St. Edward’s in Minneota celebrates 125th anniversary

submitted by Judy Bot

Minneota, MN

Minneota, MN - On October 16, 2005, St. Edward’s parish pastor, Fr. Andrew Michels and an estimated 450 people gathered to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Church of St. Edward in Minneota.

Bishop John C. Nienstedt celebrated a Mass, followed by a dinner. Fred and Sandra Callens and their family of nine children provided musical entertainment. The afternoon included a variety show, displays of former vestments, history books and memorabilia. A video with pictures of the church throughout these 125 years was available for viewing. The school and the rectory were open for tours - teachers and staff were in their rooms to welcome visitors. An informative 300 page history of St. Edward’s parish was compiled and there are a few remaining to be purchased for those interested.

Brief history:

In July 1879 Bishop John Ireland opened his 45,000 acre tract to receive settlers. The first Catholic settlers in the Minneota community arrived in the spring of 1880 - coming from England and Ireland. St. Edward’s parish was organized in the fall of that same year. The first Mass was celebrated in the "Minneota House" belonging to the Leo Tilleman family on Easter Sunday 1880 for eight of the original families who settled here. The first church building, which served as such for the next thirty years, was inaugurated in 1882.

The Church of St. Edward’s was legally established as a parish on October 29 of 1892. The parish served both as a mission of Holy Redeemer in Marshall as well as a parish in its own rite. On October 11, 1914, within the octave of our present celebration, Archbishop Ireland dedicated the first fully established Church building with Fr. William Stewart as pastor. The church building, without the heating plant and furnishings cost about $25,000. This amount was raised by Father Stewart in the course of about two years in a congregation that numbered about 45 families. March 25, 1906 was a most memorable day in the history of St. Edward’s. On this day, a tiny seed was planted, the church building fund. Each adult member was assessed 25 cents a month or $3.00 a year. Little by little, money came in from the proceeds of socials and parish dinners.

Enlargement and beautifying St. Edward’s cemetery was launched by Father O’Donnell. St. Edward School was completed in 1938 -Father Philip Casey was pastor and was successful in obtaining the Sisters of St. Joseph to staff the school. Registered students numbered 161 for the eight grades. In August of 1940 excavation for a new rectory was begun - the Sisters of St. Joseph occupied the old rectory. On March 19, 1953, St. Edward’s newly erected convent was dedicated by Archbishop Gregory Murray. On May 20, 1958, Monsignor R. A. Neudecker and Father Lambert Hoffmann dedicated the new addition to St. Edward School - two new classrooms, office rooms, three music rooms, storage room and lavatories. The elevator fund was started in 1988. On June 15, 1997, a dedication and groundbreaking ceremony was held. In February of 1999, the elevator passed inspection.