St. Timothy

History of St. Timothy Parish

The roots of St. Timothy go back to 1855, when the first Roman Catholic settlers arrived in Wright County and reached Maple Lake by 1860. Early Masses and Baptisms were celebrated in settlers' homes by visiting priests. In 1866 Patrick Connole donated land for a church and cemetery at the northeastern end of Maple Lake (today's County Road 37), and Bishop Thomas Grace of St. Paul accepted it. By 1869 parishioners built a wood-frame church seating 60 to 80; it was named St. Timothy in honor of Timothy Desmond's patron saint. Father Thomas Brody became the parish's first permanent pastor in 1882. As the railroad redirected the center of Maple Lake in the late 1880s, the original church was abandoned in 1890 and a new one dedicated on December 27, 1893. By 1920 that church was overflowing, and Father O'Brien led planning for the present English Gothic brick church, built 1922-1923 and dedicated by Archbishop Austin Dowling on June 23, 1924. A Reuter pipe organ was added in 1928. A September 1942 tornado burst the large front stained-glass window and tore a hole in the roof. The church was consecrated on April 21, 1938 once the debt was retired. Under Father Charles Morgan (1949) the parish opened St. Timothy's Catholic School (cornerstone July 4, 1951). In 1994 a church annex added a handicap lift and the Adoration Chapel, and in 1999 the parish committed to Perpetual Adoration, which continues 24/7 today.

St. Timothy's Catholic School

St. Timothy's School serves Preschool through Grade 8 and welcomes families from Maple Lake, Annandale, Clearwater, Monticello and the surrounding area. The school opened September 4, 1951 with 80 students in six grades, staffed by four Benedictine nuns from St. Joseph, Minnesota, and reaches its students through religion classes, weekly Mass, daily prayer, Eucharistic adoration, and service. Father Meyer teaches Latin to middle-schoolers. The Home and School Association ([email protected], 320-963-3417) supports the school community, and the school offers Before & After School Care. Principal Jim Grogan leads the school with administrative assistants Lori Meyer and Tana Caouette.

• Address: 215 Division Street East, Maple Lake, MN 55358
• Phone: (320) 963-3417
• Email: [email protected]
• Principal: Jim Grogan ([email protected])
• Preschool, Elementary, and Middle School programs
• Weekly Mass, daily prayer, Eucharistic adoration, service
• Latin classes with Father Meyer
• Before & After School Care

Faith Formation and Religious Education

Faith Formation supplements the faith received at home, helping students grow in understanding of Sacred Scripture, their prayer life, and all things Catholic. Curriculum includes the Christ Our Life series, Theology of the Body, YOUCAT and Decision Point. Volunteer catechists lead weekly sessions: K-6 meet afternoons 4:30-5:45 pm and grades 7-10 meet evenings 7:00-8:15 pm. Grades 6-10 attend an annual retreat; grades 7-10 also attend a NET Retreat. Students from Catholic high schools or homeschool wanting to be Confirmed with St. Timothy's class complete an overnight retreat in grades 9-10 plus oral and written exams. Contact [email protected] (Anastacia Schnabel).

• Christ Our Life series
• Theology of the Body
• YOUCAT
• Decision Point
• K-6 sessions 4:30-5:45 pm; grades 7-10 7:00-8:15 pm
• Annual retreat for grades 6-10; NET Retreat for 7-10
• Confirmation preparation for grades 9-10

Youth Ministry

St. Timothy's Youth Ministry serves 6th-12th graders, building lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ through community, retreats, camps, and leadership. The Open Youth Room runs Wednesday evenings 3:00-7:00 pm during the school year, with a dinner served at 6:00 pm. The Highschool Impact Team (HIT) for grades 9-12 meets monthly to plan events, pray, and learn together. Annual retreats include Winter Faith Camp at Trinity Woods in Trego, WI and Extreme Faith Camp (high-adventure summer camp with swimming, high-ropes, daily Mass, Lectio Divina, Adoration, Confession). Friday Night Live events round out the calendar. Contact Baylyn Wagner at [email protected].

• Open Youth Room: Wednesdays 3-7 pm with dinner at 6 pm
• Highschool Impact Team (HIT): grades 9-12, monthly meetings
• Winter Faith Camp: January 16-19, 2026 at Trinity Woods, Trego WI
• Extreme Faith Camp: high-adventure summer camp with daily Mass and Adoration
• Friday Night Live events
• Youth Director: Baylyn Wagner ([email protected])

Parish Organizations and Groups

Beyond Mass, faith formation, and school, St. Timothy's sustains a wide range of parish organizations that bring parishioners together in service, study, fellowship, and prayer.

• Knights of Columbus — John Northenscold, [email protected], (320) 963-3760
• Council of Catholic Women — Betty Thomes, [email protected]
• Eucharistic Adoration — Peter and Anna Maria Jude, [email protected], (320) 963-5048
• S.A.M. Quilters — Nancy Dearing
• Walk By Faith Bible Study — Angie Pribyl, [email protected]; Linda Smith, [email protected]
• Saint Monica's Mothers Group — Alyssa Lang, (563) 581-5518
• Prayer Chain — Linda Northenscold, Joan Pawelk, Allison Gindele, Ruth Borell
• Welcoming Committee — Tracy Yanta, [email protected]
• Liturgy Committee — Shannon Paumen, [email protected], (651) 247-6648
• Musicians and Choir — Anne Pribyl, [email protected], (763) 237-2120
• Home and School Association — [email protected], (320) 963-3417
• Pastoral Care Ministry — Joe Ackerman, [email protected], (612) 840-5020

Parish Staff and Leadership

The parish is served by a pastor, parochial vicar, business administrator, two administrative assistants, and directors of religious education, youth ministry, and music. Father John Meyer has served as pastor since 2012; Father Kevin Magner is parochial vicar.

• Pastor: Father John Meyer — [email protected]
• Parochial Vicar: Father Kevin Magner — [email protected]
• Business Administrator: Karrie Weber — [email protected]
• Administrative Assistant: Laura Beissel
• Administrative Assistant / Safe Environment Coordinator: Rita Rasset
• Director of Religious Education: Anastacia Schnabel — [email protected]
• Youth Director: Baylyn Wagner — [email protected]
• Music Director: Anne Pribyl — [email protected]

Contact and Visit

Parish Office: 8 Oak Avenue North, Maple Lake, MN 55358. Telephone (320) 963-3726, Fax (320) 350-3001. Email: [email protected]. Office hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 am-3:30 pm (closed for lunch 12:00-12:30 pm), closed Friday. Bulletin deadline: 3:00 pm Monday; submit to [email protected]. The 1994 church annex includes a handicap lift to the church and Adoration Chapel.

• Address: 8 Oak Avenue North, Maple Lake, MN 55358
• Phone: (320) 963-3726
• Email: [email protected]
• Office Hours: Mon-Thu 8:30 am-3:30 pm (closed 12:00-12:30 pm), closed Friday
• Handicap-accessible lift via 1994 church annex