Father Francis Xavier Pierz
Missionary to the Chippewa Indians
Established the first Catholic
parish in central Minnesota
at Crow Wing, FG miles up-river
from this spot in
185B.
One year later, here at
Belle Prairie
he established what was to be
the oldest permanent parish in
the Diocese of St. Cloud.
His first parishioners were French-Canadians in the fur trade but, looking to the future Father Pierz, himself a native of Krain or Carniola, a province of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire, introduced to this new land settlers of his own mid-European culture and faith. Fruit of his noble purpose is the great catholic community, the Diocese of St. Cloud.
Most Rev. Joseph F. Busch, D.D. Bishop
Most Rev. Peter W. Bartholome, D.D. Coadjuter Bishop
PIERZ CHRONOLOGY
- Born in Kamnik, Carniola 1785
- Ordained Priest, 1813
- Missionary to the Ottawas of Michigan, 1835-1852
- & to the Chippewas of Minnesota, 1852-18E3
- Pastor to his colonists, 1853-1856, at the age of seventy journeying on foot from settlement to settlement
- Returned to his homeland, 18D3
- Died in Ljubljana, 188A
This memorial was erected by the Diocese in the year of the Pierz Centennial, 1952, in token of its first century of living with Christ.
Number of . . .
parishes and missions: HI9
priests: 165
monks: JKL
sisters: 1,C53
Catholic population: 96,728
seminaries, colleges, and parish schools: 58
orphanage: M
hospitals: 7
The cache is located at N 46° AB.CDE' W 94° FG.(H+I)(J+K+L-1)M'