St. Rose of Lima

Welcome to the Tri-Parish Community

St. Rose of Lima is part of a Tri-Parish Community alongside Sacred Heart in Freeport and Immaculate Conception in New Munich. The three parishes operate as a single faith community with one shared office, staff, and bulletin, while each parish retains its own Mass schedule and parish life. Since 2019 the Tri-Parish has also belonged to the One in Faith Area Catholic Community (ACC), which adds St. Mary of Melrose, St. Michael of Spring Hill, St. Andrew of Greenwald, and St. John the Baptist of Meire Grove as sister parishes formed at the direction of the Diocese of Saint Cloud.

Other Devotions and Prayer Support

Beyond the regular Mass and confession schedule, the Tri-Parish supports an active prayer life through the First Saturday Devotion Mass and a parish prayer line staffed by Kayla Harren. The Devotion Mass is celebrated at 8:00 AM at Sacred Heart in Freeport on the first Saturday of every month.

• First Saturday Devotion Mass — 8:00 AM, Sacred Heart, Freeport
• Prayer Line — Kayla Harren, (320) 333-8461

Parish Mission Statement

The parish community publicly commits to a clear mission: 'Our mission is to be God's witnesses in the world today by being His heart filled with compassion, voice offering hope and encouragement, and hands of integrity, outstretched in service to God and others.' In living this out, parishioners commit themselves to lifelong faith formation through study, prayer, and active participation in the Liturgy; devote themselves to strong family life; recognize the dignity of each person from conception to natural death; cherish their rural tradition and the sacredness of the earth; and foster community in the conviction that 'faith is a gift which is strengthened when it is given and shared with others.'

Ministries and Groups at St. Rose of Lima

Parish life at St. Rose of Lima is carried by a small but active set of ministries. Amy Wilwerding directs the Adult Choir, with phone support for musicians at 320-290-7729. Youth Ministry is coordinated by Kasia Van Beck (218-821-3269), the Christian Women Group is led by Lisa Herdering (320-836-2143), the Knights of Columbus council is led by Richard Sand (320-837-5257), and the Holy Name Society is led by Mark Wiechman (320-836-2918). A parish prayer line is staffed by Kayla Harren at (320) 333-8461.

• Adult Choir — Amy Wilwerding, 320-290-7729
• Youth Ministry — Kasia Van Beck, 218-821-3269
• Christian Women Group — Lisa Herdering, 320-836-2143
• Knights of Columbus — Richard Sand, 320-837-5257
• Holy Name Society — Mark Wiechman, 320-836-2918
• Prayer Line — Kayla Harren, 320-333-8461

Sacraments

All sacramental preparation for St. Rose of Lima is coordinated through the Tri-Parish Office.

• Baptism — contact the Tri-Parish Office to schedule preparation
• OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — contact the Tri-Parish Office
• Marriage — begin preparation 6–12 months in advance; Diocesan Marriage Preparation Classes required
• Anointing of the Sick — by request to the Tri-Parish Office
• Homebound Communion and Pastoral Visitation — by request to the Tri-Parish Office

Parish Staff and Leadership

St. Rose of Lima is staffed as part of the Tri-Parish Community. Father Daniel Walz serves as Pastor for Sacred Heart, Immaculate Conception, and St. Rose of Lima, with office number (320) 836-2143 and email [email protected]. Office staff includes Nicole Welle (Secretary), Kasia Van Beck (Faith Formation Coordinator), and Amy Hoeschen (Administrator). Music ministry for St. Rose of Lima is coordinated by Amy Wilwerding.

• Pastor — Father Daniel Walz, [email protected]
• Secretary — Nicole Welle, [email protected]
• Faith Formation Coordinator — Kasia Van Beck, [email protected]
• Administrator — Amy Hoeschen, [email protected]
• Music & Choir, St. Rose of Lima — Amy Wilwerding, (320) 290-7729

Funerals and Cemetery

The parish maintains a parish cemetery and a funeral brochure to help families plan Catholic funerals through St. Rose of Lima. Funeral Masses are celebrated at the parish church (28905 County Road 17, St. Rosa), with arrangements coordinated through the Tri-Parish Office.

• Parish cemetery on site
• Funeral brochure available from the Tri-Parish Office

Giving and Electronic Funds

Parishioners can support St. Rose of Lima electronically by downloading the Tri-Parish Electronic Funds form, completing it, and dropping it off or mailing it to the Tri-Parish office at 106 3rd Ave NE, PO Box 155, Freeport, MN 56331.

• Electronic Funds form available on the parish website
• Mailing address: PO Box 155, Freeport, MN 56331-0155

Accessibility and Facilities

The Parish of St. Rose of Lima is handicapped accessible with a gathering space, making the small rural church welcoming to all parishioners and visitors — including those joining from surrounding Stearns County farming communities.

One in Faith Area Catholic Community

St. Rose of Lima is part of the One in Faith Area Catholic Community, formed in 2019 when the Diocese of Saint Cloud clustered surrounding parishes. The One in Faith ACC also includes the parishes of St. Mary (Melrose), St. Michael (Spring Hill), St. Andrew (Greenwald), and St. John the Baptist (Meire Grove), giving St. Rose of Lima shared sacramental programming, joint bulletin, and a wider network of Catholic life in central Minnesota.

• St. Mary, Melrose
• Sacred Heart, Freeport
• Immaculate Conception, New Munich
• St. Rose of Lima, St. Rosa
• St. Michael, Spring Hill
• St. Andrew, Greenwald
• St. John the Baptist, Meire Grove

Visiting and Contact

The Tri-Parish Office is located at 106 3rd Avenue NE, Freeport, MN 56331, with a mailing address of PO Box 155, Freeport, MN 56331-0155. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The parish can be reached by phone at (320) 836-2143 or by email at [email protected].

• Tri-Parish Office Phone — (320) 836-2143
• Email — [email protected]
• Mailing Address — PO Box 155, Freeport, MN 56331-0155
• Office Hours — Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–3:00 PM; Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM

Patron — Saint Rose of Lima

The parish is named for Saint Rose of Lima (Isabel Flores de Oliva, 1586–1617), a Spanish-born Dominican tertiary who lived in colonial Peru and became the first person born in the Americas to be canonized (1671). She is the patron saint of Peru, the Americas, and the Philippines, and her feast day is celebrated on August 23.

• Born 1586 in Lima, Peru (then part of the Viceroyalty of Peru)
• Lay member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic
• First canonized saint of the Americas (1671)
• Patron of Peru, the Americas, and the Philippines
• Feast Day — August 23

Jubilee Book and Parish Memorabilia

St. Rose of Lima has published a Jubilee Book that parishioners and visitors can order to learn more about the parish's history, families, and Catholic life in St. Rosa.

• St. Rose of Lima Jubilee Book — order available through the parish office