About Diocese of Winona-Rochester
The Diocese of Winona-Rochester (Latin: Dioecesis Vinonaënsis-Roffensis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church covering the 20 southernmost counties of Minnesota, approximately 12,282 square miles bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Dakotas to the west. Erected by Pope Leo XIII on November 26, 1889, it is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Its mother church is the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona, with the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Rochester. With around 88–107 parishes (depending on the count), four Catholic high schools, an elementary system serving infants through grade 12, and Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, the diocese is currently led by its ninth bishop, Robert E. Barron, the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, who was installed in 2022.
- Bishop
- Robert E. Barron
- Established
- 1889
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 360 Main Street, Winona, Minnesota
- Territory
- The 20 southernmost counties of Minnesota: Blue Earth, Cottonwood, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Jackson, Martin, Mower, Murray, Nobles, Olmsted, Pipestone, Rock, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Watonwan, and Winona — approximately 12,282 square miles bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Dakotas to the west.
- Parishes
- 88–107 parishes (diocese reports 88–107 depending on source/year; Wikipedia lists 98 parishes as of 2023).
- Province
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis (Ecclesiastical Province of Saint Paul and Minneapolis; Metropolitan Archbishop Bernard Hebda)
Overview & Identity
The Diocese of Winona-Rochester is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church serving the 20 southernmost counties of Minnesota. Its motto and pastoral frame is 'Centered in the Eucharist. Parish-Focused. Making Disciples Across Southern Minnesota.' It is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and its patron is the Blessed Virgin Mary. The mother church of the diocese is the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona, with the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Rochester.
- Established November 26, 1889 by Pope Leo XIII
- Approximately 12,282 square miles; 20 counties of southern Minnesota
- Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Winona) and Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist (Rochester)
- Patron: Blessed Virgin Mary
- Suffragan of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
History of the Diocese
Catholic life in southern Minnesota dates to 1840, when Father Lucien Galtier celebrated Mass at Wabasha. The territory successively belonged to the Diocese of St. Louis (1826–1837), the Diocese of Dubuque (1837–1850), and the Diocese of St. Paul (1850–1875). Pope Leo XIII erected the Diocese of Winona on November 26, 1889. Through the tenures of nine bishops — Cotter, Heffron, Kelly, Binz (coadjutor), Fitzgerald, Watters, Vlazny, Harrington, Quinn, and now Barron — the diocese grew from 38,000 Catholics to more than 136,000, weathered two world wars, the Second Vatican Council and its post-conciliar upheaval, the 2018 renaming to Winona-Rochester, and a major 2018 Chapter 11 bankruptcy settlement over clergy sexual abuse.
- First Mass in region: Father Lucien Galtier at Wabasha, 1840
- Cathedral of the Sacred Heart consecrated October 25, 1952 by Bishop Fitzgerald
- Renamed Diocese of Winona-Rochester on January 23, 2018
- Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed December 2018; $21.5 million settlement February 2021
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Winona)
The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 360 Main Street in Winona, is the mother church and the home of the diocesan bishop's cathedra. The Gothic Revival limestone church was built after Bishop Edward Fitzgerald merged St. Thomas (est. 1857, English-speaking) and St. Joseph (est. 1862, German-speaking) parishes, with Vatican approval on June 15, 1950; Bishop Fitzgerald consecrated the altar and celebrated the first Mass on October 25, 1952. The 200-foot-long nave seats roughly 1,000, and the main altar is a 12-ton slab of Botticino marble inscribed 'Ego Sum Panis Vitae.' Vatican II renovations (1979–1982) reconfigured the sanctuary and installed a new pipe organ; a major renovation under Bishop Harrington (2005–2007) added an adoration chapel and gathering space, rededicated June 5, 2007.
