Merger with thriving Vietnamese church gives historic church new life

Published: 2005-07-19

MINNEAPOLIS (CNS) -- A north Minneapolis parish that has watched its population dwindle has merged with a nearby Vietnamese parish whose numbers have doubled in the past 18 years. The merger, which took effect July 1, will make use of the large facilities at St. Anne Parish while injecting the historic church with a new shot of vibrancy from the St. Joseph Hien community, parish leaders said. "We're looking forward to having children here again, and young people," said Anne Gibbs, a lifelong member of St. Anne. She said St. Anne now has about 130 members; meanwhile, St. Joseph Hien, the archdiocese's Vietnamese parish, has been bursting at the seams since it was established in 1987. The new parish will called the St. Anne-St. Joseph Hien Catholic Community, and members will meet at St. Anne Church.

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