About St. Jude of the Lake · Mahtomedi, Minnesota
St. Jude of the Lake is a Roman Catholic parish in Mahtomedi, Minnesota, on the eastern shore of White Bear Lake, in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Founded in 1940 and rooted in a community that built itself through shared fundraising dinners, the parish today operates a thriving PreK–Grade 8 Catholic school, a Discovery Center daycare, faith formation programs, and a wide range of family and outreach ministries. Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday evening and twice on Sunday, and the parish is known for its warm hospitality, Eucharistic Adoration, and its sponsorship of missionary work by Fr. Gabriel in Eastern Ghana.
- Established
- 1940
- Patron
- St. Jude (Thaddaeus)
- Rector
- Fr. Michael Johnson
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Jude of the Lake is a tightly-knit Catholic community on the eastern shore of White Bear Lake where, as parishioners like to say, 'everybody's related to everybody.' Families find a full life of faith here: weekend and daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays and First Fridays, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, First Saturday devotions, a vibrant PreK–Grade 8 Catholic school and Discovery Center daycare, faith formation for children in other schools, youth ministry and Confirmation preparation, men's and women's groups, and active outreach through the parish food shelf, hospital ministry, and sponsorship of Fr. Gabriel's mission in Eastern Ghana.
Mass times at St. Jude of the Lake
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday: 8:15 AM – 8:45 AM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM (also listed 3:30–4:30 PM on the parish's third-party schedule)
- First Saturday: 7:45 AM – 8:45 AM (during Holy Hour)
- Appointments may be arranged by contacting the parish office
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 12:00 PM (Noon) – 5:30 PM Benediction
- First Friday: 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM Benediction
- First Saturday: 7:45 AM – 8:45 AM (Confession & Adoration, before 9:00 AM Mass)
Parish History
St. Jude of the Lake was founded in 1939–1940 to serve Catholics on the east side of White Bear Lake, who had previously traveled by streetcar to St. Peter in North St. Paul or attended Mass in a local high school gym. The first baptism (Robert Campbell) and first wedding (Sigurd Hansen and Catherine Conniff) both occurred on December 26, 1939. Construction began in April 1940 under founding pastor Fr. James Cronin, and the school opened 15 years later in 1955. A parish history book by Eileen Berger was published for the 50th anniversary in 1984, and in October 2009 the parish marked its 70th anniversary with a Mass led by Archbishop John Nienstedt, an all-school reunion, and the premiere of a 20-minute documentary organized by Phyllis Harding and the Parish History Project.
- Founded 1939–1940; church construction began April 1940
- Founding pastor: Fr. James Cronin
- First baptism: Robert Campbell, Dec. 26, 1939
- First wedding: Sigurd Hansen & Catherine Conniff, Dec. 26, 1939
- School opened 1955 (15 years after the parish)
- 50th-anniversary history book by Eileen Berger, 1984
- 70th anniversary celebrated Oct. 24–25, 2009 with Archbishop Nienstedt
St. Jude of the Lake Catholic School
The parish school serves Pre-K through Grade 8 and is led by Principal Dave Thorton. A 2026 stakeholders' magazine highlights the Blessing Box (student-led service project), the Discovery Center daycare, middle-school house-system leadership and retreats, LINKS life-skills courses, the MinnDEPENDENT aquaponics science lab, and the Trout in the Classroom watershed program in partnership with a Minnesota Watershed Grant. Recent productions include Seussical the Musical, and extracurriculars span soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, swimming, golf, pickleball, and tennis.
- Grades Pre-K – 8
- Principal: Dave Thorton
- Blessing Box student-led ministry
- Discovery Center daycare (16 months through Pre-K)
- MinnDEPENDENT aquaponics lab supporting the food shelf
- Trout in the Classroom (Minnesota Watershed Grant)
- Middle school house system & retreats
- LINKS life-skills courses
- Annual musical (e.g., Seussical)
- Athletics: soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, swimming, golf, pickleball, tennis
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Beyond the parish school, St. Jude of the Lake offers Faith Formation for families whose children attend other schools, plus sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. During Sunday Masses in the school year, the parish offers Liturgy of the Word for Children, 'Church Time Totes' at the church entrances, and a Joyful Noise room for younger children who may be disruptive.
- Faith Formation for children in non-parish schools
- Sacramental preparation (Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation)
- Liturgy of the Word for Children (Sunday, school year)
- Church Time Totes at entrances
- Joyful Noise room for young children
Youth, Young Adult & Confirmation Ministry
Youth ministry and Confirmation preparation are coordinated by Michael Holdorph, the parish's Youth & Young Adult and Confirmation Coordinator. The program supports teens and young adults in continuing their faith formation beyond the elementary years and completing the Sacrament of Confirmation.
