A Bilingual Church in the Heart of Richfield
St. Nicholas Episcopal Church has stood at 7227 Penn Avenue South in Richfield, Minnesota, since 1953, but the congregation it houses today is far broader than the small group of Episcopalians who first gathered to form it in 1950. Today St. Nicholas is known across the Twin Cities as a bilingual, largely immigrant congregation that runs Casa Maria, one of the most active food shelves serving Spanish-speaking neighbors in the metro area. The church's twin mottoes, "Building Beloved Community" in English and "Creando una Comunidad Querida" in Spanish, appear on the building itself and signal a congregation that is at once deeply rooted in the Episcopal tradition and committed to welcoming newcomers.
Visitors approaching the unassuming church building notice an outdoor labyrinth tucked into the grounds, always open to anyone who wishes to walk it. Inside, a sanctuary holding a Reuter pipe organ installed in 1976 anchors a worship life that follows the Book of Common Prayer. Beyond the sanctuary is a lobby that, every Saturday afternoon, becomes something like a town square for hundreds of families.
Casa Maria: Where Faith Becomes a Food Shelf
What most distinguishes St. Nicholas from other Episcopal parishes in the Twin Cities is its Casa Maria ministry. Every Saturday from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., the church lobby opens its doors as a food shelf, clothing distribution point, and gathering space. Volunteers now distribute more than 500 pounds of food per week and serve several hundred people each month from across the metro area, most by families arriving from Richfield, Bloomington, Minneapolis, and adjacent communities.
Casa Maria was born in the spring of 2020 when COVID-19 upended employment for many in the congregation. A parish priest and three teenagers from the Spanish-speaking service picked up phones and asked members of the faith community three simple questions: How can we pray for you? How are you doing? What are your challenges? The answers pointed clearly to food insecurity. The youth began collecting donations and delivering groceries to families and neighbors, and that initial effort grew into Casa Maria.
Today Casa Maria describes itself as a sacred space that creates community in the name of Christ. It offers shared meals, advocacy for immigrant rights, networking for employment and social services, mentoring, and occasional health clinics. Currently needed items include eggs, half-gallon milk, ground beef in tubes, corn tortillas, cooking oil, salt, masa, small laundry detergent, baby wipes, diapers in sizes preemie, newborn, 6 and 7, and feminine hygiene pads. Donations may be dropped off on Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; a bell to the right of the door rings for volunteers if no one is at the entrance.
Casa Maria's community partners include the Episcopal Church in Minnesota, several neighboring Episcopal parishes (St. John the Baptist in Minneapolis, St. John the Evangelist in St. Paul, and St. Stephen's in Edina), Wana and Teng Vue Farm, Good Courage Farm in Hutchinson, Harvest from the Heart at Incarnation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP) in Bloomington, Asamblea de los Derechos Civiles in St. Paul, and the Hennepin County Health Equity Office.
Worship in English and Spanish
St. Nicholas holds two weekly Eucharistic services. On Sundays at 10:00 a.m., the English-language congregation gathers for Holy Communion, praying from the Book of Common Prayer, hearing readings from the Hebrew and Christian scriptures along with a responsively read Psalm, listening to a sermon that often asks a question to be pondered, and singing from the Episcopal Hymnal. On Saturdays at 4:00 p.m., a Spanish-language Mass (La Santa Misa) draws a largely immigrant congregation. The Spanish service began in 2012 with monthly bilingual services during the summer and on feast days such as Christmas, eventually settling into its regular weekly rhythm.
The parish teaches that the communion table is Jesus' table, where all are welcome. Communion is shared weekly. Morning Prayer services also take place. The community does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, beliefs, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, place of residence, or political affiliation. The congregation describes itself as a passionally progressive branch of the Episcopal tradition that places radical social justice at the center of all it does.
A Sunday prayer group meets at 11:00 a.m., usually via Zoom, for prayer and fellowship. The congregation also gathers for special seasonal celebrations, including a Quinceañera Mass, an outdoor Green Eucharist each summer, and occasional bilingual Eucharists on major feast days. Musicians from outside the parish, such as the Caritas Vocal Ensemble and the St. Stephen's Choir of Edina, occasionally enrich the worship.
