After 142 years, Dominican Friars leaving Minneapolis parish

After 142 years of serving the parish they founded, the Dominican Friars plan to leave Holy Rosary/Santo Rosario in Minneapolis effective June 30.

In a letter to parishioners at weekend Masses Feb. 22 and Feb. 23, the religious order cited personnel limitations and new directions for its ministry. 

“We have served the people of this unique, evolving parish to the best of our ability, including Irish, German, Italian, Hmong, Vietnamese, Native American, Somali and Latino immigrants. Even when resources were limited, we provided strong, pastoral leadership,” Father James Marchionda, prior provincial for the Dominicans Friars’ Chicago-based Central Province, wrote to parishioners.

“Please know that the Dominicans will remain forever grateful for the privilege of serving you and will always hold the people of this parish in our hearts,” Father Marchionda said. “We have a tremendous love for this parish and a great history.”

 Among other factors, results from a recent provincial planning process showed that young friars are more inclined to serve in university teaching roles and campus ministry than parishes, Father Marchionda told The Catholic Spirit in an interview Feb. 24.

The Dominicans will continue working with the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to help achieve as smooth a transition as possible for the parish, Father Marchionda said. 

In an accompanying letter to parishioners, Archbishop Bernard Hebda said he was grateful to the Dominican Friars for their decades of service. He noted how they ministered to and cared for thousands of people, making a true difference in their lives and in the life of the community. The archbishop said also he was grateful that the religious order would continue to serve in other areas of the archdiocese. 

Archbishop Hebda said the archdiocese is working with Holy Rosary parishioners, leadership and staff to discern next steps. 

“We will together explore the parish’s role in the neighborhood and its particular relationship with our Spanish-speaking sisters and brothers who have found a home at Holy Rosary,” the archbishop said. “We will together discern how we can best serve them and the broader community.” 

Founded in 1878, the parish has served a number of immigrant communities. It now offers Masses in English and Spanish. Its ministries include a youth program for grades seven through 12, an Altar and Rosary Society and adult religious education.

 Dominican Friars currently serving in the archdiocese include priests serving as pastors at St. Albert the Great in Minneapolis and St. Rita in Cottage Grove, Father Marchionda said.

In addition, a Dominican priest teaches homiletics at The St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul and two priests teach and work in campus ministry at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. One brother is a pastoral intern at St. Thomas and a Dominican priest provides spiritual direction at Catholic Eldercare in Roseville.