Parish History

First Church of St. Dominic dedicated in Northfield on August 4, 1869
The nine mile area that in 2019 is the city of Northfield and the home of the Church of St. Dominic Catholic Church was once a heavily wooded wilderness occupied by Dakota American Indian tribe members in the early nineteenth century.

Then as early as 1854 the lands slowly began to take on settlers, four years before Minnesota became the 32nd state of our Union. At least one downtown store in Northfield bears the year 1854 on its front façade, an indication that trading had already started that year. The attraction to this area by settlers was the nearby Cannon River with its potential for hydrologic power, transportation, and an abundance of natural resources. In 1855 John Wesley North moved into the area with plans to start a sawmill, and in 1856 as the number of settlers increased, North platted out an area near the river that he named Northfield. Soon a school was formed, and along with it, religious congregations. While the area was dominated by people of the Methodist, Lutheran, and Presbyterian faiths, leaders in the St Paul Archdiocese, which was established in 1852, saw a need for priests to serve an increasing number of Catholics in the Northfield area. 

Among the hardy pioneers who established homes in this locality and on the surrounding farms were a few Catholic families, mainly Irish and German immigrants, who left Europe during the Panic of 1857 amid a struggling economy and famine. The spiritual needs of these pioneer Catholics were initially ministered to by mission priests who braved the dangers of the wilderness to bring the Catholic message to their scattered flocks. Local history tells us that as early as 1858, Fr. Anatole Oster, then stationed in Mendota, celebrated Mass and administered the Sacraments in the homes of the people in a large Southern Minnesota locality. His own journal indicates that on November 25, 1858, Fr. Oster celebrated the first Mass in the Northfield area in the home of Timothy Gleason near Chub Creek in what is now Dakota County. He also administered the first baptism of young William Gleason in July,1858. Church records further show that the first Mass in Northfield for an assembly of Catholics was celebrated at the home of William Ryan located just six blocks from the present St Dominic’s church site. That first Mass, which occurred a few months after Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration as president in 1861, was celebrated by Fr. George Keller who was the pastor in Faribault. His parish boundaries extended eastward to Hastings, southward to Austin, and to north of Rosemount. Fr. Keller’s usual mode of travel was on horseback over miles of prairie, the view broken only occasionally by the log house of some settler. He rode along a path worn by others who lived in the area over trails through the dense forests forming part of what was then called the Big Woods. His usual destination was the home of a Catholic family where he would celebrate Mass, administer the Sacraments, and instruct the children. In 1863 the overworked pastor Keller was given some help when an assistant in the person of Father Pius Bayer was assigned to the expanding area. 

With the dedication of the Northfield Methodist Church in 1859, and with a steady influx by the Presbyterian and Puritan communities from the eastern US since 1862, education opportunities were further expanded with the formation of Carleton College in 1866 by the Minnesota Conference of Congregational Churches. Fr. Bayer noted that Catholics in the Northfield community also wanted a church in which to worship God as a parish. His information indicated there were a significant enough number of Catholics in the Northfield area to warrant the building of a church structure, and he sought the assistance of prominent Catholics living in Northfield. In 1867, area residents Dominic Moes, Patrick Murphy, and Robert Halford contacted interested Catholics in the community to assist financially and asked them to support them with their labor and materials to build a Catholic church in the city. These three devoted men, having completed the first successful St Dominic’s fundraising effort, called on Bishop Thomas Grace in St. Paul, to establish a parish under the patronage of St. Dominic. Bishop Grace was part of the Dominican order, and possibly the three men selected the parish name to help influence the Bishop’s decision. Rice County records indicate that in 1867 “Dominic and Catherine Moes, Robert and Alice Halford, and Patrick and Mary Murphy hereby deed to Bishop Thomas L.Grace and the Diocese of St. Paul, lots 6, 7 and 8, Block 2, and immediately adjacent lots 9 and 10” to become the site of the first St Dominic’s Catholic Church, and later on Rosary School.  

By then Mass was celebrated by Fr. Keller about once per month in the home of a Northfield parishioner, and later in 1867 in the partially completed church. Sacraments of Baptism, First Penance, and First Communions were also held in the church in 1867, 1868, and 1869. The first administering of the Sacrament of Matrimony was a double wedding with the marriage of Charles Gannon to Bertha Keefe, and James Works to Anne Sullivan on November 17, 1867, nearly two years before St Dominic’s Church was dedicated.

In the course of time the small frame church was completed, a humbly designed building with only a small wooden cross above the front entrance indicating that it was a Catholic Church.  It had no sanctuary, sacristy, vestibule, or steeple. A rough wooden box served as an altar, and planks resting on blocks of wood were used for pews. The Bishop appointed Reverend Rudolph Haase to serve as the first resident pastor of the parish in 1869. Fr. Haase also served Cannon Falls and Farmington as his mission parishes. On August 4, 1869 on the feast of St Dominic, Bishop Grace dedicated the new church, and officially gave it the name Church of St. Dominic. The first Baptism in the new church was held on September 18, 1869. 

