About St. Patrick · West Albany, Minnesota
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a small rural mission parish in West Albany, Minnesota (Wabasha County), today served as part of a two-church cluster with St. Mary of the Lake in Lake City. The parish's present church was built in 1875, and for more than 150 years it has gathered a farming community rooted in the families — McGuigans, McCaffreys, Ryans, Sextons, Cronins, Thorntons — who settled the area by ox cart in 1855. The parish is best known for the extraordinary ceiling murals painted in 1898 by Anton Gag and his assistants, a hidden treasure of Minnesota religious folk art. Today it serves roughly 125 families, sharing Sunday Mass, faith formation, devotions, and pastoral ministry with the nearby Lake City parish under one pastor.
- Established
- 1856
- Patron
- St. Patrick of Ireland
- Rector
- Father Thé Hoang
- Diocese
- Diocese of Winona-Rochester
Why belong here
St. Patrick's is a small, close-knit rural Catholic community of about 125 families in the heart of Wabasha County, where generations of the same farm families have worshipped together since the 1850s. Visitors are welcomed to a single, focused Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM, a treasury of 1898 Anton Gag ceiling murals, and a deep prayer life rooted in Eucharistic Adoration, the Divine Mercy hour, the rosary, and Stations of the Cross. With an active Council of Catholic Women, Parish Pastoral Council, faith formation for children and Confirmation youth, RCIA, and outreach like the Prayer Chain and care packages to college students and military parishioners, it offers an unusually personal parish life in which every family is known and supported.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30 AM (before Mass)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesdays — one hour of silent Eucharistic Adoration (times vary; see bulletin)
Parish History
The first residents of the West Albany area arrived by ox cart in 1855, and Father Felix Tissot of Wabasha began celebrating Mass in their homes. In 1863 the congregation purchased 60 acres of land, and two years later acquired an additional 20 acres that included the Frank Ryan Hotel, whose top floor was converted into a chapel with an arched ceiling, altar, and Way of the Cross. The present stone church was built in 1875 at a cost of about $20,000; the rectory followed in 1891–92 ($7,500); and Fr. William Coleman added the parish hall in 1910, a center of community life for generations. From Fr. Tissot forward, about 40 priests have served the parish through 2015, with Deacon David Dose serving continuously since 2009.
- 1855 — First settlers arrive by ox cart
- 1863 — Congregation purchases 60 acres
- 1875 — Present church erected (~$20,000)
- 1879 — Fr. John Jacobs becomes first resident pastor
- 1891–92 — Rectory built (~$7,500)
- 1898 — Ceiling murals completed by Anton Gag and assistants
- 1910 — Parish hall built by Fr. William Coleman
The 1898 Anton Gag Ceiling Murals
The most distinctive artistic feature of St. Patrick's is the extraordinary set of ceiling murals completed in 1898, painted by Anton Gag, Christian Heller, and Alex Schwendinger at the encouragement of Austrian-born pastor Fr. John Schwartz. Gag's primary artistic passion was the Dakota Sioux — he would visit the reservations to paint portraits on deerskin clothing — and he is also the artist of 'The Massacre at New Ulm,' which still hangs in the Minnesota State Capitol. To supplement his income he worked as a decorative painter on church interiors across Minnesota, including New Ulm, Mankato, and West Albany. The West Albany murals are his most complete surviving church interior in the area.
- Primary artist: Anton Gag
- Assistant painters: Christian Heller and Alex Schwendinger
- Commissioned under Fr. John Schwartz (1898–1904)
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
St. Patrick's Faith Formation program offers age-appropriate catechesis guided by biblical faith and Catholic teaching for children PreK–8, held on Sundays after the 8:00 AM Mass from mid-September through mid-May. Confirmation students use the 'Chosen' curriculum to study the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit and to grow in active participation in Mass and community service. All adult volunteers are required to complete VIRTUS training for child safety. The parish also sponsors a rich slate of youth activities including Pathways TEC retreats, Camp Summit (a four-day summer camp in Lanesboro, MN), the Steubenville Youth Conference in Rochester, Celebrate Me (a week-long 7th-grade camp), and Totus Tuus.
- PreK–8 Faith Formation — Sundays after 8 AM Mass (mid-Sept to mid-May)
- Confirmation — 'Chosen' program, small-group based
- Youth activities: Pathways TEC, Camp Summit, Steubenville, Celebrate Me, Totus Tuus
- Coordinator: Brianna Evers
- All volunteers must complete VIRTUS training
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
Adults wishing to learn more about the Catholic faith are invited to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Sessions are scheduled at either St. Mary of the Lake or St. Patrick's at a time convenient to those inquiring. For information, contact Father Thé Hoang at 651-345-4130 or [email protected], or Deacon David and Ann Marie Dose at 651-345-2439 for St. Patrick's.
- Contact: Father Thé Hoang (651-345-4134) or Deacon David & Ann Marie Dose (651-345-2439)
Sacraments
Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion, Marriage, Reconciliation, and Anointing of the Sick are all available through the parish. Parents expecting a child should email Father for baptism preparation; first-time families attend a baptism class with Deacon David and Ann Marie Dose at least four weeks in advance. Couples must contact Father Thé at least six months before their wedding date. The homebound and those in need of communion can contact Deacon David Dose or the parish office for special visits.
- Baptism — contact Father; class with Deacon David & Ann Marie Dose; 4+ weeks advance notice
- Marriage — contact Father Thé ≥6 months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick / homebound Communion — Deacon David Dose (651-345-2439)
- Reconciliation — Sundays 7:30 AM or by appointment
Parish Pastoral Council (PPC)
The St. Patrick's PPC functions as an advisory board with the pastor, making collaborative decisions about the needs of the church, hall, and grounds. Members include Father Thé Hoang, Deacon David Dose, Bill Diedrich, Dwaine Sexton, Jane Timm, Kathleen Evers, and Lea Sexton.
