The Presence of Christ on the Northside
St. Bridget of Minneapolis sits at 3811 Emerson Avenue North, a single block of worship and gathering that has anchored a Catholic community on Minneapolis's Northside for more than a century. The parish's mission statement reads: "We choose to be the presence of Christ on the Northside." The vision statement adds: "We commit to being a church where all people know they are invited, loved, and accepted. In the spirit of the Gospel, we continue our tradition of caring for and serving others on the Northside with works of charity and advocating for justice reform. We choose to be peacemakers so that all people will know equality, hopefulness, and God's peace."
Father Marcel Emeka Okwara, the parish's pastor, puts it personally: "Here at St. Bridget we pride ourselves to be the presence of Christ Jesus in the Northside. We strive to be the hands of Christ reaching out to the other, especially those on the margins of the society. We are his heart, his feet, his eyes." The parish's motto, set in large letters at the top of its main page, is "A Parish for Today, A Legacy for Tomorrow."
From 1915 to a Merged Northside Parish
St. Bridget was founded in November 1915 by the Reverend James Donahoe, a City Missionary from Prince Edward Island who had received permission from Archbishop John Ireland to establish a new parish on the Northside. Stories from the parish's earliest years tell how Fr. Donahoe raised funds and even carried boards from lumber yards across the Mississippi River so that the new church would be ready. The first Mass and dedication took place on November 21, 1915, and the parish was named for St. Bridget of Kildare.
Over the next four decades, Fr. Donahoe oversaw the construction of a parish house in 1918, the St. Bridget School in 1922, and a convent for the Sisters of St. Benedict of Duluth in 1930. By 1924, the small wooden church was already too small, and the school gymnasium was refitted as a temporary worship space.
The "new" church that stands today was built in 1957, and a sizeable extension to the school was added in 1958. Both were dedicated by Archbishop William O. Brady under the direction of the second pastor, Fr. Martin V. Donovan. Fr. Bernard Coughlin, the third pastor, had been a student at the University of Notre Dame under Coach Knute Rockne, where he played college football alongside the famous "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," and later taught for 27 years at the College of St. Thomas before coming to St. Bridget. He retired in 1974.
After Fr. Coughlin, Archbishop Brady invited the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular, Province of the Immaculate Conception, to assume pastoral responsibility. Fr. Salvatore E. Corica, TOR, was the first Franciscan pastor, and for forty years a succession of Franciscan friars served the parish in various roles.
In January 2012, the Church of Saint Austin was merged into the Church of Saint Bridget, giving birth to what is now called the Parish Community of Saint Bridget. The two communities had already been collaborating in Faith Formation, RCIA, and the Parish Nurse Program. The union, the parish history notes, "was not without pain and effort, but thanks to the fidelity of the parishioners of both communities, the dedicated ministry of the staff and parish leadership, and the sensitivity, compassion, and kindness of Fr. Anthony, is now flourishing." The parish that once counted more than 1,200 families now numbers about 250, many of them older adults and longtime parishioners who have continued to call St. Bridget their spiritual home.
St. Bridget of Kildare and the Parish's Patron
The parish takes its name from Bridget of Kildare, born in 453 in Faughart, Ireland. According to tradition, she was the daughter of a pagan chieftain of Leinster and a Pictish slave. From childhood she had heard St. Patrick preach and could not bear to see anyone hungry or cold. She gave away her father's possessions to help the poor, telling him that "Christ dwelt in every creature." Refusing an arranged marriage, she received her veil from Saint Mel of Ardagh and went on to found several convents, eventually becoming abbess of Cill-Dara (Kildare) and turning the city into a center of religion and learning. She died in 524.
St. Bridget's woven cross of rushes, made from reeds pulled (not cut) and hung in homes to protect against fire and evil, remains a beloved Irish tradition, and a reminder of the patron's blend of charity, prayer, and care for creation.