Roots in Richfield
The congregation began in August 1950, when fourteen men and women met at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Walt Kanne in Richfield. Their minds were set: there would be an Episcopal church in the suburb. After meeting with representatives of the Episcopal Diocese, the new congregation held its first service at Lincoln Hills School on January 7, 1951. Despite a -19° morning, more than 80 of the faithful turned out. They chose the name St. Nicholas because of the many children who came with their families.
While meeting at the school, the congregation acquired property on Oliver Avenue South, but in 1953 swapped that land for an existing two-level church that Woodlake Lutheran Church had built and outgrown. That building, at 7227 Penn Avenue South, remains the congregation's home. An education wing was added in 1958, and a gathering space and offices followed in 1994. Between those expansions came the 1976 installation of the Reuter pipe organ that still leads congregational singing.
The congregation's first priest, The Rev. Archie Cochrane, served as Vicar-in-charge and then Rector. Over the decades that followed, a number of priests walked with the parish. The current priest, The Rev. Dr. Rob Cavanna, was ordained in 2002 and has served across the Diocese of Minnesota.
Health Clinics and Broader Outreach
St. Nicholas has partnered with Hennepin Healthcare to host health clinics on the church grounds, including flu vaccination clinics and COVID-19 vaccination and booster clinics. These events are open to anyone who signs up, not just members of the congregation, and the parish sees them as a way to bring medical care and resources to neighbors who otherwise struggle to navigate the system.
Beyond Casa Maria and the clinics, the parish engages in advocacy for systemic change on behalf of immigrants and other vulnerable neighbors. Mutual aid and resource sharing are described as integral to the mission. Members are invited to volunteer as chalice bearers, lay readers, acolytes, altar guild members, bilingual religious education teachers, pastoral care ministers, coffee hour hosts, or building and grounds crew.
The Labyrinth: A Quiet Gift to the Neighborhood
One of the most distinctive features of the St. Nicholas grounds is an outdoor labyrinth, always open to anyone who wishes to walk it. The church describes the labyrinth as a place where the practice of walking integrates the body with the mind and the spirit, a way to quiet the mind, calm anxieties, recover balance, encourage meditation and self-reflection, and reduce stress. Visitors are welcome at any time, and donations toward upkeep are appreciated.
Leadership and Stewardship
The Rev. Dr. Rob Cavanna serves as the parish's priest. A member of the Society of Anglo-Catholic Priests who follows a rule of life, Father Rob also works as a motivational speaker and retreat leader. His ministry focuses on congregational growth and development, liturgical understanding and renewal, and preaching that connects scripture with daily living within a sacramental life. His office hours at the church are Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and he can be reached at fr.robcavanna@gmail.com or 1-320-339-4852.
The Venerable Rena Romero serves as Archdeacon in the Diocese of Minnesota, supporting deacons and congregations across multiple mission regions. Her ministry focuses on adaptive leadership, congregational development, immigrant accompaniment, and helping connect sacramental life with the suffering and hope of the world.
The Bishop's Committee (the Episcopal equivalent of a vestry) includes Kathy Cummings, Cara Knittel, Tomy C., and Josh Valley. Joe Gonzalez has accepted the role of Pastoral Care Coordinator, organizing home visits with Holy Communion for those who are sick or homebound.
Joining in at St. Nicholas
Financial gifts to St. Nicholas can be made online through Givebutter, offered during a worship service, or mailed to 7227 Penn Avenue South, Richfield, MN 55423. A separate Givebutter campaign supports Casa Maria. The parish's regular e-notes, written by Father Rob, include announcements and a brief meditation, and are emailed to members and friends on the mailing list. Visitors and newcomers are warmly invited to attend a service in English or Spanish, walk the labyrinth, volunteer at Casa Maria, or simply come to coffee hour to meet the community.