About St. Timothy · Manvel, North Dakota
St. Timothy's Catholic Church is a small, welcoming rural parish serving the village of Manvel in northeastern North Dakota. It belongs to the Diocese of Fargo and gathers its members around a simple mission: 'We are a welcoming Catholic community called by God to live out the message of Christ in love and service to all people,' and to 'proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth.' The parish offers daily and weekend Mass, a full Religious Education program for preschool through high school, and sacramental preparation for First Communion, First Penance, and Confirmation.
- Patron
- St. Timothy
- Rector
- Rev. (Jay)aseelan Chinnappan, HGN
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fargo
Why belong here
St. Timothy's is a tight-knit rural parish where 'no one belongs here more than you.' Parishioners can attend a daily Mass most mornings, pray before the Blessed Sacrament during a weekly Tuesday Holy Hour, send their children to Religious Education classes on Wednesdays with a family supper on the first Wednesday of the month, and prepare for the sacraments of First Communion, First Penance, and Confirmation in a community that explicitly welcomes newcomers. It is an ideal fit for families in the Manvel area looking for a parish rooted in everyday faith, simple hospitality, and Gospel witness.
Mass times at St. Timothy
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:15 - 4:45 PM
- Sunday: 8:15 - 8:45 AM
Adoration times
- Tuesday Holy Hour: 4:30 - 5:30 PM
About St. Timothy's Parish
St. Timothy's Catholic Church is a small rural parish in the village of Manvel, North Dakota, in the Diocese of Fargo. The parish describes itself with the words 'Loving Christ, Loving Others' and centers its identity on the mission 'to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth.' Its tagline for newcomers is simple and direct: 'No one belongs here more than you.'
- Mission: a welcoming Catholic community called by God to live out the message of Christ in love and service to all people.
- Tagline: 'Loving Christ, Loving Others.'
- Welcome line for visitors: 'No one belongs here more than you.'
Parish History
The parish's own website has an 'Our History' section, but the page text remains a template placeholder reading 'Our Parish Was Founded in 19XX,' so a detailed founding narrative is not yet published online. What is verifiable is that St. Timothy's is listed by the Diocese of Fargo among the parishes of the Grand Forks Deanery, alongside neighboring parishes in Grand Forks, Mayville, Hillsboro, Larimore, Thompson, Reynolds, Argusville, and Hunter. The parish is named for St. Timothy, the disciple and companion of St. Paul the Apostle, whose feast day is January 26.
- Listed in the Diocese of Fargo, Grand Forks Deanery (Deanery 3).
- Patron: St. Timothy (feast day January 26).
- Full founding narrative not yet published on the parish website.
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Religious Education is a major pillar of parish life at St. Timothy's. The parish runs classes for children from Preschool through 8th grade, with online registration and payment available each year for the upcoming formation year. RE classes meet on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM, often coordinated with parish Mass times. In addition, the parish coordinates sacramental preparation for First Penance and First Communion (typically celebrated when a child is in 3rd grade) and Confirmation preparation for older youth. A High School Youth Ministry is also offered.
- Preschool-8th grade Religious Education classes.
- Sacrament preparation for First Communion & First Penance.
- Confirmation preparation.
- High School Youth Ministry.
- Wednesday RE Classes at 6:30 PM.
- Director of Religious Education: Katie Malott.
Eucharist & Sacramental Preparation
The parish website's Eucharist page highlights the central role of the Eucharist in the life of the parish and quotes the Catechism of the Catholic Church: 'The other sacraments, all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and oriented toward it' (CCC 1324). First Communion is typically celebrated in the 3rd grade, and preparation is carried out through the parish's Religious Education program. Families with questions are directed to contact the parish office.
- First Communion typically in 3rd grade.
- Preparation handled through the Religious Education program.
- Inquiries: parish office at (701) 696-2219.
Parish Staff
The parish staff is small and reflects the size of the community. It is led by a pastor from the HGN religious congregation, with a parish secretary handling administrative needs and a Director of Religious Education coordinating faith formation for children and youth.
- Rev. (Jay)aseelan Chinnappan, HGN — Pastor (Rectory: 701-696-2202; Cell: 701-314-6412).
- Vicki Fruetel — Parish Secretary.
- Katie Malott — Director of Religious Education.
Community Life & Parish Events
Beyond the liturgy, St. Timothy's builds community life around its calendar of Masses, religious education, and shared meals. The most distinctive gathering is the First Wednesday parish supper at 5:30 PM, which precedes that evening's 7:00 PM Mass and turns a weekday liturgy into a full family-style event. The parish also publishes a calendar of upcoming events on its website.
- First Wednesday of the month: 5:30 PM Parish Supper, then 7:00 PM Mass.
- Parish calendar available at stmanvel.org/calendar.
- Upcoming events listed on the parish homepage.
Giving & Support
The parish invites support through its 'Giving' page, framing stewardship with the line 'Your gifts make a difference in people's lives.' As a small rural parish, St. Timothy's relies on the generosity of its members to sustain its worship, faith formation programs, and community events.
- Online Giving page accessible from the parish website's navigation.
- Tagline: 'Your gifts make a difference in people's lives.'
Visit, Contact & Connect
Visitors and parishioners can reach St. Timothy's by phone or email, or stop by the parish office at the church address on Oldham Avenue in Manvel. The parish also maintains a Facebook page where it shares updates, parish news, and event information with the broader community.
- Address: 1207 Oldham Ave, Manvel, ND 58256.
- Phone: (701) 696-2219.
- Email: [email protected].
- Website: http://www.stmanvel.org.
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manvelcatholic/.