Masses, Morning Prayer, and the Rosary
Weekend Masses are celebrated on Saturday at 4:00 PM and on Sunday at 9:30 AM. Weekday Masses are held Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 AM, with Morning Prayer at 7:15 AM before each Mass. The Rosary is prayed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings at 7:30 AM. On Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM, the parish gathers to pray the Rosary for peace in the city, state, and country.
After the 8:00 AM Wednesday Mass, the parish prays for vocations, and after the 8:00 AM Thursday Mass, the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help is prayed. Each Thursday after the 8:00 AM Mass, parishioners are also invited to coffee and hospitality with Father Marcel. Mass Intentions may be scheduled through the parish office for a suggested donation of $10.00. Mass is livestreamed on YouTube for those unable to attend in person.
Adoration on Tuesdays
Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held on Tuesdays from 8:30 AM to 12:00 noon, following the 8:00 AM Mass, from September through May. The chapel entrance is through the parish office.
Father Marcel has written a personal invitation to the practice: "During His agony in the garden, Jesus asked Peter and the other sleeping disciples, 'Could you not keep watch with me for an hour?' I know that 'The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,' but that's why we need to stay close to the fire. Please join us to worship, adore, thank, and pray to Jesus before the Blessed Sacrament." A small group of parishioners currently fills the hour, and additional adorers are welcomed.
Reconciliation, Marriage, and the Sacraments
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered on Saturday afternoons at 3:15 PM and by appointment with the pastor, as well as communally during the seasons of Advent and Lent. Children who have reached the age of reason are prepared for the sacrament along with their preparation for First Communion.
Couples seeking to marry at St. Bridget are asked to contact the parish no less than nine months before the proposed date. The preparation program includes marriage mentoring and a couples' retreat that explores the responsibilities couples are about to assume, their expectations of married life, their readiness to raise children, and the role of God in their lives. Couples should be registered and active members of the parish or have permission of their pastor to marry at St. Bridget. Weddings may be celebrated within Mass or outside of Mass, typically on Friday afternoon or evening, Saturday afternoon before the regularly scheduled Mass of anticipation, or Sunday afternoon after the parish Mass.
Baptism welcomes infants and children after a parent and godparent class, and adults through OCIA. The sacrament is celebrated during Mass or after, whichever fits the family and presider. Confirmation renews baptismal vows and is normally celebrated with high-school-aged young people at the Basilica of St. Mary or the Cathedral of St. Paul, alongside other young people from the archdiocese, by the Archbishop or one of the Auxiliary Bishops. The Anointing of the Sick is offered communally at Easter and Christmas, and individually by request, including before surgery. First Communion is usually celebrated in the spring, after Easter.
Music, Cantors, and the Adult Choir
Music Ministry at St. Bridget "serves to invite the full, active, and joyful participation of the assembly through liturgical music that inspires and encourages the faithful to express in song their love for God and God's loving presence amongst us." The repertoire ranges from chant, sacred polyphony, and traditional hymnody to contemporary liturgical hymns.
Three groups make up the music ministry. Cantors are experienced musicians who sing as soloists and lead musical elements at weekend liturgies; a simple audition is required. Instrumentalists, high school age and older with at least three years of experience, are welcome at any liturgy, and any and all instruments are welcomed. The St. Bridget Adult Choir, open to those in high school and older, sings at the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass about twice a month and at Solemnities throughout the year. The choir rehearses on Sunday mornings at 8:30 AM from September through Corpus Christi Sunday, with occasional Wednesday evening rehearsals before Christmas and Easter. No audition is required, just "a willingness to sing with others, a heart of service, and a desire to help others enter into the mysteries of the Mass." Alex Schindler is the Music Liturgist, and Erica Skeate serves as Music Liturgist Intern.
Faith Formation for Every Age
A Liturgy of the Word for Children takes place during the Sunday 9:30 AM Mass from October through May for children ages three and a half through First Communion. Children are dismissed during Mass and return afterward. Young nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and friends are welcome, too.