In 1870, Fr. J. A. McGlone was appointed pastor of St. Dominic’s parish, and in June 1872 he was also named pastor of Annunciation parish at Hazelwood. With the two parish churches located over an hour away by horse and buggy, a tradition was established to hold Sunday Mass at each parish on alternate Sundays. The number of Catholics in Dakota County was continuing to grow, and the formation of these two parishes served to bind the Catholic community in the area. Just as St Dominic’s membership was increasing, the growth of the Catholic Church in the United States also came in waves with immigration initially from France, Germany, Ireland and Italy, followed by 

Eastern European immigrants in the early 20th century. Immigration of other religious faiths was also on the increase. The numerous Norwegian Lutherans in the Northfield area were also eager to preserve the faith of their expanding community. In 1874 Lutheran pastors and some influential church members founded St. Olaf College.  

 This bell was mounted in St. Dominic’s first Church. It is still on display in the current St Dominic’s Church

In 1875 Fr. John J. Pavlin replaced Fr. McGlone as pastor of St Dominic’s in Northfield and Annunciation in Hazelwood. During Fr. Pavlin’s twelve-year pastorate the Church of St. Dominic was finished on the interior with the addition of a sanctuary and sacristy. More suitable pews were installed, and a beautiful altar was erected in the new sanctuary. A vestibule and steeple were also added to the church, and a large bronze bell was mounted inside the steeple. Through all the years of St Dominic’s Parish: From that first church dedicated in 1869, doubled in size in 1877 with the addition of a sanctuary on the east and a bell tower on the west, to a totally new and expanded Church complex dedicated in 1914, and to our current St Dominic’s Catholic Church facility dedicated in 1986, the original Church bell still survives as a reminder of  the prayer and sacrifice of our pioneer founders, and our cherished Parish history. 

During his time as pastor Fr. Pavlin also approved the purchase of a home located adjacent to the church which served as his residence until 1887. And he also sensed a need to provide a nearby burial place for St Dominic parishioners who had died. Up until 1877 their only cemetery was located in Hazelwood. Fr.Pavlin guided the purchase of Calvary Cemetery which is located one and a half miles east of St Dominic’s, and continues to this day as the place where many St Dominic’s parishioners are buried. Truly his years as pastor were years that marked the most significant progress for the parish up to that time. When Fr. Pavlin left St. Dominic’s parish in 1887, he left behind a monument to his zeal, his faith, and the good will of the parishioners. He had sought to care not only for the living, but that those who had labored in the parish might also be buried in a nearby Catholic cemetery. In 1887 Fr. Pavlin was assigned as pastor of St. Lawrence in Faribault where he remained until his death in 1896.  During his later years he visited Northfield on many occasions with a lasting spiritual friendship to those he had served so well.  Fittingly when Fr. John Pavlin was called to his eternal reward, the grateful Catholics in the Northfield area erected a monument to his memory at his burial place in Calvary cemetery. Fr. Peter Jung succeeded Fr. Pavlin as pastor of St Dominic’s and Annunciation parishes, serving just one year from 1887-88.  He was followed by the Fr. Hugo Victor (1888-89), Fr. John Jacobs (1889-90). This rapid rate of change of pastors at St Dominic’s parish was in part indicative of an increase in the number of priests in the archdiocese that resulted from an increased number of vocations among Western European Catholic immigrants settling throughout Minnesota in the 1880s and 1890s.

St Dominic Church Sanctuary - 1877

The next pastor, Fr. Tom Gleason (1890-1894), was perhaps the most popular of any priest had been at St Dominic’s parish up to that time. He also mixed freely with other religious denominations in the community, and connected well with city leaders. He was the first Catholic priest chosen to give the 1892 commencement address at Carleton College. 

Parish records in June of 1891 indicate that parish membership had reached 122 households with a total of 540 parishioners.  Fr. Gleason’s last building achievment at St Dominic’s was a new rectory built in 1892, just a year before he left to be pastor of St. John’s Catholic Church, a large parish in St. Paul. Still the contacts he had made in Northfield continued well after his reassignment. His successor was an interim pastor named Fr. John MacEwan, a recently ordained priest who served only a few months in 1894, and a second interim pastor, Fr. Edward Lee who served until permanent Pastor Father Patrick Kenny could be named. 

Fr. Kenny arrived in November,1894, and served here until 1910, initially as pastor for both St Dominic and Annunciation parishes with Mass locations alternating each Sunday. In 1905, the tradition of holding Sunday Mass on alternate Sundays in Northfield and Hazelwood was changed when Fr. Owan J. Rowan was named assistant to Fr. Kenny. From that day forward, Mass was said in both parishes every Sunday. Fr. Kenny was both a dignified and scholarly pastor, due in part to his early life in the city of Boston. He also encouraged male parishioners to band together in a men’s service group, the Knights of Columbus. Our local K of C council (number 1516) was chartered in 1910. It supported members in the faith and gave them a collective energy to spread the Catholic faith while meeting a variety of social needs within the community and beyond. They continue to be a leading proponent of respect for life, for care of the handicapped, and they offer life insurance  and financial support to the church and to other service groups in Northfield. The success of this organization is evidenced by the 1.7 million membership and over 14,000 councils recorded in 2018. 

