Church of the Sacred Heart
In October of 1869, four families met, Thomas White, John Collins, Jerome Madden and Gottlieb Buchler, at the house of Thomas White to discuss ways and means for erecting a Catholic church. Because of their great faith, this was the beginning of efforts to build the first Catholic Church in Waseca. Today it is known as the Church of the Sacred Heart.
In 1879, a wood framed church was erected in the village of Waseca. Built at the present church site, the church building faced south. At this time it was a mission of St. Mary’s. In 1878 Father Alexander Christie was appointed first resident pastor at Sacred Heart, serving until 1890.
In 1886, the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus of Philadelphia, were invited to build a school on the present Parish Center site. Child’s History of Waseca County states: “This is one of the important educational institutes of the state and has done much for the people of Waseca and surrounding county.” Our school today continues to be an important educational institute.
In 1897, the parish fathers along with Father Treanor, dreamed of a large, beautiful new church for our growing parish community. After much planning, May 1, 1898, the parish farmers dug the foundations. The cornerstone of the present Church of the Sacred Heart was blessed on October 5, 1898. This church was to be the “finest church in southern Minnesota”. On October 16, 1900, the new church was completed with a seating capacity of 1000.
Because of the importance of faith and education of our early settlers and the parish community through the years, the Church of the Sacred Heart continued to grow into the wonderful faith and education center that it is today.
All Saints Catholic Church
In 1879 Mass was celebrated with more or less regularity at Kelly’s Commercial Hotel by Fr Alexander Christi( from Waseca). He then purchased lots in 1888, after 8 years of fundraising the church was built in 1895 for a total cost of $3,500. Msgr Treanor, pastor at Waseca, gave an altar and held the first Mass at All Saints church in December of 1895, which was now entirely free of debt. This had now established a heritage of faith for the more than a dozen Catholic families who were predominantly German, Irish and Czech.
The congregation grew and by 1924 funds were again being raised for a new church. In the spring of 1927, men of the parish along with 20 teams of horses all worked in shifts to dig the basement. The basement was dug within 2 weeks. Farm parishioners would bring in meat and garden produce to feed the workers a noon meal. Other men of the parish did the carpentry and cement work.
In October of 1928 Bishop Kelly of Winona celebrated a Mass dedicating the church, the choir from Sacred Heart in Waseca sang the Mass while the Knights of Columbus and Drum Corps of Albert Lea provided the instrumental portion. Ladies of the parish served dinner in the new church basement.
The gothic style church seats 342 in the main area. Stations of the Cross that adorn the walls are hand painted by Fuerstein, a famous Czech artist, they were imported directly from his studio. Side windows show the 10 scenes for the Joyful and Glorious mysteries of the Rosary. Above the altar is a larger window depicting the Crucifixion. Above the main entrance, the window represents Christ the King which embodies Fr. Michael MacVeigh’s personal idea of Christ receiving adoration from all; the poor to the royal households as well as having an American flag and soldier in stained glass.These windows are all examples of “glass-burning” and fabricated in the studios of Tyrolese Art Glass Co. of Innsbruck, Austria.
- Above information taken from New Richland Area historical Society, Spiral bound book; Churches New Richland Area, no copyright date given.