For children in kindergarten through sixth grade, parents and their children meet once a month after the 9:30 AM Mass in the Parish Meeting Room in the church's lower level. Sessions run from about 10:40 AM to noon, with a different faith topic explored each month. The first class of the year is held in October in the Pope Francis Room, where families can register on the spot and pick up the rest of the year's schedule.
Adults interested in becoming Catholic are invited into the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), a journey that begins in the autumn and culminates at the Great Vigil of Easter, where adults are received into the Church. Baptized adults who have not yet received First Communion or Confirmation are also welcomed into OCIA. Father Marcel also serves as Director of Faith Formation and OCIA.
The Prayer Line and Pastoral Care
St. Bridget's Prayer Partners pray for the intentions of parishioners and visitors through the Prayer Line Ministry. Requests can be emailed to the prayer team coordinator, called in to the parish office, or written down and placed in the Prayer Box in the Mary Chapel next to the candles. Prayer requests may include a name or be submitted anonymously, and confidentiality is strictly observed.
Pastoral Care extends beyond prayer requests. Ministers visit the sick and homebound weekly for prayer and the sharing of the Eucharist. Other arms of the ministry include the Prayer Shawl Ministry, Phone Ministry, Card Ministry, and Funeral Hospitality and Luncheons. The Prayer Line is separate from being added to the bulletin prayer list or having a name announced at Mass; those requests go through the parish office. Deacon Rich Heineman and his wife, Jill, serve together as the parish's Deacon Couple.
Outreach on the Northside
Outreach is a major part of parish life at St. Bridget, and the program has grown into a multi-pronged effort. The parish funds food purchases for vulnerable families with children attending the Sojourner Truth Academy, and every July the parish collects school supplies for the academy's scholars.
Other streams of outreach include Sober Living Support, providing gift cards and household goods to women in recovery; Parishioner Emergency Support, helping with food and utility bills for parishioners in crisis; Compassion Kits, collected each October and November with socks, mittens, hats, nutrition bars, and hygiene products for the homeless; Good Neighbor Support, for strangers who come to the parish gate with urgent need for food; and In-Home Ministries, which provide weekly visits to the sick and homebound for prayer and the sharing of the Eucharist. Prison Ministry and the Neighborhood Ice Cream Social round out the social-justice work.
Outreach is supported in part by Bingo nights and other parish fundraisers. Contributions can be made by marking checks "Outreach" and placing them in the second collection at any Mass, by donating gift cards to Cub, Aldi, or Target, or by donating items such as household goods and clothing for specific projects.
Sojourner Truth Academy and the School Building
The former St. Bridget School building, completed in 1922 and extended in 1958, is now leased to the Sojourner Truth Academy, a charter school that has shared the campus with the parish for over fifteen years. The two communities have developed a collaborative relationship, both in terms of use of the building and in opportunities for outreach to students and families. The parish's July school-supply drive and ongoing food support for vulnerable families flow directly from this partnership, and a summer barbecue hosted by the parish welcomes back the academy's 75 staff members each year.
The Building, Mary Chapel, and the Prayer Box
St. Mary Chapel sits on the west side of the building and serves as a quiet space for prayer throughout the week. Votive candles are available for $5.00 from the sacristy or from the office. A Prayer Box in the chapel is stocked with paper and pens so visitors can write down prayer intentions; these are forwarded to the Prayer Line partners.
The parish campus includes the 1957 church, the lower-level Parish Meeting Room, and the Pope Francis Room, where Faith Formation classes gather. The former convent that once housed the Benedictine sisters and later the Franciscan friars is no longer part of the parish footprint.
Funerals with Care and Hospitality
Funerals at St. Bridget are coordinated with care by the pastoral staff. The parish provides a planning packet with reading choices from the Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospels, music suggestions, a printable planning form, and a list of charges. The pastoral staff is available to meet with families in the office or at home, and pre-planning one's own funeral is welcomed.
Pastoral Care ministers coordinate funeral hospitality in church, providing greeters, servers, lectors, eucharistic ministers, and clean-up, as well as a funeral luncheon with hall set-up, servers, and clean-up. The luncheon is usually a Saturday commitment, unless school is not in session.
