St. Mary was founded in 1865 to serve German speaking Catholics in Stillwater.
Original parishioners came from Switzerland, Bavaria and other parts of Germany.
The present church was built in 1883 and was consecrated by then co-adjutor Bishop
John Ireland. A renovation in 2023 added images of Old Testament women and other
women saints who point to Mary. Working closely with St. Michael in serving Catholics of
Stillwater today, St. Mary has a robust weekday Mass attendance of over 120 in addition
to Sunday Masses. St. Mary education center is host to Bible studies and the high school
youth group. Dedicated to prayer and the works of mercy, St. Mary’s is a joint partner in
perpetual adoration and the Catholic Worker Houses along with St. Michael. Both parishes
share in St. Croix Catholic School operated by the Dominican Sisters of St Cecelia from
Nashville, Tennessee and have a multi-generational presence of around 2,000 families.