About St. Mary · Alexandria, Minnesota
The Church of St. Mary is the oldest Catholic parish in Alexandria, Minnesota, founded in 1882 and today serving more than 5,400 registered parishioners across roughly 2,185 households. Located at 420 Irving Street, the parish is part of the Diocese of St. Cloud and the Come to the Water Area Catholic Community (ACC), which links St. Mary with St. Nicholas in Belle River and Immaculate Conception in Osakis. The present worship space was built in 1997 to seat 1,500, and the parish campus also includes St. Mary's School (K–6), a robust Faith Formation program (Pre-K through Grade 11), and a parish cemetery. Its mission, simply stated, is 'to build God's Church across generations by living the Eucharist.'
- Established
- 1882
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (parish name: Church of St. Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Matthew Kuhn
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Cloud
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers the largest Catholic footprint in the Alexandria area, with abundant opportunities across the lifecycle: a parish-run K–6 elementary school (St. Mary's School), a Pre-K through Grade 11 Faith Formation program, OCIA for adults, and youth ministry. Weekend Mass draws about 1,200 worshippers across two Sunday liturgies plus a Saturday vigil, and the church seats 1,500, leaving room for new faces. Joining also links a household to the broader Come to the Water Area Catholic Community, which coordinates ministries across St. Nicholas in Belle River and Immaculate Conception in Osakis.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 4:30–5:15 PM
- Friday 4:00–5:00 PM (following Benediction)
- Saturday 3:00–4:30 PM
- All in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel
Adoration times
- Blessed Sacrament Chapel is available for adoration (parish website references the chapel for eucharistic devotion; specific hours not published online)
Mission, Vision & Parish Identity
The parish mission is to 'build God's Church across generations by living the Eucharist,' centered on the celebration of the Eucharist as the source and summit of parish life. The Church of St. Mary is the anchor parish of the Come to the Water Area Catholic Community (ACC), a collaborative grouping with St. Nicholas in Belle River and Immaculate Conception in Osakis. The parish describes itself as a vibrant and dynamic faith community welcoming both lifelong Catholics and those exploring the faith.
- Mission: To build God's Church across generations by living the Eucharist.
- Member of the Come to the Water ACC with St. Nicholas (Belle River) and Immaculate Conception (Osakis).
- Diocese of St. Cloud parish.
Parish History
Catholic presence in Alexandria began in the mid-1800s when Abbot Rupert Seidenbusch of St. John's Abbey celebrated Mass in a small wooden house after being stranded by snow. The first Catholic Church was built and blessed in 1882 at Fourth and Elm with 60 members. The parish grew steadily through the 20th century, marked by a 1902 gothic-style church, a 1950 stone church (today's Great Hall), a 1957 school, a 1971 rectory, and the present 1,500-seat worship space built in 1997. The 2004–2005 Education Center and Administration Building project cost $6.8 million.
- 1882 — first Catholic church built (Fourth and Elm); cost $669.10
- 1902 — gothic-style church at 5th and Hawthorne
- 1932 — golden jubilee; marble altar from 6 African countries
- 1950 — 600-seat stone church on Fourth and Hawthorne (now Great Hall)
- 1957 — 12-classroom school ($339,000)
- 1966 — stained-glass windows installed
- 1971 — new rectory built
- 1982 — parish centennial; first mausoleum at cemetery
- 1997 — present church built ($4.8M, 1,500 seats)
- 2004–2005 — Education Center and Administration Building ($6.8M)
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Matthew Kuhn (appointed 2021, native of the Alexandria community) with Parochial Vicar Fr. Dan Ruprecht and retired Deacon Tony Pasko. A full team of parish, faith formation, and school staff supports the mission.
- Fr. Matthew Kuhn — Pastor ([email protected], 320-460-5335)
- Fr. Dan Ruprecht — Parochial Vicar ([email protected], 320-460-5332)
- Deacon Tony Pasko (retired) — [email protected]
- Todd Wentworth — Parish Business Administrator
- Joe Korkowski — Director of Communications
- Tammy Huss — Director of Faith Formation
- Cassie Klimek — Youth Minister
- Troy Sladek — St. Mary's School Principal
- Patty Marriott — Pastoral Care Coordinator
- Parker Olson — Director of Liturgy & Music
- Erin Takle — Music Coordinator
- Jodi Vanderheiden — Family & Youth Formation Coordinator
- Brenda Becker — Office Administrator/Secretary
- Eric Seidel — Office Manager
- Elizabeth Radil — Director of Facilities
- Janell Eddy — Bookkeeper
- Julie Desautels — Rise & Shine / VBS Coordinator
- Jan Anderson — Cemetery Sexton (320-808-1536)
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the sacraments of initiation and supports the faithful through all stages of life. Baptism preparation classes meet the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the parish office. Children typically celebrate First Reconciliation and First Communion in second grade using the Blessed program, with confirmation in 11th grade by the Bishop or his representative. Adults enter the Church through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), which begins with Inquiry each mid-September.
