L. Grace
- 1865 – Father Christian J. Knauf becomes first resident pastor
- 1873 – original school erected
- 1877 – buff-colored stone church built (~400 seats)
- 1960 – new convent opens
- January 1965 – first Mass in present sixteen-sided church
- 2000 – Holy Family Hall added
- Parish Museum established at 150th anniversary
Parish Staff
The parish staff is led by Pastor Fr. Jose 'Ze' Cortes and supported by Deacon Marty Kulak, parish and faith-formation staff, and a music/liturgy team. The parish office can be reached at 651-388-1133; staff extensions route callers to the appropriate coordinator.
- Fr. Jose 'Ze' Cortes – Pastor (Ext. 4)
- Deacon Marty Kulak
- Alyssa Warner – Liturgy Coordinator (Ext. 6)
- Chris Hnasko – Faith Formation Coordinator (Ext. 7)
- Laura Kurzawski – Music Director (Ext. 6)
- Michelle Orso – Latino Ministry Coordinator (Ext. 5)
- Marty Kulak – (clergy/staff)
- Bryan Jacobson – Parish Business Administrator
- Jeff Link – Youth Ministry Coordinator (Ext. 3)
- Missy Kluesner – Administrative Assistant (Ext. 2)
- Janitor Custodian (Ext. 8)
- Maintenance Custodian (Ext. 8)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments; the website provides detailed pages for Baptism, Reconciliation, Confirmation, and Marriage. Baptisms are celebrated at no cost, with Godparent requirements and a baptism registration form available; Reconciliation is prepared in the second grade as part of Faith Formation K-8; Confirmation is a two-year program typically completed in grades 9-10; couples should contact the parish office at least six months in advance of a wedding.
- Baptism – free; registration form and birth certificate required; Fr. Brandon must be available
- First Reconciliation – 2nd grade through Faith Formation K-8
- First Eucharist – after Reconciliation instruction
- Confirmation – two-year program, 9th-10th grade
- Marriage – contact parish office ≥6 months ahead; Wedding Welcome Packet available
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Children prepare for the sacraments through the parish Faith Formation K-8 program; First Reconciliation is received in second grade. Youth ministry includes the High School Youth Group (HSYG) for students entering grades 8-12, with monthly meetings, plus a Wednesday Youth Group that meets 5:30-7:30 PM on Faith Formation nights. The annual Extreme Faith Camp is offered for grades 6-12.
- Faith Formation K-8
- First Reconciliation preparation in 2nd grade
- Confirmation preparation in 9th-10th grade
- High School Youth Group (grades 8-12)
- Wednesday Youth Group 5:30-7:30 PM on Faith Formation nights
- Extreme Faith Camp (grades 6-12)
Parish Ministries & Small Groups
The parish lists a wide range of affiliated ministries organized around prayer, service to others, care for creation, and liturgical support. Small-group options include Centering Prayer, Walking with Purpose, Seven Sisters Apostolate, Scripture Study, and a Church Prayer Team. Service-oriented ministries include Stephen Ministry, Grief Ministry, Homebound Ministry, Funeral Ministry, and Hospitality after Mass.
- Knights of Columbus
- Centering Prayer Group
- Walking with Purpose (Young Women's Group)
- Seven Sisters Apostolate
- Scripture Study
- Church Prayer Team
- Stephen Ministry
- Grief Ministry
- Homebound Ministry
- Funeral Ministry
- Green Thumb Team
- Care for Creation
- Hospitality Ministry after Mass
- Mass Greeter
Liturgical Ministries & Music
Parishioners serve Mass as Cantors or Choir Members, Accompanists/Musicians, Eucharist Ministers, Lectors/Readers, Sacristans, Mass Coordinators, and Mass Greeters. The parish's liturgical focus during the Synod Year 2 has been on the Eucharist, with increased opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration, reflections and teachings through small groups, and 'Catholicism 101' Q&A sessions led by Fr. Brandon and Deacon Marty.
- Cantor or Choir Member
- Accompanist/Musician
- Eucharist Minister
- Lector/Reader
- Sacristan
- Mass Coordinator
- Mass Greeter
- Music Director: Laura Kurzawski
- Liturgy Coordinator: Alyssa Warner
- Year-2 Synod focus: the Eucharist and the Mass
Latino Ministry
St. Joseph offers a Sunday Spanish-language Mass at 11:00 AM and a dedicated Latino Ministry Coordinator on staff. The parish welcomes Spanish-speaking Catholics from Red Wing and the surrounding area to participate in parish life and sacramental preparation.
- Spanish Mass: Sunday 11:00 AM
- Latino Ministry Coordinator: Michelle Orso (Ext. 5)
- Parish email: [email protected]
Calvary Cemetery
Located on Highway 58 on the south side of Red Wing, Calvary Cemetery spans more than twenty acres of rolling, partially-wooded land and holds 1,760 known graves. The original land was purchased from Vital Bouiere, a Sioux Indian, in 1868; its title then went to Bishop Grace of the Diocese of St. Paul. The first burial took place in 1868. Many of the earliest burial records were lost to fire, but most still exist and are available. Additional land was later purchased from the Joseph and Helen Zignego family. The Cemetery is administered by a Board of Trustees made up of the St. Joseph Parish Priest, the Parish Administrator, the Cemetery Administrator, and several volunteer members, and is supported by parishioner contributions, Perpetual Care Investments, and the sale of plots, burials, and the Flower Fund.
- Location: Highway 58, south side of Red Wing
- More than 20 acres; 1,760 known graves
- Original land purchased from Vital Bouiere in 1868
- Title passed to Bishop Grace, Diocese of St. Paul
- First burial: 1868
- Additional land acquired from Joseph and Helen Zignego family
- Board of Trustees: Parish Priest, Parish Administrator, Cemetery Administrator, volunteer members
Parish Museum
In celebration of the Church of St. Joseph's 150th Anniversary, a Parish Museum was established to showcase historically significant items from across the parish's many decades of life.
- Established to mark the parish's 150th anniversary
- Showcases historically significant parish items
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
The church is located at 435 W 7th Street, Red Wing, MN 55066, with the parish office and mailing address at 426 8th Street, Red Wing, MN 55066. The office is open Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-1:00 PM and the church building is open during the same hours. Inquiries can be directed to [email protected] or 651-388-1133. Those interested in ministries are invited to contact the parish office to be put in touch with ministry leaders and learn meeting times.
- Church: 435 W 7th Street, Red Wing, MN 55066
- Office/Mailing: 426 8th Street, Red Wing, MN 55066
- Phone: 651-388-1133
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM-1:00 PM
- Church open: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM-1:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Felix Tissot1858-1862 (traveling priest)
Organized the committee that built the first church; served the 15 Catholic families of Red Wing from the surrounding mission.
- Father Christian J. Knauf1865-
First resident pastor, beginning August 1865 after the church's dedication on Trinity Sunday.
- Father John N. Stariha1877-
Built the larger buff-colored stone church (capacity ~400), described as the grandest in Red Wing at the time.
- Father H. Derham Ryan
Directed construction of the present sixteen-sided church (first Mass January 1965) and the new convent (1960).