A Parish on Fourth Street in Elk River
Saint Andrew Catholic Church sits at 566 4th Street NW in Elk River, Minnesota, where it serves Catholics in this part of Sherburne County as part of the Diocese of Saint Cloud. The parish carries the tagline "Witness of a Lived Faith in Jesus Christ" and frames its life around three words: faith, academics, and community. Pastor Fr. Mark Innocenti describes a community that is "building the kingdom of God here and now through the witness of a lived faith," an image drawn from the work of fishermen casting their nets. The patron saint, Saint Andrew, is honored in a prayer asking him to intercede so that parishioners "will respond to the call of Jesus to be His disciple" and become "Christ-like as Kingdom Builders, casting our nets in faith and bringing the Gospel message to others."
The parish is also home to a Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade Catholic school that has been educating children in the Elk River area since 1951 and has been voted "Best Private School" in Elk River for several consecutive years. Together, the parish and school form one campus under the same pastor, and the buildings share grounds, faculty, and families across generations.
The parish mission statement sums up the work: "We, as a Catholic faith community, cast wide our net in welcoming all people as Christ. In a spirit of generosity, we utilize our time, talent, and treasure to educate and serve one another." The vision is "Building the kingdom of God here and now through the witness of a lived faith."
Mass and Confession in English and Spanish
Weekend Masses are celebrated on Saturday evening at 5:00 PM and on Sunday morning at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM. A Spanish-language Mass is offered on Sunday at 1:30 PM. The Saturday 5:00 PM Mass is livestreamed and recorded, and a full archive of recent weekend Masses is available for viewing at any time.
Weekday Masses follow a rhythm that respects the schedules of working families. Monday has no Mass. Tuesday brings a 6:00 PM Mass. Wednesday offers a 10:00 AM Mass, and Thursday an 8:00 AM Mass. On the first Friday of each month, Mass is celebrated at 6:00 PM. On the first Saturday of each month, Mass is celebrated at 9:00 AM. On other Fridays, a 10:30 AM Mass or prayer service is held at Guardian Angels Care Center in Elk River.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard on Saturday afternoons from 2:30 to 4:00 PM in the Church Reconciliation Room, on Tuesday evenings after the 6:00 PM Mass, on the first Friday after the 6:00 PM Mass, and on the first Saturday after the 9:00 AM Mass. Confessions in Spanish are heard from 12:50 to 1:20 PM on Sundays, before the 1:30 PM Spanish Mass.
A Sensory Room in Meeting Room 1 is available during every weekend Mass for families with members who have special needs, providing a quieter space to follow the liturgy. The church also offers assistive listening devices through ushers and greeters, low-gluten hosts for those with celiac sensitivity (available from the sacristy before Mass), and soft-cover missalettes in the hymnal racks so non-Catholics can follow the order of the Mass.
The main church entrance faces the large lot off of Gates Avenue, and the parish office entrance faces Fourth Street NW. Parking lots are located off both streets. The parish office is open Monday through Wednesday from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Thursday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, Friday hours shift to 8:00 AM to noon.
The Seven Sacraments at Saint Andrew
The parish prepares Catholics of every age for all seven sacraments entrusted to the Church: Baptism, Eucharist (Holy Communion), Reconciliation (Confession), Confirmation, Marriage (Matrimony), Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders (Ordination). Individuals or families who wish to receive a sacrament for the first time at Saint Andrew must be registered members of the parish, and children and teens are expected to be enrolled and participating in a Faith Formation program or enrolled in the parish school. Sacramental preparation is offered in addition to those programs. A copy of each child's baptismal record is required for First Communion and Confirmation; if a child was baptized at Saint Andrew, the parish already has the certificate on file.
Baptism is celebrated the second weekend of the month, normally after the 5:00 PM Saturday Mass, the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass, or the 1:30 PM Spanish Sunday Mass. Parents and godparents complete a Baptism Information form and a Sponsor form, both available in English and Spanish, and meet with Deacon Randy Bayerl or Deacon Julio Tena Soria for a one-hour preparation conversation. A free online video series of nine short films walks families through the theology of the sacrament, the rite itself, and the vocation of raising children in the faith. Parents and godparents are asked to review those resources before the baptism.