Fr. Kenny also encouraged the women of the parish in the formation of the Rosary Society (initially known as “St. Dominic’s Sewing Society) in 1911.  In their first year they became the go-to group for cleaning the church, parish dinners and funeral luncheons, and in addition they raised $566 for the parish.  During World War I, they worked closely with the American Red Cross, as indicated in their minutes from a 1918 meeting: “Each member is to make an effort to spend an afternoon between meetings at Red Cross Headquarters in Northfield or at some auxiliary”. Fr. Kenny supported the community by visiting households with family members fighting in the war and took an active part in the city’s welfare. His focus in the community was to speak publicly against the sale of alcohol in the city. So sharp were his comments at times that on a day following one of his speeches, some local men met with Archbishop Ireland in St. Paul to request Fr. Kenny’s removal as St Dominic’s pastor. The Archbishop, who strongly endorsed the temperance movement in the archdiocese, supported his Northfield pastor, but asked him to moderate his tone. 

Fr. Peter Meade was named St. Dominic’s pastor in October,1910. St Paul Cathedral in Saint Paul was under construction at that time, and Fr. Meade’s first major action was to complete the payment of St Dominic’s parish quota toward our Archdiocesan headquarters which began in 1907 and was completed in 1915. Also realizing that the congregation of St. Dominic’s parish had outgrown the old church, he proposed the building of a new church to replace the outgrown church facility. He noted in his proposal that, not only was the church too small to serve the increasing number of parishioners, but there were also signs of decay in the church interior. The ladies in the parish especially were very much in agreement with Fr. Meade. Most churches had more comfortable pews, they said, with plastered walls and better lighting! The plans prepared by Architect John Wheeler of St. Paul were accepted in September, 1912.  A contract was signed with Henry R. Lang, who agreed to have the church finished by Christmas eve,1913, for the sum of $32,800.  The old church building would be moved to 306 St. Olaf Avenue and turned into a residence. The conversion of the old church to a residence included the removal of the bell and steeple, and the addition of dormers for a second floor. That building still exists, and the general shape of the early church (without a steeple) is still apparent. Because it lies within the church, school, parish office complex, the St Dominic’s parish council recently voted to purchase this house. It currently serves as rental property. 

Further complicating financing of building the new St Dominic’s Church was the unexpected destruction of Annunciation church in 1913 when a lightning strike burned the building to the ground. Only the church bell survived. Fr Meade whose influence and proven knowledge of providing clergy assistance on building projects, enlisted the services of John Wheeler to design a beautiful new Church of the Annunciation that was dedicated in 1914. That church, built primarily with insurance proceeds, and by the generous support of Hazelwood parishioners, still stands today. In 1982 Annunciation church was accepted into the National Registry of historic places.

The cornerstone for the new St Dominic Catholic Church facility was laid on June 15, 1913, and blessed by the Fr. Tom Gleason, the still-popular former pastor from 1894 - 1910. The Very Reverend (Msgr) Humphrey Moynihann, Rector of the College of St. Thomas, celebrated a Solemn High Mass.  Fr. Gleason also spoke at the ceremony. The first Mass at the new St Dominic’s Church, in its nearly completed state was held on Christmas Eve, 1913, at the Midnight Mass, and again on Christmas morning with joyful music.

Second Church of St Dominic dedicated in 1914. It was located on the site of current parish rectory

On February 14, 1914, the newly completed Church of St Dominic was solemnly dedicated by Archbishop Ireland, then 76 years old, who preached to a church filled with grateful parishioners and local visitors. The new church was described by Northfield News Editor WF Schilling as “Built of red brick with twin bell towers, and the interior patterned after a Romanesque motif which allowed as many as 550 worshippers to be seated close to the altar. The Church interior with a gently sloping floor is also notable for its absence of interior columns provides a unity of space well-suited to community worship.” Then in 1916 through the diligence of some parishioners, and a matching grant from the Carnegie Foundation, a new organ was also purchased for the church. 

In his zeal for promoting religious education, Fr. Meade had assembled a group dedicated of women in the parish to teach catechism classes one day a week. While the program was a success, he had long felt that St Dominic’s was ready to add a Catholic School. His idea for a school combined with his skills in leading building projects eventually came to fruition on August 8, 1926, when Rosary School was dedicated just across the St. Olaf Avenue from St Dominic’s church. A large nearby house, which would serve as the convent for nearly 40 years, was purchased and remodeled to house the School Sisters of Notre Dame who would provide teachers and leadership at Rosary. The school opened its doors for the first time in September, 1927, to an enrollment of 95 students. Fr. Meade’s time as pastor lasted until 1940, and by that time, the school was in its 13th year of operation. His assistant pastors who joined him in 1925 as associates and, in part to help the seven School Sisters of Notre Dame carry out the traditions of a Catholic school, included his nephew Fr. Leo Meade and Fr. John Paul O’Donnell. Together they were instrumental in both the successfully administering to St Dominic’s and Annunciation parishes, and to assisting at an increasing enrollment at Rosary School. 

One other attribute of Fr. Meade that was a benefit as the pastor was his love of speed. With Masses scheduled on Saturday and Sunday at both St Dominic’s and Annunciation, one requirement for a new pastor was that he be a good driver who could travel the distance between the churches in less than 30 minutes just as Fr. Dempsey did during his 15 years as pastor of the two churches(Fr. Denny’s goal was a 15-minute trip, but he had a faster car!). Fr. Meade had graduated from the use of “fast horses” to the days of the automobile, and when he drove his car, it was always as fast as possible. It is recorded that on at least two occasions, he came within a few feet of an oncoming train as he raced to beat it to the railroad crossing on Highway 19!  

