About St. Nicholas · Elko New Market, Minnesota
St. Nicholas Catholic Church is a historic parish in Elko New Market, Minnesota, founded in 1858 by Catholic families newly arrived from Luxembourg and the Rhineland. It belongs to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and today serves a wide rural-area community from its striking 1911 brick church, which sits on a hilltop visible for miles. The parish runs a robust sacramental life (daily Mass, Saturday Vigil, perpetual Eucharistic adoration, Rosary, and a Fatima Prayer Group), maintains a partner Catholic elementary school (Holy Cross), and supports ministries spanning Respect Life, music, men's fellowship, and a 55-and-older social group. Live-streamed Sunday Mass, a yearly Chicken Cookout on Father's Day, and a Fall Gala & Auction round out parish life.
- Established
- 1858
- Patron
- St. Nicholas (of Myra / Bishop of Myra)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Michael Rudolph
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Nicholas is a parish where the historic 1911 brick church, the Eucharistic adoration chapel, and a tight-knit rural community come together. Weekday and Sunday Masses (with the Sunday 10 a.m. Mass live-streamed) and a near-perpetual adoration schedule in the St. John Paul II Chapel give parishioners ample opportunities to pray, while ministries such as the Respect Life Ministry, Golden Hearts (55+), Catholic Watchmen, and the Fatima Prayer Group offer real ways to serve and belong. The parish is also closely tied to Holy Cross Catholic School and the wider New Market-area community, hosting a Father's Day Chicken Cookout and a Fall Gala & Auction as signature fellowship events.
Mass times at St. Nicholas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 7:35–7:50 AM
- Wednesday 7:35–7:50 AM
- Wednesday 4:30–5:30 PM
- Thursday 7:35–7:50 AM
- Friday 7:35–7:50 AM
- Saturday 8:35–9:00 AM
- Saturday 3:30–4:40 PM
- By appointment — call the parish office, 952-461-2403 (no confessions on Holy Saturday)
Adoration times
- Sunday 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM (Saint John Paul II Eucharistic Adoration Chapel)
- Monday 5:00 AM – Tuesday midnight
- Wednesday 5:00 AM – Thursday midnight
- Thursday 4:00 AM – Friday midnight
- Friday 5:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Saturday 5:00 AM – 8:00 AM
- Adorers especially needed on Mondays at 2 PM, Tuesdays at 2 PM, and Thursdays at 6 PM
History of St. Nicholas Parish
St. Nicholas traces its roots to 1858, when Catholic families from Luxembourg and the Rhineland settled in the New Market area and began gathering for Mass in private homes. A log chapel was erected in 1861 on the site of the present 'old cemetery,' replaced by a frame church in 1871, and formally incorporated in February 1877. The parish was served by visiting missionaries for its first thirty years until Father John Dorfsmeister, fresh from Germany, became its first full-time resident pastor in 1888.
- 1858: Parish founded; Mass offered in parishioners' homes by traveling missionaries
- 1861: First log church built on the 'old cemetery' site
- 1871: Larger frame church built
- February 1877: Articles of incorporation drawn up, officially establishing St. Nicholas Catholic Church
- 1888: Father John Dorfsmeister becomes the first full-time resident pastor
- 1905: Outdoor Stations of the Cross completed (per Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis)
- 1910: Ground broken for the present brick church; each family donates 10 loads of field rock for the foundation
- November 7, 1911: The present church is dedicated
- 1912: Main and side altars and interior Stations of the Cross installed
- 1916: Schoolhouse built; three Sisters of Notre Dame arrive
- 1960s: Stained-glass window program completed
- 1969: School consolidates with Lonsdale and Veseli schools
- 2003: Consolidated school renamed Holy Cross School
- 2005: LNMV Catholic Education Center opens, housing Holy Cross Catholic School
Our Pastor and Staff
The parish is led by Father Michael Rudolph, who has served as pastor since July 2021. He is supported by Parish Administrative Assistant & Safe Environment Coordinator Rochelle Ibarra and Communication Coordinator & Bookkeeper Karen Johnson.
