Fr. Merle W. Monnens dies at the age of 76

Rev. Merle W. Monnens, 76, died Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Cancer Home in St. Paul, MN.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, March 24, 2007, at the Church of Our Lady of the Lakes in Spicer, with burial at the Marystown Cemetery in Marystown, MN.

Fr. Monnens was born June 28, 1930. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis on June 2, 1956, at the St. Paul Cathedral in St. Paul by Bishop James J. Byrne. His first assignment was at St. Raphael in Springfield.

Fr. Monnens continued his priestly ministry in the Diocese of New Ulm when it was established on November 18, 1957 and served temporarily at St. Philip in Litchfield. Father also served in the following parishes throughout the diocese: Holy Redeemer in Marshall, Sacred Heart in Raymond, St. Thomas More in Lake Lillian, St. Joseph in Rosen, St. James in Nassau, St. Mathias in Wanda, St. John in Appleton, St. Joseph in Holloway, St. Andrew in Fairfax, Our Lady of Victory in Lucan, St. Michael in Milroy, and as co-pastor of the Benson Area Parishes (St. Malachy in Clontarf, Visitation in Danvers, St. Bridget in De Graff, Sacred Heart in Murdock, and St. Francis, Benson).

In addition to parish ministry, Fr. Monnens was diocesan Director of the Apostolate for Migrant Workers from 1962 until 1967, diocesan Director of Vocations from 1972-1977 and diocesan Director of Personnel from 1972-1979.

Fr. Monnens was a member of the Knights of Columbus and numerous charitable and conservation organizations.

He retired from active ministry on July 1, 2000, and lived in Spicer, St. Gertrude's Assisted Living Center in Shakopee, and St. Paul, MN.

Fr. Monnens celebrated his 50th anniversary to the priesthood in 2006. In 1996, he received the Diocesan Distinguished Service Award for “his faithful and dedicated ministry as diocesan Director of Vocations; for touching the lives of so many people in the several parishes he served, and for his special care to the sick and elderly and gentle spirit as a leader of prayer."