About St. Mary · Saint Paul, Minnesota
St. Mary's is a Roman Catholic parish in the heart of Lowertown Saint Paul, Minnesota, within the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Founded in 1865 to serve the predominantly Irish-Catholic workers of the neighborhood, the parish has been a fixture of Lowertown for over 150 years. The present church at 8th Street East was completed in 1921 and dedicated in 1922, after the original 9th and Locust property was sold to the Great Northern Railroad. Since July 2021 the parish has been served by diocesan co-pastors Fr. Bryce Evans and Fr. Byron Hagan, priests in solidum who aspire to found an Oratory of St. Philip Neri and to renew Catholic life in downtown St. Paul under the Marian motto 'Contemplating the Mystery of the Word with the Heart of Mary.'
- Established
- 1865
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Fr. Bryce Evans and Fr. Byron Hagan (co-pastors, priests in solidum)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Mary's invites Catholics and all people of good will to a profound encounter with the living God through the sacred beauty of its liturgies, the depth of its spiritual and theological instruction, the energy of its apostolic outreach, and the solidarity of its community. Rooted in a 160-year Lowertown heritage, the parish now centers its life around daily Mass, daily Eucharistic Adoration, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, with a Marian devotion summed up in its motto 'Contemplating the Mystery of the Word with the Heart of Mary.' Its current co-pastors are building a small, faithful community of young families, with First Communion cohorts, the River Immaculate Child Enrichment Program for homeschoolers, and an aspiration to found an Oratory of St. Philip Neri — a stable, prayerful Catholic presence in the heart of downtown Saint Paul.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday 11:30 AM–11:50 AM
- Saturday 3:30 PM–4:15 PM
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday 11:30 AM–6:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish History & Heritage
St. Mary's was established in 1865 in Lowertown Saint Paul to serve the growing population of mostly Irish Catholic workers in the neighborhood, with the cornerstone blessed on May 20, 1866 and the Gothic-styled church dedicated in 1867. The first pastor was the French-American Fr. Louis Caillet, and the parish attracted early benefactors including James J. Hill, whose wife Mary Theresa Hill remained deeply involved for the rest of her life. In 1919 the original 9th and Locust property was sold to the Great Northern Railroad; the present church and its rectory next door were completed in 1921 on 8th Street East and dedicated in May 1922. The parish was served by diocesan priests until 1976, then by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) for nearly thirty years, then by the Sons of the Immaculate Conception (CFIC), and since July 2021 by diocesan co-pastors Fr. Bryce Evans and Fr. Byron Hagan, who aspire to found an Oratory of St. Philip Neri.
- Founded 1865; church dedicated 1867
- First pastor: Fr. Louis Caillet (French-American)
- Early benefactors included the Hill, Rice, Sibley, Prince, McQuillan, Merriam, Borup, Davidson, Thompson, Wilder, Sheehy, and Markoe families
- Mary Hill raised funds for St. Mary's Home for Girls (1884) and helped pay off the church debt in 1882
- Current church built 1921–1922 at 8th Street East, between Wacouta and Wall
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
Pastoral care of St. Mary's is provided by two diocesan co-pastors (priests in solidum), Fr. Bryce Evans and Fr. Byron Hagan, who assumed care of the parish in July 2021 when the Sons of the Immaculate Conception (CFIC) departed. Their aspiration is to found an Oratory of St. Philip Neri — a Society of Apostolic Life characterized by stability in the formation of integral Christian community through common prayer and divine worship, catechesis and spiritual formation, and the study and exemplification of a truly Catholic culture at the service of the neighborhood and city.
- Fr. Bryce Evans — co-pastor (priest in solidum)
- Fr. Byron Hagan — co-pastor (priest in solidum)
- Pastoral charism: Marian, with aspiration to found an Oratory of St. Philip Neri
Daily Devotions
St. Mary's surrounds the daily Mass with a rhythm of public prayer. The Rosary is prayed Monday through Thursday at 11:30 AM, the Divine Mercy Chaplet is recited on Fridays at 11:45 AM, and Eucharistic Adoration continues into the early evening on weekdays.
- Rosary — Monday–Thursday 11:30 AM
- Divine Mercy Chaplet — Friday 11:45 AM
- Daily Devotions (per parish website)
Sacraments & Faith Formation
The parish offers the full normal sacramental life, though, as the website notes, St. Mary's is reconstituting its congregation with very young families. Infant baptisms are scheduled after Masses, and parents must complete a one-hour Baptism Catechesis before a date is confirmed. First Communion for children is celebrated in May, with families invited to contact the parish office to join the cohort. St. Mary's does not yet run a formal Confirmation program but is open to discussing 'restored order' preparation for younger children on a case-by-case basis. Wedding dates are typically booked nine to twelve months in advance, and generally only couples living in the Twin Cities metro — or those with a direct connection to the parish — are accepted.
- Baptism — Sat 5:30 PM, Sun 8:30 AM & 11:45 AM; parent catechesis required
- First Communion — children; celebrated in May
- Confirmation — no formal program; 'restored order' arrangements available on request
- Weddings — booked 9–12 months ahead; Twin Cities or directly connected couples
Children, Youth & Homeschool Enrichment
Recognizing that its congregation is being rebuilt with very young families, St. Mary's hosts the River Immaculate Child Enrichment Program for homeschooling families on Tuesdays from 8:30 AM to noon, September through May, with admission as space allows. The program is the parish's primary vehicle for early faith formation and community among young parents and their children.
- River Immaculate Child Enrichment Program — Tuesdays 8:30 AM – Noon, Sep–May
- For homeschooling families; inquire via [email protected]
Parish Life & Community Events
The parish describes itself as 'a Roman Catholic Church in the heart of Lowertown' and aims to be 'a source of light and spiritual rejuvenation for the neighborhood of Lowertown Saint Paul' through sacred liturgy, catechesis, apostolic outreach, and community. The parish calendar lists an annual Parish Festival with food, music, games, and a bouncy castle; the parish website lists an August 2026 event.
- Parish Festival — food, music, games, bouncy castle
- Aspirational community life around an Oratory of St. Philip Neri
Contact, Location & Visiting
The parish office is located at 267 8th St. E. #100, Saint Paul, MN 55101, on 8th Street between Wacouta and Wall. The parish can be reached by phone at 651-222-2619 and by email at [email protected]. The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis lists the church's mailing address as 261 8th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101-2307.
- Address: 267 8th St. E. #100, Saint Paul, MN 55101
- Phone: 651-222-2619
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stmarystpaul.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Louis Caillet1867 (first pastor)
French-American; old friend of Mary Hill; presided over the first Mass on July 28, 1867; served 24 years in Lowertown.