About St. Teresa · Mapleton, Minnesota
St. Teresa Catholic Church is a small rural parish in Mapleton, Minnesota, part of the Tri-Parish cluster community of St. Joseph (Good Thunder/Waldorf), St. Matthew (Vernon Center), and St. Teresa (Mapleton), all within the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. The parish serves the agricultural community of Mapleton in Blue Earth County and is the anchor church of the cluster, hosting Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM and daily Mass Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 AM. St. Teresa's campus at 104 West Silver Street includes the historic church building, a 2000 addition with elevator and accessible facilities, and the adjoining Calvary Cemetery.
- Established
- 1857 (parish origins); first church built 1876
- Patron
- St. Teresa (of Lisieux, commonly known as St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus)
- Rector
- Father Swaminatha (Swamy) Pothireddy
- Diocese
- Diocese of Winona-Rochester
Why belong here
St. Teresa is a tight-knit rural Catholic community in the heart of southern Minnesota, offering the full rhythm of Catholic life — daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, a Sunday morning liturgy, Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation twice weekly. As part of the Tri-Parish community with St. Joseph and St. Matthew, parishioners also have access to an even wider Sunday Mass schedule across neighboring villages. The parish runs Adult and Youth Faith Formation programs, sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation, and Marriage, and welcomes visitors to call the parish office (507-524-3127) to arrange sacraments or simply to get involved.
Mass times at St. Teresa
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM (St. Teresa, Mapleton)
- Thursday: 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM (St. Teresa, Mapleton)
- Saturday: 4:30 PM – 4:50 PM (St. Joseph, Waldorf)
Adoration times
- Thursday: 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM (St. Teresa, Mapleton)
- Eucharistic Adoration held before daily Mass (cluster-wide)
History of St. Teresa Parish
Catholic life in the Mapleton area began around 1857 when the first Catholic families settled in Daville Township, east of the present village of Mapleton. The first church, built of brick, was constructed on the current site in 1876, and in 1878 land for Calvary Cemetery was purchased adjoining the parish grounds. The church was enlarged in 1902, and a new sanctuary, sacristy, and bell tower were added in 1922. St. Teresa has been paired with neighboring parishes since 1989, when it joined St. Matthew (Vernon Center) and St. Joseph (Good Thunder/Waldorf) to form the current Tri-Parish community.
- 1857 — First Catholic families settle in Daville Township
- 1876 — First brick church built on the present site
- 1878 — Calvary Cemetery land purchased
- 1902 — Church enlarged
- 1922 — New sanctuary, sacristy, and bell tower added
- 1989 — Joined the Tri-Parish cluster with St. Matthew and St. Joseph
- 1995 — Resident pastorate ends; cluster pastoral model begins
- 2000 — Addition with gathering space, elevator, accessible bathrooms, and meeting room
- 2007 — Resident pastor returns to the Tri-Parish
- 2013 — Full interior restoration and enhancement
Tri-Parish Cluster Community
St. Teresa is part of a three-parish cluster community within the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, alongside St. Joseph in Good Thunder (with a mission church in Waldorf) and St. Matthew in Vernon Center. The three parishes share a single pastor, a single parish office, a unified bulletin, and a combined faith-formation program, while each retains its own identity, worship space, and cemetery. This rural cluster model allows each small farming community to keep its historic church and parish life alive while pooling the resources needed to support a full-time priest and sacramental ministry.
- St. Joseph — Good Thunder (130 N Ewing St) and Waldorf (225 3rd Ave N)
- St. Matthew — Vernon Center (200 Kendall St)
- St. Teresa — Mapleton (104 Silver St W)
- Single Tri-Parish Office: (507) 524-3127 / [email protected]
- Current pastor: Father Swaminatha (Swamy) Pothireddy
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Tri-Parish runs both Adult Formation and Youth Formation programs. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist is coordinated through Becca Kuehn; Confirmation preparation for youth (grades 9 through 11) and for adult Catholics is coordinated by Merissa Roth. Confirmation is celebrated in 11th grade after a year of catechesis beginning in September. Adult Catholics who have already received Baptism and Eucharist but have not been Confirmed are also invited to participate.
- Adult Faith Formation — parish-wide
- Youth Faith Formation — parish-wide
- First Penance & First Eucharist prep — Becca Kuehn (507-524-4606)
- Youth Confirmation (grades 9–11, confirmed in 11th grade) — Merissa Roth (507-524-4606)
- Adult Confirmation — Merissa Roth (507-524-4606)
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the full sacramental life of the Church. Baptisms are scheduled through the Tri-Parish Office; couples are asked to contact the pastor at least six months before a wedding; and the Anointing of the Sick can be requested at any time by calling the parish office.
- Baptism — call 507-524-3127 or email [email protected]
- Reconciliation (Confession) — see confession schedule or by appointment
- First Eucharist — preparation coordinated by Becca Kuehn
- Confirmation — youth & adult tracks coordinated by Merissa Roth
- Marriage — arrangements with the pastor at least six months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — available on request
Parish Staff & Clergy
The Tri-Parish is currently served by Father Swaminatha (Swamy) Pothireddy as pastor. Father Andrew Vogel, listed on the parish website staff page, preceded him in this role. Faith Formation and sacramental preparation are led by Becca Kuehn (Youth Ministry Coordinator) and Merissa Roth (Confirmation). The cluster also maintains a bookkeeper and parish office staff.
- Pastor — Father Swaminatha (Swamy) Pothireddy
- Predecessor — Father Andrew Vogel
- Faith Formation Youth Ministry — Becca Kuehn (507-524-4606)
- Confirmation — Merissa Roth (507-524-4606)
- Tri-Parish Office — (507) 524-3127 / [email protected]
Visiting & Getting Involved
St. Teresa and the wider Tri-Parish welcome visitors and newcomers. The easiest way to connect is to call the Tri-Parish Office at 507-524-3127 — staff can help arrange a meeting with Fr. Swamy, register a family, schedule a baptism or wedding, or sign children up for faith formation. Weekly bulletins and the parish calendar are published through the sjsmst.org website and keep parishioners informed of the alternating Sunday Mass schedule and special events across the three churches.
- Tri-Parish Office Phone: (507) 524-3127
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.sjsmst.org
- Online parish directory updates available via ucdir.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Andrew Vogel
Listed as previous Pastor on the parish staff page; tenure ended prior to Father Swamy's assignment.
- Father Swaminatha (Swamy) Pothireddy
Current resident pastor serving the Tri-Parish of St. Joseph, St. Matthew, and St. Teresa.