Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church (original) (raw)

Church in North Dakota, United States of America

Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church
Map
46°48′9″N 96°49′3″W / 46.80250°N 96.81750°W / 46.80250; -96.81750
Location Fargo, North Dakota
Country United States of America
Language(s) English,
Denomination Roman Catholic
Website stsaaj.org
History
Status Open
Founded 1995
Founder(s) Monsignor Valentine G. Gross
Dedicated February 11, 2010.
Relics held Bone fragments of Sts. Anne and Joachim Bone fragment of St. Thomas AquinasBone fragment of St. Josephine BakhitaSt. Anthony of Padua Bone fragment of St. Gemma Galgani Bone fragment of St. Maria Goretti Bone fragment of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton[1]
Past bishop(s) James Stephen SullivanSamuel J. Aquila
Associated people James Stephen Sullivan Fr. Brian Bachmeier Fr. Paul Duchschere
Architecture
Functional status Open
Architect(s) Zerr Berg Architects
Style neo-Gothic
Years built 1995-2010
Completed 2010
Specifications
Capacity 1,200
Length 212ft
Width 120ft
Height 130ft
Number of floors 3
Number of towers 1
Number of spires 1
Spire height 130ft
Materials Steel, Concrete, Plaster, Brick
Bells 3
Administration
Province Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Archdiocese Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Diocese Roman Catholic Diocese of Fargo (since November 10, 1889)
Deanery Deanery 2: Fargo
Parish Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church in Fargo
Clergy
Archbishop Bernard Hebda
Bishop(s) John Folda
Vicar(s) Fr. Robert Foertsch
Dean Rev. Gerard Braun
Pastor(s) Fr. Luke Meyer
Deacon(s) Michael Dodge Pat Breen Ben Seitz
Laity
Treasurer Wade Sandy
Business manager Rob Asheim
Religious education coordinator Olivia Salonek
Youth ministry coordinator Susan Ripplinger
Music group(s) Patrick McGuire
Parish administrator Karla Schell

Sts. Anne and Joachim is a Roman Catholic church located in Fargo, North Dakota. Planning for the church began in 1995 and was completed in 2010. The rites of dedication were on February 11, 2010, by Samuel J. Aquila.[2][3] The church was named after Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, the parents of Mary, mother of Jesus.[4] Sts. Anne and Joachim parish was founded by Monsignor Valentine Gross after Bishop James Stephen Sullivan asked him to start a new parish in South Fargo.[5]

Sts. Anne and Joachim church was built in a two phase construction. Phase 1 included a gathering space and a social hall and was completed in 2001. Phase 2 included a permanent worship area, costing the church $9–10 Million.[5] In addition to the phase 2 primary worship area, the phase 2 structure is home to an adoration and daily chapels. The church houses numerous shrines and confessionals.

[6]

Ten Commandments shown in front of Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church.

In the marble altar at Sts. Anne and Joachim Church is a small area containing numerous bone fragments of saints behind grate-like doors. Each tiny fragment is housed in its own casing, with a window so that the object can be seen.[1]

Relic: bone fragments of Saint Anne and Joachim. The altar of the church houses what is believed to be bone fragments of the church's patron saints.

Relic: bone fragment of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Relic: bone fragment of St. Josephine Bakhita. This Sudanese saint is the patron saint of the Sudanese community that meets at the church.

Relic: St. Anthony of Padua. He is often invoked for help in finding lost articles, St. Anthony of Padua was canonized a year after his death in 1231.

Relic: bone fragment of St. Gemma Galgani. This Catholic mystic born in Italy in 1878 is said to have received the stigmata, or the wounds of Jesus, on her own body.

Relic: bone fragment of St. Maria Goretti. She is reputed to have been killed by a would-be rapist to whom she refused to submit. As she laid dying, tradition holds that she forgave her attacker.

Relic: bone fragment of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. She is the first native-born American to be canonized by the Catholic Church.

  1. ^ a b "Area churches connect to the past in relics". 17 July 2010.
  2. ^ "Dedication". Sts. Anne & Joachim Catholic Church.
  3. ^ "Catholic churches in North Dakota allowed to hold in-person Mass starting next week". The Dickinson Press. 30 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Saints Anne and Joachim | Tradition, Legends, & History". Encyclopedia Britannica.
  5. ^ a b "Parish dedicates church". INFORUM. 12 February 2010.
  6. ^ "Sts. Anne & Joachim Catholic Church".