History

The first religious services were held at the house of Joseph Capser in the fall of 1864 by Father Matthew Stuerenberg, O. S. B. He was active in the Stearns county missions for a few years. In 1870 Joseph Capser, Ferdinand Borgmann, Joseph Ebensteiner, Henry Kalkmann, George Gruber and Anthony Miller bought a piece of ground on which to build a church. The sum of $475 was paid. A church was erected on that spot the next year and was dedicated by Father Valentine on June 30, 1871. Bishop Seidenbusch celebrated the first Confirmation took place in September of 1875.

Construction began on St. Paul’s Catholic School in 1896. February 18, 1897, with an attendance of 50 children taught by two Benedictine Sisters, the doors opened. Presently named Holy Family School, it is now shared with Our Lady of the Angels and other parishes contributing to Catholic education both financially and with student attendance.

In 1902 the contract for erecting the foundation for a new church was let to Paul Koschiol, of St. Cloud. On April 10, 1904, Bishop Trobec laid the cornerstone of the new church. April 25, 1906, the new St. Paul’s was dedicated by the same prelate at 3pm on the Second Sunday of Easter, now known as Divine Mercy Sunday. In 1908 the congregation consisted of 106 German families.

New Addition 2016

We are so pleased that a new addition was built. The expansion furthered parish life with more spaces to gather, modern offices, a beautiful chapel, a better Reconciliation room, a handicap accessible elevator, ground level entrances, and more parking. Our facilities are helping us grow more hospitable.

Divine Mercy Shrine & Chapel

St. Paul’s is home to a diocesan designated shrine to Jesus Divine Mercy. On the left side altar, you can see a hand-carved image of the Divine Mercy courtesy of Dcn. Lawrance Kaas. Nearby there are also several relics including St. Faustina Kowalska, St. Maximilian Kolbe, and the True Cross. In the same building, St. Faustina’s Chapel of Divine Mercy hosts perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 6 days a week. For more information, please go to our Divine Mercy Shrine webpage.

Staff

Clergy

Fr. Greg Paffel, Pastor
Fr. Mark Botzet, Parochial Vicar
Dcn. Tom McFadden, Pastoral Associate
Priest Emergency Number 320-351-2631
More clergy information

Office Staff

Karen VonWahlde – Office Coordinator
Rachel Bosl – Bookkeeper
Whitney Rutten – Office Assistant

Faith Formation & Youth Ministry

Kathy Knoblach – Director
Amy Trisko (K-5)
Shari Saltmarsh (6-12)
Riley Gorake – (6-12)
Sue Rick – Office Assistant
Centre for Christ Website

Support Staff

Eugene Poepping – Custodian
Lilly Felling – Housekeeper

St. Paul’s

320-352-2196 (North ACC Office)
kvonwahlde@parishesontheprairie.org

Address:
304 Sinclair Lewis Ave.
Sauk Centre, MN 56378
Google Maps

Council Members

Please go to our Council webpage for updated member information.

Photography by Cathy Behrens