About St. Peter · North Saint Paul, Minnesota
The Church of St. Peter is a Roman Catholic parish in North Saint Paul, Minnesota, where the faithful have lived, worked and worshiped for over 130 years. Founded in 1889 by local Catholic families who petitioned Archbishop John Ireland for a priest, the parish built its historic 1916 church on Margaret Street and grew steadily through the 20th century. In 2017 the parish was entrusted to the Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo, an Italian missionary order, and today serves roughly 1,800 parishioners with daily and Sunday Masses, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, a parish school, and a robust Faith Formation program.
- Established
- 1889
- Patron
- St. Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. José Maria (Zé) Cortes, FSCB (per the parish and school websites; note: in April 2026 the Archdiocese announced Fr. Cortes's reassignment from pastor to parochial vicar of St. Peter, and on June 4, 2026 announced his transfer effective July 1, 2026 to be pastor of the Church of St. Joseph in Red Wing)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Peter is a parish with deep local roots (over 130 years in North St. Paul) and a missionary heart: its priests are members of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo, who live on campus and devote themselves to forming the faithful in the faith. Daily and Sunday Masses are paired with generous confession times, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, a monthly Healing Mass, an active High School Youth Group and Young Adults Group (18–35), and a parish Catholic school (St. Peter Catholic School). For visitors and newcomers, the parish's stated commitment to hospitality, formation, worship and service — and the warmth of over 1,800 fellow parishioners — makes it an easy place to call home.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 7:30–7:50 AM, 10:00–10:20 AM, 5:30–6:00 PM
- Tuesday: 7:30–7:50 AM
- Wednesday: 7:30–7:50 AM
- Thursday: 7:30–7:50 AM
- Friday: 7:30–7:50 AM
- Saturday: 9:00–11:00 AM
- Additional confessions are scheduled seasonally (e.g., Wednesdays in Lent, 6:00–8:00 PM)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration: in the Adoration Chapel
- Thursdays and Fridays, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM: adoration moves to the Holy Redeemer Chapel
Our History
The people of St. Peter have lived, worked and worshiped in North St. Paul for over 130 years. The founding members formed the North St. Paul Catholic Organization and asked Archbishop John Ireland to send them a priest; the first Mass was offered by Fr. Kaeberle, pastor of Sacred Heart in St. Paul, in a storeroom of the Enterprise Building. The parish was incorporated on January 8, 1889, purchased a former Congregational Church building on Margaret Street, and built the historic church whose cornerstone was laid in September 1915.
- 1888 — founding North St. Paul Catholic Organization petitions Archbishop Ireland
- January 8, 1889 — parish incorporated; buys former Congregational Church building on Margaret St.
- September 1915 — cornerstone of historic church laid
- 1916 — community moves into the historic church; the next decade brings stained-glass windows, pews, pipe organ and Italian marble altars
- May 16, 1971 — groundbreaking for O'Reilly Hall
- 1990s — Fellowship Hall and Adoration Chapel added
- 2007 — construction begins on the current church
- 2008/2009 — St. Peter and Holy Redeemer parishes merge
- September 7, 2008 — current church consecrated by Archbishop John Nienstedt
- 2017 — parish entrusted to the Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo (FSCB)
Our Mission
The Church of St. Peter is a Roman Catholic community of disciples that strives to continue the saving work of Jesus Christ for its members, the larger community, and the universal Church through a commitment to hospitality, formation, worship and service. Under the care of the FSCB clergy, the parish continues to serve the North St. Paul area and beyond as good stewards of God's gifts.
Clergy & Leadership
Since 2017 the parish and school have been entrusted to the Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo, a missionary order founded in Italy in 1989. The priests live on campus and serve in a variety of parish, school and archdiocesan roles.
- Fr. José Maria (Zé) Cortes, FSCB — Pastor (reassigned to St. Joseph, Red Wing effective July 1, 2026)
- Fr. Pietro Rossotti, FSCB — Parochial Vicar; instructor at the St. Paul Seminary
- Fr. Stefano Motta, FSCB — Parochial Vicar; teaches science and religion at St. Peter Catholic School and leads parish Faith Formation
- Fr. Stefano Colombo, FSCB — Priest in Residence; teaches at Visitation School and assists archdiocesan parishes
- Fr. Giovanni Fasani, FSCB — Parochial Vicar (assigned effective August 8, 2025)
- Barb Waldorf — Faith Formation and Safe Environment Coordinator (ext. 6160)
Healing Ministry
On the first Tuesday of each month the parish celebrates a Healing Mass with contemplative Praise and Worship music and the opportunity to be prayed over by clergy and trained prayer teams. The Rosary is prayed at 7:00 PM, Mass begins at 7:30 PM, and prayer ministry follows. Contact: Peter Yurek, 651-353-4311.
