About St. Joseph · Taylors Falls, Minnesota
The Church of St. Joseph is a small Roman Catholic parish in Taylors Falls, Minnesota, clustered with the Church of St. Francis Xavier in nearby Shafer as a two-church parish within the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. St. Joseph sits at 490 Bench Street overlooking the St. Croix River Valley, while the parish office operates out of 540 River Street. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass, weekday and Saturday confessions, Friday Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation for K–12, men's and women's groups, and a summer Vacation Bible School and teen retreat program, serving the Catholics of Taylors Falls and the surrounding Chisago County valley.
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. John Drees
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers the rhythm of a classic small-town Catholic parish — daily 7:30 am Mass, a robust confession schedule every weekday morning, Saturday, and Sunday, and Friday Eucharistic Adoration from 8 am to noon. The parish walks with families through every stage of faith: Baptism and marriage preparation with Fr. Drees, RCIA-style individual preparation for those becoming Catholic, K–12 religious education under Director Julie Novak, a summer Vacation Bible School, and Teen Summer Days including retreats and pilgrimages. Active Men's and Women's groups, a prayer network, and the cluster partnership with St. Francis Xavier in Shafer make this a welcoming community in the St. Croix Valley.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:00 AM – 7:20 AM (St. Joseph)
- Monday – Friday 7:00 AM – 7:25 AM (St. Joseph)
- Friday 11:00 AM – 11:55 AM (St. Joseph)
- 1st Saturday 8:00 AM – 8:25 AM (St. Joseph)
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM (St. Joseph)
- By appointment by calling Fr. Drees at 651-465-7345 ext. 3
Adoration times
- Friday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (St. Joseph)
Parish History
Catholicism came to the Taylors Falls area in 1868 when Father Murray of Stillwater traveled by steamboat up the St. Croix River to celebrate Mass for half a dozen families gathered in a private home. After his death in 1870, Fathers Murphy, Cipher of Hudson, and Chrisostem of St. Paul continued the rounds. Despite the post-Civil War depression, the pioneers built their first church in 1877 on a hill donated by Anton Beyer; Henry Thone donated a yoke of oxen as the carpenter's pay. The building was moved down the hill to its present Bench Street location in 1950, enlarged and beautified over time, with a rectory built next door near the river. Father Albert J. Shanley, M.S., served both St. Joseph and St. Francis Xavier for 40 years (1969-2007), an extraordinary pastorate that shaped the modern parish.
- First Mass celebrated by Father Murray (Stillwater) in 1868
- First church built in 1877 on hill donated by Anton Beyer
- First Mass in the new church celebrated by Father Wilkes in 1877
- First recorded wedding: Mr. Rochel and Miss Terriell of Panola, 1892
- Church building moved down the hill to Bench Street in 1950
- Fr. Albert J. Shanley served 40 years (1969-2007)
Parish Staff & Contacts
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. John Drees, supported by an Office Administrator & Safe Environment Coordinator and a Director of Religious Education. Lay ministers coordinate the prayer networks and Eucharistic Adoration.
- Pastor: Fr. John Drees — [email protected], ext. 3 (emergency ext. 9)
- Office Administrator & Safe Environment Coordinator: Troy Aanonsen — [email protected], ext. 2
- Director of Religious Education: Julie Novak — [email protected], 715-977-2031
- Prayer Network (St. Joseph): Parish Office, ext. 2
- Prayer Network (St. Francis Xavier): Rose Ann Hawley, 651-275-5930
- Eucharistic Adoration Coordinator: Marilyn Strege, 763-425-7574
Religious Education & Youth
The parish's faith formation program begins in Kindergarten and continues through High School, under the direction of Julie Novak. Registration for the 2026-2027 year is open online. In summer, the parish offers Catholic Vacation Bible School for children entering K-5 and Teen Summer Days for those entering grades 6-12, including a retreat day at Skonewood Christian Retreat and a pilgrimage to three religious communities in the Twin Cities.
