IM St. Anna

One winter evening of 1887 in the home Paul Hennek, the settlers around the area of Pelican Lake got together to talk about a common need, the need to have a church of their own. Those that gathered were of Polish descent. There were churches at Maples(St. Wendel), Arban, Holdingford, and Avon, but they didn’t feel welcome there and the language spoken at these churches was either English or German neither of which they spoke or understood. Two things were decided that evening. The proposed location was on land donated by Paul Hennek and Bishop Rupert Seidenbusch in St. Cloud would be asked for permission to build and for his commitment to send them a priest. On March 25, 1887, 3 men went to St. Cloud to see the bishop. They obtained that permission and recorded the deed for the land. A small, wood framed church was built that summer. It was dedicated on September 21, 1887 by Bishop Seidenbusch. It was named Immaculate Conception probably because their new country was dedicated to Mary under this title. The first pastor was Father Chowaniec who came monthly for Mass and the sacraments. The parish consisted of approximately 40 families. On June 28, 1902, catastrophe struck the church at St. Anna. Fire broke out around 8 AM and within an hour all that was left of the church was ashes. Fr. Suszczuski was their pastor at the time. With the help of the trustees, he immediately began to raise money for a new church. The yellow brick church that now stands at St. Anna was completed the following winter. The solemn blessing was held on Oct. 14, 1903 by Bishop Trobec. The pastor and the people of St. Anna knew that they had the finest church in the area. This little Polish community had come of age.

In the first 100 years, there were 1214 baptisms, 350 marriages, and 373 burials. Today there are approximately 225 families that call Immaculate Conception Church their parish home. We would be very happy if you made it 226 families. You are invited to join our parish family.