About St. Mary · Forman, North Dakota
St. Mary's Catholic Church is a parish in Forman, North Dakota, the county seat of Sargent County, serving a rural farming community in the Diocese of Fargo. It is paired with neighboring St. Charles Borromeo in Oakes under a single pastor, Father Timothy Schroeder, who has shepherded both parishes since 2019. Together the two parishes are known informally as the '4 Steeples' community. St. Mary's offers Sunday Mass in English at 8:00 AM and a weekly weekday Mass on Wednesdays, with confession available by appointment and before scheduled Masses.
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Timothy Schroeder
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fargo
Why belong here
St. Mary's in Forman offers a small-town Catholic community where families know one another by name, with multiple Sunday Mass options and weekday worship rooted in the rhythm of rural Sargent County life. The parish shares a pastor and ministries with St. Charles Borromeo in Oakes, giving members broader fellowship while keeping the Forman church's intimate character. Parishioners share a strong mission outreach — supporting Haiti food and education programs and Peru mission trips — alongside a subscription to FORMED.org for Catholic study at home.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment — call Fr. Tim
Adoration times
- Also available by appointment (please call Fr. Tim)
Parish Identity & Community
St. Mary's Catholic Church sits at 484 4th Street Southwest in Forman, the seat of Sargent County in southeastern North Dakota. The parish is one half of a two-parish family with St. Charles Borromeo in Oakes, about 13 miles west; together they are served by a single pastor and share ministries, staff, and faith-formation programs.
- Diocese: Fargo (Deanery 1, South-East)
- Linked parish: St. Charles Borromeo, Oakes
- Common nickname: '4 Steeples' community
- Parish email: [email protected]
History of St. Mary's & the Forman Community
St. Mary's has deep roots in the early Catholic settlement of Sargent County. Colonel Cornelius H. Forman platted Forman in 1883 on land he had claimed under squatter's rights, and the town's churches — Trinity Lutheran, St. Mary's Catholic, Methodist, and Congregational — are credited in the 1884-1959 Forman Diamond Jubilee history with helping to 'mold a community' in the new county seat. Today's parishioner family continues that legacy through rural outreach and mission support.
- Town platted in 1883 by Colonel Cornelius H. Forman as the geographic center of the new county.
- St. Mary's is named in the Forman Diamond Jubilee (1884-1959) among the community's founding churches.
- Pastoral succession on the parish website dates back to 1944.
Parish Staff & Pastoral Leadership
The same pastor serves both St. Mary's and St. Charles Borromeo. Parish life is supported by parish secretaries and custodians for each location, plus a shared Director of Religious Education.
- Pastor: Rev. Timothy Schroeder (2019 to present); email [email protected]; cell (701) 520-0838
- St. Mary's Parish Secretary: Deborah Banish ([email protected])
- St. Mary's Parish Custodian: Ruthann Kudelka ([email protected])
- St. Charles Parish Secretary: Jane Andersen
- St. Charles Parish Custodian: Kahri Finley
- Director of Religious Education: Monica Heimbuch ([email protected])
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education for both parishes is coordinated through a shared Director of Religious Education. Families can also access the FORMED.org digital library — a subscription shared by St. Charles and St. Mary's gives parishioners free streaming access to Catholic movies, audio talks, and ebooks.
- Director of Religious Education: Monica Heimbuch ([email protected])
- FORMED.org subscription shared across the 4 Steeples parishes
- Sign-up: visit formed.org, choose 'sign up as a parishioner,' enter the Oakes zip code, and create an account
Mission Outreach & Synod Participation
St. Mary's parishioners have a strong missionary reach beyond Sargent County. A reported $1.5 million-plus campaign has supported a Haiti food and education project and Peru mission trips. Locally, the parish also participated in the Diocesan Synod consultation process.
- Haiti food and education project (supported by parish fundraising)
- Peru mission trips (parish-supported)
- Diocesan Synod listening session for St. Mary's held February 13, 2022
- Synod full report submitted to the Diocese of Fargo
Contact & Visiting St. Mary's
The church office is in Forman; the rectory and main parish office are in Oakes. Visitors can reach the pastor directly by cell, by email, or through the St. Mary's parish email shared with St. Charles.
- St. Mary's address: 484 4th St SW, Forman, ND 58032
- St. Mary's phone: (701) 724-3319
- St. Mary's email: [email protected]
- Oakes rectory/office: 410 7th Street North, Oakes, ND 58474 — (701) 742-2418
- Fr. Tim's direct cell: (701) 520-0838
- Diocese of Fargo: 5201 Bishop's Blvd. S., Suite A, Fargo, ND 58104-7605 — (701) 356-7900
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Timothy Schroeder2019 to present
Current pastor; also serves St. Charles Borromeo in Oakes
- Fr. Bill Gerlach2011 to 2019
- Fr. Kevin Willis2009 to 2011
Had earlier served 1998 to 2000
- Fr. Mathew Pamplaniyil2002 to 2009
- Fr. Kevin Willis1998 to 2000
- Fr. Adam Hasey1986 to 1998
- Fr. Albert Binder1974 to 1986
- Fr. Edward McDonald1944 to 1974