- First Tuesday of every month — Healing Mass
- Rosary at 7:00 PM, Mass at 7:30 PM
- Followed by individual prayer with clergy and prayer teams
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at St. Peter serves parishioners of every age, with a strong sacramental-preparation component (including the 1st Communion Challenge), a Young Adults Group (18–35) gathering twice a month, and vibrant middle and high school youth ministry that closes each meeting with the prayer of Compline (Night Prayer). A monthly 'Road to Emmaus' fellowship explores the importance of reclaiming Sundays.
- Faith Formation for children, youth and adults
- Young Adults Group (ages 18–35)
- High School Youth Group
- Middle School Youth Group
- 1st Communion Challenge (Fr. Zé rewards each child with a Cadbury bar after 100 Eucharists)
- Road to Emmaus — monthly community fellowship (recent speakers from the University of St. Thomas)
- Safe Environment program (Barb Waldorf, coordinator)
St. Peter Catholic School
St. Peter Catholic School is a mission of the Church of St. Peter and shares the campus with the parish. The parish's commitment to Catholic education has been unbroken for more than a century, and several FSCB priests (notably Fr. Stefano Motta) teach science and religion at the school. Leadership of both the parish and school is entrusted to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo.
- Parish-run Catholic school (school website: stpetersnsp.org)
- Pastoral leadership shared with the FSCB community
- FSCB priests teach science and religion at the school
The Priestly Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo (FSCB)
Since 2017, by invitation of Archbishop Bernard Hebda, the Church of St. Peter has been entrusted to the Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo, a Society of Apostolic Life founded by Monsignor Massimo Camisasca on March 19, 1989. The order's sole aim is the education in the faith of those entrusted to its care; its members live in communities of at least three priests, share a common rule of life, and serve in more than 25 missions worldwide. Its U.S. missions are in Boston, Denver, Washington, D.C., and North St. Paul.
- Founded March 19, 1989 by Monsignor Massimo Camisasca
- Society of Apostolic Life
- Rooted in the Communion and Liberation ecclesial movement
- More than 25 missions worldwide (Taiwan to Mexico City)
- Four U.S. missions: Boston, Denver, Washington, D.C., North St. Paul
Parish Life & Outreach
In addition to liturgical and formation ministries, the parish hosts a steady rhythm of community-building events — an Annual Family Rosary Procession in May, Our Lady of Guadalupe Pilgrimage activities, a Bereaved Mother's Day Brunch, an Online Single Mothers Retreat, and Restaurant Raiders fundraisers at local restaurants that contribute a percentage back to St. Peter.
- Annual Family Rosary Procession (May)
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Pilgrimage
- Bereaved Mother's Day Brunch
- Online Single Mothers Retreat
- Restaurant Raiders parish fundraisers
- Hospitality, formation, worship and service — the parish's fourfold commitment
Our Parish Today
Today the parish serves over 1,800 parishioners in the North St. Paul area, sustained by daily and Sunday Mass, perpetual Adoration, a strong youth and young-adult ministry, a parish Catholic school, and the missionary zeal of the FSCB clergy. Newcomers can sign up via Flocknote to receive weekly updates tailored to their interests and to learn more about ministries and service opportunities.
- Over 1,800 parishioners
- Flocknote parish communication (email/text updates)
- Daily Mass, Sunday Mass, perpetual Adoration
- Parish school and Faith Formation for all ages
Visit, Contact & Safe Environment
The parish office can be reached at 651-777-8304 (fax 651-777-0497) at 2600 Margaret St N, North Saint Paul, MN 55109. The parish is committed to creating and maintaining a safe environment for everyone in accordance with the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis guidelines. Victim/Survivor Assistance for the Archdiocese is 651-291-4475; reports of abuse should first be directed to law enforcement.
- Address: 2600 Margaret St N, North Saint Paul, MN 55109
- Phone: 651-777-8304; Fax: 651-777-0497
- Archdiocese Victim Assistance: 651-291-4475
- Safe Environment Coordinator: Barb Waldorf (ext. 6160)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Kaeberlepre-1889
Pastor of Sacred Heart in St. Paul who offered the first Mass in an unused storeroom of the Enterprise Building for the founding North St. Paul Catholic Organization.
- Fr. Francis Goresearly 1880s mission period
Cared for the mission parish of North St. Paul from Guardian Angels in Oakdale before incorporation.
- Rev. José Maria (Zé) Cortes, FSCB2022 – 2026
Pastor under the Priestly Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo; reassigned to St. Joseph, Red Wing effective July 1, 2026.