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Onamia Crosiers
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In 1910 Fr. William van Dinter, with Fr. Yzermans, Br. Henry, and 84 Dutch immigrants arrived in Butler, Minnesota from Holland. The Master General of the Crosier Fathers had sent the two priests and one lay-brother to Minnesota to establish a monastery. The same year the D.S.B. Johnston Land Company invited Fr. van Dinter to come to Onamia. They offered several acres of land, provided that a monastery be built on the tract and promised a residence for the priests, to be ready on their arrival.
With the permission of Bishop James Trobec of St. Cloud, Fr. van Dinter and Br. Henry moved from Butler to Onamia on September 10, 1910. A month later Fr. van der Hulst, Fr. Keyzers, Br. John and Br. Lambert arrived from Belgium and Holland and joined Fr. van Dinter. There were many problems: the language barrier, the complications of resettling new immigrants, the sub-zero weather and the lack of money. But determination and the help of the people of Onamia would overcome the difficulties. The village schoolhouse had become too small, and was to be replaced by a two-story building. The new parish purchased the old schoolhouse for $65.00 and moved this first Catholic church in Onamia to the corner west of the priests’ house. Jim Gravel came from Little Falls to make an altar, confessional, communion railing, vestment cases and twelve small pews. On Dedication Day, in 1910, 48 people filled the little church to capacity. The first parishioners were the R. Albers, H. Boyers, Clarys, H. Goulets, C. Gravels, Kobleskis, H. Van Risseghams, A. van der Heydens, and Mrs. Petrin. A year later new arrivals increased the size of the parish: The H. De-Groods, Sheppers, D. Yzermans, P. Dobbelaires and J. Blomer.
And so began the Crosier legacy in Onamia, Minnesota. On November 13, 2009 the Crosier Community kicked off their Centennial Celebration with Mass at the Cathedrial in St. Cloud, Minnesota celebrated by Bishop John Kinney, followed by a reception at the St. Cloud Convention Center. The Crosier's year-long celebration will close on Sunday, November 7th 2010 at 3PM with a Jubilee Mass at St. Mary's Basilica in Phoenix, AZ. Immediately following the Mass will be a Jubilee Celebration at the Phoenix Convention Center. For more information on the Crosier Centennial, follow the link below.
