St. Philip

Parish History

The Catholic faith in Hankinson dates to 1881, when a 'station' church was built on twenty acres donated by two families for $300 to serve roughly fifty German-heritage families. A second, village-based church followed in 1892 under Father Philip Albrecht, and the present Gothic-style St. Philip's was completed in 1910 at a cost of $65,960. Bishop John Shanley blessed the cornerstone in 1908, and Bishop James O'Reilly performed his first Pontifical ceremony in the diocese at the dedication on June 8, 1910. The Ford Brothers stained glass and the Menelly bells — Mary, Joseph, and 'Poor Souls' — installed in 1909 remain parish treasures.

• 1881: Station church built for ~$300 on 20 donated acres
• 1891: Father Philip Albrecht becomes pastor
• 1892: Mission church built in village of Hankinson ($3,000)
• 1895: Father Joseph Studnicka appointed pastor
• 1901: Parish purchases land for present church
• 1907: Land for Calvary Cemetery purchased
• 1908: Bishop Shanley blesses cornerstone
• 1909: Three Menelly bells installed
• 1910: Church completed and dedicated June 8 by Bishop O'Reilly
• 1912: Original St. Joseph's Mission destroyed by fire
• Dec. 16, 2024: Fire damages church during renovation

Our Patron and Dedication

The church is dedicated to St. Philip the Apostle, one of the Twelve and, in the Gospel of John, the one who brought Nathanael to Christ ('Come and see'). The parish feast day is traditionally May 3 (with St. James the Less) in the Roman calendar.

Architecture and Treasures

The 1910 Gothic church was built to seat 700 (expandable to 1,000) and is richly fitted with thirty-six stained glass windows by the Ford Brothers Glass Company and Studio of Minneapolis and a three-bell chime from the Menelly Company of Troy, New York. The bells — Mary (1,200 lb A-flat), Joseph (800 lb B-flat), and 'Poor Souls' (550 lb C) — were blessed and installed in the east tower in 1909 and are still rung today.

• Architectural style: Gothic
• Original construction cost: $65,960
• Seating: 700 (expandable to 1,000)
• 36 stained glass windows (Ford Brothers Glass, Minneapolis)
• Three Menelly bells: Mary, Joseph, Poor Souls
• East tower housing the bells

The 2024 Fire and Restoration

On December 16, 2024, while St. Philip's was undergoing a roughly $1.6 million renovation of its basement and an elevator addition, a fire broke out in the attic near a stained-glass window. The state fire marshal later deemed the cause 'undetermined.' Two parishioners rushed into the smoke-filled building to save the Blessed Sacrament, sacred relics, and vestments. Bishop John Fulda of Fargo visited the parish in the days following, and Lutheran congregations and the nearby Franciscan Sisters of Dillingen immediately opened their chapels for worship. As of late 2025 the parish was worshipping in the Sisters of St. Francis convent chapel, with leaders targeting a reopening for Christmas 2026 or Easter 2027.

• Dec. 16, 2024: Fire breaks out in attic during renovation
• Cause officially 'undetermined' by state fire marshal
• Parishioners saved Blessed Sacrament, relics, vestments
• $1.6M renovation (basement + elevator) was underway
• Ecumenical response from local Lutheran churches
• Worship moved to Sisters of St. Francis convent chapel
• Benefit dinner held Jan. 26, 2025 at Hankinson Community Center
• Targeted reopening: Christmas 2026 or Easter 2027

Sacraments

St. Philip's celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Baptisms are celebrated on Sundays after the 9:30 AM Mass; First Eucharist and Confirmation are prepared for in the parish; Marriage preparation requires contacting Msgr. Donahue at least six months in advance; the Anointing of the Sick and Communion to the homebound are available on request.

• Baptism — Sundays after 9:30 AM Mass
• First Eucharist & Confirmation — parish-based preparation
• Marriage — 6 months' notice required
• Anointing of the Sick — contact Msgr. Donahue
• Communion to the homebound — request through parish office

Parish Staff and Clergy

The parish is led by Monsignor Brian Donahue, pastor, a Fargo native and retired U.S. Army National Guard Major who served as a chaplain in the Persian Gulf and Iraq and was awarded the Bronze Star. He previously served as pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Grand Forks and was last assigned to West Point before coming to St. Philip's. He is assisted by Fr. Richard Goellen (Assistant to the Pastor) and Deacon James Hunt.

• Monsignor Brian Donahue — Pastor
• Fr. Richard Goellen — Assistant to the Pastor
• Deacon James Hunt

Ministries and Lay Participation

Parishioners take active roles in the liturgical and parish life of St. Philip's. Scheduled lectors proclaim the readings, lay rosary leaders pray the Rosary before Mass, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion bring the Eucharist to the homebound. Parishioners also serve on committees for the cemetery, the parish bulletin, and the ongoing post-fire restoration effort.

• Lector Ministry
• Rosary Leader Ministry
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (including to the homebound)
• Calvary Cemetery Committee
• Bulletin and parish office volunteers
• Restoration / Rebuilding Committee (post-2024 fire)
• St. Anthony's, Fairmount — sister-parish ministry

Calvary Cemetery

Calvary Cemetery is the parish's consecrated burial ground, established in spring 1907 when the parish purchased land and moved the remains from the original St. Joseph's Mission cemetery. Pastors Father Studnicka, Father Bierens, Father Koehler, Msgr. Huebsch, and Msgr. Anderson are buried there. The original 1881 mission cemetery site is preserved with an appropriate memorial marker, although the tombstones have been removed.

• Established 1907 on newly purchased parish land
• Remains transferred from St. Joseph's Mission cemetery
• Burial site of multiple former pastors
• Original mission cemetery preserved as memorial

Visitor and Practical Information

St. Philip's Catholic Church is located at 612 Main Avenue South in Hankinson, North Dakota. The parish office can be reached at (701) 242-7327 (fax 701-242-7773) or by email at [email protected]. The parish website is stphilip.weconnect.com. Office hours are Mondays and Wednesdays 3:00-5:00 PM. As of late 2025, because the church building is closed for restoration, Mass is being celebrated in the chapel of the Sisters of St. Francis convent just down the street.

• Address: 612 Main Avenue South, Hankinson, ND 58041
• Phone: (701) 242-7327
• Fax: (701) 242-7773
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: stphilip.weconnect.com
• Office hours: Mon & Wed 3:00-5:00 PM
• Bulletin publish date: Monday