A Catholic Tour of Southern Minnesota

By ELIZABETH WILLIAMS

Grace in the Landscape, Light in the Parishes

Over the summer, I’ve had the privilege of traveling across southern Minnesota - visiting parish communities, listening to local leaders, and witnessing firsthand the vibrant faith that animates our corner of the world. What began as a tour in my role as executive director of the Catholic Foundation has evolved into a pilgrimage - one marked by hospitality, beauty, and the quiet power of renewal.

Each stop has offered something sacred. When I spoke with Anna Therneau, director of lifelong faith formation at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona, I was struck by her genuine passion and the way parishioners have rallied around their full family faith formation program. A case study - really! When one more thing is hard to add to a growing to-do list for young families, Anna helps offer respite in a family setting for faith formation where dinner is served, lessons are shared together and day care provided for the littlests when needed. Their commitment is a reminder that evangelization isn’t just a lofty goal - it’s a living reality when rooted in relationship and sustained by faith.

At St. Mary's University, during a diocesan-wide gathering of Ministry Days, I joined a mid-week Mass. The chapel was simple and beautiful; the silence was thick with meaning. Local leaders of all ages and walks of life sat in the rows ahead of me. Vicar General Father Will Thompson encouraged us that today was a day to pour into all of those who pour into so many others throughout the rest of the year. It reminded me of something Pope Francis once said: “The Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect but a medicine for the weak.” How humbling it is to see ordinary holiness unfold in quiet corners.

And then there’s the land. Southern Minnesota offers a contemplative landscape that speaks to God's artistry - a rolling canvas of fields, lakes, and sky. Driving between parishes, I’ve found myself captivated by it all. The golden light near dusk in St. Peter, the perfect bright blue sky with wisps of white over the rolling hills as I made my way through St. Charles, Houston and especially the drive along the Mississippi river. Each moment was an invitation to praise. It’s no wonder so many rural parishes have built outdoor grottos and prayer walks. (Check out St. Johns of Johnsburg.) Nature here isn’t just scenery - it’s sanctuary.

One of the most moving encounters came in St. Felix's of Wabasha, where I've met several times with a group of elders who have quietly sustained their parish for decades. Through stewardship, prayer, and mentorship, they care about a culture of intergenerational belonging. Their stories, from back when there used to be functioning lights in the church shrines to the restoration of their century-old stained glass, embody what it means to be faithful stewards of both legacy and mission.

In conversations with pastors, volunteers, and lay leaders, I’ve seen a common theme emerge: people want to build something that lasts - not for their own glory, but for God’s. Whether it's a new catechetical initiative, a capital campaign, or a modest endowment, there's a spirit of intentionality at work. This is why the mission of the Catholic Foundation is so vital: to support your communities as they dream boldly and plan wisely.

More than once, I’ve left a parish with an unplanned free meal, a hug or a story of faith and passion. These small gestures carry great weight. They speak to the warmth of Catholic hospitality and the depth of shared mission. Our work isn’t transactional - it’s transformational, because it’s built on trust.

As I look ahead to the rest of this tour, I do so with renewed hope. Our parishes are not simply surviving - they are cultivating fertile ground. The seeds being planted today will bear fruit for generations to come.

And for those of us entrusted with the care of these communities - from development staff to pastors to donors - may we continue to walk humbly, dream generously, and steward faithfully.

Southern Minnesota, you’ve shown me what quiet excellence looks like. The road ahead is bright. Enjoy a sampling of some of the photographs. I only wish I could capture God's beauty as well as the eyes do.

Elizabeth Williams is the executive director of the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota.