History |
Our parish was founded on the principles of St. Francis: love and service to God and neighbor. The Church of Saint Bonaventure began through the order of Archbishop William O. Brady, who asked the Conventual Franciscan Friars (OFM Conv.) to organize a new parish on 16 acres of land owned by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Franciscans said yes and our parish was founded on October 21, 1958.
The Franciscan Friars have a deep affection for the parish of Saint Bonaventure as they provided leadership and ministry for 63 years. We celebrated and said, "Farewell to the Friars" June 2021. Today our community actively lives out our mission to Love God - Love Others - Make Disciples. Our parish is now served by the Sons of the Immaculate Conception (CFIC). |
Rebuild My Church
We know The Church is more than a building and the people of God make up the Body of Christ on earth. Our rich history illustrates how our church and our community have grown and changed along with us. Here are a few highlights:
We know The Church is more than a building and the people of God make up the Body of Christ on earth. Our rich history illustrates how our church and our community have grown and changed along with us. Here are a few highlights:
- First Sunday Mass - February 8, 1959
- Mass was celebrated by 1,200 parishioners at Cedarcrest Elementary. On Sunday, June 19, 1960 Sunday Mass was held for the first time on the Saint Bonaventure grounds in the Social Hall.
- Groundbreaking for the Social Hall - November 23, 1959
- Groundbreaking for the Church - July 14, 1966
- Marian Shrine - May 4, 1988
- Adoration Chapel - November 26, 2000
- Respect Life Monument - October 5, 2003
- Gathering Space and Youth Room - March 14, 2014
- First Garage Sale - May 1960
- First Fall Festival - September 19, 1970
- First Craft Boutique - December 1979
- First Fish Dinner - March 6, 1992
- Saint Bonaventure Scholarship - June 2004
- Cherub Memorial Garden - July 15, 2009
- Feast of Saint Bonaventure Picnic - July 15, 2009
- Bus Ministry - June 30, 2013
Pastors of Saint Bonaventure
We are grateful for the pastors who have served our parish. Each of them sharing their light, nurturing us as individuals, and cultivating our church family. We are grateful and celebrate all they have been for us and brought to us!
1958-1970, † Father Ambrose Finnegan, OFM, Conv.
“I remember that the Archbishop said to Father Ambrose, ‘Here’s your land, now you build your church.’ So it was up to him to do it from there on.”
– Virginia Scattarelli (Scottie) (2008 Founder/Pioneer Discussion)
1970-1973, † Father Ernest Waechter, OFM, Conv.
“Father Ernie was responsible for starting the Fall Festival. He said it didn’t make any difference if the Fall Festival made any money. It was to build community. And that’s what it did: it built community and continues to build community in our parish.”
– Angie Singer (Celebrating 50 Years in God’s Service)
1973-1976, † Father Quintin Helline, OFM, Conv.
“YOU ARE THE CHURCH. You are the Body of Christ it is only through you that others will see the beauty of God and His love for all peoples. With one another I urge an openness—a willingness to share—listen.”
– Father Quintin (February 8, 1976)
1976-1982, † Father Howard Hansen, OFM, Conv.
“A priest’s purpose, I believe, is to try his best to assist God’s people (and himself) to become one, to love one another, to care for one another, to care for one another, to trust one another. This too is the purpose of the parish. Anything else that is going on for a different reason or motive is junk—because Jesus said so. Together we have struggled to realize our own beauty and the beauty of others. And we have made progress. I pray that all of us, even though apart, will continue to make progress in this, the only direction that really matters.”
– Father Howard (August 8, 1982)
1982-1991, † Father Edmund Goldbach, OFM, Conv.
“I am here to serve your spiritual needs first of all, I see myself as a unifier to help the parish community run as smoothly as possible.”
– Father Ed (Celebrating 50 Years in God’s Service)
1991-1997, † Father Regis Schlagheck, OFM, Conv.
“When Fr. Ambrose Finnegan first set foot on the property I’m sure that he and all the members of this new family wondered what God had in store for them. I’m sure they all had varied hopes and dreams. What they might have lacked in financial resources to make those dreams happen they made up for by working together. And our new family prospered and grew in the grace and love of God.”
– Father Regis (1994 Directory)
1997-2010, Father Bernie Zajdel, OFM, Conv.