- Members: Fr. Thé Hoang, Deacon David Dose, Bill Diedrich, Dwaine Sexton, Jane Timm, Kathleen Evers, Lea Sexton
Finance Council
The Finance Council reviews the parish annual budget and plans for repairs, replacements, and capital expenditures based on the priorities of the Parish Pastoral Council; the approved budget is published and made available to parishioners.
- Members: Fr. Thé Hoang, Gary Timm (Trustee), Lisa Meyer (Bookkeeper), Bill Sexton (Trustee), Scott Sexton, Lenny Van Houten
Council of Catholic Women (CCW)
The St. Patrick's CCW acts through its members to support, empower, and educate Catholic women in spirituality, leadership, and service; to inspire and promote Gospel values in a changing world. It meets on the second Monday of each month from August through May. Major fundraisers include the Fall Rummage Sale and Fall Craft Sale, and the CCW has funded the refinishing of the Baptismal Font, the church/hall bathrooms, altar flowers, postage for care packages to college students and military parishioners, and repairs to the grotto.
- President: Louann Fieck (as of July 2023)
- Secretary: Vicky Moyer
- Treasurer: Carmen Diedrich
- Kitchen Coordinators: Meg Sprick (Bazaar/Craft Sale), Carmen Diedrich (Rummage Sale)
- Meets second Monday, August–May
Knights of Columbus — Council 1865
Lake City Council No. 1865 was chartered by Supreme Knight James A. Flaherty on February 18, 1917, with 58 founding members. The council meets on the second Tuesday of each month: rosary at 6:20 PM, social at 7:00 PM, dinner, then the meeting. Members also run Bingo at the Care Center the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at 7:00 PM. The council received a Star Council Award in March 2021, one of only about 25 of Minnesota's 270 councils to do so that year.
- Grand Knight: Ronald Dahling
- Chaplain: Fr. Thé Hoang
- Deputy Grand Knight: Lucas Grieves
- Chartered February 18, 1917 (58 founding members)
- Star Council Award received March 2021
Prayer Ministry & Adult Faith Sharing
Parishioners are encouraged to use the Prayer Chain for specific prayer requests, with emails and a phone-calling tree organized by Kim at [email protected]. Small group faith-sharing activities are open to all parishioners and can be organized through Deacon David.
- Prayer Chain coordinator: Kim ([email protected])
- Adult Faith Sharing groups — talk with Deacon David
Visit, Contact & Directions
St. Patrick's shares its parish office with St. Mary of the Lake at 419 West Lyon Avenue, Lake City, MN 55041. The office is open Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM. The church itself is at 30932 Hwy 60, West Albany, MN 55041, and directions are linked from the parish website. Phone: (651) 345-4134. Email: [email protected].
- Office: 419 West Lyon Avenue, Lake City, MN 55041
- Church: 30932 Hwy 60, West Albany, MN 55041
- Phone: (651) 345-4134
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Felix Tissot (from Wabasha)1856-1866
Celebrated Mass in settlers' homes; began purchasing property for a church.
- Father Trobec (from Wabasha)1866-1869
- Father Joseph Herman (Lake City)1869-1875
Responsible for starting to build the present St. Patrick's Church.
- Father F. Quinn1875-1879
- Father J. Jacobs1879-1883
First resident pastor of St. Patrick's, with St. Clement's in Hammond as a mission.
- Father Patrick Boland1883-1886
- Father Lawrence Ryan1886-1887
- Father Patrick Fox1887-1890
- Father N. Stoltz1890-1895
- Father Sebastian Shels1895-1898
- Father John Schwartz1898-1904
Born and ordained in Austria; encouraged the ceiling painters Anton Gag, Christian Heller, and Alex Schwendinger.
- Father Dominic Mangan1904-1906
- Father Augustus Walsh1906-1908
- Father M. J. Smythe1908-1910
- Father William Coleman1910-1913
Built the parish hall, a center of community life for many years.
- Father M. Brazil1913-1918
- Father Frank English1918-1920
- Father Richard Barden1921-1925
- Father Michael Glynn1925-1928
- Father Thomas Doyle1928-1937
- Father Sabinus Mulcahy1937-1938
- Father Urban Bucheit1938-1943
- Father Waldimar Frisch1943-1946
- Father John Corcoran1946-1947
- Father Paul Sainsbury1947-1953
- Father Eugene Gores1953-1956
- Father Gerard Cawley1956-1958
Wrote the parish appreciation prayer quoted on the history page.
- Father John Cody1958-1961
- Father Joseph Frisch1961-1962
- Father Fred Woodford1962-1965
- Father Richard Loomis1965-1966
- Father Edgar Schaefer1966-1970
- Father Richard Riordan1970-1971
- Father Joseph Frisch1972-1973
Second term.
- Father Harold Gavin1973-1982
- Father Bernard Kerrigan1982-1993
- Father Joseph LaPlante1993-1994
- Father Richard Engels1994-2000
Wrote the 1996 update to the parish prayer on the history page.
- Father Robert Meyer2000-2008
- Father Richard Dernek2008-2013
- Father Joseph Pete2013-2018
- Father Jason Kern2018
- Father John Wilmot2018-2019
- Father Matthew Fasnacht2019-present (per parish history page)
- Deacon David Dose2009-present
Parish deacon; coordinates baptism classes with his wife Ann Marie.