- Baptism — class 2nd Tuesday @ 7 PM; register via Brenda Becker (320-763-9202)
- First Reconciliation — Dec. 6, 2026 at 3:30 PM (2nd grade)
- First Communion — April 18, 2027 at 2:00 PM (2nd grade)
- Confirmation — Nov. 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM (11th grade)
- OCIA — begins mid-September with Inquiry; contact Tammy Huss (320-460-5324)
- Marriage — contact the parish office
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Faith Formation program serves children from Pre-K through Grade 11 with about 336 enrolled, complementing the parish school. Its mission is to build a strong moral and spiritual foundation, increase sacramental awareness, and develop justice and stewardship, in accordance with the National Directory for Catechesis. Elementary families use the Pathways Family Formation model — parents attend class nights with their children 1–2 times per month and lead at-home activities on off weeks.
- Pathways Family Formation for Grades 1–5
- First Reconciliation / First Communion preparation (Blessed program)
- Confirmation preparation for Grades 7–11 with retreats and small groups
- Rise & Shine fellowship for ages 4–6 (first Sundays, Sept–June)
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
- Office: 421 Hawthorne Street, Alexandria, MN 56308 · 320-763-9202
St. Mary's School
St. Mary's School is a parish-affiliated Catholic elementary school serving grades K–6 with about 270 students enrolled. The school shares the parish campus and is led by Principal Troy Sladek. Religious education is integrated into the academic program, partnering with parish sacramental preparation.
- Grades K–6
- Principal: Troy Sladek ([email protected], 320-460-5327)
- Approximately 270 students
Committees & Parish Leadership
Parish life at St. Mary's is shaped by lay leadership across several standing committees that advise the pastor and coordinate ministries.
- Finance Council
- Parish Life Committee
- Stewardship Committee
- Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Committee
Cemetery
St. Mary's maintains a parish cemetery, with the first mausoleum constructed there in 1982 to coincide with the parish centennial. Cemetery operations are coordinated through a parish sexton.
- First mausoleum constructed 1982
- Cemetery Sexton: Jan Anderson (320-808-1536)
Come to the Water Area Catholic Community
St. Mary's serves as the anchor parish of the Come to the Water ACC, which coordinates ministry and pastoral collaboration with two neighboring parishes in Douglas and the surrounding counties. This regional model allows shared clergy, Faith Formation staff, and bulletins.
- Come to the Water ACC parishes: St. Nicholas (Belle River) and Immaculate Conception (Osakis)
- St. Mary's contact: 420 Irving St., Alexandria MN · 320-763-5781 · [email protected]
- Shared ACC bulletins published through the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William Renner1922–c.1950
First priestly vocation of the parish; ordained 1917 for the Diocese of St. Cloud; returned as pastor in 1922; led post-war building of the 600-seat stone church (1950); later named rector of St. John's Seminary, Collegeville.
- Msgr. Theodore Wrobelc.1950–1971
Succeeded Fr. Renner; oversaw 1957 twelve-classroom school ($339,000) and 1966 stained-glass windows.
- Father Hoppe1971–1983
Built new rectory with offices; parish reached 844 households.
- Fr. Alexander Ludwig (Fr. Al)1983–2007
Stewarded rapid growth from ~1,200 to over 1,900 households; oversaw land purchases (1984–1989), the 1997 present church, 2001 'Phase III' plan, and 2004–2005 Education/Administration Building project ($6.8M).
- Fr. Steven Binsfeld2007–2021
Succeeded Fr. Al; oversaw continued strong enrollment in religious education and St. Mary's School.
- Fr. Matthew Kuhn2021–present
Appointed 2021; native of the Alexandria community; leads the Come to the Water ACC.