History of Saint Joseph Church, Waldorf
Many of the present members of St. Joseph Parish were once members of two other Catholic churches in the area. The churches were “The Church of the Nativity of St. Mary," southwest of Waseca and “St. Joseph Church of South Prairie," east of Waldorf. The following notes are a summary of the history of the two churches and present “Church of St. Joseph” in Waldorf.
The first St. Mary’s Church was planned and built by Father Robert Kellen in 1858. A village surrounded St. Mary’s from early 1850’s until the Civil War. The residents were mostly of Irish descent. There was a sawmill, a flour mill, a grocery store, a shingle factory, a blacksmith shop, a hotel, and a public school. Later the school was bought by St. Mary’s Church and became a church hall. At one time, Mass was offered in the home of Andrew Lynch. Father Keller came from Immaculate Conception Church in Faribault. Later, Father Pribly came from Straight River Settlement, now Owatonna.
Father John McDermott (1867-1869) completed the first St. Mary’s Church and was the first resident pastor. The population had increased fifty times, therefore a new church was constructed on the hill. This church burned down. A brick church was built by Father Herman in 1880. Father Herman was paster of St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s from 1874 to 1882. This church also burned down in 1885.
Father Robert Hughs supervised the building of the last St. Mary’s Church in 1887. This church remained until 1973 when the parish was disbanded. The Waseca County Historical Society bought the building, but later it reverted to the Dioceses of Winona. In August 1978 the church was razed. A monument remains on the spot containing the original bell and historical plaque. The bell had been installed by Father Dan Coleman on May 13, 1902. St. Mary’s rectory and adjacent acres are now private property.
It is difficult to separate the history of St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s. The same pastors served both the mother church, St. Mary’s and the mission church, St. Joseph’s simultaneously.
Father McCabe, 1882-1886 and 1890-1899, was a truly great man whose life was spent in obscure places in the world. He had been appointed to the English Penal Colony in Australia. The convicts were largely Irish political prisoners. Among these were the venial prisoner and famous poet, John Boyle O’Reilly.
Father McCabe helped O’Reilly escape to America. Later O’Reilly because editor of the Boston Pilot, a Catholic newspaper of wide distribution. McCabe made his escape to Ireland. Soon he had to flee from the British there and he came to America. He met O’Reilly on the street of Boston. It was a heartwarming reunion. Later Father McCabe came west, preferring a life of hardship and self-sacrifice. Bishop Ireland appointed him to St. Mary’s Parish were he spent the last eighteen years of his life. He is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
St. Mary’s Cemetery was dedicated in 1857 by Father Keller. It was the first cemetery in the area and served people of all faiths. It remains and is still being used.
St. Joseph’s Church is located in an area which was once part of the cast Dioceses of Dubuque which had been established in 1830. Later it came under the jurisdiction of the Dioceses of St. Paul, established in 1850. Subsequently, it came under the area of the Dioceses of Winona, established in 1889.
The first St. Joseph’s Church was located in Wilton Township and was referred to as the “South Prairie Church”. The land for this church was donated by the McBride family. The church was built in the early 1870’s, but it was not lathed or plastered and no pews. Because of the hardship of the times, much sacrifice was involved. In 1875 the building was partially finished by Mr. Cunningham, a parishioner, and a group of parish workers. In 1878, pews were installed under Father Herman. The church was finally completed in 1885 under Father McCabe. This church was razed in 1950, as the building of the new St. Joseph’s Church got under way.
Father Henry Russell (1943-1953) organized and supervised the building of St. Joseph’s under the direction of Bishop Fitzgerald. The cornerstone was blessed by Bishop Fitzgerald on July 1, 1951. Father Russell, Father Phillip Matthews and Father John McShane assisted Bishop Fitzgerald.
The first Mass was offered downstairs on Christmas day in 1951. It was a Solemn High Mass with Father Russell as celebrant, and Rev. Mr. Joseph Mountain as deacon and Re. Mr. Arnold Reuter as sub-deacon. The first Mass upstairs was held on June 15, 1952. St. Joseph’s was dedicated on October 16, 1952 by Bishop Fitzgerald. Father William Coleman gave the homily.
