About St. Mary Help of Christians · Saint Augusta, Minnesota
St. Mary Help of Christians is a Roman Catholic parish in Saint Augusta, Minnesota, founded in 1856 by the German-Catholic missionary Father Francis Xavier Pierz and served today by the granite church he helped establish in 1873. The parish is part of the Diocese of Saint Cloud and, since 2024, is unified with neighboring parishes as part of the Holy Saints Area Catholic Community (ACC), alongside St. Nicholas (Watkins), St. Anne (Kimball), St. Wendelin (Luxemburg), and Holy Cross (Marty). It currently numbers roughly 1,353 parishioners and is home to the ACC's school, an active faith formation program, beloved traditions like the SMHOC Festival, a German Dinner, and a popular 'A Christmas Carol' dinner theater.
- Established
- 1856
- Patron
- Mary Help of Christians (Blessed Virgin Mary under the title 'Auxilium Christianorum')
- Rector
- Fr. Donald Wagner
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Cloud
Why belong here
St. Mary Help of Christians is the historic heart of St. Augusta, a 170-year-old parish with deep German-Catholic roots and a vibrant modern life. Members enjoy an active school and faith formation program (hosted at the SMHOC school for the whole Holy Saints ACC), beloved traditions like the SMHOC Festival, a German Dinner, the 'A Christmas Carol' dinner theater, and a Eucharistic procession to the outdoor chapels on Corpus Christi, plus year-round opportunities for adoration, reconciliation (including the all-day Advent 'Confesstival'), and community meals like Breakfast with Santa. With about 1,350 parishioners in 555 households, it's big enough to offer real programs and small enough to know your neighbors.
Mass times at St. Mary Help of Christians
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Advent 'Confesstival' at SMHOC: all-day confessions with multiple priests available from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm (annual, around mid-December), accompanied by adoration
- By appointment / check the parish bulletin for the regular weekly confession schedule
Adoration times
- Extended adoration during the Advent 'Confesstival' at SMHOC, 8:00 am – 8:00 pm (annual)
- Family 'Holy Half Hour' adoration hosted by the ACC (held at various parish sites; e.g. Thursdays at St. Wendelin's, 6:30 – 7:00 pm, with adoration continuing to 8:00 pm)
History of St. Mary Help of Christians
Father Francis Xavier Pierz, the Catholic missionary to the Chippewa, is considered the parish's founder. He established a mission among the German-Catholic settlers here in 1856, when a small log church was built on the site where he is said to have found a small religious picture of St. Augustine — likely the source of the township's name (probably evolved from the Latin 'Santa Augusta Maria'). The first congregation was organized by Father Cornelius Wittman of St. Cloud; by 1858 the log church had grown too small and a frame church was built near the railroad station. A tornado in 1859 destroyed the village, but the old log church survived and became the settlement's first school in 1861.
- 1856 — Mission established by Father Pierz; first log church built.
- 1858 — Frame church built near the St. Augusta railroad station.
- 1859 — Tornado destroys the village; log church survives and becomes the first school in 1861.
- 1872 — Father Wenniger returns to select a new church site.
- May 13, 1873 — Most Rev. Thomas L. Grace of St. Paul lays the cornerstone.
- 1873 — Father Valentine Stimmler guides construction of the granite church.
- 1875 — Bishop Rupert Seidenbusch blesses the church and gives it the name 'B.M.V. de Auxilio Christianorum.'
- July 2, 1890 — Bishop Otto Zardetti consecrates the church.
- 1890 — Father Meinrad Rittenmeyer builds the rectory.
- 1913 — Parish numbers 110 families.
- Today — over 1,353 parishioners in approximately 555 households.
The Historic Church Building
The present church was built of granite in 1873 and is a state historical marker. About sixteen years ago an addition was built with office space, a large gathering area, and a parish center that is used frequently for parish and diocesan gatherings and dinners; the old and the new blend together, expressing a spirit of gathering and a place to belong. The 2.5-acre property, including the 1873 church and 1890 rectory, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 15, 1982, recognized for its state-level significance in architecture, exploration/settlement, and religion.
- Architectural style: Gothic Revival
- NRHP reference No. 82003049
- Part of the 'Ethnic Hamlet Churches–Stearns County Catholic Settlement Churches' Multiple Property Submission
Holy Saints Area Catholic Community (ACC)
St. Mary Help of Christians now serves within Holy Saints ACC, a collaboration of five Catholic parishes in central Minnesota: St. Mary Help of Christians (St. Augusta), St. Nicholas (Watkins), St. Anne (Kimball), St. Wendelin (Luxemburg), and Holy Cross (Marty). Unifying as Holy Saints ACC allows the parishes to strengthen their ministries to better support families and the wider community. In 2024 a decree of the Diocese of Saint Cloud formally merged Holy Cross, St. Wendelin, and St. Mary Help of Christians into one new parish, while St. Nicholas and St. Anne are led by a parochial administrator.