Parish Life Beyond Sunday
The parish offers several regular gatherings during the week. Faithfully Fit Forever is an exercise class with spiritual reflection that meets on Monday mornings from 10:00 to 11:00 AM, with benefits that include better sleep, stronger muscles and bones, reduced risk of depression, and overall health maintenance. The Weekly Arts & Crafts group meets on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM and hosts seasonal boutiques.
The Secular Franciscan Order of the Anthony of Padua Fraternity meets on the third Sunday of each month from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, drawing Catholic lay men and women from across the metropolitan area who seek to live their lives in the spirit of St. Francis through works of mercy and prayer. The fraternity, one of about 1,000 in the United States, gathers for ongoing formation, faith sharing, liturgy, and social time, and welcomes new members.
Hospitality ministries include Greeters, who welcome all who enter the church and help distribute worship aids before Mass and bulletins after Mass, and Ushers, who also bring up the collection and straighten up the church after the service. Coffee and rolls are served after Sunday Mass, and the parish hosts a Pancake Breakfast as well. The parish also partners with a community organization, the Caulkers Company, which has supported the parish's online presence.
Leadership and Parish Councils
Father Marcel Emeka Okwara, the parish's pastor, also serves as Director of Faith Formation and OCIA. He was born and ordained in Nigeria on June 30, 2007, and was assigned to the United States immediately after ordination. He served at parishes in Memphis, Baton Rouge, and Whittier, California, before coming to Minnesota in 2019. Fr. Paul Jarvis works alongside him on the parish staff.
Deacon Rich Heineman and his wife, Jill, serve together as a Deacon Couple. Kim Moore is the Office Manager and Safe Environment Coordinator. Alex Schindler is the Music Liturgist, and Erica Skeate is the Music Liturgist Intern.
The Parish Council and Finance Council assist Father Marcel in leading the parish, along with Parish Trustees Gerri Hare and Jennifer Kaplan and Deacon Rich. The Parish Council includes Meg Gorzycki, Marie Lorbiecki, Anne Moen, Kim Moore (Chair), Bruce Nolan, Mary Jo Pfarr, and Lea Schuett. The Finance Council includes Steve Haik, Diane Liemandt, Rick Mysliwiec, Darrell Pavelka, George Ross (Chair), Tammy Wolney, and Deb Wortman.
Becoming a Member of St. Bridget
The parish has been welcoming people from all backgrounds for over a century. Those who wish to register may complete a New Member Form on the parish's online registration page; a staff member will then reach out to answer any other questions. The registration form asks for sacramental history and a preferred language (English or Spanish), and lets new members indicate any ministries they'd like to learn more about, from Religious Education and Music Ministry to the Prayer Chain, Vacation Bible School, and Event Volunteering.
Volunteers are needed across the parish. Opportunities include Pastoral Care (Communion visits to the homebound and hospitalized, Prayer Line, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Funeral Hospitality, Phone Ministry, Card Ministry), Social Justice (Prison Ministry, Neighborhood Ice Cream Social), Hospitality (Coffee and Rolls after Sunday Mass, Pancake Breakfast), Sacristans, Eucharistic Adoration, Altar Servers, Faith Formation instructors and aides, and Confirmation sponsors. Children who have received First Holy Communion may serve as Altar Servers. All volunteers who interact with minors or vulnerable adults must complete and maintain safe environment credentials through the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, including a background check, Code of Conduct, and training.
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM. The office number is (612) 529-7779, and the general email address is info@stbridgetnorthside.com. Online giving is available through WeShare. For more than a century, the Parish Community of Saint Bridget has been an important presence on the Northside of Minneapolis. Understanding where the parish began, its members look back in gratitude for those who have helped shape the past, embrace the present moment with energy and confidence, and look forward to the future with hope and trust that God will continue to walk with the parish and work through it. "May we become the Eucharist we receive!"