In 1856, Catholic German immigrants built
a small log cabin church, near the Crow River, about three
miles east of our present location. In those early pioneer
years, St. Michael’s and other churches in the northern
and central areas of Minnesota, received the services of the
Benedictine priests from St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville.
St. Michael’s had this help for about fifteen years. |
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In
1866, a new church was built in the heart of the present
St. Michael’s town, on the northeast corner of the
main intersection in town. This white, wooden structure
provided space for worshippers of St. Michael for about
twenty-five years. It did undergo serious fire, but was
repaired.
In 1890, at the strong encouragement of the new pastor,
Rev. Rudolph Duesterman, the present gothic church was built.
At the time, it was the largest church in Wright County
and has been the focus of a long history of sacred events.
St. Michael’s also has the praiseworthy reputation
of producing a great number of vocations to the priesthood
and religious life.
St. Michael was a parish of German
immigrants and retained that character for many years. However,
since 1985, the number of families has essentially doubled.
As a consequence, the parish can no longer be characterized
as an ethnic parish.
In order to accomodate the growing community, a new church
was built in 2004.
St. Paul wrote in Ephesians:
2:30: “YOU ARE PART OF A BUILDING THAT HAS APOSTLES
AND PROPHETS FOR IT’S CORNERSTONE…A HOUSE WHERE
GOD LIVES IN THE SPIRIT.” More important than any building,
the people are the “church” of St. Michael. With
their involvement and with the offering of gifts, time and
talent, the “body of Christ” in our area can and
will continue to grow and flourish.
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Church built in 1866
St. Michael Historic Church
Current St. Michael Catholic Church
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