The 1930s were the years of the Great Depression, yet despite the meager means of early parishioners, yet Fr. Meade often reminded parishioners to share what they had with many other poor people in desperate need of support. Food, clothing, blankets, and firewood were given to parishioners who were in dire need by those with some extra things to share. Gathering events were also held for parishioners just to discuss their fears and concerns with each other, and to pray together. Collections were taken up regularly in support of locals who had lost their jobs and sometimes their homes. The first detailed list of special collections is found on the parish financial statement for 1937. Among those identified were orphanages, the seminary, domestic and foreign missions, Catholic welfare support, and various charities. While resources were scarce during the Great Depression, and  with our parish under the stress of a mortgage and numerous outstanding bills, St. Dominic parishioners continued a faithful sense of the broader community. That practice of prayerful consideration and generosity has continued for as long as St Dominic’s has been a parish! 

Fr. Meade, who led St Dominic’s Parish through the more difficult years of the Depression, was succeeded after 30 years by Fr. James T. O’Hara in 1940. Fr. O’Hara came to St Dominic’s at age 60 and served the parish until his unexpected death just before Christmas in 1947. Those seven years were times of prayer and personal sacrifice for those with loved ones fighting in World War II.

He led many special prayer events including a number of funeral Masses for fallen soldiers from the area. Fr. O’Hara was succeeded by an interim pastor, Fr. Ambrose Filbin, who served the parish well for eleven months.

St Dominic Church Sanctuary - 1950  

Fr. Leo Howley was appointed the permanent pastor of St. Dominic’s late in 1948. His seven years as pastor were consumed by the hard work of managing the two parishes and taking a leadership role at Rosary School. Because several priests in the archdiocese had volunteered to be chaplains during WWII, there was a temporary shortage of priests to support the school. The late 40s and early 50s were initially a time of anguish and then recovery for our country, our state, and our community from post-war turmoil. As in so many previous difficult times, the power of prayer and parish unity proved to be key factors for families across our nation. Parish Missionary weeks and 40-hour devotions to prayer and sacrifice were semi-annual events, St Dominic’s Church membership and Rosary School enrollment continued to increase during those years. Maintaining those facilities consumed most of the parish revenues. In 1950 the interior of the church was refurbished under Fr. Howley’s direction and was dedicated by Bishop Leo Binz on May 1, 1954. Other needed improvements were put off for the time being, but most parishioners were aware that a school expansion was inevitable. The resident Notre Dame sisters had also outgrown their convent, but the unselfish sisters insisted that the school must have the higher priority. Under Father Howley’s direction, planning was begun for the eventual school expansion. When he moved on in 1955, and Father Robert Dillon took over as pastor, plans had been documented, and fundraising was initiated, to add a major addition to Rosary School. The school addition was dedicated on May 24, 1959, and the decision was also made to rename the newly enlarged facility St Dominic’s School. That Fall enrollment increased to 300 students.

On August 16, 1964, under the leadership of Fr. Alfred Wagner who had continued the work Frs Howley and Dillon had started, a new convent was dedicated, replacing the previous one which was built back in 1869 and remodeled once in 1926. The new convent structure located adjacent to the school demonstrated to the School Sisters of Notre Dame the appreciation of St Dominic’s parishioners for their dedicated support of our school. The new convent also included upper level space for female high school students to board. Archbishop Leo Binz officiated at a Mass giving great praise to the congregation and faculty for their commitment to the St Dominic’s Community. 

With all that was going on at the parish level at St Dominic’s parish, our focus as Catholics changed dramatically under the leadership of Pope John XXIII with an announcement of a Papal Council, and enduring through the years Fr. Leonard Leander and Joseph Krause served as Pastors at the Church of St Dominic. The Vatican Council of 1962-65 under Pope John’s Papal leadership was intended as a means of spiritual renewal in the Catholic Church, but it turned out to be much more than that. The proclamations of the Council resulted in significant change in how we as Catholics worship. Soon after the Council of all World Bishops, Masses would be said in the native language, and revised Canon Law directed the celebrant, after hundreds of years of facing the altar, to face the congregation. The Vatican Council also sought a new openness to those worshipping at Mass, an openness to prayer, to lay involvement, and to a renewal for all Catholics! Fasting time before Communion was reduced to one hour before reception of the sacrament, and Communion could be taken in the hand. Also the tradition of fasting from meat on Fridays became optional rather than mandatory (except during Lent), and Days of Fasting were reduced to just two days per year. Texts for daily and Sunday Mass, previously written in Latin, were republished in English. Many parishioners discarded their Daily Missals that included both Latin and English translations when the parish purchased Mass books that are provided in the pews. Parishioners were invited to proclaim the Word, distribute Communion, and lead Church music. The role of women was also enhanced as girls were authorized to be Altar Servers, and ladies became Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Liturgists, Parish Nurses, etc.

St Dominic’s Parish celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 1969. Fr Krause led the celebration at a time when there were more than 500 families and 2,000 members in our parish. Many of the parishioners could trace back to ancestors who had started St Dominic’s parish, or to those who had joined the parish many years previously. Through the prayers and dedication of these remarkable people during those years, a fledgling parish had grown by four times in 80 years. Facility changes since the start of the 20th century included a new church dedicated in 1914 and redecorated in 1954, the start of a new school in 1927 followed by a school expansion in 1959, a new convent in 1964, and a refurbished rectory in 1966. 

