Immaculate Conception-- 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.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

organizations

Trustees:

Rick Pogatschnik                                  746-2887

Joyce Hess                                            845-4393

Pastoral Council:

Doug Eli                                                 845-2913

Finance Committee:

Lee Larkey                                            356-7402

Cemetery Committee:

LaDonna Reisdorf                                356-7272

Funeral Committee:

Bonnie Woitalla                                    746-2453

Parish Bazaar

Dave & Terri Yurczyk                           746-2341

Parish Life:

Sharon Pogatschnik                            746-2887

Christian Mothers:

Bernadette Larkey                               356-7402

Faith Formation Coordinator:                    

Bob and Pam Braun                            356-9046

Music Director:

Marie St. Marie                                     845-4825

Russ Wolter                                          356-2429

Sacristan:

Mona Zeis                                             356-2293

Environment:

Shari Streit                                            845-2019

Shirley Burg                                          746-2302

Eucharistic Ministers/Lectors:                    

Kathy Scegura                                      746-2814

Ushers:

Martin Pilarski                                       356-7548

Eucharist/Home-bound:

Shirley Schwalbe                                  356-7209

Prayer line:

Shirley Schwalbe                                  356-7209

Pat Kolodjeski                                       356-9237