“We are responsible for our brothers and sisters in this parish family. We are to discover the gift of each person who comes to our church. We cannot ignore one another or keep to ourselves. We have to reach out a hand of welcome to everyone.“
– Father Bernie (1998 Membership Directory)
2010-2019, Father Richard Kaley, OFM, Conv.
“The outside face of our church has changed, and so has the inside space. There is more of both. This is the result of the vision and sacrifice of the members of the parish, building on the past and moving into the future.”
– Father Richard (2015 Family Directory)
2019 - 2020, Friar Bryan Hajovsky, OFM, Conv.
“Saint Bonaventure Catholic Community is a place where the Christian Faithful palpably make manifest the presence of Christ. We are a community who takes great care of our worship, our fellowship, and our grounds! Our parish community is alive and is a sure sign of the Kingdom of God because we gather to love God, love others and make disciples.”
– Friar Bryan (2019 Annual Report)
2021 - present, Fr. James Chitteth, CFIC
We are grateful for the pastors who have served our parish. Each of them sharing their light, nurturing us as individuals, and cultivating our church family. We are grateful and celebrate all they have been for us and brought to us!
1958-1970, † Father Ambrose Finnegan, OFM, Conv.
“I remember that the Archbishop said to Father Ambrose, ‘Here’s your land, now you build your church.’ So it was up to him to do it from there on.”
– Virginia Scattarelli (Scottie) (2008 Founder/Pioneer Discussion)
1970-1973, † Father Ernest Waechter, OFM, Conv.
“Father Ernie was responsible for starting the Fall Festival. He said it didn’t make any difference if the Fall Festival made any money. It was to build community. And that’s what it did: it built community and continues to build community in our parish.”
– Angie Singer (Celebrating 50 Years in God’s Service)
1973-1976, † Father Quintin Helline, OFM, Conv.
“YOU ARE THE CHURCH. You are the Body of Christ it is only through you that others will see the beauty of God and His love for all peoples. With one another I urge an openness—a willingness to share—listen.”
– Father Quintin (February 8, 1976)
1976-1982, † Father Howard Hansen, OFM, Conv.
“A priest’s purpose, I believe, is to try his best to assist God’s people (and himself) to become one, to love one another, to care for one another, to care for one another, to trust one another. This too is the purpose of the parish. Anything else that is going on for a different reason or motive is junk—because Jesus said so. Together we have struggled to realize our own beauty and the beauty of others. And we have made progress. I pray that all of us, even though apart, will continue to make progress in this, the only direction that really matters.”
– Father Howard (August 8, 1982)
1982-1991, † Father Edmund Goldbach, OFM, Conv.
“I am here to serve your spiritual needs first of all, I see myself as a unifier to help the parish community run as smoothly as possible.”
– Father Ed (Celebrating 50 Years in God’s Service)
1991-1997, † Father Regis Schlagheck, OFM, Conv.
“When Fr. Ambrose Finnegan first set foot on the property I’m sure that he and all the members of this new family wondered what God had in store for them. I’m sure they all had varied hopes and dreams. What they might have lacked in financial resources to make those dreams happen they made up for by working together. And our new family prospered and grew in the grace and love of God.”
– Father Regis (1994 Directory)
1997-2010, Father Bernie Zajdel, OFM, Conv.
“We are responsible for our brothers and sisters in this parish family. We are to discover the gift of each person who comes to our church. We cannot ignore one another or keep to ourselves. We have to reach out a hand of welcome to everyone.“
– Father Bernie (1998 Membership Directory)
2010-2019, Father Richard Kaley, OFM, Conv.
“The outside face of our church has changed, and so has the inside space. There is more of both. This is the result of the vision and sacrifice of the members of the parish, building on the past and moving into the future.”
– Father Richard (2015 Family Directory)
2019 - 2020, Friar Bryan Hajovsky, OFM, Conv.
“Saint Bonaventure Catholic Community is a place where the Christian Faithful palpably make manifest the presence of Christ. We are a community who takes great care of our worship, our fellowship, and our grounds! Our parish community is alive and is a sure sign of the Kingdom of God because we gather to love God, love others and make disciples.”
– Friar Bryan (2019 Annual Report)
2021 - present, Fr. James Chitteth, CFIC
Saint Bonaventure Catholic Community
901 East 90th Street Bloomington, MN 55420-3801 Phone: 952-854-4733 Email: [email protected] |