St. Aloysius | Elba, Minnesota

St. Aloysius Cemetery | Elba, Minnesota

Cemetery Trustees are:
Don Dvorak | Buster Heim | Don Schleck | Cathy Schleck

In 2013, meetings began to be held in various locations around the Diocese regarding the implementation of Vision 2016 - which eventually resulted in the closing of St. Aloysius Parish. All meetings from the beginning (through the merger) were public and anyone could attend.
On September 24, 2017 - St. Aloysius rang their Sunday Bell for the last time and the last Sunday Mass was celebrated.

On October 20, 2021 - all registered households of St. Aloysius were sent a letter through the USPS regarding the Civil and Canonical merger of St. Aloysius into St. Charles Borromeo. St. Charles Borromeo would now own and be entirely responsible for the former St. Aloysius Church building. This information was also printed in all area church bulletins including Redeemer Saints. Full disclosure was made public. No USPS letters were returned undeliverable.

Not wanting the building to fall in disrepair - and with mounting expenses on a monthly basis (all being paid for by St. Charles Borromeo), St. Charles Borromeo received Canonical permission to sell the former St. Aloysius Church (as of June 6, 2023) and not tear it down. The Church is being sold to a former parish Family.

Regardless, 2023 Canonical requirements for a sale of a former Church building include removal of Bell, Statues, Altars and Stained Glass Windows from the building. (See nearby St. Anthony in Altura as a most recent example). 

The Bell and Statue are in storage and will be eventually restored and repurposed in our beautiful St. Aloysius Cemetery. Thank you for your patience with this process. You will again, hear the bell toil - missing it on a regular basis since 2017 - when the bell rang for the last Sunday Mass. 

All NET proceeds from the sale of the former St. Aloysius Church will be gifted to the St. Aloysius Cemetery.

The Elba Facebook Group (where much dis-information has been shared) was established in 2021 (the last Sunday Mass had already been held in 2017). The decision of the Canonical Merger and Civil Merger (resulting in the loss of St. Aloysius for the people of Elba) occurred BEFORE Fr. Tim even arrived to our community. His job was to help us heal. That is why he wanted to still have weddings and funerals - to get to know us (people of Elba). The ability of having weddings and funerals is not a requirement. He is most grateful for those moments of healing (funerals) and joy (weddings).

Bottom line - from the very beginning - all St. Aloysius members were invited to have a seat at the table beginning in 2013 as this process (as difficult as it has been) unfolded. Full disclosure was always shared. There was never any intention to conceal or hide anything.
Is this painful?  Absolutely. It was painful in 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021 and now 2023.  May JESUS heal our wounds as we continue to seek him in the Eucharist.  Come, Holy Spirit. 

Abbreviated history of the former St. Aloysius Church
(Note, article was written in 2014). 
Article may be found HERE