- Youth & Young Adult Ministry
- Confirmation preparation
- Coordinator: Michael Holdorph
Music Ministry
Music Ministry at St. Jude of the Lake is led by Director of Music Ministry Christina Malloy. Volunteers serve in the choir and in supporting roles at weekend and liturgical celebrations.
- Director: Christina Malloy
- Choir and liturgical music support
Outreach & Service
Outreach is central to parish identity. Parishioners staff a parish food shelf coordinated by Kathy Giuliano and serve in hospital and funeral ministries. The parish also sponsors the missionary work of Fr. Gabriel in Eastern Ghana. The school supports a student-led Blessing Box and helps stock the parish food shelf from the school aquaponics harvest.
- Parish Food Shelf (Coordinator: Kathy Giuliano)
- Hospital Ministry
- Funeral Ministry
- Blessing Box (student-led)
- Sponsorship of Fr. Gabriel's mission in Eastern Ghana
- Food-shelf stocking through school aquaponics harvest
Community Life & Fellowship
St. Jude is known for its warm, food-centered community life. Sunday Fellowship is held in Kohler Hall (downstairs from the church) after the 9:00 and 11:00 Masses on most Sundays, hosted by ministry groups, school families, or parishioners. Large-group Men's Night and Women's Group gatherings help parishioners connect around shared interests.
- Sunday Fellowship after 9:00 & 11:00 Masses in Kohler Hall
- Men's Night
- Women's Group
- House blessings by Fr. Michael, Fr. John, or Deacon Frank
Parish School Fundraising & Events
Parishioners are invited to support two signature fundraisers — the Spring Gala and Cornfest — along with a Golf Tournament and Serve-A-Thon (ending on the parish feast day, October 28). The Home & School Committee meets the first Friday of each month at 9:15 AM at Wild Bean Coffee Shop.
- Spring Gala
- Cornfest
- Annual Golf Tournament
- Serve-A-Thon (concludes on feast day, October 28)
- Christmas Market, Restaurant Nights, Spirit Wear sales
- Home & School Committee (Co-Chairs Lauren Auge & Gina Anderson)
Parish Staff & Contacts
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Michael Johnson alongside Associate Pastor Fr. John and Deacon Frank Pavlick. Celina Sheppeck serves as Director of Formation & Mission; Ben Vasko as Business Administrator; Dave Thorton as School Principal; Mary Scherber as Bookkeeper; Christina Malloy as Director of Music Ministry; Michael Holdorph as Youth & Young Adult and Confirmation Coordinator; Lisa Moriarity in Maintenance; Kathy Giuliano as Food Shelf Coordinator; plus an Office & Safe Environment Coordinator.
- Pastor: Fr. Michael Johnson
- Associate Pastor: Fr. John
- Deacon Frank Pavlick
- Director of Formation & Mission: Celina Sheppeck
- Business Administrator: Ben Vasko
- School Principal: Dave Thorton
- Director of Music Ministry: Christina Malloy
- Youth & Young Adult & Confirmation Coordinator: Michael Holdorph
- Food Shelf Coordinator: Kathy Giuliano
St. Jude 101 — Getting Involved
The parish publishes a 'St. Jude 101' list of ten ways to experience greater belonging: register as parishioners, sign up for online giving, complete sacraments (RCIA, Confirmation, marriage blessing), volunteer for the Spring Gala or Cornfest, encounter other parishioners at Men's Night and Women's Group, make connections by introducing yourself to a new family, join a ministry, follow the calendar via Flocknote, have your house blessed by Fr. Michael, Fr. John, or Deacon Frank, and tell the parish about your interests and charisms. Parishioners are encouraged to save the parish emergency number 651-403-5473 in their phones.
- Register as a parishioner
- Sign up for online giving
- Complete sacraments (RCIA / Confirmation / marriage blessing)
- Volunteer for Spring Gala or Cornfest
- Men's Night & Women's Group
- Join a ministry
- Connect via Flocknote calendar
- Have your house blessed
- Parish emergency line: 651-403-5473
Visiting & Practical Info
The parish campus sits on Mahtomedi Avenue in a residential neighborhood of Mahtomedi, on the eastern shore of White Bear Lake. Visitors are warmly welcomed at weekend Masses and are encouraged to stay for Sunday Fellowship in Kohler Hall after the 9:00 and 11:00 Masses. Children are welcomed with Church Time Totes and the Joyful Noise room. The parish office can be reached at (651) 426-3245 or [email protected].
- Address: 700 Mahtomedi Ave, Mahtomedi, MN 55115
- Phone: (651) 426-3245
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stjudeofthelake.org
- Sunday Fellowship in Kohler Hall after 9:00 & 11:00 Masses
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. James Cronin1939–founding pastor
Original pastor; present at the groundbreaking of the church in April 1940.