Serving Chanhassen from Before the Town Was Chanhassen
Parish history opens with a quiet claim: "Before there were freeways and suburbs, before there were paved roads and railroads, before there were tractors and trucks, there was St. Hubert. In fact, St. Hubert was in Chanhassen before there even was a Chanhassen. The town's first name was St. Hubertus." For nearly a century and a half, St. Hubert has been an integral part of the growth of Chanhassen and the Southwest Metro. The parish still anchors the south side of Main Street at 8201 Main Street, Chanhassen, MN 55317, and its current mission statement reads simply: "To form missionary disciples who know, love and imitate Jesus Christ."
That mission was refined and adopted in late 2024 after a year-long strategic planning process led by a parishioner-led committee and the parish council, drawing on a parish survey completed by 735 respondents, five listening sessions, a demographic study, and Archbishop Hebda's pastoral letter, You Shall Be My Witnesses. Worship, communications, and school were named the parish's top areas of satisfaction, while small groups, volunteering, and adult faith formation were identified as the chief opportunities to come.
Mass at 8201 Main Street
Weekend Mass at St. Hubert follows a familiar Catholic pattern with one extra evening option. Saturday's vigil Mass is celebrated at 5:15 PM, and three Sunday Masses are offered: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, and 6:00 PM. The 10:30 AM Sunday liturgy is typically the parish's most musically rich gathering; the 6:00 PM Mass carries a more contemporary repertoire led by the parish's 6 PM Ensemble of high-school-aged and adult musicians.
Weekday Masses fill out the rest of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 7:30 AM; Wednesday at 6:30 AM; and Saturday at 8:00 AM. The early Wednesday hour is a quiet concession to working parishioners and to those who want to begin their day in prayer before heading to work or school.
The Mass intention schedule keeps the daily Masses anchored to personal intentions. Each household may request up to ten Mass intentions per calendar year, with up to four Masses for any one person or family and two of those at a weekend or Holy Day liturgy. Weekend and Holy Day Masses are celebrated "Pro Populo" (For the People) as required by Canon Law and diocesan statute, and surplus intentions can be directed through the parish office to missionary Masses offered by mission priests around the world.
Reconciliation and a Week of Eucharistic Adoration
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered three times a week. Confessions are heard on Sunday at 8:00 AM (immediately before the 8:30 Mass), Thursday from 6:30 to 6:55 PM, and Saturday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM, all in the main church.
Eucharistic Adoration is a defining feature of parish life at St. Hubert. Adoration begins at 8:00 AM on Monday and continues without interruption through 5:00 PM on Saturday - a continuous week-long window of silent prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. For visitors or newcomers, the parish office can confirm the schedule of adorers and hours.
The Seven Sacraments
Baptism is celebrated for infants and older children according to Catholic tradition. Parents are required to attend a Baptism preparation session; sessions are offered almost monthly, with current scheduled dates including Thursday evening and Saturday morning options that accommodate working families. Children of school age (7 to 17) who desire Baptism are prepared through an adapted Order of Christian Initiation process - a year-long formation - while adults enter through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), described further below.
First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are typically received in second grade after a preparation process that includes parent meetings in October, a First Reconciliation retreat in January, a Reconciliation service in February, and First Eucharist Masses in April and May. Children in second grade at St. Hubert Catholic School receive their preparation during the school religion class; children enrolled in other schools prepare on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 PM at the parish.
Confirmation is prepared over a one-year program of weekly formation, an offsite retreat in November, sponsor meetings, a confirmation interview, and an intent form. The Bishop confirms candidates at a parish-wide Mass; the 2027 Confirmation will be celebrated at the Cathedral of Saint Paul on Monday, April 26, 2027, at 7:00 PM. Marriage preparation, Holy Orders discernment, and Anointing of the Sick are coordinated through the parish office.
The Funeral Planning ministry walks families through the rites and readings of the Order of Christian Funerals. Sample responsorial psalms, Old and New Testament readings, Gospel passages, eulogy guidelines, and general intercessions are available for download, along with music suggestions and a printable funeral planning form to help families prepare in advance.
