Religion played an important role in St. Joseph from the beginning. When settlers first arrived they brought with them a strong devotion to their faith. They welcomed the iternerant missionary Father Francis Pierz when he had first visited them late in 1854. He urged the settlers to build a church. In 1855, 12 acres of land between the properties of Martin Fiedler and Peter Loso were pre-empted for a church site. In 1856, the settlers built a 20'x30' log structure a little southwest of the present church. The next year a shed was added for the use of a resident priest whom Father Pierz had promised to help the settlers secure.
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By 1869, there were 180 families in St. Joseph and in May
of that year, 30 children received First Communion in a solemn service. It was clear that the old log church could no longer meet the needs of the rapidly growing congregation. The settlers then built what was to become the first Catholic church consecrated in the state of Minnesota. The building was to be 66'x150' and constructed in Gothic style of native field stones and granite. It was completed in 1871 totally free of debt although the congregation could not yet afford to add the church towers. On June 29, 1871, Bishop Thomas Grace came to preside over the consecration ceremonies. |
Additions and improvements to the church continued. The parish house was built in 1874. Father Valentine Stimmler added a winter chapel in 1888. Bells were installed in the tower. A Gothic alter and hand carved pulpit were added. A heating plant installed. A pipe organ was installed and blessed. Father Leo Winter wanted people looking towards the heavens so he had a clock placed by the steeple. The clock on the church tower was installed in 1906. He saw to it that the wooden sidewalks were replaced with cement ones. Father Ludger Ehrens raised enough money to install stained glass windows at a cost of $77.50 each.
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