About St. Mary · Madelia, Minnesota
St. Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in Madelia, Minnesota, part of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester and serving the Watonwan County community since the late 1850s. Named in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the parish today operates as part of a tri-parish cluster that shares priests, faith formation, and the commitment to Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. Alongside its worship life, St. Mary sponsors St. Mary's Catholic School (K-6) and Noah's Ark Daycare & Preschool, making it a true center of Catholic education and family life in south-central Minnesota.
- Established
- 1872
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Father Timothy Hall
- Diocese
- Diocese of Winona-Rochester
Why belong here
St. Mary offers a warm, bilingual Catholic community anchored in the Eucharist and in Perpetual Adoration shared across its tri-parish cluster. Families will find a parish school (K-6), Noah's Ark Daycare & Preschool for children from 6 weeks to 12 years, and lifelong faith formation from first grade through adulthood, including RCIA/OCIA for those becoming Catholic. With Mass celebrated in both English and Spanish and a strong cluster of parishes sharing priests and ministries, newcomers quickly become part of a faithful, family-centered congregation in Madelia.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM at St. Mary's (through July 25)
- Saturday 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM at St. Mary's (effective August 1)
- Sunday 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM at St. Mary's
- Tuesday 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM at St. Mary's during Adoration (effective August 4)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration across the cluster (Chapel at St. Mary)
- Tuesday 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM at St. Mary's (effective August 4)
- 1st Thursday–Friday all night, St. James, 8:00 PM – 8:00 AM
Parish Overview
St. Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in Madelia, Minnesota, in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. It is one of several parishes in a tri-parish cluster that shares clergy, faith formation, and a commitment to Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. The parish's mission is to be 'a united faith filled community, dedicated to Christ, obedient to the Holy Spirit,' striving to live the Word of God through sacramental life and the enrichment of children with faith, hope, and love.
History of St. Mary Parish
Catholic families first settled in the Madelia area in 1856, and the community grew enough that Father Valentine Sommereisen of Mankato celebrated the first Mass in nearby Ceresco in 1863. The parish's first church, Mater Dolorosa, was built on land deeded by a non-Catholic couple, and Father Augustine Wirth, OSB, presided at its inaugural Mass on October 24, 1872. Bishop John Ireland of Saint Paul visited several times for confirmations in these early decades.
- 1856: First Catholic families settle in the territory.
- 1863: First Mass celebrated in Ceresco by Father Valentine Sommereisen.
- 1872: First Madelia church, Mater Dolorosa, opens October 24.
- 1880s: Fathers Peter Jung, Joseph Goergen, and James Durward serve Madelia.
- 1891: Father Michael Smyth becomes resident pastor.
The 1892 Fire and Rebuilding
Father Edmund O'Connell arrived in 1892 and immediately began plans for a new church, offering the first Mass there on Christmas Day 1892. Just one week later the building was destroyed by fire. By then the parish belonged to the newly formed Diocese of Winona, and Bishop Joseph Cotter dedicated the rebuilt church in October 1893.
School, Sisters, and Cemetery
Father Michael Holper arrived in 1898 and constructed a parish school staffed by the Ursuline Sisters. Father Emilie Van Hoenackere (1909–1923) oversaw the sale of the original rectory, the purchase of a new one, and the relocation of the parish cemetery from three miles southeast of town to a six-acre tract near Madelia. A new parish education center was added in 1986 under Father Frank Enright.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Mary is rooted in the four pillars of the Catechism — Profession of Faith, Celebration of the Sacraments, Life in Christ, and Christian Prayer — and is understood as a lifelong, relational, communal, and missionary journey. Classes are offered from 1st grade through adulthood.
- Faith Formation Classes — 1st grade through adulthood.
- RCIA / OCIA — Becoming Catholic.
- Cluster-wide faith formation calendar with St. James.
St. Mary's Catholic School
St. Mary's Catholic School serves students in kindergarten through grade 6 in a Catholic Christian atmosphere that integrates gospel values and Catholic teaching into the daily curriculum. The school exists to assist parents — the first teachers of their children — in forming young people rooted in the Christian faith who work for justice, peace, and respect for diversity.
- Grades K-6.
- Located at 223 1st Street NE, Madelia, MN 56062.
- Phone: (507) 642-3324.
- Director: Jen Slater.
Noah's Ark Daycare & Preschool
Located on the parish campus at 223 1st St NE, Noah's Ark Daycare & Preschool offers full-time and drop-in care for infants through school-age children, ages 6 weeks to 12 years. Hours are Monday through Friday, 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
- Ages 6 weeks to 12 years.
- Full-time and drop-in care.
- Hours: Monday–Friday 6:30 AM – 5:30 PM.
- Phone: (507) 642-3626.
- Email: [email protected].
Sacraments
St. Mary prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation and continues to walk with them through the sacraments of healing and vocation. RCIA/OCIA is offered for adults preparing to become Catholic.
- Baptism
- Eucharist
- Confirmation
- Reconciliation (Confession) — see scheduled times
- RCIA / OCIA for adults
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Mary's, located on Crosby Avenue NE in Madelia. The parish office can be reached by phone, and the parish shares an online home with the school and cluster partners.
- Address: 19 Crosby Ave NE, Madelia, MN 56062-1702.
- Phone: (507) 642-8305.
- Website: maryjamesschool.org.
- Cluster partners: St. James, MN; St. Katherine (Truman); Holy Family (Lake Crystal).
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Augustine Wirth, OSB1872
Presided at the first Mass at the original Mater Dolorosa church, October 24, 1872.
- Father Michael Smyth1891
Resident pastor.
- Father Edmund O'Connell1892
Planned and built the second church; offered first Mass Christmas Day 1892; building burned one week later.
- Father Michael Holper1898
Constructed the parish school; Ursuline Sisters staffed the teaching.
- Father Mathias Borresch1904
- Father Emilie Van Hoenackere1909-1923
Original rectory sold and new one purchased; parish cemetery relocated to a six-acre tract near Madelia.
- Father Frank Enright1957-1986
Guided construction of a new parish education center in 1986.
- Father Peter Klein1990-1998
Remolded the rectory.
- Father Berning1990-2005
In 1999 clustered St. Mary Madelia and St. Katherine Truman with St. James; oversaw launch of daycare/preschool in 2000.
- Father Thomas Cook2005-2011
Expanded St. Mary School through grade six.
- Father Thein Nguyen2011-2013
Converted the church mother's room into an Adoration Chapel; cluster committed to Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration.
- Father Timothy Hall2013-2025
Current pastor of the cluster.