About St. Nicholas · Carver, Minnesota
St. Nicholas Catholic Church is a historic parish in Carver, Minnesota, dramatically situated on a bluff overlooking the Minnesota River Valley. The parish was founded in 1868 when Father Magnus Mayr organized a board of trustees and a building committee, and the first Mass was celebrated on the feast of St. Nicholas, December 6, 1868. Today it is a bilingual (English and Spanish) parish served from Guardian Angels in Chaska under the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, offering Sunday Mass, weekday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation, and traditional Catholic devotions in the small river town of Carver.
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- St. Nicholas
- Rector
- Father Tony VanderLoop
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Nicholas offers the rare experience of belonging to a small, historic Catholic community on a bluff overlooking the Minnesota River Valley, where founding families still worship in the same building their ancestors consecrated in 1868. The parish combines traditional Catholic devotion — bilingual Mass (English and Spanish), Eucharistic Adoration, and the full range of sacraments — with the warmth and accessibility of a small-town church. It is a place where pioneer heritage, active faith formation, youth ministry, and ongoing outreach come together under the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
Mass times at St. Nicholas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:45–10:00 AM (before 10:00 Mass)
- Sunday 7:45–8:00 AM (before earlier Mass)
Adoration times
- Non-perpetual Eucharistic Adoration is offered (times posted in the parish calendar)
Our Parish Story — Founded 1868
From the early 1850s the Carver area was mission territory served by Benedictine priests from Shakopee. Catholic pioneers first gathered for Mass and baptisms in private homes — most notably the Steger/Schroeder/Griffin Home at the corner of Carver's Oak and Fourth Streets, which still stands as a local landmark. On August 30, 1868, Father Magnus Mayr established a board of trustees and a building committee and secured land atop Fourth Street hill. A simple frame structure was enlarged into a large brick building costing about $4,000, completed in just two months. On December 6, 1868 — the feast of St. Nicholas — Father Mayr, 200 pioneer members, and the Great Western Band processed up the hill to celebrate the first Mass.
- 1868 — Parish founded; first pastor Father Magnus Mayr; first Mass December 6, 1868
- 1872 — Old cemetery established about a mile from the church
- 1876 — School building erected with funds from Mrs. Suzanne Zanger; sisters taught ~80 students
- 1876–1987 — Parish served by Franciscan priests from Chaska or St. Paul
- 1935/1936 — New cemetery adjoining the church opened
- 1973 — Parish center added
- 1945 — Last pre-2000s interior renovation
- 2008 — 140th anniversary celebrated
- 150th anniversary observed around 2018
The Church on the Hill
St. Nicholas sits prominently on a bluff overlooking the town of Carver and the Minnesota River Valley. As Father Thomas Joseph wrote in The Catholic Spirit, 'Being on a mountaintop gives you the sense that you are a step closer to God and heaven … Our forefathers were willing to give up their best farmland on the bluffs of Carver so that God might be glorified from the top of the hill.' When the parish learned it needed a new roof, plans were approved by then-Archbishop John Nienstedt to renovate the entire church; parishioners celebrated the completed improvements at a Mass and blessing with Archbishop Emeritus Harry Flynn.
- Brick church built 1868 atop Fourth Street bluff
- Overlooks the Minnesota River Valley
- Roof replacement and full renovation completed circa 2009
- Blessing celebrated with Archbishop Emeritus Harry Flynn
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
The parish offers Faith Formation (religious education) for parish youth, a Becoming Catholic process (OCIA/RCIA) for adults preparing to enter the Church, and an active Youth Ministry program.
- Faith Formation
- Becoming Catholic (RCIA/OCIA)
- Youth Ministry
- Confirmation preparation
Sacraments
St. Nicholas celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Parishioners can arrange Baptisms, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders through the parish office. Sacramental records requests can be made by calling 952-227-4000 or by mailing requests to 215 W. 2nd Street, Chaska, MN 55318.
- Baptism
- Eucharist
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation
- Holy Orders
Ministries, Groups, and Parish Life
Parish life at St. Nicholas is shaped by both longstanding heritage ministries and the practical work of running a small parish. The Parish Council guides parish direction, and the Safe Environment program protects children and vulnerable adults. Liturgy & Worship volunteers support Sunday Mass, and the parish maintains an active Prayer Garden for quiet devotion and remembrance. The parish website also lists a 'Future of St. Nicholas Church' section, indicating ongoing planning for the parish's long-term life and facilities.
- Parish Council
- Liturgy & Worship
- Safe Environment Coordinator
- Prayer Garden
- Youth Ministry
- Ministries & Groups
Cemeteries and the Prayer Garden
St. Nicholas maintains two historic cemeteries that reflect its long presence in the Carver community. The older cemetery was established in 1872, about a mile from the church; a second cemetery adjoining the church was opened in 1935 (parish sources also give 1936). A Prayer Garden ministry continues the parish's tradition of care for the deceased and a place for quiet prayer on the church grounds.
- Old Cemetery — founded 1872, about a mile from the church
- Adjoining Cemetery — established 1935/1936
- Prayer Garden ministry
Contact, Office, and Visiting
St. Nicholas Catholic Church is located at 412 West 4th Street, Carver, Minnesota 55315 (PO Box 133). The parish office is administered through Guardian Angels in Chaska; parish office hours follow the Guardian Angels schedule: Monday 8:30 AM–12:30 PM, Tuesday–Thursday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, and Friday 8:30 AM–12:30 PM. New parishioners can register via a form on the parish website or by calling 952-227-4000. Sacramental records requests can be mailed to 215 W. 2nd Street, Chaska, MN 55318.
- Phone: 952-227-4000
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish office hours follow Guardian Angels, Chaska
- New parishioner registration via website form or phone
- Sacramental records: mailed requests to 215 W. 2nd Street, Chaska, MN 55318
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Magnus Mayr1868 (first pastor; built the church)
Organized the board of trustees on August 30, 1868; celebrated the first Mass on December 6, 1868.
- Franciscan priests (from Chaska or St. Paul)1876–1987
After the early Benedictine missionary era, the parish was served by Franciscans for over a century.