In 1953, Father S.P. Weir became pastor of St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s Parishes and supervised the building of the rectory in Waldorf in 1960. The cost of the rectory was $28,300. In August 1961, Father Elmer Kellen became the new pastor.
Father Robert Kulas succeeded Father Kellen as Pastor in 1966. While Father Kulas was at St. Joseph’s a new double garage was built in 1967, A new walk-in entrance to the basement was also built at that time. In 1968, the front and back walls of the church were paneled. The church, rectory and garage were painted and new sidewalks were laid.
Father Wilfred Brandel arrived at St. Joseph’s in 1969. He remolded and redecorated the church. He also redecorated the rectory by his own labor. Father Brandel changed the massive marble alter into a simple alter table, and used the excess marble for a tabernacle stand. He used the wrought iron communion rail to make a large chandelier. He used the gates of the communion rail to make the front for the pulpit. He did much of this work with his own hands. Father Brandel bought land and organized a cemetery one-half mile south of Waldorf on Highway 83. It was incorporated on January 19, 1974. He made a cross from oak logs taken from his farm near St. George. He also installed carillon bells in the church in 1974.
Father Robert Sheehan served as pastor from 1975 to 1981. He arranged with Vet Glass Company of Winnebago to install six stained glass windows in the church. The artist for the windows is Bea Salisbury.
Father Harold Gavin followed Father Sheehan in 1981. With the shortage of priest in the dioceses in 1989 it became necessary for St. Joseph to share the priest from All Saints of New Richland; so Father Haberman became the new pastor. Father Jack L. Krough followed Father Clayton Haberman in 1990. Father Thien Nguyen followed in 1996.
In 1997 St. Joseph’s Parish was transferred to share the priest at Immaculate Conception Church in St. Clair with Father Matthew Vanissery. In 1998 St. Joseph’s Parish was transferred back to share the priest of All Saints, New Richland with Father Thien Nguyen.
In 2002 St. Joseph’s Parish was transfered to share the priest at St. Ann’s Church in Janesville with Father Frerichs. He served until 2007. Father Syl Brown took over in 2008 and later that year Father Peter J. Klein took over duties until 2013. Father Chinnappa Pothireddy, a priest from India served as Parochial Administrator 2013-2014 for both St. Ann's and St. Joseph's Churches. Following Fr. Chinappa Pothireddy's service to the communities, Fr. Michael Cronin, formerly Parochial Vicar at Sacred Heart in Owatonna and Holy Trinity in Litomysl, was named Pastor for a six-year term effective August 13, 2014.
Pastors who have served Saint Mary and Saint Joseph Catholic Church include:
Fr. John McDermott......................1867-1869
Fr. B. Bauman................................1869-1874
Fr. Herman.....................................1874-1882
Fr. Patrick McCabe.........................1882-1886
Fr. Robert........................................1886-1889
Fr. J.J. Traynor...............................1889-1890
Fr. Patrick McCabe.........................1890-1899
Fr. Dan Coleman.............................1899-1913
Fr. William Coleman.......................1913-1918
Fr. F. Brazil......................................1918-1926
Fr. J.J. Stapleton.............................1926-1931
Fr. F.J. Felton..................................1931-1932
Fr. William Colbert..........................1932-1943
Fr. Henry Russell.............................1943-1953
Pastors who have served Saint Joseph Catholic Church include:
Fr. Henry Russell
Fr. S.P. Weir........................................1953-1961
Fr. Elmer Kellen..................................1961-1966
Fr. Robert Kulas..................................1966-1969
Fr. Wilfred Brandel.............................1969-1975
Fr. Robert Sheehan.............................1975-1981
Fr. Harold Gavin.................................1981-1989
Fr. Clayton Haberman........................1989-1990
Fr. Jack L. Krough..............................1990-1996
Fr. Thein Nguyen................................1996-1997
Fr. Matthew Vanissery........................1997-1998
Fr. Glenn Frerichs...............................2002-2007
Fr. Syl Brown.......................................2008
Fr. Peter J. Klein................................. 2008-2013
Fr. Chinnappa Pothireddy....................2013-2014
Fr. Michael J. Cronin...........................2014-2019
Fr. Antony Arokiyam..................................2019
Fr. Brian Mulligan................................2020-
The first St. Mary’s Church was planned and built by Father Robert Kellen in 1858. A village surrounded St. Mary’s from early 1850’s until the Civil War. The residents were mostly of Irish descent. There was a sawmill, a flour mill, a grocery store, a shingle factory, a blacksmith shop, a hotel, and a public school. Later the school was bought by St. Mary’s Church and became a church hall. At one time, Mass was offered in the home of Andrew Lynch. Father Keller came from Immaculate Conception Church in Faribault. Later, Father Pribly came from Straight River Settlement, now Owatonna.