Faith Formation from the Atrium to the Cathedral of Saint Paul
Faith formation at St. Hubert is structured to accompany people at every stage of life, from three years old through adulthood. The program year runs October through May.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is offered for children ages three through kindergarten in a prepared environment called the Atrium. Drawn from the Montessori tradition and rooted in Sacred Scripture, the liturgy, and Catholic tradition, the program fosters contemplation and a personal relationship with God.
Elementary Faith Formation gathers children in grades 1 through 5 on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. The curriculum, Spirit of Truth from Sophia Institute Press, walks children through the breadth of the Catechism through sacred art, stories of the saints, games, and discussion.
EDGE, the middle school ministry, is a Wednesday-night program for students in sixth and seventh grade (and eighth graders not yet in Confirmation). EDGE meets from 6:30 to 8:00 PM and combines games, catechetical lessons, small group discussions, occasional Bible studies, time in Eucharistic Adoration, and service opportunities in the community. The 2026-2027 EDGE program begins September 30 and runs through April 28, 2027.
YDisciple invites high school students into small groups for ongoing formation, while Confirmation Preparation in eighth grade runs alongside EDGE in its Wednesday evening slot and culminates at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. After Confirmation, high school students in grades 9-12 are invited to the High School Youth Group, which meets most Sunday evenings after the 6:00 PM Mass for a shared meal, games, faith formation, small groups, and prayer. The parish also publishes a Middle School Youth Night (MSYN) once a month on a Friday evening from 5:30 to 8:30 PM with games, challenges, prayer, and pizza. Extreme Faith Camp, a high-adventure summer camp organized by parishes of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, returns each summer to Trinity Woods Camp and Retreat Center in Trego, Wisconsin.
Children's Liturgy of the Word is being introduced for children ages 4-7 during most 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM Masses, with trained catechists leading the children through an age-appropriate translation of the Gospel during the Liturgy of the Word and returning them to their families before the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
For adults, the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) walks with inquirers - those never baptized, those baptized but not confirmed, those coming from another Christian tradition, or simply those curious about the Catholic faith - from late September through the Easter Vigil. Sessions meet Wednesday evenings from 6:20 to 8:00 PM, and candidates are paired with a sponsor and (when appropriate) a godparent. The parish welcomes new participants into the process at any point during the year.
Soulcore weaves prayer with attention to body and mind, integrating physical movement with spiritual formation to deepen one's orientation to Christ.
Small Groups and the Parish's Missionary Disciples
Small group ministry sits at the heart of St. Hubert's pastoral plan. As the parish describes it, small groups "foster personal relationships, build community, and provide formation, so we all may grow as joyful missionary disciples of Christ." Groups meet at the parish, in parishioners' homes, or at local establishments and are arranged for men, women, singles, couples, the divorced, and parents of young children, among other affinities.
Pastoral leadership has identified small groups as a year-one priority of Archbishop Hebda's post-synod pastoral letter. Testimonials from small-group members echo a similar theme: a quiet, weekly rhythm of shared prayer and honest conversation that spills over into the rest of the week. Newcomers browse the parish's list of available groups and sign up through the small-group coordinator.
Small groups are complemented by the parish's Welcome Retreat, an annual overnight retreat for men and women based on Matthew Kelly's work on welcome as a starting point for the spiritual life. The retreat includes witness talks from fellow Catholics, Sunday Mass, and meals throughout the weekend.
The Men's Ministry meets once a month on a Tuesday evening in North Fellowship Hall or an offsite location for prayer, discussion, and fellowship. GROW (God Renewing Our Women) is the women's ministry, gathering monthly on the third Tuesday of the month. The evening opens with the Rosary at 6:40 PM, followed by fellowship, snacks, and a featured speaker at 7 PM.
