About St. Odilia · Shoreview, Minnesota
St. Odilia Catholic Church is a vibrant parish of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis located in Shoreview, Minnesota. Founded on June 3, 1960 by Archbishop William O. Brady at the request of the Crosier Fathers and Brothers (whose patroness is St. Odilia), the parish grew from a 'little green house in a cornfield' into a thriving campus that today includes a church, school, rectory, administrative building, palliative care facility, soccer field, and cemetery. St. Odilia is celebrated for its highly respected K-8 school, an active English-speaking community, and a growing Latino ministry anchored by a weekly Mass in Spanish. Current pastor Fr. James Peterson and parochial vicar Fr. John Rumpza lead the community as it continues to welcome recent arrivals and multi-generational families alike.
- Established
- 1960
- Patron
- St. Odilia (patroness of the Crosier Fathers and Brothers; patroness of the blind and patroness of Alsace)
- Rector
- Fr. James Peterson
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Odilia is a multi-generational Catholic community in Shoreview that combines a respected parish school, an active English-speaking congregation, and a thriving Latino ministry anchored by a weekly Spanish Mass. Parishioners are strengthened by daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and a deep bench of lay-led programs – from Stephen Ministry and OCIC (Order of Christian Initiation for Children) to Family Faith Formation, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and the 'Wee Saints' preschool. With its endowment now exceeding $2.25 million and a campus that includes a church, school, cemetery, and palliative care facility, St. Odilia offers both the intimacy of a neighborhood parish and the resources to serve families across the north metro.
Mass times at St. Odilia
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (English)
- 1st Friday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Spanish, 'Español – Primer Viernes del Mes')
Adoration times
- Monday 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Tuesday 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM (Adoration and Rosary)
- Thursday 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM (Adoration and Rosary)
- 1st Friday 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
- 1st Friday 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Welcome & Parish Identity
St. Odilia's welcome page introduces the parish as a faith community of recent arrivals and multi-generational families, strengthened by God's Living Word and the Sacraments, and committed to using its gifts and talents to build up the Kingdom of Heaven. Pastor Fr. James Peterson expresses his joy at serving St. Odilia – a 'homecoming' of sorts, since he previously served his first two years of ordained ministry there as associate pastor. He and Parochial Vicar Fr. John Rumpza lead the community together, supported by a staff that includes Faith Formation Director Isabel Sutter.
- Pastor's welcome letter from Fr. James Peterson
- Parish History Timeline (1959–present)
- Introducing St. Odilia, Our Patroness
- Installations and announcements (Fr. James Peterson and Fr. John Rumpza installed July 1, 2023)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Odilia is directed by Isabel Sutter ([email protected], 651-415-3349) and offers a full slate of programs for children and youth. Programs run throughout the school year and include a Wednesday evening Family Faith Formation program for children in grades 2–6 who are not enrolled at St. Odilia School, plus First Communion, Confirmation, and OCIC preparation. Children ages 3–6 are welcomed into Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in the Vivian Building atrium.
- Family Faith Formation (grades 2-6, Wednesday evenings)
- Confirmation Preparation (grades 7-12)
- First Communion Preparation
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (ages 3-6, Vivian Building atrium)
- OCIC – Order of Christian Initiation for Children (ages 7+)
- Baptism Preparation Class – monthly Saturday 10 AM–12 PM in English and Spanish
St. Odilia Catholic School
St. Odilia Catholic School has been part of the parish since its first wing was dedicated in 1961, staffed originally by the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary from Dubuque, Iowa. Today it serves K-8 students at 3495 Victoria St N, Shoreview, under Principal Sandy Kane ([email protected], 651-484-3364) and shares the campus with the parish church. The preschool program 'Wee Saints' launched in 2008 as an extension of parish life.
- St. Odilia Catholic School, K-8
- 3495 Victoria St N, Shoreview, MN 55126
- Principal: Sandy Kane ([email protected], 651-484-3364)
- Wee Saints Preschool
- Parish school board (the first in the archdiocese, 1961)
Parish History & The Crosiers
The Crosier Fathers and Brothers (Order of the Holy Cross, OSC) staffed St. Odilia from its founding in 1960 until their departure in 2007. Archbishop William O. Brady asked several religious orders to help staff the area's growing parishes; the Crosiers responded, purchased a twenty-acre farm, and named the new parish after their patroness, St. Odilia. Three Crosier pastors – Fr. Leo Kapphahn (1960), Fr. Anthony Salzbrunn (1974), and Fr. Charlie Kunkel (1982) – shepherded the parish through three decades of construction, school expansion, and the 1983 dedication of the present church. The order's later pastors included Fr. Rick McGuire and Fr. Jerry Schik. The parish honored the Crosiers at a 2007 Farewell Celebration featuring pictorial displays of every decade, and the courtyard was dedicated to Fr. Leo Kapphahn in 2002.
- Archbishop William O. Brady establishes parish June 3, 1960
- Crosiers (OSC) serve the parish 1960–2007
- First Pastor: Fr. Leo Kapphahn, OSC (1960)
- Present church completed in 1983 ($1.4M)
- Crosier Farewell Celebration, 2007
Liturgy, Music & Devotions
Liturgical life at St. Odilia has long been marked by broad-based lay participation: the parish formed one of its first Liturgy Boards in the late 1960s, commissioned lay presiders for Word/Communion services in 1984, and established a Parish Pastoral Council in 1986. The parish introduced its annual musical in 1991 (the debut was 'Cool in the Furnace') and launched the 'Young at Heart' Mass in 1999, in which youth plan the liturgy and serve as liturgical ministers and musicians. Eucharistic Adoration is available Monday afternoons and on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, often paired with the Rosary.
