Parish History

St. Joseph's Church - Red Lake Falls, MN
Adopted from "A History of Red Lake County" 1976

The spiritual care of the first Catholic families of Red Lake Falls dates back to the beginning of the city itself.

In the year 1876, there were seven families of French-Canadian descent who were cared for by Father L'Hivers, the first priest to come into the vicinity. He offered Mass in the home of Isaiah Gervais.

It was in 1879 that Father Champagne founded the parish of St. Joseph. (click here to learn more about him) He built a small frame house which was intended to serve as a home for nuns in the course of the development of the parish. The material and work for this project were furnished mainly by Pierre Emard.

Father Pierre Champagne returned to Duluth in 1886. The street going south from the front of the present church still bear his name.

The parish was served by Father Mercil for three years, during which time, a rectory in old French colonial style was built. It stood until 1919. The first building used as a church burned in 1887.

Succeeding Father Mercil was Father S. Arpin in 1889. He built a new church. After him came Father Fayolle who was pastor from July, 1884 until August, 1911. During his pastorate, the first convent & school were built and completed in 1902. The Sisters of St. Benedict from Duluth came to teach in the school. At this time the parish numbered 300 families, many of whom were to leave for the state of Washington at a later date.

Father Eugene Lemire was assigned as pastor of St. Joseph's on December 6, 1914. His was a long and busy pastorate: 1916 - A sisters' home was erected: 1917 - The church interior was renovated and enlarged: 1919 - A new rectory was built: 1921 - The church interior was frescoed.

This church also burned and a new one, designed by a Benedictine priest from St. John's Abbey in Collegeville replaced it in 1929 under Father Lemire's administration. All of this work was undertaken at a time when the parish numbered about 250 families.

Father Lemire died on January 4 1942, after 28 years of service to the parish and community.

It was during his pastorate that assistant priests were first assigned to his parish. The following names appear in church records as assistant pastors: Father E. Grimonprez, E. J. Paquin, Victor Cardin, Henry Rousseau, Louis Sullivan, J.P. Flynn, W.F. Lemen and Paul Cardin.

One of these, Father Victor Cardin, was to take over the pastorate 15 days after the death of Father Lemire. This was January of 1942.

A redecoration of the church was carried out in Father Cardin's pastorate, and was completed in May 1948.

Assistant Priests in his time were Fathers Henry Monroe, Jerome Felion and Daniel Noah.

On March 1, 1952, Bishop Francis Schenk combined the parishes of St. Mary and St. Joseph. Father William Keefe, the pastor of St. Mary's Parish, became the pastor of the combined parishes under the name of St. Joseph.

Father Keefe undertook an extensive building program which included a new school, convent and rectory. The entire project was completed in October of 1952.

This project the largest undertaking in the history of the parish, was accomplished through the hard work of many volunteers, the faithful contributions of parishioners, and the careful administration of Father Keefe. He also undertook a complete renovation of the church interior which was completed in time for the Easter season of 1964.

Assistant priests during Father Keefe's pastorate included Fathers Donald Archer, Edward Nistler, Stanley Bourassa, Gerald Noesen and Joseph Keiselbach.

On June 24, 1971, Bishop Kenneth Povish reassigned Father Noesen to St. Joseph's as a Pastor. The parish was comprised of 300 families in addition to about 45 guests at Hillcrest Nursing Home who came under the care of the local pastor.

Under Father Noesen's pastorate in the interior and sanctuary of the church were painted and rearranged. Other projects were a new five rank organ, an addition of a mother's room and a reconciliation room in the church, new blacktopping on the parking lot and school playground, renovation of the parish hall, a redecoration of the rectory and improvements in the new convent.

During the time Father Noeson was pastor the parish began to be administered through a parish council and a school board and cemetery board were established to implement the directives of the Second Vatican Council.

From 1979 to 1984 Father Jerome Felion served the parish community and in 1984 Fathers Tom Baxter and Patrick Creeden were named co-pastors. They served the parish until 1987 when Bishop Victor Balke named Father Gary LaMoine as pastor.

Many building improvements were completed under Father LaMoine's pastorate. the community added a handicapped assessable lift and built a new main entrance to the Church. The church interior was painted and redecorated and the Church began a building fund to renovate the church kitchen. The Church was also air conditioned and a generous parishioner paid to have a new roof installed on the school building. The parish also served the people of St. Dorothy's in Dorothy and St. Anthony's in Terrebonne. Father LaMoine served the parishes until July of 1998.

Father Tim Bushy was named by Bishop Balke to be the pastor of the Red Lake Falls Cluster of Catholic parishes in the summer of 1998. Under Father Bushy's pastorate the parish continues to build and be Church in the ne millennium.

In the spring of 1999 the school was fully accredited by the Minnesota Non-Public School Accrediting Association. The school has been restructured to include multiage classroom settings for all grades. St. Joseph School also implemented many technology improvements recently and several grants and funding opportunities have provided the school with internet access and each student now has a computer. Computers are also provided into the homes of students who attend the school.

The school was entirely redecorated and new furnishings were provided generous donors and alumni. In the summer of 2000 an all school reunion was held in Red Lake Falls and a new playground was installed on the school grounds.

The parish has also remodeled the church kitchen and dining room in 2000.

In July of 2000 the parishes of St. Anthony's - Terrebonne and St. Dorothy's - Dorothy were merged into St. Joseph's - Red Lake Falls. Father Bushy serves the people of Red Lake Falls and St. Joseph's of Brooks. The people of St. Joseph's - Red Lake Falls have constructed two display cases in the Church hall with artifacts from each of the parishes to commemorate the and also as a welcome to the people of St. Anthony's and St. Dorothy's who have now joined St. Joseph's - Red Lake Falls.

During the summer of 2002 the Pastoral Offices were re-located to the school. Now the administrative and pastoral offices of both the Church and School are located at 112 Edward Ave NE in Red Lake Falls, MN.

Father Antony Fernando was named by Bishop Victor Balke to be the Administrator of St. Joseph in Red Lake Falls and Brooks, MN in August 2007.