About St. Mary · Upsala, Minnesota
St. Mary's Catholic Church is a small rural parish located at 308 S Main St in Upsala, Minnesota, serving the faithful of that Morrison County community. It is one of three linked Catholic parishes in central Minnesota — together with St. Edward in Elmdale and St. Francis of Assisi in St. Francis — that share a single pastor, central office, website (238catholic.org), and Sunday Mass rotation along Highway 238. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Saint Cloud and is currently shepherded by Vincentian Father Jimmy Joseph, who was assigned to the tri-parish community in June 2023.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Jimmy Joseph, V.C. (Vincentian / Congregation of the Mission)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Cloud
Why belong here
St. Mary's is the Catholic heart of Upsala, a tight-knit rural community where Mass, adoration, and prayer are woven into the rhythm of the week — Sunday Mass at 10 a.m., a Tuesday evening Mass, Friday morning Mass, weekly Thursday adoration from noon to 9 p.m., and a Monday-evening Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy. New parishioners can register through the central office, and the parish brings Communion to the sick and homebound on request. With religious formation for children in grades K–6 and a tri-parish family that stretches from Elmdale to St. Francis to Upsala, it's a place where faith is lived out across generations and neighbors really do know one another.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 9:15 – 9:45 a.m.
- Tuesday: 5:00 – 5:45 p.m.
- Also 1/2 hour before Mass
Adoration times
- St. Mary — Thursdays, 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (weekly)
- St. Francis — Second Tuesdays, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- St. Edward — First Fridays, Noon to 9:00 p.m.
About St. Mary's Catholic Church, Upsala
St. Mary's Catholic Church is a small rural parish serving the town of Upsala in Morrison County, central Minnesota. It belongs to the Diocese of Saint Cloud and is one of three linked parishes — along with St. Edward in Elmdale and St. Francis of Assisi in St. Francis — that together make up the Catholic Communities of Highway 238, sharing a single pastor and central office.
- Parish name: St. Mary's Catholic Church
- Location: 308 S Main St, Upsala, MN 56384
- Mailing address: PO Box 249, Upsala, MN 56384
- Diocese: Diocese of Saint Cloud (Bishop Patrick M. Neary, C.S.C.)
- Tri-parish community: St. Edward (Elmdale), St. Francis of Assisi (St. Francis), St. Mary (Upsala)
History of St. Mary's
St. Mary's began in 1953 when St. Francis of Assisi parish, located in the countryside outside Upsala, built a new church and allowed the older building to be physically moved into the town of Upsala itself. That move, as Upsala's city history records, was probably the most significant event that changed a town where Swedish was commonly spoken on the streets into a community where religious and ancestral differences are not only tolerated but appreciated. The parish has continued to serve Upsala's Catholic families — a community that grew up alongside the original Swedish-Lutheran settlers — ever since.
- 1953: Old St. Francis of Assisi church building is moved into Upsala, establishing St. Mary's parish.
- Late 20th century: St. Mary's grows into a tri-parish community with St. Edward (Elmdale) and St. Francis of Assisi (St. Francis).
- June 28, 2023: Bishop Patrick M. Neary appoints Vincentian Father Jimmy Joseph as parochial administrator of all three parishes.
- July 18, 2023: A fire heavily damages the sister-church of St. Edward in Elmdale; tri-parish community rallies to restore it.
- 2024: Renovation of St. Edward completed; Father Joseph formally installed as pastor.
Other Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond Mass and adoration, the parish fosters a strong prayer culture through a weekly Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy and a tri-parish Prayer Line that lifts up the intentions of parishioners who are sick, homebound, or in need.
- Rosary & Chaplet of Divine Mercy: Mondays at 6:30 p.m.
- St. Mary's Prayer Line: Karen Liebsch (320-573-4127), Kathy Koehn (320-573-2363)
- St. Francis Prayer Line: Judy Theisen (320-573-2933), Joyce Koopmeiners (320-573-2728)
- St. Edward Prayer Line: Sally Schleper (320-573-2127)
- Ministry to the Sick: Holy Communion brought to the homebound upon request through the Central Office
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Mary's is pastored by Vincentian Father Jimmy Joseph, who serves all three parishes of the tri-parish community. The Central Office is staffed by a bookkeeper and a secretary, and two catechists oversee religious formation for children in grades K–6.
- Pastor: Fr. Jimmy Joseph, V.C. — phone 320-573-2975; [email protected]
- Bookkeeper: Randi Klassen (Central Office, Tue & Thu 8 a.m.–12 noon)
- Secretary: Jessie Johnson (Central Office, Mon, Wed, Fri 8 a.m.–4 p.m.)
- Religious Formation (K–6): Reba Leither ([email protected], 701-426-1607)
- Religious Formation: Chantelle Frie ([email protected], 320-360-4796)
- Central Office: 320-573-2132 • [email protected]
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
St. Mary's parish offers religious formation for children in grades K through 6, and prepares older youth for the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. Young adults who have been confirmed are welcomed into fuller parish life as Baptism or Confirmation sponsors and Eucharistic Ministers.
- Religious Formation for Grades K–6
- First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation (annual program)
- Confirmation preparation in cooperation with the Diocese of Saint Cloud
- Young Adult ministry — newly confirmed adults invited into parish leadership roles
Sacramental Information
The parish website publishes clear guidelines for each of the seven sacraments, encouraging parishioners to begin sacramental preparations well in advance of any desired date.
- Baptism: contact priest three months before the desired baptism date
- First Reconciliation / First Communion: parish-based preparation
- Confirmation: diocesan preparation
- Marriage: contact the Pastor at least six months in advance and before setting a date; Parish and Diocesan Marriage Preparation Classes are required
- Anointing of the Sick & Communion for the homebound: arranged through the Central Office
Becoming a Parishioner
New parishioners who wish to register with the tri-parish Catholic community are invited to call the Central Office at 320-573-2132. Once registered, families can take part in the full sacramental, formation, and devotional life of the parish.
- New Parishioner Registration: call the Central Office
- Once Confirmed, parishioners are considered adult members of the Church
- Adults may serve as Baptism or Confirmation sponsors or be installed as Eucharistic Ministers
The Tri-Parish Community (St. Edward • St. Francis of Assisi • St. Mary)
St. Mary's does not stand alone — it is one of three Catholic parishes in rural central Minnesota that share clergy, staff, a central office, and many ministries. The shared website at 238catholic.org publishes a unified Mass, confession, and adoration schedule covering all three churches, and parishioners are encouraged to worship at whichever church is most convenient on any given week.
- St. Edward's Catholic Church — Elmdale, MN (44055 State Hwy 238, Bowlus area)
- St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church — St. Francis, MN
- St. Mary's Catholic Church — 308 S Main St, Upsala, MN 56384
- All three parishes share a single pastor (Fr. Jimmy Joseph, V.C.) and Central Office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Jimmy Joseph, V.C.2023–present
Vincentian priest assigned by Bishop Patrick M. Neary as parochial administrator of St. Edward, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Mary effective June 28, 2023; later formally installed as pastor. Previously parochial administrator of Sacred Heart, Flensburg; St. James, Randall; and St. Stanislaus, Sobieski.