About St. Michael · Mahnomen, Minnesota
St. Michael's Catholic Church is a parish in Mahnomen, Minnesota, in the Diocese of Crookston, serving the White Earth Reservation region with its mission church, St. Joseph's in nearby Beaulieu. The parish community, led by Father Andrew Obel, currently includes more than 340 households at St. Michael's and around 95 families at St. Joseph's. It operates St. Michael's Catholic School (PreK–6) and an active Faith Formation program, with weekend Masses celebrated Saturday evening and Sunday morning at both worship sites.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Father Andrew Obel
- Diocese
- Diocese of Crookston
Why belong here
St. Michael's is a small-town parish with deep roots on the White Earth Reservation, where the same church has welcomed worshippers for more than a century. With daily Mass several days a week, a Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Masses in both Mahnomen and Beaulieu, a parish-run Catholic school, Faith Formation for grades 1–11, an active Liturgy Committee and choirs, and dedicated parish and finance councils, it offers the full rhythm of Catholic life — sacraments, schooling, and outreach — to roughly 340 area households.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:30 p.m. at St. Michael's (before the 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass)
- Sundays 8:00 a.m. at St. Joseph's (before the 8:30 a.m. Mass)
- Anytime by appointment with the Pastor
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Michael's Catholic Church in Mahnomen, Minnesota, is a parish of the Diocese of Crookston that also serves its mission church, St. Joseph's, in Beaulieu. Today the parish community includes more than 340 households at St. Michael's and roughly 95 families at St. Joseph's. The parish combines a daily Mass schedule, a parish-run Catholic school, and an active Faith Formation program for grades 1–11.
- Parish motto on parish materials: 'Faith. Family. Future.'
- Two worship sites: St. Michael's (Mahnomen) and St. Joseph's (Beaulieu)
- Diocese: Crookston
- Deanery: South Central
History of St. Michael's
The parish traces its roots to an OSB mission built 1¼ miles from present-day Mahnomen by Fr. Aloysius Hermanutz of St. John's Abbey, parishioners, and a few carpenters. As the village of Mahnomen grew with German-descended Catholic settlers from Stearns County, the mission was moved into town. The parish grew physically — a basement church (1925), a new school after the 1937 fire, and the present church dedicated in 1951 by Bishop Francis J. Schenk. Benedictine priests from St. John's Collegeville served until 1971; diocesan clergy have led the parish since.
- Fr. Aloysius Hermanutz, OSB — original mission builder (with St. John's Abbey carpenters)
- Fr. Julius Locnikar, OSB — first resident pastor, appointed July 24, 1908
- Basement church built under Fr. Charles Cannon, OSB in 1925
- School rebuilt in 1937 after fire
- Church dedicated July 1951 by Bishop Francis J. Schenk
- Benedictine pastorate ended 1971; diocesan priests have served since
- Over 340 households currently registered
History of St. Joseph's (Beaulieu)
St. Joseph's is a mission of the parish located 3¾ miles south of the former Beaulieu trading post. Its parish land has its origin in an 1874 donation of 94.4 acres for a cemetery, with Mass first being said in a private house. The church was built in 1895 and named after a favorite saint of the local Chippewa (Ojibwe) people. Successive generations of parishioners maintained the property through great hardships, most notably the long effort to drill a working well, finally achieved in 1935. In 1982 the two churches became a single parish community when Fr. Eugene Wesely of St. Michael's was also assigned to St. Joseph's.
- 1874 — 94.4 acres donated for the cemetery
- 1895 — St. Joseph's Church built
- 1906 — Clapp Act brings new settlers to the area
- 1935 — Well drilled at 306 feet; bathroom installed
- 1966 — Parish obtains land title to original donation
- 1972 — First Parish Council established
- 1982 — Joined with St. Michael's under Fr. Eugene Wesely
- Today serving 95 families
Parish & Finance Councils
Parishioner-led councils guide the spiritual and financial life of the parish. The Pastoral Council discerns parish direction; the Finance Council oversees stewardship of parish resources; the Cemetery Boards care for the parish cemeteries, including Immaculate Heart Cemetery in Bejou.
- St. Michael's Pastoral Council — Chair: Joe Dewey (members: Ray Bisek, Peggy Francis, Mark Jirik, Lisa Larson, Dylan Sather, Grace Sather, David Zimmerman)
- St. Michael's Finance Council — Chair/Trustee: Dave Vipond; Trustees: Char Spaeth
- St. Joseph's Council — Chair: Jeff Crandall; Trustees: Darrell Neisen, Rita Wolbeck, Kelly Klinkhammer
- Cemetery Boards for St. Michael's, St. Joseph's, and Immaculate Heart (Bejou)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation for school-age parishioners in Grades 1–11 is led by DRE Peggy Darco. The parish also maintains a Director of Faith Formation (Vickie Anderson) to coordinate programming across both worship sites.
