About St. Paul · Nicollet, Minnesota
Church of St. Paul is a small Roman Catholic parish in the village of Nicollet, Minnesota, part of the Diocese of New Ulm. It is one half of the Apostles Peter and Paul Catholic Area Faith Community (AFC), paired with the Church of St. Peter in nearby St. Peter, Minnesota. The parish offers Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM and a Wednesday morning weekday Mass at 8:15 AM, with confessions heard before each liturgy. Under the pastoral care of Msgr. Douglas Grams and a team of deacons and lay staff, St. Paul shares faith-formation, music, and liturgical ministries with its AFC partner, and its parishioners also support the parish cemetery and Catholic grade school (John Ireland, PreK–6th) located at the St. Peter campus.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Msgr. Douglas Grams
- Diocese
- Diocese of New Ulm (Bishop Chad W. Zielinski)
Why belong here
St. Paul is a small, close-knit parish where Mass is celebrated in an intimate setting — just one Sunday Mass and one Wednesday morning weekday Mass each week — making it easy to know the people around you. As part of the Apostles Peter and Paul Area Faith Community, parishioners at St. Paul can tap into a wider range of ministries than a parish of its size could offer alone, including PreK–12 faith formation, Catholic grade school (John Ireland, PreK–6th) at the St. Peter campus, a music director, rosary and prayer-chain devotion, and traditional liturgical roles such as lector, Eucharistic minister, usher, and altar server. With its own church and parish hall in Nicollet and a faith community that spans two towns, St. Paul is a quiet, faithful home for Catholic life in Nicollet County.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM (before 8:00 AM Mass)
- Wednesday: 7:45 AM – 8:10 AM (before 8:15 AM Mass)
Adoration times
- Thursdays 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM, St. Peter's Chapel (Church of St. Peter, 1801 W Broadway, St. Peter) — Blessed Sacrament exposed for silent prayer; at least one adorer scheduled each hour.
About the Apostles Peter and Paul Area Faith Community
St. Paul in Nicollet is paired with the Church of St. Peter in St. Peter, Minnesota, under a single pastor and shared staff as the Apostles Peter and Paul Catholic Area Faith Community (AFC). The AFC model, common in the Diocese of New Ulm, allows smaller rural parishes to share clergy, formation staff, music, and administrative resources while keeping their own churches, identities, and local ministries intact. Both parishes list the same mailing address and contact numbers and produce one combined bulletin. The AFC is part of the Diocese of New Ulm, currently led by Bishop Chad W. Zielinski.
- Church of St. Paul — 410 5th Street, Nicollet, MN 56074
- Church of St. Peter — 1801 W Broadway, St. Peter, MN 56082
- Pastoral home: Diocese of New Ulm (Bishop Chad W. Zielinski)
- Combined AFC office phone: 507-931-1628; St. Paul office: 507-232-3857
Parish History
The Church of St. Paul at Nicollet village was formally organized in August 1907 by the Rev. Francis Mazier. Within two years the founding pastor was succeeded by Rev. Charles N. Hompesch (September 1909) and then Rev. W. J. Skluzaeck (February 1910). A brick church was built on the parish site in 1912 at a cost of about $6,000, and a bell was donated by the Ladies' Sewing Circle and Joseph Ritz. In its early decades the Nicollet pastor also traveled to serve mission congregations including St. Michael's in Belgrade Township (formed c. 1865), St. Michael's of Middle Lake (1872), and the Visitation/Swan Lake parish (formed c. 1865).
- Founded: August 1907 by Rev. Francis Mazier
- Rev. Charles N. Hompesch — succeeded as pastor, September 1909
- Rev. W. J. Skluzaeck — succeeded as pastor, February 1910
- Brick church erected: 1912, cost ~$6,000
- Church bell donated by the Ladies' Sewing Circle and Joseph Ritz
- Original membership at founding: about 22 families
Pastoral & Administrative Staff
St. Paul shares its pastoral team with the Church of St. Peter under the AFC model. Msgr. Douglas Grams is pastor of the AFC, with Fr. Gregory Dungdung, O.S.B., serving as parochial vicar. Three deacons — Dcn. Steve Spilman, Dcn. Tony Grack, and Dcn. Russ Blaschko — assist with liturgical and pastoral ministry.
- Pastor — Msgr. Douglas Grams (507-484-1423, [email protected])
- Parochial Vicar — Fr. Gregory Dungdung, O.S.B.
