One of the least populated states in the U.S., North Dakota nonetheless has a wild beauty of its own, with rolling prairies and a national park in the Badlands area. It also has a rich Catholic history, as about a quarter of the state’s 805,329 residents are Catholic, and it's home to the most Catholic county in the U.S.
The earliest Catholics in the state were Catholic German homesteaders who arrived in the 1800s when the Homesteading Act offered them 160 acres of free farmland. Alongside them, Benedictine missionaries from Europe came to spread the Gospel and serve these early prairie Catholic communities.
In a remarkable contrast, these homesteaders—living in crude sod houses—managed to erect magnificent churches like the ones they left behind in Europe. They built elaborate Bavarian Romanesque-style churches, where the early settlers imagined God would be worshiped for centuries to come.
What they did not expect was a dramatic population decline as many of their descendants moved away from the area, unwilling to endure any longer the punishing winters and remote conditions. Some of the largest churches have such dwindling numbers of parishioners that there is concern they may have to close their doors. Some have combined as parishes, while others have turned to crowdfunding campaigns to pay for badly needed repairs. Yet tourists and pilgrims still come from far away to see these prairie treasures, beautiful churches like jewel boxes on the rolling hills.
If you find yourself visiting North Dakota or you call the Roughrider State home, don’t miss these beautiful and historic Catholic sites.
1St. James Basilica, Jamestown
The only basilica in North Dakota, this luminous church is an iconic landmark in the region, with its magnificent stained glass and Gothic architecture. Originally built between 1910 and 1914, St. John Paul II designated it a basilica in 1988, making it a spiritual home for North Dakota’s Catholics. Don’t miss the stained glass windows depicting the Joyful and Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary.
2Assumption Abbey, Richardton
The Benedictine missionary community that first arrived in North Dakota in the 1800s is still there today. This beautiful abbey overlooking the prairie is still home to Benedictine monks, a witness to the region’s robust Catholic heritage.
Young men can stay at the abbey through its volunteer program and “come and see” vocation discernment opportunities. The abbey’s visitor center is open to all guests, who can attend prayer services, explore the peaceful grounds, and visit the gift shop—stocked with soap, candles, wine, and other delightful products handmade by the monks.
3St. Mary’s Cathedral, Fargo
The mother church of the Diocese of Fargo, this elegant cathedral is one of the region’s most recognizable Catholic buildings.
A thriving parish, the cathedral hosts a fun and popular “mystery dinner party” program and offers this powerful Stewardship Prayer for parishioners—that’s a great fit for Catholics anywhere:
Dear Jesus, my parish is composed of people like me.
I help make it what it is.
It will be friendly, if I am friendly.
It will be holy, if I am holy.
Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them.
It will do great work, if I work.
It will be prayerful, if I pray.
It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver.
It will bring others into worship, if I invite and bring them in.
It will be a place of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, of compassion, charity, and mercy, if I, who make it what it is, am filled with these same things.
Therefore, with the help of God, I now dedicate myself to the task of being all the things that I want my parish to be. Amen.
While you visit, don’t miss the Our Lady of Guadalupe Adoration Chapel, honoring the Blessed Sacrament in Perpetual Adoration and giving a witness to the growing Hispanic community in the region.
4St. Michael's Church, Grand Forks
Founded in 1872 to serve French-Indian and pioneer families, St. Michael’s is the mother church for an area that included what is now Grand Forks, Walsh, Traill, Nelson and Steel counties in North Dakota, plus Polk and Red Lake counties in Minnesota.
The grand and splendid structure, built in 1909, is the fifth building to serve the parish and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Its bronze bell towers are a city landmark. With a school and many ministries, the parish is an active hub for the local Catholic community.
5Sts. Anne & Joachim Catholic Church, Fargo
One of only a few churches in the U.S. named after the parents of the Blessed Mother, this expansive and magnificent neo-Gothic masterpiece was just recently dedicated in 2010. The parish music director, Patrick McGuire, runs a popular and fun Instagram account (we’ve covered it before!). With many active ministry groups and a church that can hold 1,000, this parish is a popular pillar of the local community. If you visit, try to catch one of the sacred music concerts the church frequently hosts.
Bonus Site
Maryvale Retreat Center, Valley City
Founded by The Sisters of Mary of the Presentation, who are originally from France but came to the U.S. in 1903, Maryvale Retreat Center opened in 1965 as a hospitality and spiritual retreat center. This beautiful and contemplative spot includes 500 acres of grounds along the Sheyenne River with trails, benches, shrines, and even kayak rentals, offering ample space for hiking, picnicking and boating. It’s a delightful spot for a day trip and also hosts numerous spiritual retreats open to the public each year. Don't miss it if you love spending time in the great outdoors.