- Daily 7:30 AM Mass (Mon–Fri)
- 9:00 AM Sunday Mass live-streamed
- Annual parish musical (since 1991)
- 'Young at Heart' Mass (since 1999)
- Liturgy Board and Parish Pastoral Council
Latino Ministry & Spanish-Language Life
The Latino Ministry at St. Odilia was formally established in 2001 and has since become a defining dimension of parish life. Every Sunday at 1:00 PM the parish celebrates Mass in Spanish, and the first Friday of each month brings a 6:00 PM Spanish Mass ('Español – Primer Viernes del Mes') along with Spanish-language confession from 5:00–6:00 PM. The parish also offers a Baptism Preparation Class in Spanish (on the same Saturday morning as the English class, 10:00 AM – noon) and integrates Spanish-speaking families into the wider parish community through OCIC, Faith Formation, and sacramental preparation.
- Sunday 1:00 PM Mass in Spanish
- 1st Friday 6:00 PM Mass in Spanish
- Spanish-language confession 1st Friday 5:00–6:00 PM
- Baptism Preparation Class offered in Spanish
- Latino Ministry formally established 2001
Outreach, Social Justice & Parish Endowment
St. Odilia's outreach roots run deep: in 1990 the parish became a partner with St. Adalbert's Sharing Korner Food Shelf in Frogtown (St. Paul), and a Social Justice Ministry plan was adopted that same year. The Caring Ministry Department was established in 1993. Stephen Ministry and SP.R.E.D. (Special Religious Education for developmentally disabled adults, begun in 1988) reflect a long-standing commitment to accompany people in need. The parish's Endowment Fund, established in 1987, has grown to more than $2.25 million and since 2005 has distributed over $936,000 to fund ministry-area projects.
- St. Adalbert's Sharing Korner Food Shelf partnership (since 1990)
- Social Justice Ministry (since 1990)
- Caring Ministry Department (since 1993)
- Stephen Ministry (since 1987)
- SP.R.E.D. – Special Religious Education (since 1988)
- Parish Endowment Fund – assets > $2.25M, distributions > $936,000
Sacraments
Information about the seven sacraments is organized across the website, with detailed pages for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, OCIC (for unbaptized children age 7+), Reconciliation, and Matrimony. Parents and sponsors preparing for Baptism attend a monthly Saturday morning Baptism Preparation Class (10:00 AM – noon, offered in both English and Spanish). Confirmation Preparation is a multi-component program for grades 7–12 that includes Parent/Youth Meetings, a retreat, service projects, and meetings with parish staff.
- Baptism Preparation Class – monthly Saturday, English and Spanish
- First Communion Preparation
- Confirmation Preparation (grades 7-12, with retreat and service)
- OCIC – full initiation at the Easter Vigil
- Reconciliation / Confession (Sat 9–10 AM, 1st Fri 5–6 PM Spanish)
- Matrimony – contact the parish office
Community Events & Fundraisers
St. Odilia's calendar is shaped by long-running parish traditions and fundraisers. The Fall Festival, first held in 1970 to celebrate the parish's tenth anniversary, has grown into a signature community event. 'Carnivale,' a school fundraiser launched in 2007, raised more than $500,000 in its inaugural year, and the 'Night Club' show has been an annual hit since 2008. The parish also gathers for installation Masses, 'meet and greet' receptions for new priests, and an ever-rotating series of formation talks such as the Adult Series on the Mass.
- Fall Festival (since 1970)
- Carnivale school fundraiser (since 2007)
- Night Club show (since 2008)
- Adult Series on the Mass and other formation talks
- Installation Masses and 'Meet and Greet' receptions for new priests
Contact & Visit
St. Odilia Catholic Church is located at 3495 Victoria Street North, Shoreview, MN 55126, on a campus that includes the church, school, rectory, administrative building, palliative care facility, soccer field, and cemetery. The parish office can be reached at (651) 484-6681, and the Faith Formation office (Isabel Sutter) at (651) 415-3349 / [email protected]. Mass times, directions, and the parish calendar are available on the website at stodilia.org.
- Address: 3495 Victoria Street North, Shoreview, MN 55126
- Parish phone: (651) 484-6681
- Faith Formation: (651) 415-3349 / [email protected]
- Website: stodilia.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Leo Kapphahn, OSC1960–1974 (approx.)
First pastor of St. Odilia, named by Archbishop Brady; the courtyard was dedicated to him in 2002.
- Fr. Anthony Salzbrunn, OSC1974–1982 (approx.)
Second pastor; oversaw construction of the Crosier residence and growing parish.
- Fr. Charlie Kunkel, OSC1982–1994 (approx.)
Third pastor; broke ground for the new church (1983) and guided completion of the present sanctuary.
- Fr. Rick McGuire, OSC1994–2003 (approx.)
Led the major 1995 building campaign that added the Parish Center, school cafeteria, and offices.
- Fr. Jerry Schik, OSC2003–2007 (approx.)
Pastored during the Crosier order's departure from the parish and the transition to archdiocesan leadership.
- Fr. Phil Rask2007–
First archdiocesan pastor of St. Odilia, following the Farewell Celebration for the Crosiers in 2007.
- Fr. Nels Gjengdahl2007–
First archdiocesan associate pastor at St. Odilia.
- Fr. James Peterson2023–present
Returned to St. Odilia as pastor in July 2023; had previously served as associate pastor (2013–2015) and as chaplain at Totino-Grace High School.