About St. Mary's Cathedral · Saint Cloud, Minnesota
The Cathedral of St. Mary, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, is the cathedral church and mother church of the Catholic Diocese of St. Cloud, which serves central Minnesota and a Catholic population of about 150,000. Founded as a parish in 1855 by missionary priest Father Francis Xavier Pierz, it was originally staffed by Benedictine monks from Saint John's Abbey in Collegeville and became the diocesan cathedral in 1937 after Holy Angels Cathedral was damaged by fire. The current Italianate basilica-plan church, designed by local architect Nairne W. Fisher, was completed in 1931 and contains a notable Shrine of St. Cloud with first-class relics. It continues as an active parish offering daily and weekend Masses, reconciliation, adoration, RCIA, faith formation, and a Catholic school in the heart of downtown St. Cloud.
- Established
- 1855
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (Mary of the Immaculate Conception)
- Rector
- Rev. Scott Pogatchnik (Rector); Rev. Derek Wiechmann (Pastor)
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Cloud
Why belong here
St. Mary's Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of St. Cloud, so joining means placing yourself at the liturgical heart of central Minnesota Catholicism — a historic Italianate basilica consecrated in 1982 with daily Mass, weekday adoration, frequent reconciliation, and the Shrine of St. Cloud. It offers the full sacramental life (baptism, marriage preparation, anointing of the sick, funerals, RCIA-linked First Reconciliation/First Eucharist/Confirmation, and Vacation Bible School), a parish school that was the first in Stearns County, an active music ministry (Adult and Children's Choirs), and easy downtown access at 25 8th Avenue South. For Catholics in St. Cloud it is the natural home both for everyday parish life and for diocesan-scale liturgies.
Mass times at St. Mary's Cathedral
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 4:30 pm
- Friday 4:30 pm
- Saturday 6:00 pm
- Sunday 7:00 pm (new time)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
About St. Mary's Cathedral
St. Mary's Cathedral is the mother church and cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of St. Cloud. Located at 25 8th Avenue South in downtown St. Cloud, Minnesota, it serves as both a downtown parish and the seat of diocesan liturgical life for central Minnesota. The parish was founded in 1855 by missionary priest Father Francis Xavier Pierz and has worshipped in its present Italianate basilica since 1931. The current rectors and pastors are Rev. Scott Pogatchnik (Rector, also Vicar General of the diocese), Rev. Derek Wiechmann (Pastor), and Rev. JohnPaul Igbokwe (Parochial Vicar).
- Type: Cathedral / Parish Church
- Diocese: St. Cloud
- Founded: 1855
- Current church building completed: 1931
- Consecrated: 1982
- Rector: Rev. Scott Pogatchnik
- Pastor: Rev. Derek Wiechmann
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. JohnPaul Igbokwe
- Office Manager: Kelly Bjork
History
The parish traces its origins to 1855, when Father Francis Xavier Pierz celebrated the first Mass in the home of John and Catherina Schwarz. Benedictine monks from Saint John's Abbey in Collegeville took over pastoral care in 1856 and built the first church-school on Eighth Avenue. The parish opened the first school in Stearns County in 1857. After the Gothic church at Ninth Avenue and Saint Germain Street (dedicated December 10, 1865) was destroyed by fire on August 25, 1920, the parish rebuilt at its present location in an Italianate style modeled on the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe in Ravenna. In 1937, after a separate 1933 fire damaged Holy Angels Pro-Cathedral, Pope Pius XI designated St. Mary's as the diocesan cathedral and the Benedictines handed the parish over to diocesan clergy.
- 1855 — Parish founded by Fr. Francis Xavier Pierz; first Mass on May 21 in the Schwarz home
- 1856 — First Benedictine pastor arrives from Saint John's Abbey
- 1857 — Benedictine nuns open the parish school (first in Stearns County)
- 1864 — Larger Gothic church built; dedicated December 10, 1865
- 1896 — Large rectory and new school building constructed
- 1916 — Four-story Saint Mary's Institute built (bowling alley and swimming pool)
- August 25, 1920 — Devastating fire destroys the Gothic church
- 1922 — Construction of the present Italianate basilica begins; architect Nairne W. Fisher
- 1931 — Upper church completed
- 1933 — Lightning damages Holy Angels Pro-Cathedral
- 1937 — Pope Pius XI designates St. Mary's the diocesan cathedral; Benedictines withdraw to St. Augustine Parish
- 1947 — Old rectory torn down; sisters move to the Institute
- 1971 — Saint Mary's Institute sold and demolished
- 1980–1984 — Major renovation under Frank Kacmarcik; pipe organ dedicated in the apse in 1984
- 1982 — Cathedral consecrated
- 2006 — Crux gammata disks replaced with Luminous Mysteries disks
- 2013 — New floor, interior paint, and refurbished pews and kneelers
Architecture and the Shrine of St. Cloud
The cathedral is an Italianate basilica-plan church designed by local architect Nairne W. Fisher. Father Luke Fink, OSB, conceived the design after a Eucharistic Congress in Italy, basing it on the sixth-century Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe in Ravenna. The brick building, about 75 feet tall, features a Roman portico entrance and an adjoining campanile. A major interior renovation directed by Frank Kacmarcik began in 1980 and included installation of the apse pipe organ, dedicated in 1984. The lower church was rebuilt after a fire into a weekday Mass chapel, a Eucharistic chapel, and a gathering space. Inside the cathedral is the Shrine of St. Cloud, designed by St. Cloud architect Frank W. Jackson, holding first-class relics of Saint Cloud (a bone fragment and a piece of his clothing) and fragments from five other saints. The statue of St. Cloud is a 17th-century replica, with the hand and chalice from the original 8th-century statue; flanking wood reliefs depict St. Clothilde and St. Remigius.