- Daily Mass: 7:00 AM Friday, 8:00 AM Saturday, 12:10 PM Tuesday & Wednesday at the Cathedral
- Sunday Masses: 8:00 AM (Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka), 8:30 AM (St. Mary's), 10:00 AM (Cathedral), 10:00 AM (Basilica), 10:30 AM (St. Mary's)
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM Basilica, 4:30 PM St. Mary's, 5:00 PM Cathedral
- Confessions: 8:30–9:30 AM Saturday at Cathedral, 3:15–3:45 PM Saturday at Basilica, 3:30–4:00 PM Saturday at St. Mary's
- Website: cathedralwinona.org
Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist (Rochester)
The first Catholic parish in Rochester, St. John the Evangelist, was established in 1863, then a small wooden church on the future site of the Mayo Civic Center. By a decree of the Congregation for Bishops dated January 23, 2018, the parish was raised to the rank of co-cathedral when the diocese was renamed, making Rochester a co-equal seat with Winona. Bishop Robert Barron chose the Co-Cathedral for his installation Mass on July 29, 2022, underscoring Rochester's growing demographic and institutional importance in the diocese.
- Original parish founded 1863 as Rochester's first Catholic parish
- Elevated to co-cathedral status January 23, 2018
- Site of Bishop Barron's episcopal installation, July 29, 2022
Bishop Robert E. Barron — Ninth Bishop of Winona-Rochester
Robert Emmet Patrick Barron (born November 19, 1959) was appointed the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester by Pope Francis on June 2, 2022, and installed July 29, 2022 at the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. A theologian, author, and one of the most-followed Catholics in the world, he is the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries (founded 2000) and the creator/host of the PBS documentary series 'Catholicism' and its follow-up 'Catholicism: The Pivotal Players.' Before coming to Winona-Rochester he served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (ordained bishop September 8, 2015) and as rector of Mundelein Seminary (2012–2015). His daily email reflections reach more than 500,000 subscribers and his YouTube videos have surpassed 187 million views.
- Installed at Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Rochester, July 29, 2022
- Founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries (est. 2000)
- Host of the PBS 'Catholicism' documentary series
- #1 Amazon bestselling author ('This Is My Body')
- Over 3 million Facebook fans, 1.57 million YouTube subscribers
Bishops of the Diocese in Succession
Ten bishops (counting coadjutor Leo Binz) have led the diocese since 1889. The succession reads like a snapshot of American Catholic history: from frontier builder Joseph Cotter to immigrant-era Patrick Heffron (assassination attempt survivor), the Depression-era Francis Kelly, Vatican II bishop Edward Fitzgerald, postconciliar pastor Loras Watters, John Vlazny (later Archbishop of Portland), Bernard Harrington, John Quinn (bankruptcy-era bishop), and the present Robert Barron. The diocese has never been elevated to an archdiocese and remains a suffragan of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
- Joseph B. Cotter (1889–1909) — first bishop, son of a pioneer Irish family
- Patrick R. Heffron (1910–1927) — opened Cotter, founded St. Mary's College
- Francis M. Kelly (1928–1949) with coadjutor Leo Binz (1942–1949)
- Edward A. Fitzgerald (1949–1969) — built the 1952 cathedral, attended Vatican II
- Loras J. Watters (1969–1986) — wrote 'The Church in the Diocese of Winona'
- John G. Vlazny (1987–1997) — later Archbishop of Portland
- Bernard J. Harrington (1999–2009) — oversaw 2007 cathedral renovation
- John M. Quinn (2009–2022) — led diocese through renaming and bankruptcy
- Robert E. Barron (2022–present) — ninth bishop
Catholic Schools
Catholic education is a defining ministry of the diocese. The four diocesan high schools are Cotter (Winona), Lourdes (Rochester), Loyola Catholic (Mankato), and Pacelli (Austin), supplemented by an extensive elementary and preschool system. Cotter Schools, founded 1911 and named for first Bishop Cotter, offers programs from age 16 months through grade 12, with boarding for grades 7–12 on the former College of Saint Teresa campus. Lourdes High School in Rochester, which partnered with Pacelli in the recent past, fields the Ramblers' perennial rivalry with Cotter. St. Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona, an independent Catholic university, also traces its founding to Bishop Heffron's 1912 St. Mary's College.