In addition to their commitment to continual building of parish and maintaining facilities, St Dominic’s parishioners had followed the edicts of Vatican II along with most Catholics in the world in implementing significant liturgical changes in the way we worship God, and in how the Mass, the sacraments, and parish life are administered. And with the formation of the St Dominic Parish Council and School Board of Education in 1971, another of the Vatican II edicts to establish Lay Leadership and Liturgical Committee functions was fulfilled.     

Within a few years, also as a response to these Vatican Council mandates, some Church reconstruction became necessary. Pastors Vincent O’Connor and John Sankowitz led the reconstruction following Vatican Council directives with a permanent altar for the celebrant to face the congregation, and they laid plans for Communion railings to be removed, Baptismal fonts moved near the Church entrance, and lecterns to be relocated. Due to the cost of construction and materials, St Dominic’s along with most other parishes in the country implemented these changes gradually over the course of time. The railings, font, and lectern remained in place at St Dominic’s until the new church built in the mid-1980s, and dedicated in 1986, included implementation of the Vatican Council liturgical directives.

The decision to replace the old Church of St Dominic was carefully considered and studied in the early 80s. The external brick walls of the current Church, still beautiful and solidly built, required tuckpointing and other major repairs. The Church, with a large stairway entry to the main sanctuary area as well as a stairway to the lower level, was inaccessible to disabled parishioners. The existing Church sanctuary was still at pre-Vatican II liturgical levels and in serious need of updating. Building experts also identified a crumbling foundation and other structural deficiencies. After considerable prayer and further consultation, the Parish Council recommended to Fr O’Gara that the church be demolished and replaced with a new structure. The plan called for the new building to be located just south of the existing Church which allowed continual use of it until the new Church construction was completed. Parishioners knew there would be a period during which Mass would have to be celebrated in St Dominic School gymnasium; but because of good construction planning, Masses were celebrated for just two months in the gym while the new Church was finally ready for Sunday Masses. Workers and parishioners salvaged many of the treasures from the years of St Dominic’s Parish to move to the new Church. Then the old Church was taken down to make room for a chapel to be attached on the north side of the new Church. The present-day Church of St Dominic was complete, and in November,1986, Archbishop John Roach with the help of Fr O’Gara dedicated the new facilities. Built for an increasing parish population, the current church can accommodate over 1,000 parishioners and includes a spacious social hall with an adjacent kitchen, a chapel, sacristy, restrooms, a bride’s room, several lower level meeting rooms, and an abundance of storage. The Baptismal font was located near the Church entrance, and all other liturgical changes mandated by the Vatican II Council were implemented. 

Perhaps a more important change as a result of Vatican II mandates was a special commitment to the younger members of the Catholic Church around the world. Father Ronald Clubb initiated youth programs that included weekend field trips, a softball team, youth participation in parish ministries, and participation in fundraisers. These first youth programs became very popular with the young people in St Dominic’s parish, and as time has gone on the roles of youth were expanded by both Fr. Frank Fried and Fr. Dempsey. Youth and faith formation leaders have added  frequent field trips in more recent years, at least one annual 10-day mission trips where leaders, parents, and young people complete work projects that have made a real difference in the lives of many poor people on reservations and other similar places. Youth leaders also provide Sacramental preparation. During the year St Dominic youths hold bake sales, car washes, and charity walks to fund their trips. They also serve the parish as alter servers, greeters, and they participate in parish music liturgy.  

Another significant change in advancing the role of Catholic laymen was the addition of a Lay Deacon to share certain tasks previously performed by a pastor or co-pastor. Deacons can be ministers of the sacraments of Baptism, be witnesses of marriage, proclaimers of the Word, serve as classroom leaders for RCIA candidates, and can conduct wake and funeral services. St Dominic’s first deacon was Len Gruber who came to the parish in 1996 and served the parish well until his retirement in 2011. Deacon Steven Moses replaced him in 2012 and is currently the St Dominic’s Parish Deacon. Deacon Moses ‘day job’ allows him to further expand the parish mission of “making disciples of all nations” in his position as Director of Police Chaplains in the Northfield community. 

The oldest building, the parish rectory that was built in 1892 and remodeled in 1955 was badly in need of replacement. Under the direction of Father Steven O’Gara, the current rectory building was completed in 1980. It included office space for a secretary and parish records, but as the administrative part of the parish grew, the need for more room became evident. With the number of School Sisters of Notre Dame teachers reducing, the convent was partially converted in 1983 to add office space for the Pastor and other parish administrators. As time has moved St Dominic School leadership and faculty members are lay people. The convent continues to board local students on the upper floor, and the lower level has become the offices of the pastor, administrators, and parish records. And while the exterior rectory appearance now is much like when it was originally built, a restoration completed in 2019 has significantly changed the rectory’s interior layout and purpose. Previous living spaces on the main level have been converted to conference rooms with a direct wi-fi connection to the church. The 2019 rectory renovation also included a new roof, and a complete remodel of the pastor’s upstairs residence. 

