History

It was in the late 1860s that Catholic settlers first came to Saint James and vicinity in Watonwan County. Many of them were immigrants from Europe who sought new homes in a land that gave promise of economic advancement. Of worldly goods they possessed little, but they brought with them a dauntless courage, a readiness to meet hardship and sacrifice, and the priceless heritage of their Catholic faith.

Father Augustine Wirth, OSB, pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Church, Mankato made occasional visits to the settlement and offered Mass for them in their homes. In 1874, the Jesuit Fathers assumed the pastorate at Mankato including mission at Saint James. Father Richard, S.J. succeeded Father Wirth in the spiritual care of the mission and it was under his direction that the first church was built.

In 1881, Father F. Elshorst, the new pastor chose to live at Saint James and built a rectory. He continued, under the new arrangement, to serve the Madelia congregation and also the missions at Mountain Lake, Windom, and Heron Lake. Foreseeing the future needs of the Saint James Parish, he purchased the property on which the present parish buildings are situated.

Father Peter Jung, the next pastor at Saint James, arrived on July 18, 1884. It soon became evident that the church on Seventh Street could no longer accommodate the growing parish. The following year construction of the brick church was begun. On July 25, 1886, the Feast of Saint James, Mass was celebrated in the new church for the first time.

In 1989, the parish school was built and entrusted to the care of the Sisters of Saint Francis, Rochester. During this pastorate the rectory, which is still in use, replaced the one built by Father Elshorst.

The convent was built during Father John Meyer's pastorate (1909-1924) and a building fund started to provide for the erection of a new, larger church. The brick church built under the new direction of Father Jung in 1886 had become inadequate and the need for a larger church building was felt by all. The present church was erected in 1934 during Father John Gregoire's pastorate. In the mid 1950s a modern school was constructed to fully meet the needs for an active and progressive congregation. A new convent was built of stone to match the church and rectory.

Father Urban Buchheit (1957-1970) built the new rectory in 1958. He also built the new convent during his time. Father Urban Neudecker (1970-1976) did the complete renovation of the church. He also did the cemetery renovation. Throughout the years he parish was served by Father James Lennon (1976-1983), Father Richard Riordan (1983-1996), and Father Hilary Brixius (1996-1999).

In July of 1999, Saint James Parish was clustered with Saint Mary Parish, Madelia and Saint Katherine Parish, Truman under the pastorate of Father James Berning (1999-2005). The convent building was transformed into a religious education and parish center.

Father Thomas Cook (2005-2011) was instrumental in making renovations to the rectory. He also initiated the restoration of the sanctuary art work to it's original glory.

In 2012, during the pastorate of Father Thien Nguyen (2011 - 2013) the servers' sacristy was transformed into an Adoration Chapel. Father Nguyen began Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration for all three parishes.

Father Timothy Hall (2013 - 2025)

Christmas 2025