Morrison County Polish Catholic Churches/Cemeteries
The Morrison County Catholic Churches are in the Diocese of St.Cloud.
The following Central MN Catholic Churches were built by Victor Cordella, a famous Polish architect:
- St. Edwards in Elmdale
- Our Lady of Lourdes in Little Falls
- Holy Cross in North Prairie
- St. Stanislaus in Perham
Morrison County Polish Burials
The table below shows the place of origin in Poland for individuals listed in Find-A-Grave in Polish-related cemeteries in Morrison County (when the place of origin is documented).
It does not indicate how many Poles were buried in the specific cemeteries, but it provides a sense of which groups of Poles settled in Morrison County towns (mainly from Silesia, Poznań and Kashubia (Pomorskie). It also indicates a few other ethnic groups who Immigrated to the same communities.
Many entries only list the place of origin as “Poland” or “Polish-speaking German.”
Also, many others buried in the cemeteries have the same Polish names as immigrants but are later generations who were born in Morrison County (or elsewhere in the U.S.).
| Morrison County Town/Village | Cemetery | Total # Burials in the entire cemetery (all ethnic groups) | Where Poles buried in the cemetery originated from in Poland (when listed) |
| Bowlus | St. Stanislaus | 847 | Lots of Silesia Some Poznań and Pomorskie some Slovakia |
| Elmsdale | St. Edwards | 436 | Silesia (Newer cemetery) 2nd generation |
| Flensburg | Sacred Heart (old) | 160 | Poznan, Pomorskie, Slovakia |
| Flensburg | Sacred Heart (new) | 548 | Poznan, Pomorskie, Slovakia, a few Silesia |
| Little Falls | Our Lady of Lourdes | 1404 | Lots of Pomorskie, Poznan, Silesia, a few Austrian |
| LIttle Falls | St. Adelbert | 492 | Even mix of Silesia, Poznan, Pomorskie |
| Morrill | St. Joseph | 456 | Poznan (some thru McLeod Co) some Silesia some Czech, German |
| North Prairie | Holy Cross | 540 | Silesia, Pomorskie, Czech |
| Pierz | Holy Cross | 529 | Pomorskie, Poznań, German |
| Platt | Holy Cross | 23 | A few Pomorskie |
| Royalton | Holy Trinity | 1098 | Lot of Silesia, some Poznan, Some German, Slovakia |
| Sobieski | St. Stanislaus | 1165 | Lots of Pomorskie some Poznan, Silesia |
Morrill
St. Joseph Church (originally St. Hedwig)
33009 Nature Road
Foley, MN 56329
320-355-2585
St. Joseph Cemetery
33173 County Road 26
Morrill, MN
Royalton
Holy Trinity Church
216 2nd St. North
Royalton, MN 56373
320-584-5484
Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery
2-98 North 5th St.
Royalton, MN 56373
Royalton Abandoned Cemetery
There is an old cemetery which is believed to have been part of the early Holy Trinity Church in Royalton. The Morrison County Historical Society may have more information on this cemetery.
Platte/Harding
The original Holy Cross Church was in Platte, Minnesota, was built in 1904 and burned down in 1917. The church was then moved to Harding, MN, which is 2.5 miles away from Platte.
Holy Cross Church (Current Church)
29482 243rd St.
Harding, MN 56364
320-468-2111
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery- Platte
This small cemetery has not been used since the 1920s and is said to be hard to find. It is currently maintained by Holy Cross Church in Harding.
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery – Pierz/Harding
29482 243rd St.
Pierz, Minnesota 56364
North Prairie
Holy Cross Church (founded in 1872)
The original parishioners were German, but the church transitioned to being primarily Polish (mainly Silesians).
14891 Gable Road
North Prairie, MN
320-584-5484
Holy Cross Cemetery
Intersection of County Road 21 and Gable Road
North Prairie, MN
Sobieski
St. Stanislaus Church (original church was built in 1882)
9406 Church Circle
Sobieski, MN 56345
320-632-6930
The original church building was wooden and dedicated in 1882. It was destroyed by fire in 1896, and a new church was constructed that same year.
St Stanislaus Parish Centennial Book
1884-1984
Provides an extensive history of the parish – available at the Morrison County Historical Society as well as at the Hoffman Research Library in Mendota Heights. You can also call the Parish Office to get a copy: 320-632-6930.
St. Stanislaus Cemetery
Cable Road (across the street from the church)
Sobieski, MN 56345
320-630-4245
Little Falls
Our Lady of Lourdes (established in 1917 by Poles)
208 West Broadway
Little Falls, MN 56345
320-632-8243
This parish served the Poles on the west side of town, where more of the working class Poles lived. The basement of the church was dug by Polish immigrants using picks, shovels, horses and scrappers. The foundation was made of native granite quarried in St. Cloud. Services were held in the old Antlers Hotel building until the church was completed in 1923.
Our Lady of Lourdes parish school was established by the Benedictine Sisters and was located in the Antler Hotel building until it was torn down in 1952.
Book about Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
The History of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
by John D. Lauer
Can be ordered through the church website.
Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery
Highway 27 West
Little Falls, MN 56345
320-632-8243
St. Adelbert Church (established in 1901)
307 7th St. Southeast
Little Falls, MN 56345
- Poles broke away from Holy Redeemer of Sacred Heart Church that they shared with Germans to form their own parish in 1901 on the east side of town.
- Saint Adelbert’s Church was extensively damaged by fire in 1953.
- The parish merged with St. Mary’s Church in 1970.
- St. Adelbert’s church building was sold and demolished in 1976.
St. Adelbert Cemetery
Airport Road
Little Falls, MN 56345
Bowlus
St. Stanislaus Kostka Church (dedicated in 1910)
428 Main Street
Bowlus, MN 56314
320-584-7442
- The Soo Railroad donated one block of land to the church.
- Originally assigned as a mission church to Holy Cross in North Prairie.
St. Stanislaus Kostka Cemetery
40th St. and 120th Avenue
Bowlus, MN 56314
Flensburg
Sacred Heart Church
18 Pine Street
Flensburg, MN 56328
320-632-5846
This church has a traditional Latin Mass.
Centennial Book
Sacred Heart Centennial Book
Flensburg, MN (1902-2002)
by Lynette Gessell
Sacred Heart Cemetery
Flensburg, MN
The Current Parish Cemetery of Sacred Heart Church is located south of the church on the south end of town.
Sacred Heart Old Cemetery
Flensburg, MN
- This is the old Parish Cemetery of Sacred Heart Church
- Earliest burial was 1896 – Prior to then, likely buried in Sobieski cemetery (St. Stanisalaus)
- Located east of the church (behind the church)
- Many years ago, the hard soil became too difficult to dig, so the Parish established a new cemetery
- The FInd-A-Grave link has a detailed description about the history of the cemetery (under “About”)
Elmdale
St. Edward’s Catholic Church (established in 1877)
8550 MN-238
Elmdale, MN 56314
320-573-2975
St. Edward’s Cemetery
8550 MN-238
Elmdale, MN 56314
The cemetery is located behind the church.