- Rev. Fr. Michael Rudolph — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rochelle Ibarra — Parish Administrative Assistant & Safe Environment Coordinator ([email protected])
- Karen Johnson — Communication Coordinator & Bookkeeper ([email protected])
- Sherry Moening — Volunteer Adoration Chapel Coordinator ([email protected])
Music Ministry
St. Nicholas's Music Ministry is 100% volunteer-based, drawing together instrumentalists, cantors, and vocalists in the parish choir. The ministry grounds its work in Sacrosanctum Concilium and places special emphasis on involving young parishioners, viewing youth participation as essential stewardship and the future of the Church.
- All-volunteer instrumentalists, cantors, and choir
- Special emphasis on youth involvement and talent stewardship
- Inspired by Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy)
- Includes a 'Mass of St. Nicholas' setting and choir sampler recordings
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at St. Nicholas equips the parish to become a community of learners through lifelong faith formation, sacramental preparation programs, and encouragement of faith growth at home and through participation in parish life. Programs embrace all ages and generations.
- Lifelong faith formation for all ages
- Sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation)
- Faith growth centered in parish life and at home
Respect Life Ministry
The Respect Life Ministry promotes a consistent ethic of life from conception to natural death, working in the four areas called for by the USCCB Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: prayer and worship, public information and education, public policy, and pastoral care. The ministry coordinates the parish Respect Life Program, supports pregnancy and post-abortion resources, and encourages parish prayer for mothers, the unborn, the dying, the disabled, and those on death row.
- Affiliated resources: Alpha Women's Center, Prenatal Partners for Life, MCCL, Abortion Pill Reversal, Rachel's Vineyard, 40 Days for Life, Holy Family Catholic Adoption Agency
- Connects parishioners with the Minnesota Catholic Conference for public-policy action
- Sponsors prayer and education programs within the parish
Golden Hearts (55+ Fellowship)
Golden Hearts is a fellowship of parishioners age 55 and older who enjoy traveling together on parish tours, sharing meals, and serving the wider parish community. Members sell flowers and plants at the Father's Day Chicken Cookout, have made prayer shawls for the sick and shut-ins, made bookmarks for children, and even bandaged old sheets for Haiti.
- Several parish tours of churches and other places each year
- Sells plants/flowers at the Chicken Cookout to support the parish
- Prayer shawls, bookmarks, bandages for Haiti, used stamps for Catholic radio in South America
- Annual St. Valentine's and St. Patrick's Day dinners
Catholic Watchmen (Men's Fellowship)
Catholic Watchmen is a men's fellowship ministry open to all men, with a 'bring a friend' invitation. The group is tied to the Archdiocesan Catholic Watchmen initiative and the Knights of Columbus 'Fathers for Good' resources, gathering periodically for formation, fellowship, and renewal.
- Open to all men; bring a friend
- Connects to the Archdiocesan Catholic Watchmen initiative
- Linked with Knights of Columbus 'Fathers for Good'
Fatima Prayer Group
The Fatima Prayer Group is an apostolate of prayer that responds to the Blessed Mother's requests at Fatima. Members pray especially the rosary for the conversion of sinners and peace in the world, and gather every Tuesday and on the 1st Saturday after morning Mass in the church.
- Recalls the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima (May–October 1917)
- Rosary, Fatima prayers, and spiritual readings
- Meets every Tuesday and 1st Saturday after morning Mass in the church
Holy Cross Catholic School
Holy Cross Catholic School is the parish's partner Catholic elementary school, a consolidation of the original St. Nicholas school with the Lonsdale and Veseli schools (1969), renamed in 2003. The school is committed to academic excellence and Catholic values, and is now housed in the LNMV Catholic Education Center that opened in 2005.