Father John McDermott (1867-1869) completed the first St. Mary’s Church and was the first resident pastor. The population had increased fifty times, therefore a new church was constructed on the hill. This church burned down. A brick church was built by Father Herman in 1880. Father Herman was paster of St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s from 1874 to 1882. This church also burned down in 1885.
Father Robert Hughs supervised the building of the last St. Mary’s Church in 1887. This church remained until 1973 when the parish was disbanded. The Waseca County Historical Society bought the building, but later it reverted to the Dioceses of Winona. In August 1978 the church was razed. A monument remains on the spot containing the original bell and historical plaque. The bell had been installed by Father Dan Coleman on May 13, 1902. St. Mary’s rectory and adjacent acres are now private property.
It is difficult to separate the history of St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s. The same pastors served both the mother church, St. Mary’s and the mission church, St. Joseph’s simultaneously.
Father McCabe, 1882-1886 and 1890-1899, was a truly great man whose life was spent in obscure places in the world. He had been appointed to the English Penal Colony in Australia. The convicts were largely Irish political prisoners. Among these were the venial prisoner and famous poet, John Boyle O’Reilly.
Father McCabe helped O’Reilly escape to America. Later O’Reilly because editor of the Boston Pilot, a Catholic newspaper of wide distribution. McCabe made his escape to Ireland. Soon he had to flee from the British there and he came to America. He met O’Reilly on the street of Boston. It was a heartwarming reunion. Later Father McCabe came west, preferring a life of hardship and self-sacrifice. Bishop Ireland appointed him to St. Mary’s Parish were he spent the last eighteen years of his life. He is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
St. Mary’s Cemetery was dedicated in 1857 by Father Keller. It was the first cemetery in the area and served people of all faiths. It remains and is still being used.
St. Joseph’s Church is located in an area which was once part of the cast Dioceses of Dubuque which had been established in 1830. Later it came under the jurisdiction of the Dioceses of St. Paul, established in 1850. Subsequently, it came under the area of the Dioceses of Winona, established in 1889.
The first St. Joseph’s Church was located in Wilton Township and was referred to as the “South Prairie Church”. The land for this church was donated by the McBride family. The church was built in the early 1870’s, but it was not lathed or plastered and no pews. Because of the hardship of the times, much sacrifice was involved. In 1875 the building was partially finished by Mr. Cunningham, a parishioner, and a group of parish workers. In 1878, pews were installed under Father Herman. The church was finally completed in 1885 under Father McCabe. This church was razed in 1950, as the building of the new St. Joseph’s Church got under way.
Father Henry Russell (1943-1953) organized and supervised the building of St. Joseph’s under the direction of Bishop Fitzgerald. The cornerstone was blessed by Bishop Fitzgerald on July 1, 1951. Father Russell, Father Phillip Matthews and Father John McShane assisted Bishop Fitzgerald.
The first Mass was offered downstairs on Christmas day in 1951. It was a Solemn High Mass with Father Russell as celebrant, and Rev. Mr. Joseph Mountain as deacon and Re. Mr. Arnold Reuter as sub-deacon. The first Mass upstairs was held on June 15, 1952. St. Joseph’s was dedicated on October 16, 1952 by Bishop Fitzgerald. Father William Coleman gave the homily.
In 1953, Father S.P. Weir became pastor of St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s Parishes and supervised the building of the rectory in Waldorf in 1960. The cost of the rectory was $28,300. In August 1961, Father Elmer Kellen became the new pastor.