- Architectural style: Italianate basilica plan
- Architect: Nairne W. Fisher (designed the upper building)
- Interior renovation: Frank Kacmarcik, beginning 1980
- Pipe organ: dedicated 1984 in the apse
- Exterior disks: replaced in 2006 (Luminous Mysteries)
- Relics: bone fragment and cloth of St. Cloud, plus fragments of five other saints
- Shrine statue: replica of a 17th-century statue; hand and chalice from the 8th-century original
- Shrine reliefs: St. Clothilde and St. Remigius, designed by Frank W. Jackson
Sacraments
The Cathedral celebrates the full sacramental life of a Catholic parish. Baptism is scheduled through the parish office; Christian initiation of adults is handled through the local RCIA process. First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation are prepared through the parish's Area Catholic Community (ACC) faith-formation program. The Anointing of the Sick is offered to those whose health is threatened by aging, injury, or chronic illness, with home visits available. Marriage preparation begins at least six months in advance and uses the Fully Engaged diocesan marriage inventory. Catholic funeral liturgies follow the Cathedral's Funeral Guidelines & Procedures Book and Liturgy Planning Guide.
- Baptism — call parish office
- First Reconciliation / First Eucharist / Confirmation — through ACC faith formation
- Anointing of the Sick — by request; home visits available
- Marriage — 6-month preparation; contact Kelly Bjork, 320-251-1840 x0
- Funeral — Funeral Guidelines & Procedures Book and Liturgy Planning Guide
Faith Formation and Ministries
Faith formation at St. Mary's is organized through its Area Catholic Community and includes preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The parish runs Vacation Bible School and welcomes donations for it. The Music Ministry includes the St. Mary's Adult Choir and Children's Choir, which serve the cathedral's liturgies. The Cathedral also hosts an annual Volunteer Appreciation event, recognizing the many parishioners who staff its ministries.
- RCIA / adult faith formation
- First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation preparation
- Vacation Bible School
- St. Mary's Adult Choir
- Children's Choir
- Volunteer corps (annual Volunteer Appreciation)
Music and Liturgy
Music at St. Mary's is led by the parish's Adult Choir and Children's Choir, which together serve the cathedral's weekend and holy-day liturgies. The cathedral's pipe organ, installed in the apse and dedicated in 1984, anchors the liturgical music program. The 1980s Kacmarcik renovation reordered the sanctuary to emphasize the Eucharist and the celebration of the sacraments, which remains the parish's stated liturgical focus. Cathedral weddings follow specific Cathedral policies for music, decoration, and photography, all coordinated through the parish office.
- Adult Choir and Children's Choir
- Apsidal pipe organ dedicated 1984
- Sanctuary reordered in 1980s renovation under Frank Kacmarcik
- Cathedral music, decoration, and photography policies for weddings
Parish School and Education Heritage
St. Mary's Parish opened the first school in Stearns County in 1857 when Benedictine nuns from Pennsylvania arrived to teach. The sisters moved to Saint Benedict's Monastery in Saint Joseph after a few years, returned after two years, and continued teaching at the parish school. A larger Gothic church was dedicated December 10, 1865, with a new rectory and school building added in 1896. In the 20th century the parish also operated Saint Gertrude's School for children with developmental disabilities on the first floor of Saint Mary's Institute. The Institute, with its bowling alley and swimming pool, was sold and torn down in 1971, ending that era of the parish's educational and recreational footprint.
- 1857 — first school in Stearns County opened by Benedictine nuns
- 1865 — larger Gothic church dedicated
- 1896 — new rectory and school building
- Saint Gertrude's School for children with developmental disabilities
- Saint Mary's Institute (1916) — parish center with bowling alley and swimming pool; demolished 1971
Getting Involved
New parishioners can register online through the Cathedral Registration Form on the parish website, by phone, or in person. A printed Welcome brochure is available, and the parish hosts an annual Volunteer Appreciation event to recognize those who serve. Sacramental preparation (baptism, marriage, anointing, funeral), faith formation, Vacation Bible School, the choirs, and the parish school all offer avenues for involvement.
- Cathedral Registration Form (online)
- Welcome brochure for new parishioners
- Volunteer corps and annual Volunteer Appreciation event
- Music Ministry (Adult and Children's Choirs)
- Faith-formation catechists
- Funeral and wedding liturgy ministries
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis Xavier Pierz1855 (founder)
Missionary priest who founded the parish and celebrated the first Mass on May 21, 1855, in the home of John and Catherina Schwarz.
- First Benedictine pastor from Saint John's Abbey, Collegeville1856–
Began the long era of Benedictine staffing from Saint John's Abbey; combined church and school built on Eighth Avenue.
- Luke Fink, OSBearly 20th century
Parish pastor who traveled to a Eucharistic Congress in Italy, was inspired by the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe in Ravenna, and commissioned local architect Nairne W. Fisher to design the present Italianate basilica.
- Benedictine pastors of Saint John's Abbeythrough 1937
Continued parish leadership until 1937, when Pope Pius XI designated St. Mary's the diocesan cathedral and the monks withdrew to staff St. Augustine Parish on the east side of St. Cloud.
- Diocesan clergy1937–present
Benedictines were replaced by diocesan priests when the parish became the cathedral of the Diocese of St. Cloud in 1937.
- Rev. Scott Pogatchnikcurrent
Current Rector; also serves as Vicar General of the Diocese of St. Cloud and pastor of the Church of Saint Augustine and the Church of Saint John Cantius in St. Cloud (appointed March 2023).
- Rev. Derek Wiechmanncurrent
Current Pastor (parochial assignment).
- Rev. JohnPaul Igbokwecurrent
Current Parochial Vicar.