Northfield’s population was increasing, including the addition of over one thousand Hispanic immigrants, and there would be more arriving in the coming years. Most Hispanics are Catholic, and that meant a large increase in Mass attendance at St Dominic Church of members who knew very few words of English. Fr. Raymond Monsour, who was proficient in Spanish, was assigned as pastor of St. Mary’s in Le Center in 1993 to support a growing number of Spanish-speaking

Catholics living in Le Center, Montgomery, Faribault, and Northfield. In addition to serving as Pastor at St Mary’s, Fr Monsour was assigned additional task of ministering to Hispanics in the southeastern area of the St Paul Archdiocese. The first Hispanic baptism at St. Dominic’s took place on February 25, 1995, and four more followed that year.  Bishop Paul Dudley who was serving an interim pastor role at St Dominic’s in 1995 worked with Bishop Harry Flynn to respond in a larger way to the increasing Hispanic population. One important Archdiocese solution was the St Dominic’s pastoral assignment of Fr. Frank Fried in 1997. Fr. Fried had learned Spanish while serving in our archdiocese’s mission parish in Venezuela. Fr Fried led the entire parish to a unity of purpose that smoothly transitioned a growing Hispanic population. Eventually the Spanish-speaking community grew so much so that the Hispanic Mass, previously celebrated in St Dominic chapel, was moved into the main church. While Pastor Fried’s leadership was critical to the Hispanic Community, the energetic support of parish Hispanic members (given special recognition by local news media) was a key part of the rapid growth of Hispanic participation in St Dominic’s liturgy and other parish activities. In 1997 a Hispanic choir was organized with musical assistance of several parish members proficient in playing piano, Spanish guitars and percussion. Other Hispanic parishioners offered catechism classes to prepare children to receive their First Confession and Communion.  A Spanish-speaking prayer and bible study group was also formed by adult Hispanic parishioners. As time went on the Hispanic Community added celebrations for Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12th, Posadas before Christmas, and Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross) during Lent. They also joined together with English-speaking parishioners for bilingual celebrations on All Souls Day / Día de los Muertos as well as the Easter Triduum. The idea of holding a celebration in honor of St. Dominic actually began with our Hispanic Committee, and they played a lead role in making it a successful event. At nearly every one of these events, part of the entertainment includes performances by a local Mariachi band, a traditional style of Mexican music that dates back to the 18th century.

With the arrival of Fr. Dennis Dempsey at St. Dominic in June of 2004, the Hispanic community had grown significantly, and so did the expanding range of ministries and activities.  While serving in Venezuela, Fr. Dempsey, who had become very fluent in Spanish, and had been involved with music groups in Venezuela, brought with him a songbook he had assembled that included dozens of selections of Hispanic hymns, some of which are still used at Hispanic Masses and prayer meetings at St Dominic’s. He met with musicians and singers from our Hispanic community to review the songs in the booklet and invited members of the Hispanic community lead the music at Mass themselves using their own distinctive Hispanic style. Fr. Dempsey developed a special connection to the Hispanic community in Northfield. He often responded to a call for help with Hispanic parishioners when dealing with situations that required English translation.  

Fr. Dempsey made himself very visible in many parts of the community. After a snowfall, he could be seen shoveling snow and clearing windshields of cars parked at the church, the school, or parish office. On occasion in the summer he helped nearby neighbors paint their home or mow their lawns. He designed the exterior signage for a local restaurant, and he occasionally went to garden farms to pick vegetables that were then left at the church entry for parishioners to take home on Sunday morning.

The youth of St Dominic’s parish also had a strong connection with Fr. Dempsey, and his enthusiasm usually connected with the middle-schoolers. He also made personal connections with our high school youth by encouraging them in their own areas of interest. One example was the "Jesus Band", a youth musical group that played at church Masses, retreats and Masses at Carleton college. Fr. Dempsey’s retreats for our Confirmation 10th graders included leading the youth on a nature walk and bike rides, things that all youths enjoy. In the past year, in anticipation of a new assignment, the Parish Council hired Rick Nelson as full-time youth minister. Rick had already been leading voluntary youth programs and mission trips in addition to leading the Faith Formation and Outreach ministries. 

Fr. Dempsey also helped instill a sense of community within St. Dominic parish. He initiated  neighborhood Masses in parishioner homes, which was popular among an increasing number of parish members, and he led parish Hunger and Crop Walks through the City of Northfield to broaden St Dominic’s presence in the Community. He encouraged hospitality for parishioners and guests by initiating various events after weekend after Masses in the Parish Social Hall. Fr. Dempsey continued the tradition of providing Chaplaincy service to St Olaf and Carleton Colleges by inviting student and staff participation as well as holding Mass at their on-campus chapels. Fr. Dempsey also expanded the tradition of regular visits to Assisted Living centers in Northfield and the celebration of Mass at their three chapels.

In addition to carrying out his Pastoral duties, Fr. Dempsey also developed personal connections with local ministers from other denominations and with City officials. Yet he still managed frequent kayaking trips on local rivers and miles of jogging through city streets. A break from his office work often included a 5-10 mile bike ride on Northfield and Carleton College bike paths. Bike rides of 50 miles or more were not unusual for him, nor were 25-mile kayak trips. One parishioner described him as a uniquely inspirational spiritual leader with an unlimited physical energy. 

