Diocese of Winona–Rochester

Stored in Cargo: Diocese of Winona–Rochester

Diocese: Diocese of Winona–Rochester
Status:	Active
Rite:	Latin
Type:	Suffragan diocese
Ecclesiastical Province:	Province of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Metropolitan Archdiocese:	Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Country:	United States
Region:	Minnesota
Bishop:	Robert Emmet Barron
Website:	https://dowr.org/
Catholic %:	18.8%
Elementary Schools:	18
High Schools:	4
Priests:	88
Existence:	1889–
Rating:	3.5
Chancery Address:	2907 Jeremiah Lane NW, Rochester, MN 55901

The Diocese of Winona–Rochester, a suffragan diocese of the Latin Rite, is an active diocese encompassing the 20 southernmost counties of Minnesota in the United States.** Founded on November 26, 1889, by Pope Leo XIII, it serves a Catholic population of approximately 114,000 amid a total population of over 607,000. It is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and is led by Bishop Robert Emmet Barron, appointed in 2022. The diocese features the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona as its mother church and the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Rochester, reflecting its commitment to evangelization and parish life in a region shaped by immigrant heritage and rural communities.

Establishment

The Diocese of Winona (later Winona–Rochester) was erected on November 26, 1889, by Pope Leo XIII through the apostolic constitution dividing territory from the Archdiocese of Saint Paul to serve growing Catholic immigrant communities in southern Minnesota. The first bishop, Joseph Bernard Cotter, was appointed from the Archdiocese of Saint Paul.

History

Early Catholic presence in the region dates to missionary activity in the 19th century, including the first recorded Mass by Father Lucien Galtier in 1840 along the Mississippi River. Significant growth followed Irish, German, Czech, and Polish immigration, with early parishes established in Mankato (1854), Winona (1857), and Rochester (1863). The Sisters of Saint Francis founded a hospital in Rochester in 1882, which contributed to the origins of the Mayo Clinic.

Subsequent bishops expanded infrastructure: Patrick Richard Heffron founded institutions including what became St. Mary's University of Minnesota; Edward Aloysius Fitzgerald oversaw construction of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and implemented Vatican II reforms. In 2018, the see was renamed Diocese of Winona–Rochester to reflect the prominence of Rochester, and the chancery later relocated there. Bishop Robert Emmet Barron, known for his theological work and Word on Fire ministry, was installed as the ninth bishop in 2022.

The diocese has addressed historical challenges, including a 2018 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing related to sexual abuse claims, resulting in a settlement with victims.

Geography

The Diocese of Winona–Rochester covers 12,282 square miles (31,810 km²) across 20 counties in southern Minnesota: Blue Earth, Cottonwood, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Jackson, Martin, Mower, Murray, Nobles, Olmsted, Pipestone, Rock, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Watonwan, and Winona. It is bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and lies within the Ecclesiastical Province of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

Mother Church

The mother church is the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona, with the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Rochester serving as a co-cathedral.

Leadership

Current Bishop

Bishop Robert Emmet Barron has served since his appointment by Pope Francis on June 2, 2022, and installation on July 29, 2022. A theologian and founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, he previously served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Bishop John Michael Quinn serves as emeritus.

Past Bishops

According to Catholic-Hierarchy.org and diocesan records:

Name	Tenure	Notes
Joseph Bernard Cotter	1889–1909	First Bishop of Winona
Patrick Richard Heffron	1910–1927	Founded educational institutions
Francis Martin Kelly	1928–1949	Auxiliary prior to appointment
Edward Aloysius Fitzgerald	1949–1969	Oversaw cathedral construction and Vatican II implementation
Loras Joseph Watters	1969–1986	Promulgated pastoral documents
John George Vlazny	1987–1997	Later Archbishop of Portland in Oregon
Bernard Joseph Harrington	1998–2009
John Michael Quinn	2009–2022	Coadjutor then bishop; see renamed 2018
Robert Emmet Barron	2022–present	Current bishop

Theological and Cultural Orientation

The diocese maintains a balanced orientation (rating approximately 3.5), emphasizing evangelization, vocations, and fidelity to Church teaching under Bishop Barron's leadership, while supporting traditional devotions alongside outreach in a diverse rural and urban setting. Hagiographic and historical traditions underscore its Marian patronage.

Statistics

As of recent data, the diocese covers 12,282 square miles, serves approximately 114,255 registered Catholics (about 18.8% of the total population of 607,741) across roughly 98–106 parishes, with around 88 priests. It operates four high schools, additional elementary/preschools, and Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary.

Religious Communities

Various religious orders have served in education, healthcare, and parish ministry throughout the diocese's history, including the Sisters of Saint Francis (linked to early hospital work). Consult diocesan directories for current communities.

Parishes

Main article: List of parishes in Diocese of Winona–Rochester

Diocese of Winona–Rochester
This map created from a Cargo query ()

The diocese includes approximately 98–106 parishes across its 20 counties, organized to serve both rural and urban communities, including a Maronite or other rite presence where applicable.

Mission and Services

Catholic Education

The diocese supports Catholic schools, including four high schools (Cotter High School in Winona, Lourdes High School in Rochester, Loyola Catholic School in Mankato, Pacelli High School in Austin) and elementary programs, alongside St. Mary's University of Minnesota and Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary.

Community Outreach

Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota provides social services. The diocese emphasizes evangelization and vocations.

Notable Events or Figures

• Bishop Robert Barron's appointment highlights the diocese's engagement with modern media and theology.
• Historical connection to the Mayo Clinic through early Franciscan hospital work.

Fun facts

Below are some fun facts about the Diocese of Winona–Rochester:

Did you know? Established in 1889 by Pope Leo XIII, the Diocese of Winona–Rochester began with just 45 priests and eight churches but grew rapidly to serve thousands of immigrant families settling the fertile southern Minnesota lands!

Surprise! The diocese's territory includes land once purchased by future Archbishop John Ireland to encourage Catholic settlement, helping shape the region's faith communities in the late 19th century.

Here's something cool: The Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Rochester stands alongside the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona, giving the diocese two beautiful mother churches reflecting its vibrant history.

Wow moment: Early Franciscan sisters' hospital work in Rochester in the 1880s laid groundwork for what became the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, blending faith and healing.

Little-known gem: The diocese ranks highly in the U.S. for Catholics per seminarian, reflecting strong vocations in this faithful southern Minnesota community.

Did you know? St. Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona traces its roots to a college founded by Bishop Patrick Heffron in 1912.

Fun fact: The diocese spans beautiful prairie and Mississippi River lands across 20 counties, home to diverse Catholic communities living out the faith in farms, towns, and cities like Rochester and Mankato.

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External Links

• Official Website
• Our History (Diocesan site)