Father Robert Kulas succeeded Father Kellen as Pastor in 1966. While Father Kulas was at St. Joseph’s a new double garage was built in 1967, A new walk-in entrance to the basement was also built at that time. In 1968, the front and back walls of the church were paneled. The church, rectory and garage were painted and new sidewalks were laid.
Father Wilfred Brandel arrived at St. Joseph’s in 1969. He remolded and redecorated the church. He also redecorated the rectory by his own labor. Father Brandel changed the massive marble alter into a simple alter table, and used the excess marble for a tabernacle stand. He used the wrought iron communion rail to make a large chandelier. He used the gates of the communion rail to make the front for the pulpit. He did much of this work with his own hands. Father Brandel bought land and organized a cemetery one-half mile south of Waldorf on Highway 83. It was incorporated on January 19, 1974. He made a cross from oak logs taken from his farm near St. George. He also installed carillon bells in the church in 1974.
Father Robert Sheehan served as pastor from 1975 to 1981. He arranged with Vet Glass Company of Winnebago to install six stained glass windows in the church. The artist for the windows is Bea Salisbury.
Father Harold Gavin followed Father Sheehan in 1981. With the shortage of priest in the dioceses in 1989 it became necessary for St. Joseph to share the priest from All Saints of New Richland; so Father Haberman became the new pastor. Father Jack L. Krough followed Father Clayton Haberman in 1990. Father Thien Nguyen followed in 1996.
In 1997 St. Joseph’s Parish was transferred to share the priest at Immaculate Conception Church in St. Clair with Father Matthew Vanissery. In 1998 St. Joseph’s Parish was transferred back to share the priest of All Saints, New Richland with Father Thien Nguyen.
In 2002 St. Joseph’s Parish was transfered to share the priest at St. Ann’s Church in Janesville with Father Frerichs. He served until 2007. Father Syl Brown took over in 2008 and later that year Father Peter J. Klein took over duties until 2013. Father Chinnappa Pothireddy, a priest from India served as Parochial Administrator 2013-2014 for both St. Ann's and St. Joseph's Churches. Following Fr. Chinappa Pothireddy's service to the communities, Fr. Michael Cronin, formerly Parochial Vicar at Sacred Heart in Owatonna and Holy Trinity in Litomysl, was named Pastor for a six-year term effective August 13, 2014.
Pastors who have served Saint Mary and Saint Joseph Catholic Church include:
Fr. John McDermott......................1867-1869
Fr. B. Bauman................................1869-1874
Fr. Herman.....................................1874-1882
Fr. Patrick McCabe.........................1882-1886
Fr. Robert........................................1886-1889
Fr. J.J. Traynor...............................1889-1890
Fr. Patrick McCabe.........................1890-1899
Fr. Dan Coleman.............................1899-1913
Fr. William Coleman.......................1913-1918
Fr. F. Brazil......................................1918-1926
Fr. J.J. Stapleton.............................1926-1931
Fr. F.J. Felton..................................1931-1932
Fr. William Colbert..........................1932-1943
Fr. Henry Russell.............................1943-1953
Pastors who have served Saint Joseph Catholic Church include:
Fr. Henry Russell
Fr. S.P. Weir........................................1953-1961
Fr. Elmer Kellen..................................1961-1966
Fr. Robert Kulas..................................1966-1969
Fr. Wilfred Brandel.............................1969-1975
Fr. Robert Sheehan.............................1975-1981
Fr. Harold Gavin.................................1981-1989
Fr. Clayton Haberman........................1989-1990
Fr. Jack L. Krough..............................1990-1996
Fr. Thein Nguyen................................1996-1997
Fr. Matthew Vanissery........................1997-1998
Fr. Glenn Frerichs...............................2002-2007
Fr. Syl Brown.......................................2008
Fr. Peter J. Klein................................. 2008-2013
Fr. Chinnappa Pothireddy....................2013-2014
Fr. Michael J. Cronin...........................2014-2019
Fr. Antony Arokiyam..................................2019
Fr. Brian Mulligan................................2020-