- Religious Education K-12
- Director: Julie Novak (715-977-2031)
- Catholic VBS 2026: August 4-5, 9 AM-3 PM, theme 'Discovery Mission! All about Vocations!'
- Teen Summer Days: June 24 retreat day at Skonewood; August 12 pilgrimage to Twin Cities religious communities
Men's and Women's Ministry
Two active small-group ministries anchor adult spiritual life. The Men's Group meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday from 7:30-8:30 PM in the Church Office Basement. The Women's Ministry runs a 5-week 'Growing in Virtue' retreat through the Acts of the Apostles on Tuesday mornings, with attendees welcome to join 7:30 AM Mass and rosary beforehand.
- Men's Group: 1st & 3rd Thursday, 7:30-8:30 PM, Church Office Basement
- Growing in Virtue Women's Group: Tuesdays, April 21 – May 24, 2026, 8:45-9:45 AM
- Contact for Women's group: Misty Marshall, 651-260-0805
Becoming Catholic
Those interested in joining the Catholic Church are welcomed to reach out directly to Fr. Drees. The parish typically offers individual preparation rather than a group RCIA process, allowing flexibility in scheduling and a pace suited to each inquirer.
- Contact Fr. John Drees at 651-465-7345 ext. 3 or [email protected]
- Individual preparation tailored to each person
Sacraments
All sacramental preparation begins with a conversation with Fr. Drees. The Anointing of the Sick is available for those facing serious illness, surgery, or imminent danger of death — with a dedicated pastoral emergency line (ext. 9) for urgent situations.
- Baptism – meet with Fr. Drees to schedule
- Marriage – contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick – contact Fr. Drees for serious illness or surgery
- Pastoral emergency line: 651-465-7345 ext. 9
Cluster Parish: St. Francis Xavier, Shafer
St. Joseph is clustered with the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Shafer, MN (25267 Redwing Avenue), forming one parish family served by a single pastor and shared staff. St. Francis Xavier contributes an additional Sunday Mass at 9:15 AM, and parishioners may register with either church.
- Church of St. Francis Xavier — 25267 Redwing Avenue, Shafer, MN 55074
- Sunday Mass at SFX: 9:15 AM
- Shared pastor and religious education program
- Registration form allows choosing either St. Joseph or St. Francis Xavier
Visit & Contact
Visitors and parishioners are welcomed at the parish office at 540 River Street, Taylors Falls, open Monday-Thursday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM. The mailing address is PO Box 234, Taylors Falls, MN 55084. Bulletin, devotions, Formed.org, Catholic Health Care Directives, and other resources are linked from the parish website.
- Parish office: 540 River Street, Taylors Falls, MN 55084
- Office hours: Mon-Thu 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Phone: 651-465-7345
- Email: [email protected]
- Resources page: Parish Bulletins, Devotions, Formed.org, Catholic Health Care Directives
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francis Shea1948-1950
Pastor during the era when the church was moved to its present location.
- Father Oscar Winzerling1950-196?
- Father Francis Dudley1960-196?
- Father Thaddeus Koziol1961-1966
- Father Jerome Strei1966-1968
- Father Raymond Reed1968-1969
- Father Albert J. Shanley, M.S.1969-2007
Born January 2, 1914 in New Haven, CT; ordained December 17, 1938 at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome; WWII U.S. Army chaplain; served both St. Joseph and St. Francis Xavier for 40 years; master gardener and artist; died March 18, 2007 at age 93.
- Father Daniel Bodin2008-2011
Born February 19, 1970 in Watertown, MN; ordained May 28, 2005 for the Archdiocese; first assignment St. John Neumann, Eagan; named pastor Feb. 1, 2008; left July 1, 2011 to study canon law at Catholic University of America.
- Father Frank Wampach2011-2017
Served as pastor to both St. Francis Xavier and St. Joseph from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2017.
- Father John Drees2017-Present
Began as parochial administrator to both parishes on July 1, 2017; installed as Pastor on July 9, 2020.