Young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 are invited into the Young Adult Ministry, which combines small groups, social events, catechetical instruction, group prayer, sacramental celebrations, and opportunities to serve the poor. Young at Heart, a senior gathering for parishioners 55 and older, meets on Thursday mornings at 8:00 AM for coffee and conversation.
Pastoral Care, the Homebound, and the Southwest Grief Coalition
The Homebound Communion Ministry sends trained Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to bring the Eucharist to elderly, sick, and homebound parishioners on Tuesday mornings; the priest and pastoral minister are also available for visits upon request.
The Prayer Chain Ministry mobilizes a group of parishioners to pray individually in their homes for special prayer requests submitted to the parish. The Prayer Shawl Ministry knits and crochets shawls that are blessed and given to the sick, those in grief, and others in need of comfort. The We Care Card Ministry prepares handmade cards sent to parishioners for a variety of occasions, from "thinking of you" to milestones and sorrows.
For those grieving the death of a loved one, St. Hubert co-hosts the Southwest Grief Coalition, a network of resources, faith communities, and bereavement professionals serving the southwest metro. The parish also publishes a Grief Resources page with articles on supporting grieving students, teens, and young adults; books for young children; Catholic devotional material, including the program "Grieving with Great Hope" on FORMED; and brief video reflections on why bad things happen and how to find God in grief.
Charity and Justice: Matthew 25 in the Southwest Metro
The Charity and Justice Commission organizes the parish's response to local and global need, drawing on the corporal works of mercy and the example of St. Hubert himself, who was known for outreach and generosity to the poor. Loaves and Fishes, a nonprofit founded in 1982 in the Twin Cities, serves free, nutritious meals. Sharing and Caring Hands, founded in 1985 by Mary Jo Copeland, provides a host of services to the homeless and the poor. PROP (People Reaching Out to People) manages a food shelf serving Eden Prairie and Chanhassen. LOVE, INC is an ecumenical coalition of 25 churches in Eastern Carver County providing gap-filling services to families in need. St. Hubert Outreach provides monthly financial support to Love, Inc. and Families Moving Forward Southwest and assists St. Hubert parishioners in times of need.
Families Moving Forward Southwest offers temporary shelter and a path toward more permanent housing to families experiencing homelessness in Carver or Scott counties. St. Hubert hosts families for two different one-week shelter periods each year, providing volunteer setup, meals, evening and overnight hosts, and teardown. The day center is at Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church in Chaska.
Feed My Starving Children, a Christian nonprofit founded in 1987 in the Twin Cities, packs nutritionally complete meals for malnourished children around the world. St. Hubert organizes group packing sessions; the FMSC Chanhassen site is less than a mile from the parish. Meals on Wheels delivers nutritious meals to seniors and individuals with disabilities across the Twin Cities.
Each Advent and Lent, a Giving Tree is set up in the narthex with paper ornaments listing the needs of the charities supported by the parish; parishioners choose ornaments, return the items listed, and place them under the tree. The Respect Life Ministry advances the Church's teaching that every human life is precious and worthy of protection.
The Knights of Columbus Council 10031 support the parish through pancake breakfasts, Friday fish fries during Lent, Tootsie Roll sales that benefit developmentally handicapped children, a Catholic High School Scholarship fund, and a quarterly Men's Night Out with speakers, pizza, and discussion. Service projects also include PROP, Feed My Starving Children, Project Hope Haiti, Highway 101 cleanup, a grade school free throw contest, and buses to the Archdiocese Men's Conference. The Council meets the second Monday of each month from 7:00 to 9:00 PM in the church lower level.
Music for the Liturgy
Music at St. Hubert supports the sung prayer of the parish through several ensembles and welcomes musicians of all ages and experience levels. The St. Hubert Choir sings about three Sundays each month at the 10:30 AM Mass, generally from September through May, with rehearsals 45 minutes before Mass and additional Monday evening rehearsals during the year. Flex Ensembles combine singers and instrumentalists of various sizes for specific liturgies throughout the year. The Bell Choir invites both experienced and beginning ringers (some basic music-reading skills are helpful) to rehearsal on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM several times per month.
