Friends of St Rose, Inc.

THE FRIENDS OF ST. ROSE IS A 501 (C)(3) CORPORATION DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF ST. ROSE OF LIMA CHURCH IN CHERRY GROVE TOWNSHIP OF RURAL MINNESOTA.

St. Rose is a picturesque limestone church built in 1878 by Irish Immigrants who came to America with only their faith and their families in search of a better life. These pioneers chose Cherry Grove Township as the perfect location to settle and begin anew. St. Rose of Lima was built by these settlers skillful hands and stands as a testament to the priority of faith in their lives. Our goal is to collaborate with the Church, community, and historical groups, connecting all of us to our historic sacred past while honoring the Irish pioneers of St. Rose.

Mission Statement

To preserve and restore St. Rose of Lima as a center point for educating future generations of immigrant history by experiencing our pioneer past. St. Rose was built in 1878 by Irish Catholic immigrants who came to America in search of a better life. These immigrants eventually settled in Cherry Grove Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota. They built St. Rose of Lima using native limestone and trade skills from their homeland. St. Rose is emblematic of the pioneer experience and of an ethnic community coming to America and retains fundamental integrity to convey and express its significance as a wholly unaltered tangible piece of immigrant pioneer history.

Another Summer of Progress

Friday, 23 July 2010 23:51
Summer is in full bloom and so are the many rose bushes recently planted around the perimeter of St. Rose. Many people have graciously donated a wide variety of rose bushes enhancing the grounds that surround this limestone structure. The pink roses shown here are the only original roses remaining that continue to grace the Sacristy stairway on the south side of St. Rose. A complementary variety of colorful and fragrant roses planted by volunteers has only added to the beauty of the grounds.
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2010 Memorial Day Mass

Monday, May 31, 2010, at 11:30 am

The Friends of St. Rose invite you to celebrate Mass with us at St. Rose of Lima Church in Cherry Grove Township, Minnesota, on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, 2010.

Please join us as we remember our deceased ancestors and members of St. Rose and help us celebrate the future restoration and rebuilding of community.

In Stillness Waits

Friday, 02 April 2010 13:04

St. Rose has stood as a graceful symbol of our past amid a changing world for 132 years. After months of quiet anticipation, prisms of colored light illuminated every surface once again as all eight stained glass windows were returned to St. Rose completely restored.

Several restoration goals were achieved during 2009 thanks to the generosity of dozens of supporters and volunteer help. We shared these milestones and our future aspirations with a full church during our 7th Annual Candle Lighting Ceremony held on December 20, 2009. A beautiful winter wedding was held at St. Rose the day before the Candle Lighting and a picturesque wedding was celebrated on the first day of spring. An upcoming wedding is scheduled for this fall.

The response to the stained glass window restoration was overwhelming as multiple families and individuals became sponsors. The names of each of these sponsors and their specified memorials will be inscribed on a small plaque at each window. The marine plywood covers that had protected the stained glass windows for over forty years were replaced with new white storm window covers that are much easier for one person to remove and later re-install for events.