- Peggy Darco — DRE, Grades 1–11 (cell 218-849-8004; [email protected])
- Vickie Anderson — Director of Faith Formation (218-280-9099)
- Year-round sacramental preparation; phone the parish office (218-935-2503) for details
St. Michael's Catholic School
St. Michael's Catholic School is a parish-affiliated elementary school (PreK–6) located at 501 1st Street SW, Mahnomen. The pastor also serves as school superintendent, reflecting the close integration of parish and school life. The school motto, 'Faith. Family. Future.', reflects its Catholic identity.
- Principal: Sarah Chalich (218-935-5222; [email protected])
- School address: 501 1st Street SW, Mahnomen, MN 56557
- School website: www.stmichaelsschool.org
- Pastor (Fr. Andrew Obel) serves concurrently as School Superintendent
- School Advisory Council is consultative on instruction, tuition, salaries, and budget
- Hiring for elementary teacher positions; parish also recruiting School Advisory Council members
Liturgy & Music
A combined Liturgy Committee plans worship for both St. Michael's and St. Joseph's. Music ministry is led by the St. Michael's Choir Director/Liturgist, Dave Kochmann, who serves with the committee to support Sacred Music at weekend and daily Masses.
- St. Michael's Choir Director/Liturgist: Dave Kochmann
- Liturgy Committee Chair: Jill Bisek (St. Michael's)
- St. Joseph's Liturgy representatives: Chris Bray, Deb McNamee, Vickie Anderson, JoAnn Kersting, Rose Schlick
- Parish App (text 'App' to 88202) for daily readings, prayers, Mass times, news, and bulletin
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for all the major sacraments. Baptisms are scheduled through the parish office after preparation; confessions are offered before each weekend Mass or by appointment; marriages require at least six months of preparation; homebound parishioners may receive Communion and the Anointing of the Sick through pastoral visitation.
- Baptism — call the parish office for preparation and scheduling
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:30 p.m. (St. Michael's) and Sunday 8:00 a.m. (St. Joseph's), or by appointment
- Marriage — contact the office at least six months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion for the homebound — call 218-935-5115
Cemeteries
The parish maintains Catholic cemeteries at St. Michael's (Mahnomen), St. Joseph's (Beaulieu), and Immaculate Heart (Bejou). Boards of parishioners oversee cemetery regulations, perpetual care, and records.
- St. Michael's Cemetery Board — Chair: Bob Spaeth; Sexton: Bev Schoenborn
- St. Joseph's Cemetery Board — Sexton: Pauliann Neisen
- Immaculate Heart Cemetery (Bejou) — Mary Osenga, Dave Kulzer
- Cemetery Regulations PDFs published on the parish website
Outreach & Parish Life
Beyond the sacraments, the parish community supports Blood Drives, pie sales, fundraisers for the school, and stewardship appeals that keep the parish and school operating. A parish mobile app puts the bulletin, Mass times, daily readings, prayers, and Catholic news at parishioners' fingertips.
- Blood Drives at St. Michael's
- Parish Pie Sale (rhubarb for the school)
- School hiring and Advisory Council recruitment
- Online giving — see 'Your financial support' notice on the parish home page
- Parish App: text 'App' to 88202, then select the parish
Plan Your Visit
Visitors are warmly welcomed. Mass is offered Tuesday and Friday mornings at 8:30, Thursday evening at 5:30, Wednesday at the Mahnomen Area Assisted Living Center at 10:00, Saturday Vigil at 5:00 p.m., and Sunday at 8:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's (Beaulieu) and 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael's. Confessions are heard before each weekend Mass. Parish office hours are Tuesday–Thursday, 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Address: 120 West Jefferson Ave, Mahnomen, MN 56557
- Office phone: 218-935-2503 — Fax also at this number
- Office email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tue–Thu 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (closed 12:00–12:30 p.m. for lunch)
- Like and Share on Facebook: facebook.com/stmichaelscatholicchurchmahnomen
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Aloysius Hermanutz, OSB
Built the original mission 1¼ miles from present Mahnomen with parishioners and carpenters from St. John's Abbey.
- Fr. Julius Locnikar, OSB1908-
First resident pastor, appointed July 24, 1908.
- Fr. Charles Cannon, OSB1925-
Arranged for the building of a basement church in 1925.
- Fr. Eugene Wesely1982
In 1982 he was assigned to also serve St. Joseph's in Beaulieu, forming today's two-church parish.