- Cotter High School / Cotter Schools (Winona) — founded 1911
- Lourdes High School (Rochester)
- Loyola Catholic School (Mankato)
- Pacelli High School (Austin)
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary (Winona) — pre-theology house
Vocations, Seminarians, and Religious Life
The diocese fosters vocations through its Office of Vocations and the diocese-hosted Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, which serves as a pre-theology house of discernment for men considering the priesthood. Religious communities — including the Sisters of Saint Francis who helped found Mayo Clinic — continue to staff schools, hospitals, and parishes across the diocese. As of recent diocesan reports there are 154 sisters, 14 brothers, 2 consecrated virgins, and 35 permanent deacons serving the diocese alongside 106 priests.
- Office of Vocations, Director Father Brian Mulligan
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Winona
- 154 sisters, 14 brothers, 2 consecrated virgins, 35 deacons, 106 priests
Eucharistic Revival & Diocesan Consecration
The diocese's pastoral banner — 'Centered in the Eucharist' — animates a multi-year Eucharistic Revival initiative. Bishop Barron continues that focus in step with the U.S. bishops' national Eucharistic Revival. The diocese is consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and on the annual anniversary of her feast Bishop John Quinn led the faithful in renewing the consecration of the diocese. Local Eucharistic adoration is offered at parishes across the diocese, including a Spanish-language Holy Hour at St. Francis of Assisi in Rochester on the first Thursday of each month and family Eucharistic adoration on first Saturdays.
- Diocesan slogan: 'Centered in the Eucharist. Parish-Focused. Making Disciples Across Southern Minnesota.'
- Diocesan patron: Blessed Virgin Mary
- Spanish Holy Hour at St. Francis of Assisi, Rochester (first Thursday)
- First-Saturday Family Eucharistic Adoration at St. Francis of Assisi
Diocesan Offices & Ministries
The chancery in Rochester coordinates more than twenty offices that support parishes and the faithful: Catholic Cemeteries, Catholic Foundation, Catholic Schools, Chancellor and Archives, Communications, Diaconate, Divine Worship, Finance, Hispanic Ministries, Human Resources, Lay Formation, Life, Marriage & Family, Lifelong Faith Formation, Media Center, Religious Immigration, Safe Environment, Social Justice, The Courier (diocesan newspaper), Tribunal, Vocations, and Youth and Young Adults.
- Catholic Cemeteries
- Catholic Schools
- Catholic Foundation
- Hispanic Ministries
- Lifelong Faith Formation
- Safe Environment
- Tribunal (marriage, canonical processes)
- Vocations / Diaconate / Youth and Young Adults
- The Courier (diocesan newspaper)
Parishes & Mass Times
Between 88 and 107 parishes and missions serve the diocese's twenty counties, organized around population centers including Rochester, Mankato, Winona, Austin, Albert Lea, Faribault, Owatonna, Marshall, Worthington, and Red Wing. Sample Mass and confession schedules include: St. Francis of Assisi in Rochester offers Sunday Mass at 8 AM, 10 AM, and 12 PM (Spanish), daily Mass at 7 AM Monday–Friday, Wednesday evening Spanish Mass at 7 PM, confession on Saturday 3:30–4:15 PM, and Sunday 11:30–11:45 AM. The Cathedral cluster in Winona offers Mass every day and Saturday confessions. Use the diocesan Find-a-Parish directory to locate the nearest parish, Mass, confession, or adoration time when traveling or relocating.
- Cathedral cluster (Winona): daily Mass, Saturday confessions 8:30–9:30 AM, Vigil 5:00 PM
- St. Francis of Assisi (Rochester): Sun 8, 10, 12 (Spanish); daily 7 AM; Sat confession 3:30 PM
- Resurrection, St. Pius X, Pax Christi (Rochester); basilicas in Winona (St. Stanislaus Kostka) and others
- Find-a-Parish directory and Mass times at dowr.org
Contact & Locations
The diocesan chancery is headquartered at 2907 Jeremiah Lane NW, Rochester, MN 55901, phone 507-516-6945, email [email protected]. Chancery hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Relocation of the chancery from Winona to Rochester was announced by Bishop Barron in November 2022, and a new pastoral center was built at the Jeremiah Lane address.
- Chancery: 2907 Jeremiah Lane NW, Rochester, MN 55901
- Phone: 507-516-6945
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Official website: dowr.org
