About Transfiguration Catholic Church · Oakdale, Minnesota
Transfiguration Catholic Church is a thriving parish of more than 1,300 Catholic households in Oakdale, Minnesota, in the East Metro of the Twin Cities, belonging to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The parish was established on August 6, 1939—the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord—and today operates alongside Transfiguration Catholic School (Preschool through 8th grade). Its mission centers on three pillars: Sacraments, Youth, and Financial Stewardship, and its current pastor, Fr. Nate Meyers, works with staff, deacons, trustees and lay leaders to form missionary disciples 'in the East Metro and beyond.'
- Established
- 1939
- Patron
- The Transfiguration of the Lord
- Rector
- Fr. Nate Meyers
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
Transfiguration is a 1,300-household parish with an active parish school (Preschool through 8th grade), a robust Faith Formation program, daily Mass, generous confession times, and two days of Eucharistic Adoration each week. Families can hand their children off to Totus Tuus in the summer, Extreme Faith Camp in middle school, and Next Level in high school, while adults gather for Walking with Purpose Bible study, OCIA formation nights, and parish socials. With its threefold mission of Sacraments, Youth and Financial Stewardship, the parish works to be 'a transfiguring light of Christ's presence in the East Metro.'
Mass times at Transfiguration Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 7:30 AM – 7:55 AM
- Wednesday: 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM
- Friday: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
- Saturday: 7:30 AM – 7:55 AM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (in the Chapel)
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM (in the Chapel)
History & Heritage of Transfiguration
Founded on August 6, 1939 with Father Cornelius Normoyle as its first pastor, Transfiguration has grown from a single Mass at Landy's Café on Tanners Lake to a 1,300-household parish with its own school. After early years in Maplewood (1940 church, 1953 school and larger worship space), the parish moved to its current Oakdale campus in 1986 and has steadily expanded there ever since.
- 1939 — Parish established; first Mass at Landy's Café on Tanners Lake
- 1940 — First church built in Maplewood (Harvester & Ferndale Avenues)
- 1953 — Larger building with church, social hall, kitchen, eight classrooms and offices; first Easter Mass in new church; school opens Sept. 8 with 240 students, staffed by Sisters of St. Joseph
- 1986 — First church built on the current Oakdale campus
- 1998 — Oakdale church doubled in size; large Gathering Space, eight classrooms, gym, kitchen and school offices added
- 2004 — Maplewood campus sold
- 2005 — Final building project consolidates all programs at Oakdale
- 2016 — Sanctuary renovation: new murals, stenciling, marbelized columns, altar renovations
Pastor & Parish Leadership
Fr. Nate Meyers, the parish's 11th pastor, arrived July 1, 2024. Ordained in 2010, he previously pastored St. Francis Xavier in Buffalo for ten years and now collaborates with parish staff, trustees and lay leaders to provide for the spiritual and material needs of the community. He is supported by Deacon Dan Brewer (Director of Evangelization/Catechesis), a Parish Finance Council, and two lay Parish Trustees (Lee Mann and Michele Spencer).
- Pastor — Fr. Nate Meyers ([email protected])
- Deacon / Director of Evangelization & Catechesis — Dan Brewer ([email protected])
- Parish Trustees — Lee Mann and Michele Spencer
- Finance Council Chair — Matt Mulligan
Parish Staff
- Erin Ethier — Director of Finance and Operations
- Martha Praska — Safe Environment Coordinator / Parish Secretary
- Jenny Ubl — Director of Sacred Music
- Kim Connolly — Finance Assistant
- Sue Hilo — Evangelization Assistant
- Shantel Schallenkamp — Liturgy Coordinator
- Colette Schorr — Receptionist
- Kathy Weed — Receptionist
- Tim Plasch — Maintenance Supervisor
Sacraments
Transfiguration prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments, with specific staff contacts for each.
- Baptism — celebrated 2nd and 4th weekend of the month; contact Shantel Schallenkamp
- First Reconciliation (January) and First Communion (May) — 2nd grade
- Confirmation — 8th grade (YDisciple program); contact Deacon Dan Brewer
- Marriage — minimum nine months notice; meeting with the Pastor required
- Anointing of the Sick — by request through the Parish Office
- Funerals — coordinated with a Funeral Home or directly through the Parish Office
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation meets on Wednesday evenings for children Age 3 through 8th grade, with parents gathering for discussion and fellowship twice a month. The curriculum uses Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for the youngest, plus Blessed, Family of Faith, and YDisciple for older students.
