History
History of the Church of St. Michael
The Catholic Church of St. Michael is located in Prior Lake, Minnesota, in the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis. Begun in 1908, the parish community has grown to just over 2600 families, while keeping at its core the mandate to provide for the pastoral needs of its members. The parish community has celebrated two important milestones in the last several years. In 2008, the Church of St. Michael celebrated its Centennial and St. Michael Catholic School celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009.
St. Michael has experienced many exciting changes over its 100+ year history. In the winter of 1908, a few hearty pioneers moved an abandoned church building from the proposed site of Spring Lake Township across the ice with three teams of horses to the site of the present St. Michael Catholic School. This small group of Prior Lake settlers did this in order to have a place of worship in their community. Over the years new facilities have been built to meet the changing and growing needs of a parish community.
The current worship space was built in 1986 and provides a place of gathering and prayer for approximately 1300 people. The Archangels Hall, a gathering space for many parish activities, was completed in 1996. The Holy Family Room addition, primarily for families with small children, seats approximately 200 people and was completed in September 2002.
The original school building was built in 1959. There were eight classrooms, a library, a principal’s office, and a work-store room. The unfinished basement was completed later and used for parish gatherings. In 1964, this school facility supported the needs of 284 students in grades 1-8. The gym/community center was added in 1978. The Kindergarten program started in 1982 and our Little Angels Preschool program opened its doors in the fall of 1997. The new addition to the Education Center opened in September 2001. Today, St. Michael Catholic School enrolls 561 students in Kindergarten through 8th Grade.
Currently 815 Kindergarten through 10th Grade students actively participate in the St. Michael Faith Formation programs, which include sacramental preparation for First Communion, First Reconciliation and Confirmation.
Today, the Church of St. Michael continues to grow. Many people are active in a variety of ministries offered here at St. Michael. Our parishioners are also involved in various forms of social outreach including a Sister Parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chimbote, Peru.
A more detailed history of the parish was put together by the Centennial Committee in 2008.