First Reconciliation and First Communion are typically celebrated in second grade. Children preparing for these sacraments must be students at a Catholic school or enrolled in the parish Faith Formation program, and they complete additional workbook preparation along with retreats. Baptized Catholics in eleventh grade or older can receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at Saint Andrew, with preparation that generally begins in ninth grade and continues with Confirmation in the fall of eleventh grade.
Couples preparing for Marriage contact the parish office at least six months before their anticipated wedding date to begin a meeting with Fr. Mark. After that meeting, they meet with Deacon Randy Bayerl to complete the Fully Engaged Premarital Inventory. A trained sponsor couple then meets with the engaged couple two to four times to discuss the inventory and walk with them as disciples on the marriage journey. The parish uses resources approved by the Diocese of Saint Cloud and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Pastoral care includes Anointing of the Sick for those facing acute or chronic illness, surgery, or other significant medical issues. The sacrament is available by calling the parish office at 763-441-1483. In emergencies, the parish asks to be notified right away. Those discerning a vocation to the priesthood or diaconate are encouraged to contact Fr. Doug Liebsch, Director of the Office of Vocations for the Diocese of Saint Cloud.
Saint Andrew Catholic School Since 1951
Saint Andrew Catholic School, located at 428 Irving Avenue, has been educating children in the Elk River area since 1951 and serves roughly 200 students from Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade, with one class per grade and about 20 to 25 students per class. The school day runs from 8:20 AM to 2:40 PM, with drop-off starting at 8:00 AM. Students in Kindergarten through eighth grade may receive busing through District 728 (Elk River Schools). Students from any faith tradition are welcome, though active parish members receive first priority when filling rosters.
Principal Maria Heymans-Becker leads a faculty of classroom teachers, specialty teachers, and aides. The school's philosophy rests on seven pillars: proclaiming Christ's message of love and forgiveness, achieving academic excellence, leading people to worship and prayer, developing community, motivating others to serve, and building awareness of local, national, and global peace and justice.
The three pillars that organize daily life at the school are faith, academics, and community. On the faith side, students participate in daily prayer and weekly Mass, daily religion classes, and service opportunities rooted in Catholic Social Teaching. Academically, the curriculum covers religion, math, reading, writing, handwriting, spelling, science and STEM, social studies, art, music, and physical education, with technology, band beginning in fourth grade, and choir in the upper grades. For community, the school cultivates lifelong relationships between staff, students, and families through a Family Engagement Committee and a Faith Engagement Committee. School-wide virtues are practiced each day.
Tuition for the 2026-2027 academic year is $3,950 per year for registered, active members of the parish and members of the parish's sister parishes in the Area Catholic Community, Mary of the Visitation (Becker and Big Lake) and Christ our Light (Princeton). Non-parishioners pay $6,000 per year. Little Saints Preschool costs $4,000 per year for the three-day full-day program and $6,500 for the five-day program. Financial assistance is available through Fr. Mark and Deacon Kent Yoder. Each family is asked to participate in three annual fundraisers: the Marathon, the Catholic United Financial raffle, and the Gala.
Beyond the classroom, Tackle Box Childcare provides before-school and after-school care for students ages five and up, opening at 6:30 AM and closing at 5:30 PM, with summer hours and outings as well. The program is named in honor of Saint Andrew's occupation as a fisherman.
Students in the middle school grades participate in athletics through partnerships with Elk River Youth Athletics, Elk River High School, Rogers High School, and Zimmerman High School. Middle school social studies teacher Joey Dickey coordinates opportunities to promote athletics within the school and surrounding community.
Family Faith Formation on the Pathways Curriculum
The parish has moved its faith formation program for children and teens into a Family Faith Formation model built around the Pathways curriculum from Faith and Family Life Ministries. The traditional Wednesday evening Youth Faith Formation program was phased out at the close of the 2025-2026 academic year.
