St. Stephen's Catholic Church

About St. Stephen's Catholic Church

St. Stephen's Catholic Church is a historic Anoka, Minnesota parish of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, established in 1856 and today serving more than 4,200 registered households. Hospitality, warmth, and friendly reception are listed as top priorities on the parish website, and visitors are invited to consider St. Stephen's their spiritual home. The parish mission is captured in three words — Seek, Love, and Serve Jesus Christ — and is lived out through Mass, formation programs, ministries, and community events.

Parish History

Founded on August 15, 1856 with the first Mass said at the home of Peter Donnelly by Fr. Francis Hurth, St. Stephen's is the oldest Catholic parish in the Anoka area. After purchasing its first building from the Congregational Society in 1866, the parish welcomed the Sisters of Mercy in 1881 and built a new church dedicated by Archbishop Ireland in 1889. A new school opened in 1950, the present church was constructed after ground was broken in 1969, and a $6 million expansion was completed in January 1999.

• 1856 — First Mass said at Peter Donnelly's home
• 1866 — Parish purchases first building from the Congregational Society of Anoka
• 1868 — First Confirmation class of 17 confirmed by Bishop Grace
• 1881 — School opened, staffed by the Sisters of Mercy (St. Anne School)
• 1889 — New church dedicated by Archbishop John Ireland
• 1891 — Parishioners wipe out $10,000 debt and add the bell to the tower
• 1950 — New parish school building opens
• 1969 — Ground broken for the present church
• 1999 — $6 million church expansion completed
• 2004 — Leadership returns to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
• 2006 — 150th anniversary celebrated with Archbishop Harry Flynn
• 2007 — $7.6M building debt paid off and note burned in ceremony
• 2018 — Fr. Bennet Tran succeeds Fr. Jack Long as pastor

Parish Staff & Clergy

The parish is led by Fr. Bennet Tran (Pastor), who succeeded Fr. Jack Long in 2018, with Fr. Tim Tran serving as Parochial Vicar since July 2022. Deacon Michael Lane serves as Liturgy Ministry Coordinator. A broader staff supports faith formation, music, Hispanic ministry, youth ministry, business operations, communications, and Calvary Cemetery administration.

• Fr. Bennet Tran — Pastor
• Fr. Tim Tran — Parochial Vicar
• Deacon Michael Lane — Liturgy Ministry Coordinator
• Emily Smithley — Director of Liturgy
• Courtney Young — Music Director
• Molly Rausch — Elementary Faith for Life Coordinator & Youth Minister
• Barry McCullough — Confirmation Coordinator
• Renee Hogan — Faith Formation Administrative Assistant
• Uriel Torres-Tenorio — Hispanic Ministry Music Coordinator
• Rheanna Mickelson — Director of Formation and Evangelization
• Gayle McMullen — Pastoral Care Administrator
• Dan Bixler — Community Life & Operations Director
• Lynne Orlando — Administrative Assistant
• Anna Romens — Business Administrator/CFO
• Anna Romens — Maintenance and Facilities Director

Faith For Life — Formation & Education

Faith For Life is the parish's lifelong formation process, beginning as early as Kindergarten and continuing through adulthood. Elementary Faith Formation serves students K–5 with classes held Wednesday evenings and includes Children's Liturgy of the Word at the 8:30 and 10:30 am Sunday Masses for ages 4–8. Confirmation preparation is a two-year program with 7th and 8th grade as Year 1 and Year 2, after a 6th-grade Confirmation Prep year, with 9th–12th graders placed in age-appropriate small groups. All years include topic nights for parents and students, service hours, and youth group participation. First Eucharist preparation is primarily home-based, starting in Grade 2.

• Elementary Faith Formation (K–5) — Wednesday evenings
• Children's Liturgy of the Word — ages 4–8, Sundays at 8:30 & 10:30 am
• First Reconciliation (Grade 2 and up)
• First Eucharist (Communion) — home-based with onsite activities
• Confirmation — 7th & 8th grade two-year prep
• Youth Ministry — high-school small groups (9–12)
• Becoming Catholic (RCIA) — adult preparation
• G.I.F.T. program — alternative faith formation enrollment

St. Stephen's Catholic School

St. Stephen's Catholic School is an accredited private Catholic school in downtown Anoka, Minnesota, serving preschool through Grade 8 and integrating faith with academics. The school shares the parish mission to SEEK academic excellence, LOVE each other with dignity, and SERVE a diverse community as Disciples of Christ, and has been a presence in the community for over 140 years.

• Preschool through Grade 8
• Accredited private Catholic school
• Located in downtown Anoka
• Safe and secure environment
• Integrates faith with academics

Ministries & Groups

St. Stephen's offers a wide directory of ministries and groups that allow parishioners to serve at the altar, in music, in care for the sick and homebound, and in outreach to the wider Anoka community. Programs range from liturgical roles (Music Ministry, Lectors, Altar Servers) to pastoral care and outreach (Pastoral Care Ministers, WHO — We Help Others, Impact Services/Meals on Wheels, Family Table Meal, Ministry to the Community, Life Matters). Community-building groups include Women of St. Stephen's, and the Environment and Art ministry cares for the beauty of the worship space.

• Music Ministry
• St. Stephen's Altar Servers
• Lector
• Pastoral Care Ministers
• Women of St. Stephen's
• Life Matters Ministry
• Environment and Art
• Ministry to the Community
• WHO (We Help Others)
• Impact Services (Meals on Wheels)
• Family Table Meal

Sacraments

The parish prepares children and adults for the sacraments of initiation, healing, and vocation. Children prepare for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist beginning in Grade 2 (Eucharist preparation is primarily home-based with onsite activities and learning centers). Confirmation is a two-year process in 7th and 8th grade. Adults seeking First Eucharist go through the Becoming Catholic (RCIA) process. The parish also serves couples preparing for Marriage; contact the parish office at 763-421-2471.

• Baptism
• First Reconciliation
• First Eucharist (Communion)
• Confirmation
• Marriage
• Becoming Catholic (RCIA)

Outreach & Community Life

Outreach is a major part of parish identity at St. Stephen's. The community supports WHO (We Help Others), Impact Services Meals on Wheels, the Family Table Meal, and a Ministry to the Community. Pastoral Care Ministers bring the Eucharist and companionship to the sick and homebound, and Life Matters addresses human dignity and pro-life concerns. Annual celebrations like Pumpkin Fest and the Mardi Gras Gala build parish community and raise support for parish mission.

• WHO (We Help Others)
• Impact Services — Meals on Wheels
• Family Table Meal
• Pastoral Care Ministry
• Life Matters Ministry
• Ministry to the Community
• Annual Pumpkin Fest
• Annual Mardi Gras Gala

Visiting & Contact

St. Stephen's Catholic Church is located at 525 Jackson Street, Anoka, Minnesota 55303, in the heart of downtown Anoka. The Parish Office can be reached at (763) 421-2471 or [email protected], with office hours Monday–Thursday 8:30 am – 5:00 pm and Friday 8:30 am – 1:00 pm. The parish invites newcomers to register as parishioners and become involved in parish life.

• Address: 525 Jackson Street, Anoka, MN 55303
• Phone: (763) 421-2471
• Fax: (763) 421-4230
• Email: [email protected]
• Parish Office: Mon–Thu 8:30 am – 5:00 pm; Fri 8:30 am – 1:00 pm