- Pre-K & Grade 1 — Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS)
- Grade 2 — First Sacrament Prep 'Blessed' (Dynamic Catholic)
- Grades 3–5 — 'Family of Faith' (Sophia)
- Grades 6–7 — 'YDisciple'
- Grade 8 — Confirmation Prep 'YDisciple'
- OCIA Formation Nights for adults exploring the Catholic faith
- Walking with Purpose — nationally acclaimed Women's Bible Study
Youth Ministry
Transfiguration's youth ministry aims to bring young people into an encounter with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Programs span summer camps, weekly formation, and a collaborative high school ministry.
- Totus Tuus — Catholic, week-long summer program (Pre-K through 12th grade) led by a college team
- Extreme Faith Camp — middle-school summer camp at Trinity Woods, WI (daily Mass, confession, adoration, ziplines, water obstacle course)
- Next Level — high school youth ministry, an East-Metro parish collaboration with monthly faith-forming and community-building events
Transfiguration Catholic School
Transfiguration Catholic School (Preschool through 8th grade) shares the Oakdale campus with the parish and shares the same pastor. The school uses the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in its Atria and is committed to forming students in Christian discipleship, academic excellence and great love. Principal Sue Berthiaume leads the faculty.
- Preschool Director — Amy Doucette
- Kindergarten — Allison Bouthilet
- Grade 1 — Julie Blanda
- Grade 2 — Betty Rodriguez
- Grade 3 / MS Language Arts — Sonia Eberspacher
- Grade 4 — Greg Vievering
- Grade 5 — Richard Rozales
- MS Math — Sue Berthiaume
- MS Science — Bill Field
- Music — Madeline VanHavermaet
- Physical Education — Molly Wistl
- CGS Coordinator — Jenny Samec
- Athletic Director — Jim Berthiaume
- Band Director — Jessica Koehler
- Reading Interventionist — Peggy Caven
- School Kitchen Manager — Mike Reed
- School Office — 651-501-2220
Community Outreach
Outreach at Transfiguration is rooted in the parish's pro-life and service commitments, with both ongoing collections and seasonal efforts.
- Pro-Life Ministries — umbrella group supporting the whole gamut of pro-life activities
- Food Shelf Collection — non-perishables delivered to the North St. Paul Food Shelf
- Giving Tree — Christmas outreach providing gifts and food for more than 700 children and adults
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — crocheted/knitted shawls given to anyone in need of comfort
- Mentor Couples for Marriage Preparation — uses the 'Prepare' assessment with engaged couples
Parish Life & Events
Beyond Mass and ministries, Transfiguration hosts regular social and fundraising events that build community across ages.
- Man Night — men's fellowship with a meal and a topical talk (recent topics: Lent, AI)
- Women's Night — Paint & Sip, Spa Night, and other seasonal gatherings
- Tiger Classic Golf Tournament — annual fundraiser at Applewood Hills Golf Course
- School Walkathon and School Showcase
Visit, Contact & Practical Info
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person during office hours.
- Address — 6133 15th Street North, Oakdale, MN 55128
- Parish Office — 651-738-2646
- School Office — 651-501-2220
- Pastoral Emergencies — 651-501-2250
- Parish Office Hours — Mon–Thu 7:30 AM–4:00 PM; Fri 7:30 AM–1:00 PM
- Facebook — facebook.com/transfigurationmn
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Cornelius Normoyle1939–1951
Founding pastor; offered first Mass at Landy's Café on Tanners Lake
- Father Brian Keany1951–1967
- Father Richard Schmitzer1967–1969
- Father James Holl1969–1976
- Father Patrick Ryan1976–1981
- Father Charles Brambilla1981–1994
- Father James Smith1994–2002
- Father Robert Hart2002–2010
- Father William Baer2010–2018
- Father Al Backmann2018
Interim Parochial Administrator
- Father John Paul Erickson2018–2024
- Father Nate Meyers2024–present
11th pastor; ordained 2010; previously pastor of St. Francis Xavier, Buffalo