St. Joseph Catholic Church at 405 East Thorpe Ave., Ada, MN 56510-1699 US - St. Joseph Catholic Church

St. Joseph Parish Mission Statement

We, St. Josepn Catholic Church of Ada as part of the Diocese of Crookston are a community of believers who seek a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father and with one another. Through our weekly worship together we are called to help the aged, to teach the children, youth and adults on how the Good News can change our lives; to recognize the needs of the poor and suffering among us; and to strengthen family values in our society. The Spirit of the Risen Christ leads us.

Our History

Catholic settlers first started arriving in the Ada, Borup and Town of Mary area in the late 1870's. Priests from St. John's Abbey in Collegeville came by horse and buggy and later by rail. At first services in Ada were held in homes and in the early 1800's, in the Court Houe Hall by Fr. Augustine, OSB. St. Joseph's in Ada became a mission of the Georgetown church in 1894.

A petition was found in it's original condition (now framed) that was circulated in the village of Ada by the Roman Catholic Church Society dated January 23, 1895 for funds to erect a new Catholic church in Ada. The new Catholic church became a reality that year when Patrick Dullard deede property at the intersection of Main Street West and Thorpe Avenue to trustees of the Catholic church. He was also the contractor. The church was dedicated on June 2, 1985 by Fr. Philip Murphy, OSB of Crookston.

Years later at the request of the bishop the building was sold to Zion Lutheran Church who enlarged it and put it on a basement. The building still stands to date. The first priest was Fr. D.G. Dorval who was here a short time. He was succeeded by Fr. Fidelis Lucking, OSB.

After the sale of the church the congregation met in the Woodman Hall (which was located above one of the downtown buildings). Bishop Corbett, of the newly organized Diocese of Crookston attended Mass on Sunday. After his visit he instructed a new church be built.

The congregation purchased lots in block 28 1st additon to Ada which included a rectory at 13 3rd Street East and work on the church basement was started. It was later abandoned and in June 1914 the entire block 28 was purchased for $1000. Fr. Pelger arrived in 1917. Plans to erect a new church were made. It was completed in December 1917. The church ws minus a bell tower and bell the first few years. Fr. Pelger finished that project before he left in 1922.

Fr. Merill guided the parish until 1925. He had the church stuccoed and improved. Fr. Dufault served in 1925. Fr. Vincent Miller was appointed pastor in April 1926. He served faithfully for 40 years.

The first Mass in english was said by Fr. Vincent Miller November 29, 1964. The brick rectory was built under his supervision for around $3000 in 1927. Fr. Miller had Felton and Twin Valley under his supervision. Over the years Fr. George Clemens, Fr. Timothy Noah, Fr. Donald Archer and Fr. Edwrd Nistler were under Fr. Miller's supervision. In 1955 St. William's church of Twin Valley was founded with pastoral care provided through St. Joseph's.

Fr. A.M. Seitz was assigned to Ada on May 13, 1965 after the death of Fr. Miller. Although he was expected to erect a new church, it was deemed impossible. So the first years were spent in improving the rectory.

It was a time of decision making. Many wanted to improve the old church. The old church held many memories with its beautiful artistic painted sanctuary, gothic altar, side altars, many beautiful staues, stained glass windows depicting our faith surrounding the entire church, uniqued stations of the cross and the marble communion rail. All were given in memory of loved ones which made it hard form many to abandon the old structure.

Under the guidance of Fr. Seitz, our new beautiful church was started in 1971 in the same site as the old church. The cornerstone for the new church was laid on Saturday eving October 14, 1972, before Mass with Bishop Kennth J. Povish and Fr. Seitz officiating. The new church was completed in 1973. The first service was held on Ash Wednesday. It was dedicated and blessed on Memorila Day May 28, 1973 by Bishop Povish. An open house and scripture service at whick all the clergy of Ada participated wa held the previous Sunday, May 27.

The church was built for under $300,000. It has a main altar, tabernacle stand, ambo and baptismal font all made from Carnelian Granite mined specifically for its thickness in the quarries at Cold Spring, MN near St. Cloud. The wood for the cross that hangs in the sanctuary was cut from an oak tree taken from along the Wild Rice River. Fr. Seitz wanted the wood left rough cut and weathered. Jim Wagner, Sr. cut the pieces and laid them out to dry. Jim and Joe Chmelar turned the pieces periodically for about three months. Under normal circumstances the pieces of wood would have twisted and warped beyond use but by some miracle they remained straight. The Corpus of Christ was bought from Italy. Fr. Seitz while in Italy, watched the Corpus being carved. The cross was put together and hung in place above the altar by Ed Miller, Viril Hennen and Fr. Seitz.

The first organ was obtained from Red Lake Falls, rewired and a wooden cabinet built around it by Fr. Seitz and other men of the parish. The bell tower was built by Robert Nirschl, donated by the Knights of Columbus and erected in the spring o f1974. The bell is the original bell from the old St. Joseph's church which was sent away to be electified.

The statue of St. Joseph the Worker, stands 6'2" high outside the church. It was carved from Istrian Stone in Italy wit a chisel finish. It was put in it's present location in 1975.

After Fr. Seitz was transferred to Moorhead in 1976, Fr. Ringwelski and Fr. Duane Pribula served temporarily until Fr. Archer was assigned in 1977. Fr. Seitz was reassigned to St. Joseph's in 1979 and served until July of 1986. During this time the rectory kitchen and basement were remodeled. The basement was used as classrooms for religious ed. Holy Family church was formed in Halstad in 1984 with many of St. Joseph's members living near Halstad as founding fathers. Fr. Eugene Wesley was assigned to Ada as of July 1, 1986 and served until July 1990. 

Fr. Don Braukmann was assigned to Ada July 1, 1990. He served the parishes of St. Joseph's, Holy Family, Halstad and St. John the Baptist, Georgetown. In 1991 the church of St. Lawrence in Felton closed and many of its members joined St. Joseph's. In 1992 Sr. Patrice Eblen was hired to help with liturgy and music. Many improvements have been made over the years at St. Joseph's. A new organ was purchased, a new sound system, improved lighting, and air conditioning.

Fr. Don served the parishes until 1996. Fr. Joe Richards was assigned to replace him. He left the parish at the end of 1996. Sr. Patrice was assigned as Pastoral administrator to St. Joseph, St. William's, Twin Valley and Holy Family Halstad. Fr.David Baumgartner and Msgr. Roger Grundhaus served the parishes for Sunday mass, sacraments and funerals.

In 1997 the basement of the rectory was damaged during the April flood. Many parishioners homes were also damaged along with the school and hosptial. This was a very challenging time for the parish trying to reach to the people of the parish and to still maintain the parish financially. St. Odilia's in Shoreview, Mn adopted the parish and gave a very generous donation, along with other support. The basement was no longer able to be used.

On July 1, 1998 Fr. David Baumgartner was assigned to serve the 3 parishes. Sr. Patrice Eblen was assigned to Holy Rosary in Detroit Lakes. One of the big things that needed to be looked at during this time was how to improve the building to make it more welcoming along with more classroom space. It was decided not to redo the basement but to look at improving the church building and possibly adding on. An architect was hired to draw up a plan. In 2001 the first phase of a building project was completed that included improvements to the social hall, the addition of a new kitchen and classroom and the old kitchen being renovated into a classroom.

In 2005 Fr. David was assigned to go to Canon Law school in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. On October 1, 2005 Fr. Thomas Friedl was assigned to the 3 parishes. He served until 2008. On July 1, 2008 Fr. Joseph DeCrans was assigned until the present time.