| Pastors of Holy Rosary (1978-1995)1978-1979 M.J. Walsh, O.P.
1979-1986 B.J. McMullen, O.P.
1986-1987 Peter Hereley, O.P.
1987-1994 Paul Wierenga, O.P. | | | | 1975-present The Native Americans | | Although few of the Native Americans attended Sunday Mass at Holy Rosary (about one hundred), thousands utilized the services the parish had to offer such as the school and the renting of the parish hall. The Archdiocesan Director of Indian Affairs, Deacon John Spears (photo at left), himself a Lakota, had his office in the priory of Holy Rosary during these years. John was in the first class of deacons ordained in the Archdiocese. Teachers and students at Holy Rosary School admired the Native Americans' resolve to uphold their cultural beliefs and tribal traditions which were sacred to them. Parents of some Holy Rosary students, however, resented what they interpreted as preferential treatment given to Indian students. One group of parents even attempted to oust principal, Sr. Robert Mary, over the issue.
Although at times conflict occured when parish groups made mistakes in dealing with the "Little Earth" residents, both groups understood that they could coexist for the benefit of the neighborhood. During the spring, thousands of visitors from Minneapolis converged on the streets and parks around "Little Earth" and Holy Rosary for Pow-wows. By the 1980's, however, the crowds began to diminish when people started going to the pow wows near the casinos and St. Thomas University. 
| | | | 1975-present The Hmong | | Persons of Vietnamese, Cambodian, Hmong, and Lao origin began settling in Holy Rosary parish neighborhood in sizable numbers as refugees in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. The Hmong are a spiritual people, located in the mountainous regions of Southern China, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Due to the war torn region, many of the Catholic Hmong were without priests, and when they arrived in Minneapolis couples were able to validate their marriages. Many of the Hmong also received catechetical and sacramental help from Deacon Vang Thai Lo and Fr. Daniel Taillez of the Archdiocese. | | | | 1980 The Canonization of Kateri Tekawitha | | Holy Rosary's Kateri Tekawitha Legion of Mary was a vital part of life at Little Earth. Its members paid regular calls on the sick and shutins in the Native American community. Holy Rosary celebrated a special Tekawitha service every year. In 1980, the Mohawk girl was beatified by John Paul II who declared her to be among the blessed in heaven. The Church celebrates her feast day on July 14. Below you can pray the Hail Mary in her own language:
| | | | 1982-present Loaves and Fishes Program | | In 1982, due to the efforts of Jerry McMullen, O.P., Holy Rosary became the second host site of Loaves and Fishes in Minneapolis. The organization provides nutritious meals to the hungry in an atmosphere of hospitality at locations where the need is greatest. Volunteers from thirty-eight churches prepare and serve meals at Holy Rosary to people in the Phillips Neighborhood. In 1992 alone, the program at Holy Rosary served 90,794 meals. | | | | 1984 Ecumenical Thanksgiving Services | | In the early 1980s, Holy Rosary Catholic Church joined NCAT (Neighborhood Churches Acting Together), an ecumenical group of inner-city churches of the Phillips Neighborhood. The major works of this group were housing, economic development of the neighborhood and worship. One of the first worship experiences was a Thanksgiving service together. The first service was held at Holy Rosary on the Wednesday, November 28, 1984. Fr. Bob Keller, O.P. was one of the leaders of worship. The service was not only ecumenical, but also culturally diverse incorporating Native American style of worship. | | | | 1985 Neighborhood Way of the Cross | | Fr. Bob Keller, O.P. spearheaded a neighborhood way of the cross each Good Friday, beginning in 1985, having the NCAT group walk the streets of the Phillips Neighborhood and meditated on the suffering of Jesus as it was manifesting itself in the contemporary suffering of people. In 1989, the group stopped at the railroad overpass on Bloomington Ave. where convicted serial killer Billy Glaze murdered one of his victims. Another stop included Welna's Hardware, a symbol of a business that has remained in the neighborhood. Of special significance was the new home of the Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater, a symbol of hope, on Lake Street because it occupied a former adult movie theatre. | | | | 198? Homeless Shelter in School Basement | | Jerry McMullen, O.P. started a homeless shelter with Holy Trinity parish in the school basement. Volunteers from both churches staffed the program. Realizing that the county did not have its own shelter, thirteen churches in the Phillips Neighborhood closed their shelters on the same day in the spring forcing the county to open a center in an old downtown hotel. | | | | 1984-1986 Improvements to the Church | | In the years from 1984 to 1986, extensive improvements were made to the church including a new roof, a newly painted interior, installation of carpet, and the installation of a new sound system. The church's river kettle sandstone, which had lost its brilliance after years of being exposed to railroad soot earlier in the century, was chemically washed. Although some parishioners opposed the project on grounds that "the Church has always been dark," most parishioners applauded the clean-up and were surprised to see the brown-orange sandstone appear from the coal black stone blocks. | | | | 1986 Picture Album and Directory Published | | In 1987, the parish published its first Picture Album and Directory. 282 persons/families participated in the project. It provided parishioners with a souvenir of photos and a directory of addresses and telephone numbers of every registered member of the parish. | | | | 1989 Partnership Established with Bridging, Inc. | | Sr. Martha Wiegand, O.P. began a Partnership with Bridging, Inc. in 1989 which provides the economically disadvantaged in transition with quality furniture and household items free of charge. Serving about 350 families per year, Holy Rosary processes applications and makes home visits to each family. Since the program's inception, 4,000 families have been helped. | | | | 1993 The Closing of the School | | With only 116 students, the parish school closed in 1993, a casualty of shifting demographics. With four other Catholic schools in south Minneapolis, it merged into a new Risen Christ School at the Church of the Incarnation and Holy Name Church. |  |  |
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The consolidation created a K-8 school better equipped to serve the diverse South Minneapolis community. The Holy Rosary building was sold to the Minneapolis Community Development Center, converted into a truancy and curfew detention center and later closed, before being purchased by the Minneapolis Public School System. | | | | | | 1990s Phillips Neighborhood Dubbed "Baby Beruit" | | In the 1990's, the neighborhood was dubbed "Baby Beruit" by some residents because of its open air drug market, 24-hour gun fire, youth gangs and prostitution. Houses and garages have burned to the ground, the target of arsonists. Children younger than 10 can be seen running the streets until midnight and spending the night sleeping on porches. Caught in a devastating infestation of crime and abandonment, the residents face many challenges.
| | Holy Rosary/Santo Rosario Catholic Church
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