St. Joseph’s, Clements celebrates century of faith

Clements, MN -The Church of St. Joseph in Clements Centennial Celebration was inaugurated Memorial Day when a Mass was held at St. Joseph Cemetery and a new cemetery marker was blessed. The celebration continued with publication of a Centennial Pictorial Directory and the sale of Commemorative mugs and plates. And, after 100 years without a church sign, a parish sign was erected in front of St. Joseph Church. The August 10 Schools’ Reunion included graduates not only of St. Joseph School but also of Clements Public School which existed for a time. It was followed by a celebrative Polka Mass. Since the city of Clements was celebrating its centennial the same weekend there were many activities.

St. Joseph’s Centennial events continue with a parish potluck and celebration on November 2 and conclude November 3 when Bishop John C. Nienstedt will preside at an 8:30 a.m. Centennial Mass, followed by a brunch and program. Reservations are needed for the brunch and can be made by calling the parish office at 507-692-2181. The public is welcome.

The early settlers who cleared the prairie and planted the grain were also builders of churches. Before the organization of St. Joseph Parish, the Catholics of the Clements area belonged to the parish churches at Morgan, Springfield, Willow Lake and Wabasso. Some of these people lived twelve or more miles and came by horse-drawn wagon.

Even before much construction in the new village was started, Catholics in the area began discussing the possibility of having a church. The Rev. John A. Bergler informed Archbishop John Ireland of the desire of the Clements people to build a church of their own and permission was granted. The church was almost an exact replica of the church in Comfrey.

The newly-formed parish of 106 families celebrated its first Mass in Clements Hall, upstairs in the Warnke building on January 4, 1903. A small table became the altar and was set on the stage. The first offertory collection brought in $1.64. The church was dedicated on June 11, 1903. St. Michael’s Choir of Morgan was invited to sing the High Mass. The blessing was made by a delegation of priests assigned by the bishop. A picnic was held in the Wenzel Prokosch grove after the Mass.

A rectory was completed in 1940 and has served the succeeding ten pastoral leaders of St. Joseph Parish. After the debt for the rectory was paid off, thought was given to the feasibility of building a new church and perhaps even a school and convent. In 1952 a building committee was appointed and work was completed in 1953.

St. Joseph School proudly opened its doors in 1952 and served the parish until 1969, with a staff of School Sisters of Notre Dame from Mankato and a few lay teachers. The closing of the school caused great sadness in the community. But, as testimony to many happy memories, a school reunion held August 10 drew about 150 alumni from South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, Arizona, Tennessee, and many places in Minnesota, who reminisced about their education at St. Joseph.