St. Augustine (Diocese of Winona–Rochester)
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| St. Augustine | |
 | |
| Dedication: | St. Augustine |
| Type/Classification: | Territorial Parish |
| Non-Parochial: | No |
| Operated By: | Diocesan clergy |
| Venerated Saints: | None specified |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Winona–Rochester |
| Deanery: | Austin/Albert Lea Deanery |
| Address: | 405 4th St. NW, Austin, Minnesota 55912-3091 |
| City: | Austin, MN |
| Subdivision: | Minnesota |
| Country: | United States |
| County: | Mower County |
| Website: | Website |
| Founded: | 1866 |
| School: | No |
| Email: | None specified |
| AI Confidence: | 9/10 |
| Review Level: | 0/5 |
St. Augustine is a territorial parish of the Diocese of Winona–Rochester, located at 405 4th Street NW in Austin, Minnesota, in Mower County. Dedicated to Saint Augustine, the fourth-century North African bishop and Doctor of the Church, the parish traces its roots to the earliest Catholic settlement in the Austin area and was one of three parishes eventually established to serve the city's Catholic community.
The present Gothic Revival church, built of red brick with sandstone trim, was dedicated in 1896 and remains a prominent landmark in downtown Austin. Since 2023 the parish has been led by Rev. Andrew Beerman, and it is paired pastorally with St. Edward as a two-congregation cluster sharing staff and a joint parish website.[1]
The parish also has historic ties to Catholic education in Austin; schools it founded developed over time into today's Pacelli Catholic Schools.[2]
History
In 1857 a few scattered Catholic families lived in and around the village of Austin. On November 2 of that year, Father Michael Prendergast of Winona visited the settlers and offered Mass at the home of Thomas Gibson, repeating his visits in 1858 and 1860. In 1861 Austin was placed under the jurisdiction of the pastor of Faribault, and Father George Keller began paying regular visits, giving the mission's organization definite form. Under his supervision, construction of the first church building began in 1863, and St. Augustine's parish was officially established in 1866. Father John McDermott arrived as the first resident pastor in June 1867, and in June 1868 Bishop Thomas Grace of St. Paul visited the parish, dedicated the new church — then known as St. Austin's — and administered Confirmation.[3]
The church that stands today was built under Father Daniel O'Sullivan, with Bishop Joseph Cotter laying the cornerstone on April 24, 1894. Father O'Sullivan died on June 21, 1896, and his successor, Father Edward Devlin, completed the building, which was dedicated on November 26, 1896. It was constructed of red pressed brick with red sandstone trim quarried at Bayfield, Wisconsin.[3]
In 1933, with Msgr. John Peschges serving as pastor, the rapid growth of St. Augustine's congregation led Bishop Francis Kelly to establish a second Austin parish, Queen of Angels. A third parish, St. Edward, was established in the city in 1960.[3] In 1935 the pastor and members of the congregation founded the Mower County Catholic Parishes Credit Union.
In 1976 lightning struck the church, sparking a fire that destroyed its 140-foot steeple; firefighters kept the blaze from spreading further, though damage was estimated at $500,000. The church underwent a major interior renovation and restoration project completed in 2018.[4]
A parish school opened under the Sisters of St. Dominic of Sinsinawa, Wisconsin, in 1872, but closed in 1893 amid the financial demands of building the new church. In 1909 the Columbus school was built and staffed by the Sisters of St. Francis of Rochester, and St. Augustine High School was added to the parish plant in the 1920s. That school was expanded and renamed Pacelli High School in 1957 in honor of Pope Pius XII, and the Columbus building was replaced that same year by St. Augustine Elementary School; both institutions continue today as Pacelli Catholic Schools.[5]
Special features
- Twin Gothic Revival spires, one of which was rebuilt after an original 140-foot steeple was destroyed by a lightning-sparked fire in 1976
- Longtime home parish of the Mower County Catholic Parishes Credit Union, founded by the pastor and parishioners in 1935
- Paired with St. Edward in a two-congregation cluster under shared pastoral leadership
Relics
According to established Catholic tradition, the main altar contains deposited relics, as is customary in dedicated churches. Specific details regarding the saints associated with these relics are not documented in available sources.
Architecture and Art
Exterior features
The church is built in the Gothic Revival style of red pressed brick with red sandstone trim quarried at Bayfield, Wisconsin. The building measures approximately 169 feet in length and 77 feet in width, with seating capacity for more than 600 worshippers.[3] Its cornerstone was laid on April 24, 1894, and the completed church was dedicated on November 26, 1896.[3] A 140-foot steeple was destroyed by fire in 1976 and subsequently rebuilt.
Interior features
The church underwent a major interior renovation and restoration project completed in 2018.[6] The nave features decorative ceiling detailing above the sanctuary, though specific artists, dates, or materials are not documented in available sources.
Stained Glass Windows
Specific details on the church's stained glass windows are not documented in available sources.
Statues and Sculptures
Specific details on statuary within the church are not documented in available sources.
Other Artwork
No further devotional artwork is documented in available sources.
Image gallery
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Media
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Related parishes
- Sacred Heart (Diocese of Winona–Rochester, Adams)
- St. Adrian (Diocese of Winona–Rochester)
- St. Theodore (Diocese of Winona–Rochester)
- St. Anthony (Diocese of Winona–Rochester, Altura)
- Queen of Angels (Diocese of Winona–Rochester)
- St. Edward (Diocese of Winona–Rochester)
- St. Columbanus (Diocese of Winona–Rochester)
- Sts. Peter and Paul (Diocese of Winona–Rochester, Blue Earth)
- Sacred Heart (Diocese of Winona–Rochester, Brewster)
- Our Lady of Loretto (Diocese of Winona–Rochester)
- St. Patrick (Diocese of Winona–Rochester, Brownsville)
- Christ the King (Diocese of Winona–Rochester, Byron)
- St. Mary (Diocese of Winona–Rochester, Caledonia)
- Assumption (Diocese of Winona–Rochester)
- St. Mary (Diocese of Winona–Rochester, Chatfield)
External links
Social media
| Official Social Media |
|---|
References
- ↑ "Staff & Trustees". St. Augustine & St. Edward Parishes. https://staugustinestedward.org/staff-committees/.
- ↑ "History of Pacelli Catholic Schools". Pacelli Catholic Schools. http://www.pacellischools.org/newpacelli/experience_pacelli/history.php.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Parish History of St. Augustine". St. Augustine & St. Edward Parishes. https://staugustinestedward.org/parish-history-of-st-augustine/.
- ↑ "House Reborn: St. Augustine's to welcome back parishioners after restoration project". Austin Daily Herald. October 6, 2018. https://www.austindailyherald.com/2018/10/house-reborn-st-augustines-to-welcome-back-parishioners-after-restoration-project/.
- ↑ "History of Pacelli Catholic Schools". Pacelli Catholic Schools. http://www.pacellischools.org/newpacelli/experience_pacelli/history.php.
- ↑ "House Reborn: St. Augustine's to welcome back parishioners after restoration project". Austin Daily Herald. October 6, 2018. https://www.austindailyherald.com/2018/10/house-reborn-st-augustines-to-welcome-back-parishioners-after-restoration-project/.