- Origins trace to 1916, when three Sisters of Notre Dame arrived to teach at St. Nicholas
- Consolidated in 1969 as the Lonsdale-New Market-Veseli Area School
- Renamed Holy Cross School in 2003
- Housed in the LNMV Catholic Education Center (opened 2005)
Parish Festivals: Chicken Cookout & Gala & Auction
Two signature parish events bring the community together each year: the Father's Day Chicken Cookout and the Fall Gala & Auction. The Chicken Cookout serves an open-fire chicken dinner with children's games, music, cake walk, country store, bake sale, bingo, and a big-ticket raffle. The Gala & Auction is geared toward adults and features fellowship, a meal, group events, and silent auctions.
- Chicken Cookout: held annually on Father's Day
- Gala & Auction: held annually in the Fall
- Both events are key volunteer and fellowship opportunities that support parish operations
Care, Communion Calls, and Pastoral Outreach
Beyond the regular Mass and adoration schedule, the parish offers Communion calls to the home or hospital and a Care Fund for emergency situations and special needs, both accessible through the parish office. These are concrete ways the parish accompanies parishioners through illness, recovery, and crisis.
- Communion calls — to homes and hospitals
- Care Fund — for emergency situations and special needs; contact the pastor
Contact, Location, and Live-Stream
St. Nicholas is located at 51 Church Street, Elko New Market, MN 55054. Parish office hours are Tuesday–Friday, 7:45 AM – 5:00 PM. The Sunday 10:00 AM Mass, Holy Days, special events, and weddings/funerals (upon request) are live-streamed on the parish's YouTube channel.
- Address: 51 Church Street, Elko New Market, MN 55054
- Phone: 952-461-2403
- Office hours: Tuesday–Friday, 7:45 AM – 5:00 PM
- Live-stream on YouTube: Sunday 10 AM Mass, Holy Days, special events, weddings/funerals upon request
- Facebook presence (link from the parish homepage)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- George Keller1858–1863
Missionary; first pastor listed
- Pius Bayer1863–1872
- Christian Joseph Knauf1872–1877
- Ramain Kimel1877–1888
- John Dorfsmeister (Dorfmeister)1888–1898
First full-time resident pastor; came directly from Germany
- Edward Lee1898–1899
- Alexander Berghold1899–July 1906
- Mathias Stukel1906–1922
- Wenceslaus J. Skluzacek1922–1927
- James M. Mamer1927–March 1936
- John J. MiesMarch 31, 1936 – September 1, 1940
- Peter F. RemskarSeptember 12, 1940 – August 23, 1946
- Henry J. MineaSeptember 12, 1946 – February 1950
- Carl RenzFebruary 1950 – August 1953
- Leonard A. HirmanAugust 1953 – March 1967
- James HollJune 1967 – September 1969
- Raymond J. ReedSeptember 26, 1969 – January 23, 1970
- Richard SkluzacekJanuary 27, 1970 – June 18, 1974
- Alphonse KubatJune 18, 1974 – June 15, 1977
- John SiebenalerJune 15, 1977 – July 1, 1987
- Clarence J. VavraJuly 1, 1987 – November 22, 1992
- Thomas DufnerDecember 1, 1992 – July 27, 1995
- George WelzbacherSeptember 12, 1995 – July 2, 2001
- Glen JensonAugust 14, 2001 – July 16, 2004
- Bernard ReiserAugust 2004 – June 2006
Sacramental Minister
- Dominican Sister Dominica Brennan, O.P.August 2004 – June 2006
Parish Life Administrator; previously chancellor for canonical affairs in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
- Daniel HauganJuly 2006 – July 2009
- James AdamsJuly 2009 – July 2013
- Patrick BarnesJuly 2013 – July 2020
- Nicholas (Nick) VanDenBroekeJuly 2020 – July 2021
- Michael RudolphJuly 2021 – present
Current pastor