PARISH CLUSTER HISTORY
Recently our diocese was renamed as “Winona-Rochester.” This reflects our Catholic growth in southern Minnesota. Let’s reflect for a moment on our shared “cluster history,” for since the 1850s, our two parishes have been natural partners in the Church’s mission. In fact 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of our most recent, joint “cluster.”
Once settled, our area became part of the “Diocese of St. Paul”; and Mass was first offered in various homes by priests on horseback from St. Felix Church in Wabasha. Conception was among the first to establish a parish (1861), build a church (1866), and host a resident pastor (1881). Its priests also offered Mass at St. James Church in Oakwood (1867-1892), and in Plainview at the home of Richard Shaughnessy. When that home overcrowded, Bishop John Ireland visited Plainview (1883) and urged a new church to be built there. He sent Father Patrick Murray to Conception as Pastor (1883), and to build Plainview’s church (completed in 1886). Both men joined in its dedication as Father Murray transferred from Conception to the new Plainview parish (1887).
The names of the new, wooden churches were likewise interrelated. Immaculate Conception took its name from a recently-declared dogma that was popularized through the apparitions at Lourdes in 1858, where the “lady in white” identified herself as the “Immaculate Conception.” It decreed that by the merits of her future Son, Mary was preserved free from original sin from the first moment of her conception by her parents, Joachim and Anne. Thus the Plainview church took the name of St. Joachim.
In 1889 the Diocese of St. Paul separated into new dioceses as the Midwest grew. Both our parishes passed to the new Diocese of Winona; and both built larger brick churches as congregations flourished after 1900. Despite various changes – including reconstruction after a fire at Conception, and expansion at Plainview – these two churches still serve our worship today.
With each passing generation, the legacy of our faithful ancestors has been handed on to us. In 1983, Conception’s final resident pastor died; after which priests served it from Plainview, Wabasha, or Kellogg. Since 2008, it has been served from St. Joachim. This is a fitting return, since Conception’s priests originally served Plainview – including Fr. Murray, St. Joachim’s founding pastor.
Once settled, our area became part of the “Diocese of St. Paul”; and Mass was first offered in various homes by priests on horseback from St. Felix Church in Wabasha. Conception was among the first to establish a parish (1861), build a church (1866), and host a resident pastor (1881). Its priests also offered Mass at St. James Church in Oakwood (1867-1892), and in Plainview at the home of Richard Shaughnessy. When that home overcrowded, Bishop John Ireland visited Plainview (1883) and urged a new church to be built there. He sent Father Patrick Murray to Conception as Pastor (1883), and to build Plainview’s church (completed in 1886). Both men joined in its dedication as Father Murray transferred from Conception to the new Plainview parish (1887).
The names of the new, wooden churches were likewise interrelated. Immaculate Conception took its name from a recently-declared dogma that was popularized through the apparitions at Lourdes in 1858, where the “lady in white” identified herself as the “Immaculate Conception.” It decreed that by the merits of her future Son, Mary was preserved free from original sin from the first moment of her conception by her parents, Joachim and Anne. Thus the Plainview church took the name of St. Joachim.
In 1889 the Diocese of St. Paul separated into new dioceses as the Midwest grew. Both our parishes passed to the new Diocese of Winona; and both built larger brick churches as congregations flourished after 1900. Despite various changes – including reconstruction after a fire at Conception, and expansion at Plainview – these two churches still serve our worship today.
With each passing generation, the legacy of our faithful ancestors has been handed on to us. In 1983, Conception’s final resident pastor died; after which priests served it from Plainview, Wabasha, or Kellogg. Since 2008, it has been served from St. Joachim. This is a fitting return, since Conception’s priests originally served Plainview – including Fr. Murray, St. Joachim’s founding pastor.