Sts. Anne & Joachim

Parish Story & History

Sts. Anne & Joachim was founded in 1995 when Bishop James Stephen Sullivan asked Monsignor Valentine G. Gross to start a new parish in south Fargo to serve a booming part of the city. Phase 1 (a gathering space and social hall at 5202 25th St. S.) was completed in 2001. Phase 2 — the $9–10 million neo-Gothic sanctuary designed by Zerr Berg Architects — was dedicated on February 11, 2010 by Bishop Samuel J. Aquila. Founders and successive pastors include Monsignor Valentine G. Gross, Fr. Brian Bachmeier, Fr. Kurt Gunwall (acting administrator, 2009), Fr. Paul Duchschere (pastor at the time of dedication), and the current pastor, Fr. Luke Meyer. In 2004 the parish also became home to the multicultural St. Bakhita Community, which began with about 30 Sudanese refugee families.

Architecture & Sacred Art

The 2010 sanctuary is a neo-Gothic building of steel, concrete, plaster, and brick, approximately 212 feet long, 120 feet wide, and 130 feet tall, with a 115-foot bell tower above the tabernacle between the main sanctuary and the Magnificat (daily Mass) Chapel. EverGreene Architectural Arts designed the interior decoration — including stenciling, trompe-l'œil architectural elements, and narrative vignettes — in close collaboration with a parishioner Liturgical and Devotional Committee and the pastors at the time (Fr. Bachmeier and Fr. Duchschere). The building also houses an adoration chapel, several side shrines, and the St. Mary Magdalene confessionals on the south side.

The Altar Reliquary & Patron Saints

Set into the marble high altar is a reliquary with grate-like doors behind which numerous bone fragments of saints are displayed, each in its own casing with a small viewing window. The altar itself is believed to house bone fragments of Saints Anne and Joachim — the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of Jesus, after whom the parish is named. Other relics enshrined at the altar include St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (the first native-born American to be canonized), St. Josephine Bakhita, St. Maria Goretti, St. Anthony of Padua, and St. Gemma Galgani. The feast of Saints Joachim and Anne is celebrated on July 26.

• Relic: Saints Anne & Joachim
• Relic: St. Thomas Aquinas
• Relic: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
• Relic: St. Josephine Bakhita
• Relic: St. Maria Goretti
• Relic: St. Anthony of Padua
• Relic: St. Gemma Galgani

Religious Education & Youth Ministry

Teaching the truth is a core value at Sts. Anne & Joachim. Parish Religious Education for grades 1–8 meets on Wednesday evenings at Sacred Heart Middle School (5600 25th St. S), while YDisciple High School Youth Discipleship small groups for grades 9–12 meet Wednesday evenings 7:30–8:40 pm with a mentor, plus large-group youth events throughout the year. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is offered in a parish atrium. Diocesan and regional youth events include lock-ins, ski trips, Camp Summit, and the Steubenville Catholic Youth Conference. The parish also offers the Oremus Lecture Series and other adult formation events archived on the parish media page.

• Grades 1–8 RE (Wed evenings)
• YDisciple Grades 9–12 small groups
• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium
• Safe Environment program
• Diocesan youth events (lock-ins, ski trip, Camp Summit, Steubenville)

Sacramental Preparation

Children in grade 2 prepare for First Reconciliation, and children in grade 3 prepare for both Confirmation and First Holy Eucharist. Preparation includes Religious Education classes (or a sacramental workbook for non-Catholic private / home-school families), a parish retreat, and required parent meetings. OCIC (Order of Christian Initiation for Children) classes for children of catechetical age are held Wednesday evenings 6:30–7:40 pm at Shanley High School, September through May. Registration requires current parish membership.

• First Reconciliation (grade 2)
• Confirmation & First Eucharist (grade 3)
• OCIC classes (Wed evenings at Shanley HS)
• Parish retreats and required parent meetings

Becoming Catholic — OCIA

Sts. Anne & Joachim runs two OCIA tracks each year: a fall track (September through Easter Vigil, Thursday evenings 7:00–8:30 pm) and a spring track (March through late November, Wednesday evenings 7:00–8:30 pm). OCIA is open to both unbaptized inquirers and to already-baptized Christians from other denominations seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. Catechumens celebrate the Rite of Acceptance, the Rite of Election (with the diocesan bishop on the First Sunday of Lent), and receive Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Questions and registration: Deacon Ted LeMier, 701-612-2474, [email protected].

• Fall OCIA track (Sept–Easter, Thursdays)
• Spring OCIA track (March–Nov, Wednesdays)
• Rite of Acceptance, Rite of Election, Sacraments at Easter Vigil
• Contact: Deacon Ted LeMier

Parish Staff & Clergy

The parish is led by pastor Fr. Luke Meyer and parochial vicar Fr. Joseph Littlefield, assisted by three permanent deacons: Deacon Ted LeMier (Director of Adult Catechesis, OCIA), Deacon Pat Breen, and Deacon Ben Sietz. The lay staff includes Patrick McGuire (Director of Music), Connie Savageau (Business Manager), Sue Ripplinger (Director of Catechesis / OCIC), Sarah Bofferding (Youth Coordinator / Sacramental Preparation / St. Michael's Parish Mission), Jenn Hulstein (Marriage Ministry, Block Party, Alpha), Emily Dietz (Administrative Office Specialist), Mary German (Director of Operations & Stewardship), Alfred Schwalbe (Property Manager), Tyler Eastvold (Marketing Coordinator), Peter O'Donnell (Sacramental Preparation & Parish Outreach), and others.

• Pastor: Fr. Luke Meyer
• Parochial Vicar: Fr. Joseph Littlefield
• Deacon Ted LeMier — OCIA
• Deacon Pat Breen
• Deacon Ben Sietz
• Director of Music: Patrick McGuire
• Business Manager: Connie Savageau
• Director of Catechesis: Sue Ripplinger
• Youth Coordinator: Sarah Bofferding
• Marriage & Family: Jenn Hulstein
• Operations & Stewardship: Mary German

Parish Ministries & Outreach

Outreach at Sts. Anne & Joachim spans both spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Knights of Columbus Council #11930 serves the parish and community; Social Concerns ministers to the poor; Respect Life upholds the dignity of the unborn and vulnerable; Parish Nursing offers health-related support; the Prayer Quilt Ministry sews and delivers prayer quilts; MACH 1 (a youth band/ensemble) leads worship; and the St. Bakhita Community gathers the parish's Sudanese, Burundian, Tanzanian, and Congolese Catholic families. The parish's media ministry also livestreams the 9:15 am Sunday Mass and archives homilies and Oremus lectures online.

• Knights of Columbus #11930
• Social Concerns
• Respect Life
• Parish Nursing
• Prayer Quilt Ministry
• MACH 1
• St. Bakhita Community
• Essentia (EMHC)
• Media ministry (livestream & homilies)

Contact, Office & Visit

The parish office is open 8:00 am–5:00 pm Monday–Thursday and 8:00 am–4:00 pm Friday, at 5202 25th St S, Fargo, ND 58104. The general office email is [email protected] and the phone is 701-235-5757. The Mass & Confession Times page includes a 'Give Me Directions!' button that opens Google Maps. The 9:15 am Sunday Mass is livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel and Facebook page, and homilies plus the Oremus Lecture Series are archived under the Media tab of the website.

• Office: 5202 25th St S, Fargo, ND 58104
• Phone: 701-235-5757
• Email: [email protected]
• Office hours: M–Th 8–5, F 8–4
• Livestream of 9:15 am Sunday Mass