In June, 2019, Fr. Dempsey was reassigned to an archdiocesan mission in Venezuela. His pastoral leadership ended 15 years of service to St Dominic’s Parish in Northfield and Annunciation Parish in Hazelwood. Only Fr. Patrick Kenny (1894-1910) and Fr. Peter Meade (1910-1940) served as St Dominic’s pastor longer than Fr. Dennis Dempsey. He is truly loved and remembered by St Dominic’s parishioners as well as many in the Northfield community!

As of June 1, 2019 the parish has 1258 families and 3,174 individual registered members, some with roots to those first St Dominic’s parishioners in the late nineteenth century. Most other members are of German, Hispanic, Irish, and Scandinavian descent, while others have come from other parts of the world in more recent times. The Hispanic community has also grown significantly since their arrival in the early 1990s, and currently represent about 25% of the parish. A separate Hispanic Mass each Sunday, at one time held in St Dominic’s chapel, was moved to the main church several years back to accommodate a growing number of Hispanic parishioners. In addition bi-lingual Masses are offered monthly as an acknowledgement of the unity that has developed in the parish. St Dominic’s congregation has a highly diverse flavor that has become the hallmark of its success. 

With the ongoing political turmoil in Venezuela, Bishop Hebda’s decision to assign Fr. Dempsey there came rather quickly. With no immediate availability to replace him with another pastor, an interim parochial administrator Fr. Bob Hart came to St Dominic’s with loads of pastoral experience. He had served previously as pastor of several parishes in the St Paul archdiocese. Given a later calling to the priesthood than most, Fr Hart was following a different career path as a computer programmer and facilities manager at a well-known health insurance company for 23 years before answering God’s call to the priesthood. And to serve the many parish Spanish-speaking parishioners, Fr. Frank Fried was also assigned part-time to St Dominic’s and Annunciation parishes. Having been St Dominic’s pastor from 1997 to 2004, he was known and respected by many parishioners, and remembered by the Hispanic community as the first bi-lingual pastor to serve them at St Dominic Church. 

We were blessed to have two experienced priests to serve the numerous needs of our parish and fulfill our parish mission of “Making disciples of all nations….by actively proclaiming the Gospel in word and deed, faithfully participating in the sacramental life of the Church….and by committing ourselves to lifelong service, education and faith formation!”    

Much of the history of the Church of St Dominic through 1930 was provided by: W. F. Schilling, author of the book: A History of Northfield and Dundas Churches.

St. Dominic Hispanic Community
Structured From a Diocesan Article 

The story of our parish would not be complete without including the relatively recent yet significant participation of our Spanish-speaking community. 

By the time Fr. Raymond Monsour was assigned as pastor of St. Mary’s in Le Center in 1993, a growing number of Spanish-speaking Catholics were making their home in Le Center, Montgomery, Faribault, and Northfield. Given Fr. Monsour’s proficiency in Spanish from his years working in our Venezuelan mission, Archbishop Roach gave him the additional task of ministering to Hispanics in the southwestern region of the Minnesota archdiocese.  Mass was celebrated in Spanish, usually on Saturday evening, on alternating weeks between Northfield and Faribault. The number of those attending was small at first, rarely more than 20 people.  Mass was celebrated in the chapel.  

About that same time Fr. Dennis Evenson was named pastor at Nativity of Mary in Cleveland, Minnesota.  Growing up speaking Italian at home plus studying Latin for eight years in the seminary, Fr. Evenson added Spanish to his repertoire, and began helping Fr. Monsour  with  Masses.  The first Hispanic baptism at St. Dominic took place on February 25, 1995, and four more followed that year.  Since then the trend indicates a gradual increase in Baptisms up to 14 in 2018.

With the arrival of Fr. Frank Fried in 1997, St. Dominic had its first Spanish-speaking pastor. He had learned Spanish serving in the Venezuelan mission. Eventually the Spanish-speaking community grew, so much so that the Hispanic Mass, previously celebrated in the chapel, was moved into the main church. While Fr. Fried’s leadership was critical to the Hispanic Community, the energetic support of parish Hispanic members (given special recognition by local news media) was a key part of the rapid growth of Hispanic participation. In 1997 Janice Monnot organized a choir with musical assistance of Kathleen Yung on the piano.  Maria Almanza along with her daughter, Patty Estrada, offered catechism classes to prepare children to receive their First Confession and Communion. A prayer and bible study group was also formed by some adult Hispanic parishioners. The Community added celebrations honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12th which re-enacts the appearance of the Blessed Virgin, Posadas before Christmas, a procession that depicts the journey of Mary and Joseph to find shelter for the birth of Jesus, and Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross) during Lent. The Hispanics also joined together with English-speaking parishioners for bilingual celebrations on All Souls Day / Día de los Muertos as well as the Easter Triduum. The idea of having a celebration in honor of St. Dominic was actually began by our Hispanic Committee, and they played a lead role in making it a successful event. At nearly every one of these events, part of the entertainment includes performances by the local Mariachi band, a traditional style of Mexican music that dates back to the 18th century

The assignment of Fr. Dennis Dempsey at St. Dominic in June of 2004, to this growing Hispanic community, brought an expansion in the range of ministries and activities.  While serving in Venezuela where he became fluent in speaking Spanish, Fr. Dempsey had also been involved with music groups there. He brought with him a songbook he had assembled that included a couple hundred selections of Hispanic hymns, some of which are still used at Hispanic Masses and prayer meetings at St Dominic’s. While their Mexican heritage has its own repertoire of songs, many are similar to those in the ‘Fr. Denny Songbook’. He met with musicians and singers from our Hispanic community to review the songs in the booklet. Soon members of the Hispanic community began selecting and leading the music at Mass themselves with a more distinctive Hispanic style. Today we are blessed to have four groups providing lively music on Tuesdays, Sundays, prayer gatherings, and at special events.

