Beginning on July 1, the Holy Rosary and St. Stephen congregations, both of which were previously situated in south Minneapolis, merged into one.
Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis said in a statement announcing the merger that sharing financial, formation, and evangelization resources will assist in bringing more people to a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Merger of 2 South Minneapolis Churches
After deliberation lasting two years within the parishes, Bishop Joseph Williams presented a formal petition to combine the parishes to Archbishop Hebda.
According to The Catholic Spirit, the archbishop then discussed the matter with the archdiocese's Presbyteral Council, as stipulated by the laws of the canon.
Up until Sept. 8, Bishop Williams will continue to serve as the pastor of the Church of St. Stephen-Holy Rosary. After that date, Father James Stiles will take over the responsibilities of that position.
Archbishop Hebda has stated that it is awe-inspiring to see the desire of two parish communities who are willing to make sacrifices and adjust to adjustments required to achieve the mission of the church in evangelizing and serving the people of south Minneapolis.
Archbishop Hebda has asked everyone to join him in a prayer of appreciation to honor the Dominicans who have served the people of Holy Rosary for more than a century.
As per the report, Dominican friars from the Central Province announced in February 2020 that after 142 years of service, they would no longer be conducting ministry at Holy Rosary.
Father Jerry Stookey, who had served as the pastor of Holy Rosary from July 2018 until his retirement on June 30, 2020, was the last Dominican to lead the parish.
Fr. Stookey said he would miss the people and the parish. Now, he serves as director of the St. Dominic Mission Society in St. Louis, focusing on the province's new partnership with the Dominican Mission in Puerto Rico.
Dominican Order in Holy Rosary Bids Farewell
During its 142 years of existence, the Holy Rosary parish in Minneapolis has reached many significant milestones.
The departure of its final Dominican priest on June 30 was significant for the congregation. Since the church in the Phillips area was first established, Dominicans have been ministering there.
According to another report published by The Catholic Spirit in 2020, Holy Rosary has been attended to by Dominican priests and sisters over the course of its history.
Beginning in 2006, Sister Margaret McGuirk, a Sinsinawa Dominican who currently assists low-income families at Incarnation in Minneapolis, was employed at Holy Rosary for seven years, initially in the capacity of administrator and then as executive director of Centro Guadalupano.
History of Holy Rosary Church
Holy Rosary was Minneapolis' sixth Catholic parish, established in 1878 at the corner of Cedar and Hiawatha Avenues.
The Dominicans, well-known for their dedication to social justice, have long led a parish that has welcomed newcomers, including Irish, Germans, Italians, Vietnamese, Native Americans, and Somalis.
As the website stated, Holy Rosary now mostly serves immigrants from Mexico, Latin America, and other Spanish-speaking countries. One of the two Sunday Masses is held in Spanish on Saturday and Sunday.
