About St. Mary · Waverly, Minnesota
St. Mary Catholic Church is a welcoming parish in Waverly, Minnesota, serving the community since the 1880s. A member of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, the parish proclaims the message of Jesus Christ and nourishes souls through the sacraments and the teachings of the Church. Its mission is to be a welcoming Catholic community connecting all who seek to grow spiritually in God's Love, strengthening connections through worship, learning, and service.
- Established
- 1861 (parish founded); August 29, 1884 (Articles of Incorporation)
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Lawrence (Larry) Blake
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a centuries-old small-town parish where worship, learning, and service are woven together. With daily and weekend Masses in English, weekday Eucharistic Adoration, a robust OCIA process (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), a full K–10 Faith Formation program with family-formation nights, a youth ministry that combines faith with fun, and small Bible-study groups, members of any age or stage can find a way to grow closer to Christ. The parish is also deeply engaged in outreach — pastor Fr. Blake has launched traditions like a Good Friday processional through Waverly, stopping at the local school, bank, food shelf, city hall, and Veterans Memorial — making it a true hub of Catholic life for the community.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday: 5:00–5:20 pm
- Saturday: 3:30–4:30 pm
- First Friday: 8:30 am
- First Saturday: 8:30 am
Adoration times
- Tuesday: all-day Adoration (12:00 am – 11:59 pm)
About St. Mary's
Since the 1880s, the Church of St. Mary's has been an essential part of Waverly, bringing the sacraments and the teachings of the Church to thousands. Its mission is 'to be a welcoming Catholic community connecting all who seek to grow spiritually in God's Love,' and its vision is 'to continually grow our community by making connections through outreach and service.' The parish seeks to strengthen connections with one another and with local communities, and to deepen the encounter with Jesus, the Risen Lord, through worship, learning, and service.
- Founded 1861; incorporated 1884
- Member of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
140+ Years of Rich History
Waverly's first Catholic mission church was built at Waverly Mills in 1861 to serve French, German, Polish, Bohemian, Irish, and English-speaking settlers. When Fr. Joseph Guillot became pastor in 1884, the parish numbered about 375 families. He led the legal incorporation of the parish under Minnesota law and oversaw the construction of a parish school that opened in 1886, staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph. He also brought a stone from Lourdes, France, intended for the new church.
- 1861 — first mission church at Waverly Mills
- Aug 10, 1884 — Fr. Joseph Guillot becomes pastor
- Aug 29, 1884 — Articles of Incorporation accepted by Bishop Ireland in St. Paul and notarized in Ramsey County
- 1885 — foundation laid for the parish school
- Fall 1886 — school opens
- 1887 — formal dedication of the school
- 1896 — Fr. Guillot's pastorate ends
- 1898 — exterior photograph shows the new church with pastor's residence on south lawn, small steeples, and ramp entrance
- 1980 — window restoration and steeple repair work
- Aug 4, 2024 — 140th Anniversary Mass celebrated with Archbishop Bernard Hebda
The Lourdes Stone
A blue granite stone, round like a nose, is set into the south exterior wall of the church just around the corner from the steeple. It was carried from the field near where the Blessed Mother appeared to Saint Bernadette in Lourdes, France, by founding pastor Fr. Guillot. The parish invites visitors to find and touch the stone as a tangible link to Lourdes and to the Marian heritage of the parish.
Pastoral Staff & Parish Office
St. Mary's is led by Pastor Father Lawrence (Larry) Blake, supported by Deacon Mike Thoennes, an Interim Youth Minister, and a full office team handling Faith Formation, Music, Operations, Mission Support, Pastoral Ministry, and Grounds.
- Fr. Larry Blake — Pastor ([email protected]; ext. 22)
- Deacon Mike Thoennes ([email protected])
- Mary Jacques — Pastoral Ministry ([email protected]; ext. 30)
- Mary Pettit — Director of Operations ([email protected]; ext. 21)
- Jessica Brien — Director of Mission Support, Bulletin/Website Editor, Safe Environment Coordinator ([email protected]; ext. 32)
- Rochelle Borrell — Director of Faith Formation ([email protected]; ext. 31)
- Jenna Scheevel — Musical Liturgist ([email protected])
- Connor Kittock — Interim Youth Minister
- Tim LePage — Grounds & Maintenance ([email protected])
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Mary's provides a family-based, family-catechesis-oriented Faith Formation program for children in kindergarten through 10th grade, with parents participating alongside their children through monthly Family Formation Nights.