Family Faith Formation is organized into four modules. Seek and Root form the first series that every family completes: Seek focuses on an encounter with Jesus and the Church, and Root deepens that encounter in winter and spring. Mend and Nourish prepare families with a child entering second grade for First Reconciliation and First Communion. A third module, Sent, follows for families that have completed Seek and Root and do not have a second grader in the home.
At-church sessions run ninety minutes every three to four weeks from late September through early May. Seek/Root families may choose Schedule A, which gathers about every third Sunday evening from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, or Schedule B, which meets about every third Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Adult sessions on Wednesdays are offered in both English and Spanish. Mend/Nourish sessions meet about every third Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, with Spanish-speaking aides present at every session.
While adults gather for catechesis and discussion in the cafeteria and teens and pre-teens meet separately, elementary children (grades 1-4) experience a Vacation Bible School-style evening of music, crafts, and activities. Childcare for children ages one through five is provided in Meeting Room 3. Each evening ends with families gathering for prayer in the gym or church.
The program is built around four expectations: at-church sessions, family activities to do at home, regular attendance at Mass, and serving the church and community. Registration closes on September 1, with late registrations accepted as space allows. Director of Religious Education Stephanie Croteau and Coordinator of Youth Ministry Andrew Hanson lead the team, with Deacon Kent Yoder supporting middle school faith formation and Danielle Martin coordinating youth sacramental preparation. A relaxed 20-30 minute Family Faith Visit can be scheduled through the parish office.
Youth Ministry, Camps, and Confirmation
Saint Andrew Youth Formation seeks "to accompany young people into relationship with Jesus Christ and form them for a life of missionary discipleship through community, sacrament, scripture, and prayer." The youth ministry welcomes all students in grades 5-12.
Two regular gatherings anchor the year. Friday Night Live is typically held on the third Friday of each month from 7:00 to 9:00 PM for grades 5-7, with pizza, games in the gym or laser tag, video games, and a short reflection and prayer to close the evening. Saturday Night Alive meets for grades 7 and up on the first Saturday of each month, beginning outside the youth room at 4:45 PM for community, Mass, adoration, food, and fellowship.
The Youth Core Team offers a once-a-month gathering for high school teens and adults who want to deepen their Catholic faith, especially those preparing for or recently completing Confirmation. Members explore the gifts of the Holy Spirit, share faith with others, and practice building the kingdom of God.
Each summer, Extreme Faith Camp brings a week of Catholic summer camp for students entering grades 6 through 8 to Trinity Woods Catholic Retreat Center in Trego, Wisconsin. Ninth graders may join the prayer team, and students in grades 10-12 and adults serve on the leadership team. Winter Faith Camp, a retreat for students in grades 8-12, takes place at Trinity Woods and includes snow tubing, broom ball, hockey, dynamic talks, prayer, Mass, and adoration. Totus Tuus, a week-long summer day camp held at the parish, rounds out the summer offerings.
Music and Liturgical Ministries
The parish and school rely on a deep bench of liturgical and music ministries led by Director of Liturgy and Music Diane Pederson. The parish teaches that the word "liturgy" means "public work," and many lay members share their gifts to support the Mass and the sacraments.
Liturgical ministries include extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (those who have celebrated Confirmation and completed training), lectors who proclaim Scripture and lead the General Intercessions, altar servers in grades 4-9 (with adults also welcome), greeters, ushers, sacristans, those who care for fine linens, and members of the Plants and Flowers ministry who tend greenery in the entryways and church. Wedding facilitators assist couples through parish weddings.
Music ministries include the parish choir for college-age singers and older, with rehearsals on Thursdays; the Men's Choir and Women's Choir, also rehearsing on Thursdays; the Christmas Choir and Triduum Choir for singers with limited availability; the Youth Choir for grades 6-12, rehearsing on Wednesdays; and the Children's Choir for grades 2-5, also on Wednesdays. A Funeral Choir is on call to sing at parish funerals, usually rehearsing an hour before. The Summer Choir brings adults, teens, and children together one to two times per month during the summer. Small Groups lead singing at non-choir Masses. Instrumentalists (flute, clarinet, guitar, violin, percussion) are welcome, and trained adults serve as sound technicians.
