About St. Mary · Fosston, Minnesota
St. Mary's Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Fosston, Minnesota, part of the Diocese of Crookston and currently served as a linked parish with St. Joseph's Catholic Church in nearby Bagley. Worship is offered in English, with Sunday Mass at 8:30 AM, weekday Masses on Wednesday and Friday at 11:30 AM, weekly Sunday confessions, and Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays from noon. The parish is a small, close-knit rural community in northwestern Minnesota's Polk County that shares its pastor and ministry with its sister parish in Bagley.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (parish is named "St. Mary's"; its earliest incarnation was dedicated to the "Most Pure Heart of Mary")
- Rector
- Fr. John Melkies Suvakeen
- Diocese
- Diocese of Crookston
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers the full rhythm of traditional Catholic life in a small, welcoming rural setting: Sunday and weekday Mass in English, weekly Sunday confessions, Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration (in keeping with Bishop Andrew Cozzens's national Eucharistic Revival invitation), online giving, and a Formed subscription for Catholic faith formation on demand. The parish also shares an annual summer joint picnic Mass at Lengby Park with its sister parish, St. Joseph's of Bagley, giving newcomers an easy way to know neighboring Catholic families in the region.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:00 AM (before 8:30 AM Mass)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 12:00 PM (ending time adjusted if a parish activity interferes; see bulletin)
Parish Identity & Welcome
St. Mary's Catholic Church extends a warm welcome to all visitors through its homepage, stating: "Welcome! We are so happy you stopped by our parish website. Our hope and purpose is to draw all God's children into a closer relationship with Jesus." The parish invites everyone to Sunday or weekday Mass and to Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays.
History of St. Mary's Parish
Catholic life in the Fosston area began in 1901 with the construction of a small church called "Most Pure Heart of Mary" on land donated by Mina Portz. After about 1916–1918 a second church, "Our Lady of Perpetual Help," was built within the town of Fosston itself. That second building served the community until 1971–72, when the current St. Mary's Catholic Church was erected on Sixth Street NE, giving the parish its present name.
- 1901 — First Catholic church "Most Pure Heart of Mary" built on land donated by Mina Portz
- 1901–1916/1918 — "Most Pure Heart of Mary" congregation active
- Early 20th century — Successor church "Our Lady of Perpetual Help" built in Fosston
- 1971–1972 — Present St. Mary's Catholic Church built; parish renamed
Cemeteries
The parish continues to maintain two cemeteries that trace its more than 120-year history. The original Hansville Cemetery lies south of Fosston in Section 19 of Rosebud Township, Polk County, while the newer St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery sits on the church grounds adjacent to the current church building.
- St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery — on parish grounds, Rosebud Township, Fosston
- St. Mary's Hansville Cemetery — older cemetery south of Fosston, still in use
Pastor & Staff
St. Mary's is currently served by Fr. John Melkies Suvakeen, who is also pastor of the sister parish of St. Joseph's in Bagley. The parish office can be reached at 218-435-6484 or [email protected]; office hours are Wednesday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM–1:00 PM (call ahead to confirm).
- Pastor: Fr. John Melkies Suvakeen
- Parish Office: 725 6th St. NE, Fosston, MN 56542
- Phone: 218-435-6484
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Wed 9 AM–5 PM; Fri 9 AM–1 PM
Linked Parish: St. Joseph's, Bagley
St. Mary's is pastorally linked with St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Bagley, Minnesota, and the two communities share a single pastor and many ministries. The parishes gather together for an annual summer joint picnic Mass at Lengby Park, followed by a potluck dinner — a long-standing tradition of regional Catholic fellowship.
- Shared pastor: Fr. John Melkies Suvakeen
- Annual joint picnic Mass at Lengby Park (summer, weekday evening) with potluck to follow
- 1st Friday 5:30 PM Mass alternates between Fosston and Bagley
Faith Formation & Online Resources
The parish provides parishioners with free access to Formed, an on-demand Catholic media library with thousands of movies, programs, audio talks, and books. Access instructions are posted on the website: sign up at formed.org/signup, type "Fosston" into the "Find Your Parish" field, and enter zip code 56542 — no password is required.
- Formed — Catholic faith formation on demand (movies, programs, audio, books)
- Sign up at formed.org/signup; search for "Fosston" with zip 56542
Online Giving & Bulletin
St. Mary's now offers online giving as a convenient way to support the parish's mission. A link to the secure giving platform is featured on the parish website, alongside a link to the current weekly bulletin, which is the authoritative source for the most up-to-date schedule of Masses, Adoration, and parish events.
- Online giving platform linked from the parish homepage
- Current weekly bulletin posted on the parish website
Diocese of Crookston
St. Mary's is one of 69 parishes in the Diocese of Crookston, which covers the northwest corner of Minnesota. The diocese is currently led by Bishop Andrew Harmon Cozzens, who was installed in October 2021 and who has been a national leader of the U.S. Eucharistic Revival. The diocesan headquarters are located in Crookston, Minnesota.
- Diocese: Crookston
- Bishop: Andrew Harmon Cozzens (installed October 18, 2021)
- Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator: Cindy Hulst, LSW — 218-281-7895