St. Bonaventure Catholic Community in Bloomington is the new home for the CFIC-NAD community in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota.
St. Mary’s Parish in downtown St. Paul was the previous community home. After the Oblates of Mary Immaculate left the parish in 2003, CFIC was given the responsibility of the parish.
In February 2003 Fr. George Manjankal became the parochial administrator of the parish together with other four brothers from different nationalities. Gradually the community also got involved in spiritual care of the sick and incarcerated.
In 2009, Fr. Biju Mathew was assigned as the pastor and superior of the community and Fr. Antony Skaria and Fr. Benny Mekkatt joined in the community. Fr. Benny later left to be Pastor at Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Maplewood, MN.
In July 2017, Fr. Benny Mekkatt was assigned as Pastor of St. Mary’s and Blessed Sacrament Parishes and Superior of the CFIC North American Delegation. Fr. Benny is now assigned exclusively to Blessed Sacrament Parish, and also serves as Delegate Superior for CFIC North American Delegation.
Fr. James Chitteth now serves as Pastor of St. Bonaventure Church in Bloomington, MN.
Fr. Antony Skaria now serves as pastor of St. John Vianney Church in South St. Paul, MN.
Fr. Jimmy Puttananickal now serves as Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Maplewood.
The community is actively involved in the spiritual care of parishioners, the sick and the detained through pastoral assistance, hospital chaplaincy and correctional ministry.
The community is composed of:
![]() Fr. James Chitteth, CFIC, Pastor | ![]() Fr. Antony Skaria, CFIC, Pastor and CFIC-NAD Secretary | ![]() Fr. Jimmy Puttananickal CFIC, Pastor |
St. Bonaventure Catholic Community
website: saintbonaventure.org
Church of The Blessed Sacrament
website: blessedsacramentsp.org
St. John Vianney
website: sjvssp.org