- Kinder–5th Grade: meets one Wednesday a month on Family Formation Night with parents
- 6th–9th Grade: meets every Wednesday evening 6:30–7:45 pm
- Confirmation (10th Grade): meets Sundays at 9:10 am in the Rectory, with two-year preparation, service projects, and trips
- Monthly Family Formation Nights
- Summer Camp
- Youth Nights
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) is for adults who are unbaptized, baptized in another Christian denomination, or baptized Catholic but missing Confirmation and Eucharist. Fr. Blake invites anyone discerning the Catholic faith to reach out to the Parish Office; a new OCIA class is planned for Fall 2026.
Sacraments
Information and preparation for all the major sacraments are coordinated by the parish office.
- Baptism — Baptism Class required; for first-time parents contact the parish office
- Reconciliation — First Reconciliation in 2nd Grade via Religious Education
- First Holy Communion — 2nd Grade via Religious Education
- Confirmation — 10th Grade with two-year preparation; Adult Confirmation by request
- Anointing of the Sick — available through the parish
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Funeral / Funeral Liturgy — with parish Funeral Choir
Youth Ministry
Youth Ministry is a church-wide effort to reach out to young people with the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. It offers a variety of opportunities — including Youth-Led Mass, Youth Nights, Youth Choir, Vacation Bible School, and Extreme Camp — designed to draw teens into active participation in the life and mission of the Church in a fun, faith-filled atmosphere.
Music & Liturgy
Jenna Scheevel serves as the parish's Musical Liturgist, coordinating the parish Choir, a Youth Choir, and a Funeral Choir. Volunteers are welcomed, especially for special feast days. To join the choir, arrive by 3:30 pm or contact Jenna.
Small Groups & Bible Study
St. Mary's hosts an active Bible Study group and a wider network of small groups meeting around the parish for faith, fellowship, and spiritual growth. Those interested can contact Jenna Scheevel at [email protected] or call the parish office for the current Small Group Calendar.
Get Involved
Volunteers are central to parish life at St. Mary's — from liturgical ministries and choir to youth ministry and Faith Formation. Anyone interested in serving can contact Jessica at the parish office (ext. 32). A Safe Environment account is required for those working with minors.
Good Friday Processional
In 2025 Fr. Blake introduced a Good Friday processional through Waverly, joining with fellow clergy from a Presbyterian church in Howard Lake, a Methodist church in Montrose, and Living Waters church in Waverly. The hour-long walk makes five stops for prayer: Waverly Elementary School, Citizen's Bank, the Wright County Food Shelf, city hall, and the Waverly Veteran's Memorial, with men of the parish taking turns carrying the cross.
Contact & Office Hours
Parish office is at 303 N. 6th St., PO Box 278, Waverly, MN 55390. Phone: (763) 726-7300. Fax: (763) 658-3519. Email: [email protected]. Office hours are Monday & Thursday 8:30 am–2:00 pm; Tuesday 9:30 am–2:00 pm; Wednesday 8:30 am–3:00 pm; Closed Friday. Bulletin deadline is Monday at 1:00 pm (submissions to [email protected] or to Jessica, ext. 32).
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph Guillot1884–1896
French-born founding pastor who organized the parish's incorporation, oversaw construction of the school (opened 1886) staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph, and brought the Lourdes stone for the church wall.
- Father Timothy Cloutier
Former pastor who returned for the 140th anniversary Mass in August 2024.
- Father Martin Shallbetter
Former pastor invited to the 140th anniversary celebration in August 2024.
- Father Kenneth O'Hotto13 years (retired July 1, 2024)
Long-serving priest who retired after 44 years in ministry; moved back to his hometown of Osseo and continued assisting local parishes.
- Father Lawrence (Larry) BlakeJuly 2024–present
Succeeded Fr. O'Hotto; came from 25 years as an ordained priest, including chaplaincy at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and chaplain service at Hennepin County Medical Center; also a US Air Force Reserve chaplain. Assigned to St. Mary's for six years by the Archdiocese.