About St. Louis · Paynesville, Minnesota
St. Louis Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Paynesville, Minnesota, belonging to the Diocese of St. Cloud. It is the central church of a tri-parish Catholic community that also includes St. Agnes in Roscoe and St. Margaret in Lake Henry, all served by a single pastor, Fr. Glenn Krystosek. Founded in 1899, St. Louis worships at 505 Burr Street in Paynesville and is the site of the cluster's weekly Sunday Mass, faith-formation program, and live-streamed online Mass.
- Established
- 1899
- Patron
- St. Louis IX (King Louis IX of France)
- Rector
- Fr. Glenn Krystosek
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Cloud
Why belong here
St. Louis is a warm, multi-generational rural parish at the heart of the Paynesville Catholic community, sharing a pastor with its sister parishes in Roscoe and Lake Henry. Parishioners gather for Sunday and weekday Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a graded faith-formation program for grades 1–11 hosted on the St. Louis campus, and a livestreamed weekend Mass that reaches the homebound and those beyond Paynesville. Families who belong here join a cluster that actively walks with them through the sacraments—from baptism through Confirmation—and keeps the Blessed Sacrament adored around the clock.
Mass times at St. Louis
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:30 PM at St. Agnes, Roscoe (cluster-wide confession time)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (scheduled hourly adorers; contact the parish office at 320-243-4413 to sign up)
Our History
St. Louis Parish was organized in April 1899 by Doctor Pierre Pilon after local Catholic families grew weary of traveling long distances—or going without Mass entirely. Within a month the community had raised funds and support, and on May 29, 1899, Bishop James Trobec of the Diocese of St. Cloud formally incorporated the parish, naming Father John Hengarten its first pastor. The original frame church was moved onto the church lot in June 1899; the present church was built in 1959, and the original 1899 building still stands in Paynesville.
- April 1899 — organizational meeting called by Dr. Pierre Pilon
- May 29, 1899 — parish incorporated by Bishop James Trobec
- June 1899 — first frame church moved onto the lot near the present American Legion site on Augusta Avenue
- 1912 — mission status ends; regular weekly Mass begins after three parishioners petition Bishop Trobec
- 1959 — current church building constructed
- 2024 — 125th anniversary (quasquicentennial) celebrated
Our Patron Saint — St. Louis IX
St. Louis IX, King of France, was born at Poissy, France, in 1214 and ascended to the throne at the age of twelve under the regency of his mother, Blanche of Castille. He married Margaret of Provence in 1234 and was the father of eleven children. A follower of St. Francis of Assisi, Louis was known for his ardent piety and sanctity: he personally welcomed the poor to his own table, waited on them, and attended to their needs—an uncommon practice for a king. His care for the destitute led him to found hospitals and charitable institutions, including ones for lepers. The parish celebrates his feast on August 25.
- Born 1214 at Poissy, France
- Became king at age twelve under the regency of Blanche of Castille
- Father of eleven children with Margaret of Provence
- Patron invoked at St. Louis Parish since the parish's 1899 founding
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The cluster's Religious Education program is hosted on the St. Louis campus in Paynesville on Wednesdays during the school year and serves students in grades 1 through 11. Grades 1–5 meet after school until 4:30 PM, with busing from Paynesville Elementary provided by Paynesville Motor and Transfer. Grades 6–10 meet Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:15 PM. Sacramental preparation is built into the curriculum: Reconciliation and Eucharist are the focus of second grade, and Confirmation is conferred in the fall of students' junior year.
- Grades 1–5: Wednesday after school until 4:30 PM (busing from Paynesville Elementary)
- Grades 6–10: Wednesday evenings, 7:00–8:15 PM
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist preparation in grade 2
- Confirmation in the fall of junior year / grade 11
- Registration form available for the 2025–2026 program year
Online Weekend Mass
Weekend Mass at St. Louis Catholic Church is live-streamed each week on the parish's YouTube channel, allowing homebound parishioners, family members at a distance, and the broader Catholic community to worship together with the Paynesville faith community.
- Live-streamed weekend Mass from St. Louis Church, Paynesville
- Watch via the parish YouTube channel (St. Louis Catholic Church)
Sacraments
St. Louis Parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church. Parents wishing to schedule a baptism are invited to contact Fr. Glenn Krystosek directly. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are prepared for and received in second grade, and Confirmation is conferred in the fall of the junior year (grade 11). Couples should contact the parish office for marriage preparation, and the parish also welcomes requests for Anointing of the Sick and other pastoral sacraments.
- Baptism — contact Fr. Glenn at 320-243-4413
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist (grade 2)
- Confirmation (fall of junior year)
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick and other pastoral needs — contact the parish office
Parish Staff & Leadership
The Paynesville Area Catholic community is served by a single pastor who shepherds all three clustered parishes. Fr. Glenn Krystosek is pastor of St. Agnes in Roscoe, St. Louis in Paynesville, and St. Margaret in Lake Henry. Day-to-day parish operations are coordinated through the shared parish office at St. Louis in Paynesville.
- Fr. Glenn Krystosek — Pastor of St. Agnes, St. Louis, and St. Margaret
- Parish office: 320-243-4413
- Office hours and additional staff not publicly listed on the website
Visiting & Contact
St. Louis Catholic Church is located at 505 Burr Street in Paynesville, Minnesota. The parish office can be reached by phone at (320) 243-4413 during office hours. As the central church of the Paynesville Area Catholic cluster, it is also the physical site for faith-formation classes and the live-streamed weekend Mass.
- Address: 505 Burr Street, Paynesville, MN 56362
- Phone: (320) 243-4413
- Website: paynesvilleareacatholic.org
- Fax: (320) 243-4443 (per diocesan listing)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Hengarten1899–
First pastor of St. Louis Church; based in Eden Valley with Paynesville and Belgrade as mission churches.
- Fr. Schollenbergerearly 1900s–1912+
Traveled more than 30 miles from St. Patrick's Church in Minden Township to offer Mass in Paynesville.