As time has gone on, some members of the Hispanic community have also formed a Catholic Charismatic movement that involves prayer and praising he Lord. That group now meets every Friday evening at church, and frequently visits and prays with people in hospitals and in their homes. They have truly put their faith in action!  

Every weekend at St Dominic’s includes a well-attended Spanish Mass at 12:00PM. Our parish also offers a bilingual Mass at least once a month at 10:30AM which serves to bring our Anglo and Hispanic communities closer together. Some Hispanic families struggle financially, but nevertheless are generous with both their time and their financial giving. When it comes to food, every Hispanic celebration includes a banquet-like event with native foods like enchiladas, tostadas, tacos, and many other traditional foods which all parishioners enjoy. The ability of people in the Hispanic to make delicious food has led to the opening of several successful restaurants and food trucks that serve Mexican food. The Hispanic community also provides an important presence in local Farmers Markets and other annual local celebrations.  

Rosary / St Dominic’s School By Vicki Marvin 

With the passing of the years in a parish that first started in the 1870s, there was a growing sense  in the 1920s that the children of St. Dominic’s were being deprived of one of the most essential privileges of a Catholic youth, namely, education in a parochial school.  While catechism was taught by the pastor and his assistants, and classes of instruction in Christian doctrine conducted by zealous women of the parish, it was felt that something more was necessary as a foundation for Catholic life. This feeling culminated with action in 1925 when a site for the parish school was secured one block north of the church. There was a spacious dwelling already located on the grounds which, with some alterations, could serve as a convent for the sisters, and it was large enough to later accommodate a number of female boarders whose homes were 20-30 miles away. Boys would later board in a space located in the new school

Early Years

Ground was broken for the new school in 1926 under the guidance of Fr. Peter Meade, the then St Dominic’s pastor. The cornerstone was laid on August 8, 1926, by Fr. John Paul O’Donnell, former assistant pastor of the parish, who also spoke at the dedication.  The school was given the name Rosary School, and the dedication service was held by Archbishop Dowling on August 7, 1927.  Seven School Sisters of Notre Dame from Mankato were named both administrators and teachers. The school which opened on September 7, 1927, had an enrollment of 95 students. 

In addition to grades one through eight, the school also offered the first two years of high school. This practice continued until 1942 when freshmen and sophomores attended Northfield High School. In 1928, at the request of Bishop Dowling, a diocesan boarding school program was opened to accommodate boys of the diocese. Rosary accommodations for the boys was located on the top floor of the school. The following year, the boarding school was expanded to include local girls too. Rooms were provided for Rosary girls in the convent until the boarding school officially closed in 1947.

The 40s and early 50s were a time of recovery for our country, our state, and our city from post-war turmoil. The continued funding of the school required significant sacrifice, but parishioners, even those with no children in Rosary School held bake sales and fundraisers in support of Catholic education. As in so many previous difficult times, the power of prayer and community sacrifice proved be key factors for families across our nation and our city. St Dominic’s Church membership and Rosary School enrollment continued to increase. Fr. Leo Howley was the St Dominic’s pastor and spiritual leader through these difficult post-World War II times. Maintaining those facilities consumed most of St Dominic’s parish revenues. Other needed improvements were put off for the time being, but most parishioners were aware that a school expansion was essential. They also came to understand that the resident Notre Dame sisters had outgrown their convent. 

By 1959 the school enrollment totaled nearly 300 students, and rooms were beyond capacity. The pastor at that time, Fr. Robert Dillon, proposed an addition to the school which included more classrooms, a cafeteria, a gymnasium, and a school office. Consequently, an addition was joined to the original school building and dedicated on May 24, 1959.  To clarify its affiliation with St. Dominic’s Church, the school’s name was officially changed to St. Dominic’s School.

Maintenance of the St Dominic School is a shared responsibility of the church and school. A most significant recent example was the replacement of the roof.

The Later Years

Several changes have been implemented at St Dominic School through the years. In 1991, kindergarten was added to school classroom offerings. And in 2007, a Preschool program was introduced with multiple schedules offered for children ages 3-5. This program provides very early training for St Dominic area children as well as a form of assistance for the young working parents in our parish community.  In 2016 Pre-kindergarten classes were expanded to a full day and became available to children one year away from Kindergarten. The Preschool / Pre Kindergarten offerings also match up with State of Minnesota expanded education program implementation at most public schools.   

Today

Today, St Dominic School continues to offer the Northfield area a unique educational opportunity for our families. And beginning with the 2019-20 school year, St. Dominic School has re-instated a full-time program for 7th and 8th grade students. St Dominic School offers an alternate choice in education for families in the Northfield area, and we believe our students benefit from a strong faith-based education, along with strong academics. Together our students, our parents, and our teachers strive to be a family of friends and teachers who support the development of our Catholic community.

Full Document Here

Pastor History