- St. Nicholas, Watkins — est. 1857 — 248 parishioners — Nicktoberfest, Old St. Nicholas
- St. Anne, Kimball — est. 1920 — 587 parishioners — Quilt Bingo, Fall Festival
- St. Wendelin, Luxemburg — est. 1859 — 734 parishioners — Luxemburg Festival, School Dinner Auction
- Holy Cross, Marty — est. 1897 — 273 parishioners — Fish Fry, hosting Faith Formation
- St. Mary Help of Christians, St. Augusta — est. 1873 — 1,353 parishioners — SMHOC Festival, Dinner Theatre, School, German Dinner, Mary's Eyes
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led within the ACC structure by two priests. Fr. Erik Lundgren serves as pastor of the parishes of St. Mary Help of Christians, St. Wendelin, and Holy Cross; Fr. Donald 'Don' Wagner serves as parochial administrator of St. Anne and St. Nicholas. Lay staff supporting the parishes include Kelli Kleinschnitz (Faith Formation Director and parish secretary for SMHOC, St. Wendelin, and Holy Cross), Shelly Gohmann (parish secretary for St. Anne), Lana Vossen, and Lester German (ACC website admin and Faith Formation support).
- Fr. Donald Wagner — Parochial Administrator (St. Anne, St. Nicholas) — [email protected]
- Kelli Kleinschnitz — Faith Formation Director / Parish Secretary (SMHOC, St. Wendelin, Holy Cross) — [email protected]
- Shelly Gohmann — Parish Secretary, St. Anne — [email protected]
- Lester German — ACC Website Admin & Faith Formation Support — [email protected]
- Lana Vossen
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Here at St. Mary Help of Christians the parish's goal is to assist parents as they form their children in the Catholic faith. Faith Formation for the entire Holy Saints ACC is hosted at the SMHOC School building, directed by Kelli Kleinschnitz with support from Lester German. Registration information is published each year on the parish website.
- Faith Formation classes (Holy Saints ACC, hosted at SMHOC School)
- Family Adoration 'Holy Half Hour' events (rotating parish sites)
- Healing the Whole Person video retreat series (ACC-wide)
St. Mary Help of Christians School
St. Mary Help of Christians School is the parish school of St. Augusta and hosts Faith Formation classes for the whole Holy Saints ACC. The school emphasizes faith in education and is supported by parish families and parish-wide events like the annual SMHOC Festival and Breakfast with Santa.
- Hosts Faith Formation classes for the five-parish ACC
- Breakfast with Santa (annual parish event, hosted at the school)
- Parish Festival site
Parish Life, Traditions & Fellowship
St. Mary Help of Christians has a robust calendar of beloved traditions. The annual 'A Christmas Carol' dinner theater — three shows, with tickets typically selling out in three weeks — is one of the parish's most popular programs. The SMHOC Festival, a German Dinner, and the Christian Women's Craft and Bake Sale (held in the gathering space) round out the year. On the Feast of Corpus Christi the parish processes with the Eucharist to the chapels on the church grounds, and a Lenten program combines Mass, Stations of the Cross, a bread-and-soup dinner, and an 'Ask Father Jose' question-and-answer hour.
- A Christmas Carol Dinner Theater (3 shows, typically sells out in 3 weeks)
- SMHOC Festival
- German Dinner
- Christian Women's Craft and Bake Sale (gathering space)
- Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession to the outdoor chapels
- Lenten program: Mass, Stations of the Cross, bread-and-soup dinner, 'Ask Father Jose'
- Parish Breakfast / Breakfast with Santa
Sacraments & Devotions
Beyond the regular Mass and confession schedule, the parish offers the sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist and First Reconciliation (through Faith Formation), Confirmation (diocesan preparation), Marriage preparation, and Anointing of the Sick. The annual Advent 'Confesstival' brings multiple priests to SMHOC for an entire day of confessions (8:00 am – 8:00 pm) with adoration alongside, and family adoration events are held across the ACC.
- Baptism
- First Eucharist / First Reconciliation
- Confirmation
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Annual Advent 'Confesstival' (8 am – 8 pm confessions + adoration)
- Family Adoration 'Holy Half Hour' (ACC-wide)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francis Xavier Pierz (founder)1856
Catholic missionary to the Chippewa; established the first mission here and is credited with naming the township.
- Father Cornelius Wittman1850s
Organized the first congregation; based in St. Cloud.
- Father Francis X. Wenniger1856, 1872
Erected a mission cross in 1856; returned in 1872 to select the site for the new stone church.
- Father Valentine Stimmler1873
Guided construction of the granite stone church; cornerstone laid by Bishop Thomas L. Grace, May 13, 1873.
- Father Meinrad Rittenmeyer1890
Built the rectory in 1890, the same year Bishop Otto Zardetti consecrated the church.
- Father Jose Edayadiyil, C.M. (Vincentian)
Pastored the parish for three years before the ACC merger; grew up in Kerala, India; ordained 1973; previously served 14 years at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Isanti.