Spiritual Care Outreach to Six Senior Communities
Spiritual Care Outreach sends staff and volunteers into six senior living communities across the Elk River area each week. At Guardian Angels Care Center on Evans Avenue, a 10:30 AM Mass is offered most Friday mornings, with a Communion or prayer service on the first Friday of the month. At Angel Ridge, a 10:00 AM Communion service is held the first and second Wednesdays of the month, with a rosary or prayer service on alternate Wednesdays. Guardian Angels by the Lake, Elk River Senior Living, and Riverview Landing each receive a recorded Mass from the preceding weekend along with Communion services on the first and second weeks of each month. BeeHive Homes of Elk River receives Communion visits on the third Thursday of the month.
The Sacrament of Anointing is also available at these communities by request, with scheduling through the parish office. Parish nurse Betsy Clark coordinates many of these outreach efforts.
GriefShare and Bereavement Support
Saint Andrew hosts GriefShare, a nationally recognized 13-week program designed to help those grieving the death of a loved one. Each week begins with a video from a grief ministry followed by small-group conversation. Sessions are held on Thursdays in Meeting Rooms 1 and 2, with a $15 fee to cover basic costs and scholarships available. Anyone can join the group at any point, whether the loss is recent or not.
Social Justice, St. Vincent de Paul, and Community Outreach
The Social Justice and Mission Outreach group (SJMO) works within the principles of access to resources, equity, participation, diversity, and human rights. The SJMO has provided financial assistance and volunteer hours for the Community Aid Elk River (CAER) food shelf and Second Harvest Heartland, the Elevier Women's Center, low-income housing programs, and procurement of home furnishings, household items, and clothing for persons transitioning from homelessness. The group supports the parish school through fundraisers, school supplies, the Gala, and camp scholarships, and has sponsored Timber Bay Youth Camp and the youth of Queen of Angels orphanage and CREDDA rehabilitation facilities in Mexico. The SJMO has also supported families from Venezuela and contributed to Ukrainian relief efforts through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society's Saint Andrew Conference responds to calls for assistance from neighbors in need, with regular referrals from the SJMO. The Council of Catholic Women hosts the Confirmation Retreat dinner, organizes the fall and spring food drives for CAER, runs the Christmas Bake Sale, hosts Hospitality Sunday, and prepares a Lenten Soup and Supper evening. The Respect Life Committee, the Knights of Columbus Council #5296, the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, Great River Faith In Action, and the Secular Franciscans San Damiano Fraternity all carry the parish's outreach further into the surrounding community.
Becoming Catholic and Adult Formation
Adults who wish to be baptized or received into full communion with the Catholic Church walk through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). The parish welcomes inquiries and connects those interested to the OCIA team.
Saint Andrew partners with Hallow, a Catholic prayer app that provides guided meditation, audio Bible readings, mental health and sleep content, audiobooks, and sacred music. Parishioners can join the parish page in the app, share prayer requests, and take part in prayer challenges together, including a recent challenge called "How to Pray" with fourteen sessions on different ways to pray.
SoulCore, led by parishioner Erin Thein, combines the rosary with core strengthening, stretching, and functional movement. The Marian prayer experience meets on the second Saturday of each month from 9:30 to 10:30 AM and on the third Monday from 6:30 to 7:30 PM in Rooms 1 and 2, with some exceptions. No fitness level or experience is required.
Millions of Monicas, held on the third Monday of each month at 6:00 PM, brings mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, aunts, and friends together to pray in silence for their children, with no sharing of stories. The parish also recommends the Catechism in a Year and Bible in a Year podcasts with Fr. Mike Schmitz, daily Bible readings from USCCB.org, and the Saint Paul Seminary Catechetical Institute's two-year Pillars Program, which meets on Monday evenings at St. Bartholomew in Wayzata or via live-stream at satellite sites. The Coffee Project, GriefShare, the Parish Festival, and the Saint Andrew School Gala are signature parish events that bring the community together throughout the year.