- Deacon — Dcn. Steve Spilman
- Deacon — Dcn. Tony Grack
- Deacon — Dcn. Russ Blaschko
- Business Manager — Jennifer Torres
- Office Administrator — Lena Coe
- Pastoral Associate — Cathy Neve
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical and music ministries are shared across the AFC. Barbara Frank serves as Director of Music, working with the AFC's school choirs (John Ireland School) and weekend ensembles. Liturgical roles — ushers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, sacristans, and altar servers — are open to parishioners of both churches, with training and commissioning through the Diocese of New Ulm.
- Ushers — Ministers of Hospitality
- Mass Servers (Altar Servers) — typically grade 4 and up, after First Communion
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — commissioned by the Bishop
- Lectors — emailed readings in advance; arrive 15 minutes before Mass
- Sacristan — prepares sanctuary before Mass
- Director of Music — Barbara Frank
Prayer Ministries
The AFC maintains a robust prayer life centered on the Eucharist, the Rosary, and intercessory prayer. Eucharistic Adoration is held every Thursday at St. Peter's Chapel from 9 AM to 9 PM, with at least one scheduled adorer each hour. The Rosary is prayed at the Church of St. Peter a half hour before Mass on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and after Daily Mass on Fridays. A Prayer Chain coordinates prayers among parishioners for those in need.
- Eucharistic Adoration — Thursdays 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM, St. Peter's Chapel
- Rosary — 30 minutes before Mass on Tue/Thu/Sat; after Mass on Friday at St. Peter
- Prayer Chain — coordinator Esther Bense (507-317-1359)
- Adoration contacts — Jeff & Sharon Crowley (507-934-3628)
Faith Formation & Catholic School (John Ireland)
Faith formation for parish families is split by grade level across the AFC. Robert Porwoll coordinates PreK–6th faith formation, while Ben Braswell serves as youth minister for grades 7–12. The AFC also operates John Ireland School, a Catholic grade school (PreK–6th) housed at the St. Peter campus at 1801 W Broadway. School Mass is celebrated Thursday mornings at the Church of St. Peter during the school year, and all are welcome.
- Faith Formation, PreK–6th — Robert Porwoll ([email protected])
- Faith Formation / Youth Ministry, 7th–12th — Ben Braswell ([email protected])
- John Ireland School — 1801 W Broadway, St. Peter, MN 56082 (507-931-2810)
- Principal — Amanda Roche
- School Office — Teresa Steinborn
- Thursday 8:15 AM School Mass at Church of St. Peter during the school year
Sacraments
Baptisms and weddings are coordinated through the parish office and celebrated by Msgr. Douglas Grams. Couples are encouraged to contact the office as soon as they are engaged so marriage preparation can begin well in advance of the wedding date.
- Baptism — contact the parish office; celebrated by Msgr. Grams
- Marriage — contact the office as soon as engaged; celebrated by Msgr. Grams
- Confession (Reconciliation) — Sundays 7:30 AM and Wednesdays 7:45 AM before Mass
Cemeteries & Parish Facilities
Parishioners at St. Paul maintain several Catholic cemeteries associated with the AFC, each with a volunteer chair. The St. Paul parish hall is also available for parish events. The St. Paul church building is open daily from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM for private prayer.
- St. Paul Cemetery — Chair: Chuck Gappa (612-499-2504)
- St. Michael Cemetery — Chair: Charles Mans (507-995-8940)
- Calvary Cemetery — Chair: David Bushaw (507-382-9237)
- St. Nicholas Cemetery — Chairs: Charles Kienlen (507-317-2488) & Calvin Nourie (507-381-7965)
- St. Paul Parish Hall — 507-232-3897
- St. Paul Church open daily: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Parish Leadership & Service
Parish life at St. Paul is supported by an active lay leadership team and a pastoral council that meets across the AFC. Volunteers serve as cemetery chairs, administrative council members, and social-concerns contacts.
- St. Paul Administrative Chair — Dale Mack (507-381-6721)
- St. Paul Social Concerns — Sharon Stefen (507-381-8061)
- Area Pastoral Council members include representatives from St. Paul and St. Peter parishes
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis MazierAugust 1907 –
Founder of the parish at Nicollet village in August 1907.
- Rev. Charles N. HompeschSeptember 1909 –
Succeeded Fr. Mazier as pastor.
- Rev. W. J. SkluzaeckFebruary 1910 –
Succeeded Fr. Hompesch as pastor.
- Msgr. Douglas Grams
Current pastor of the Apostles Peter and Paul AFC (St. Paul, Nicollet and St. Peter, St. Peter); recently re-assigned by Bishop Chad W. Zielinski of the Diocese of New Ulm.