St. Clotilde Church, Green Valley
History of the Church of St. Clotilde:
On October 31, 1912, the parish of St. Clotilde in Green Valley was incorporated as a new parish of the Archdiocese of St. Paul. Archbishop Ireland appropriately chose the name of "St. Clotilde" as the titular saint for the new parish because St. Clotilde was responsible for the French being Catholic today and the original 29 families of the new parish were predominantly French. They were without a place to say Mass until April 29, 1913 when the members of the Church of St. Clotilde purchased the First Presbyterian Church and some of its contents. The church was too small and before the first Mass was offered in their church, the Catholics set about enlarging it by cutting off the back end of the church and making it longer. The first Mass was said in Green Valley in the fall of 1913 by Monsignor Joseph Guillot. Subsequent Masses were said by the priests of Holy Redeemer in Marshall until October, 1914 when Fr. George W. Vander Velden was assigned the first pastor of St. Clotilde. In 1916, Fr. Schaefer succeeded Fr. Vander Velden as pastor, and that same year, Fr. Schaefer built the rectory, much of it by his own labor. In 1919, Fr. Schaefer purchased four acres of land for the present location of St. Clotilde's Cemetery.
In March, 1928, a hall was built and used for parish functions. After abandoning and selling the former church in 1946, the hall was used as the church for nearly 10 years. Construction of a new church was begun on the former church site on April 13, 1955. On Palm Sunday, 1956, members of the parish, bearing palms, made a procession from the church of the last 10 years to the new Church of St. Clotilde.
A number of Catholic families living near Cottonwood also desired a church nearer to their homes. A church was incorporated in 1902 but it was impossible to start a parish there at that time. In December of 1952, St. Clotilde's gave Cottonwood, at Archbishop Murray's direction, 47 families as a nucleus for St. Mary's Church in Cottonwood.
Priests ordained from St. Clotilde Parish include Fr. Vincent Louwagie (1968), Fr. Dennis Labat (1974), and Fr. Craig Timmerman (2005). Sisters who took their vows are Sr. Marie Donota (1921), former Margaret Caron, Sr. Isidore (1933), former Irma Louwagie, Sr. Marie Severine (1945), former Adeline Caron, and Sr. Marian Louwagie (1975).
The St. Clotilde parish has been involved with the Radio Rosary for many years.
In April of 1988, St. Clotilde's of Green Valley and St. Mary's of Cottonwood were clustered under the Diocesan Plan for Parishes. In October of that year, a public auction was held to sell off the parish house and its contents. The priest would be living in Cottonwood. Later St. Clotilde's and St. Mary's were clustered with Holy Redeemer to become "The Bread of Life" parish community.
On October 31, 1912, the parish of St. Clotilde in Green Valley was incorporated as a new parish of the Archdiocese of St. Paul. Archbishop Ireland appropriately chose the name of "St. Clotilde" as the titular saint for the new parish because St. Clotilde was responsible for the French being Catholic today and the original 29 families of the new parish were predominantly French. They were without a place to say Mass until April 29, 1913 when the members of the Church of St. Clotilde purchased the First Presbyterian Church and some of its contents. The church was too small and before the first Mass was offered in their church, the Catholics set about enlarging it by cutting off the back end of the church and making it longer. The first Mass was said in Green Valley in the fall of 1913 by Monsignor Joseph Guillot. Subsequent Masses were said by the priests of Holy Redeemer in Marshall until October, 1914 when Fr. George W. Vander Velden was assigned the first pastor of St. Clotilde. In 1916, Fr. Schaefer succeeded Fr. Vander Velden as pastor, and that same year, Fr. Schaefer built the rectory, much of it by his own labor. In 1919, Fr. Schaefer purchased four acres of land for the present location of St. Clotilde's Cemetery.
In March, 1928, a hall was built and used for parish functions. After abandoning and selling the former church in 1946, the hall was used as the church for nearly 10 years. Construction of a new church was begun on the former church site on April 13, 1955. On Palm Sunday, 1956, members of the parish, bearing palms, made a procession from the church of the last 10 years to the new Church of St. Clotilde.
A number of Catholic families living near Cottonwood also desired a church nearer to their homes. A church was incorporated in 1902 but it was impossible to start a parish there at that time. In December of 1952, St. Clotilde's gave Cottonwood, at Archbishop Murray's direction, 47 families as a nucleus for St. Mary's Church in Cottonwood.
Priests ordained from St. Clotilde Parish include Fr. Vincent Louwagie (1968), Fr. Dennis Labat (1974), and Fr. Craig Timmerman (2005). Sisters who took their vows are Sr. Marie Donota (1921), former Margaret Caron, Sr. Isidore (1933), former Irma Louwagie, Sr. Marie Severine (1945), former Adeline Caron, and Sr. Marian Louwagie (1975).
The St. Clotilde parish has been involved with the Radio Rosary for many years.
In April of 1988, St. Clotilde's of Green Valley and St. Mary's of Cottonwood were clustered under the Diocesan Plan for Parishes. In October of that year, a public auction was held to sell off the parish house and its contents. The priest would be living in Cottonwood. Later St. Clotilde's and St. Mary's were clustered with Holy Redeemer to become "The Bread of Life" parish community.
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In November, 2012, St. Clotilde parishioners celebrated the church's 100th Anniversary. A catered dinner was served and a program was presented.
St. Clotilde had an active Council of Catholic Women, the men's Holy Name Society, a funeral committee, and youth Faith Formation programs and activities. The last Parish Mass was celebrated on Sunday, June 2nd, 2020 by Fr. Matthew Wiering. |
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Who was St. Clotilde?
St. Clotilde was a queen, the wife of King Clovis of the Franks, who brought the French people as a nation into the Catholic Church in 496, when he was baptized at Rheims by Saint Remigius. Her husband, King Clovis, died in 511. Saint Clotilde was left a widow for 34 years. She lived the rest of her life as much a nun as she was a queen. She endured great sufferings for the Catholic Faith. Her favorite patron saint in Heaven was Saint Martin of Tours. She died not far from his tomb, at the age of 71.
She is the patron saint of Les Andelys, Normandy. In 511, the Queen founded a convent for young girls of the nobility there, which was destroyed by the Normans in 911. In its place was erected Our Lady's Collegiate Church, which contains a statue of Saint Clotilde. |
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Holy Redeemer Catholic Church
503 West Lyon Marshall, MN 56258 507-532-5711 Weekend Service Times Saturday Vigil: 5:00pm Sunday: 8:00am, 10:00am Full Schedule including other locations |
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