About St. Joseph · Rosemount, Minnesota
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis located in Rosemount, Minnesota, serving approximately 2,000 families in the south-metro Twin Cities area. The parish was formally established on Sunday, August 30, 1868, when Bishop Thomas Grace dedicated its first wood-frame church between Rosemount and Lakeville, and today worships in its fourth church building, completed in 2003. The parish is also home to St. Joseph Catholic School (Preschool through Grade 8), founded in 1953 and long staffed by the Sisters of St. Agnes, with a new school building opened in 2009. Under current pastor Fr. Paul Kammen and Parish Director Ryan Heim, St. Joseph's mission is summed up on the parish website: "We Say Yes to God through Prayer, Worship & Service."
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Paul Kammen
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers the full sacramental and pastoral life of a large, family-oriented Catholic parish: four weekend Masses (including a live-streamed Saturday vigil), daily Mass Monday through Friday, Saturday confessions, monthly First-Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and a thriving Catholic school (Preschool through Grade 8). Families are supported through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Ages 3–12), the Word of Life Scripture program (K–8), the Chosen Confirmation prep program (Grade 9+), and scholarships so no child is turned away from faith formation. With a pastor and parish director personally listed on the website, a Pastoral Care & Outreach office led by a deacon, and a parish mission of "Prayer, Worship & Service," St. Joseph is built for parishioners who want to know their priests, raise their children in the faith, and serve a community of roughly 2,000 families.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 3:30 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- First Friday of each month, 9:00–10:00 AM (Eucharistic Adoration after the 8:30 AM Mass)
History of St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph's Parish traces its founding to August 30, 1868, when Bishop Thomas Grace dedicated the first wood-frame church built between the communities of Rosemount and Lakeville. The parish grew out of the faith of about ten founding families — Irish and German Catholic immigrants — who pooled their labor and treasure to put up a house of worship roughly three miles from the present church. That first church was leveled by a cyclone in 1881 and rebuilt the following year; over the next century the parish built two more churches, with the current (fourth) church completed in 2003, exactly 135 years after the 1868 dedication.
- Founded August 30, 1868 by Bishop Thomas Grace
- First church (1868) destroyed by cyclone in 1881; rebuilt 1882
- Parish school established 1953, long led by the Sisters of St. Agnes
- New school building opened 2009
- Current (fourth) church completed 2003
- Today the parish serves about 2,000 families
- Parish website features a Timeline of Pastors & Churches
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Leadership
The parish is led by Fr. Paul Kammen, Pastor, who also serves in a chaplaincy role to St. Joseph Catholic School. Day-to-day parish operations are coordinated by Ryan Heim, Parish Director. Pastoral Care & Outreach is led by Deacon Gordon Bird, who can be reached at 651-313-8493. The administrative team includes roles for Database & Finance, Safe Environment Coordination, Engagement, and Reception/Administrative Support.
- Fr. Paul Kammen — Pastor (651-313-8466, [email protected])
- Ryan Heim — Parish Director (651-313-8468, [email protected])
- Deacon Gordon Bird — Director of Pastoral Care & Outreach (651-313-8493)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Joseph's faith formation program "exists to support families in forming missionary disciples of Jesus Christ," blending evangelizing catechesis with a small-group, community-based approach. Three main tracks serve children and youth from Age 3 through Grade 12. Scholarships and financial assistance are available so no child is denied faith formation due to financial hardship.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Ages 3–12): Montessori-based atrium program, Levels I–III
- Word of Life by Augustine Institute (Grades K–8): Scripture-centered
- Chosen by Ascension Press (Grade 9+): Confirmation preparation
- Small Group Fees: 1 Child $125, 2 Children $225, 3+ Children $300
- Sacrament Fees: $75 per child
- Scholarships available — contact the Director of Formation
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-based approach to religious formation rooted in Scripture and liturgy. Children work with hands-on materials in a sacred, prayerful environment called the atrium, fostering a sense of wonder, contemplation, and a personal relationship with Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Students must complete Level I-B before entering Level II, and Level II before entering Level III.
- Level I (Ages 3 through Kindergarten): Sundays 8:15–9:45 AM and 10:15–11:45 AM
- Level II (Grades 1–3): Tuesdays 4:15–5:45 PM, Tuesdays 6:00–7:30 PM, Wednesdays 6:00–7:30 PM
- Level III (Grades 4–6): Tuesdays 6:00–7:30 PM
Word of Life (K–8)
Word of Life is a Scripture-centered program from the Augustine Institute that helps children understand God's plan of salvation and how their lives fit into the story of Scripture. Through engaging presentations, discussion, prayer, and activities, participants grow in knowledge of the faith and are invited into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Grades K–5: Wednesdays 5:00–6:00 PM
- Grades 6–8: Wednesdays 6:30–7:30 PM
Chosen Confirmation Prep (Grade 9+)
Chosen by Ascension Press is a comprehensive Catholic discipleship program for middle and high school youth preparing for Confirmation. Through engaging videos, discussion, prayer, and authentic witnesses, teens encounter Christ, explore Church teaching, ask real questions, and grow in faith, confidence, and missionary identity within a loving parish community and their families.
- Grades 9+: Wednesdays 6:30–7:30 PM
St. Joseph Catholic School
St. Joseph School serves Preschool, Elementary (K–5), and Middle School (6–8) students on the parish campus, with a mission of preparing youth to be leaders in their community. The school was established in 1953 and was under the leadership of the Sisters of St. Agnes for many years; the current school building opened in 2009. The principal was recognized with the 2026 Roche leadership award.
- Preschool, Elementary (K–5), Middle School (6–8)
- School founded 1953; new building opened 2009
- Historically led by the Sisters of St. Agnes
- Pastor Fr. Paul Kammen serves as chaplain (ext. 3227)
- Registration for the 2026–2027 school year is open
- School Office: 651-423-1658
Sacraments & Life Events
The parish's Sacraments & Life-Events page is the entry point for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and other sacramental preparation. Anointing of the Sick is scheduled through the Parish Office (651-423-4402). The parish also maintains a Safe Environment program, coordinated through its administrative staff.
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 3:30 PM or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick: by appointment, 651-423-4402
- Eucharistic Adoration: First Fridays, 9:00–10:00 AM
- Sacramental preparation for Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage
- Safe Environment Coordinator on staff
Pastoral Care & Outreach
Pastoral Care & Outreach is led by Deacon Gordon Bird, who serves as a Deacon and as the Director of Pastoral Care & Outreach. The office coordinates the parish's care for the sick, homebound, bereaved, and others in need, and serves as a point of contact for parishioners seeking pastoral support.
- Deacon Gordon Bird — Director of Pastoral Care & Outreach
- Phone: 651-313-8493
- Coordinated Anointing of the Sick by appointment
Visit, Contact & Directions
St. Joseph Community is located at 13900 Biscayne Ave W, Rosemount, MN 55068. The Parish Office is open Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–4:30 PM (summer hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–4:30 PM, Friday 8:00 AM–12:00 noon). Driving directions are provided for visitors coming from the West, East, South, and North via County Road 42, Hwy 3 (Robert Trail), and Connemara Trail W. The 5:00 PM Saturday Vigil Mass is live-streamed online for those unable to attend in person.
- Address: 13900 Biscayne Ave W, Rosemount, MN 55068
- Parish Office: 651-423-4402
- Email: [email protected]
- Saturday Vigil Mass live-streamed on the parish website
- Map & directions page lists routes from all four cardinal directions