Children and teens are invited to a Children's Choir and a high school ensemble, with combined ensembles traditionally featured at the 4 PM Christmas Eve Mass. The 6 PM Ensemble, for musicians in high school and older, rehearses immediately before the 6:00 PM Sunday Mass and leads a more contemporary repertoire of praise and worship music. The Music Ministry is coordinated by Tim Jacquet, Director of Music and Liturgy.
The Campus, the Cemetery, and a New Rectory
Until 1997 the parish and school were located on the north side of Highway 5; in 1997 the parish built the current church and school on the south side, and an adjacent single-family home purchased in 2005 has served as the "temporary" rectory ever since. After nearly twenty-one years of planning around changing pastors and capital priorities, that temporary arrangement is finally changing.
The parish operates St. Hubert Catholic School, sharing a campus with the church and serving students who join the wider parish community for faith formation, Confirmation, and parish life. The Head of School sits on the Parish Council as a staff representative.
St. Hubert Catholic Cemetery, located on parish grounds, is governed by the parish and supported through the same office that administers funerals and cemetery plots.
In his homily on the weekend of June 20-21, Fr. Ralph Talbot, then pastor, announced that the parish would purchase a six-bedroom Chanhassen home to serve as the new rectory. A non-parish family had offered to sell their home at a substantial discount, and a St. Hubert family extended a two-year interest-free loan of $1.6 million to make the purchase possible. The home sits about eight minutes from the church and includes a grotto with a large crucifix on the grounds. The parish's goal was to raise $2 million in gifts beyond regular Sunday stewardship and the Lord, Renew Your Church capital campaign; both priests pledged $5,000 of their own, and as of June 2026 gifts and pledges had exceeded $800,000. Fr. Talbot, who was also appointed rector of the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis, left the parish in the care of Fr. Bennet Tran.
Pastors and Pastoral Council
St. Hubert is led by Fr. Bennet Tran as Pastor, working alongside Fr. Derek Gilde as Associate Pastor and Deacon Greg Schultz. Tim Jacquet serves as Director of Music and Liturgy. On the ministry side, Liz Pham directs Faith Formation; Elliut Fonseca coordinates middle school youth ministry; Lori Hinker coordinates high school youth ministry; Andrea Krautkramer manages small groups; Sara Svenby coordinates Elementary Faith Formation; Denise Kozojed serves as Pastoral Care Minister; and Gabbie Geraty leads community life.
Parish governance is shaped by the Parish Council - a consultative body of elected parishioners and staff representatives - and the Finance Council, which advises on budgets, audits, development, and investment. The current trustees are Michael Felmlee and Julie Laabs.
Joining the Parish
For those new to the parish, the simplest starting point is the I'm New Here overview, which lists Mass times, the small group finder, the need-help page, registration, faith formation, OCIA, and the calendar of upcoming events. Becoming a registered member is encouraged for those seeking sacramental preparation at the parish; the parish maintains a database for regular mailings of the monthly HALO magazine, sent to every active parishioner family and school family.
Volunteering is a regular feature of parish life. Opportunities range from catechists, small group leaders, and hall monitors for faith formation to ushers, greeters, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, sacristans, altar servers, and hospitality after the 8:30 and 10:30 Masses (Donut Sundays). Music ministry ensembles are always looking for new voices. The Connectors Ministry staffs a welcome table in the narthex during weekend Masses with a mission of radical hospitality - ensuring that parishioners and visitors feel welcomed, comfortable, included, and valued.
Online giving is available through the parish's giving portal; gifts can be designated to the Rectory Project, the Lord, Renew Your Church capital campaign, or regular Sunday stewardship. Catholic media and faith formation are available through FORMED, with content for adults, marriage preparation, scripture study, OCIA, and small groups.
St. Hubert Catholic Community can be reached at 8201 Main Street, Chanhassen, MN 55317. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM and is reached at (952) 934-9106.