St. Joseph Hien's Church                 New address:

1800 Dupont Ave., North                                       2627 Queen Avenue N.

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55411                              Minneapolis, MN 55411

Phone (612) 522-4622 / 522-5006                         Phone: (612) 529-0503

Fax (612) 522-5006                                                Fax: (612) 529-5860

- Vietnamese Community founded 1976

- Vietnamese Personal Parish established 1987 covering Twin Cities metro area.

- Church built 1894 with addition 1920

- Seating capacity: 650

- Households: 3,000 registered parishioners living in 97 different zip codes.

- Location: just Southwest of the inersection of I94 and Broardway Ave. on Dupont Ave. (next to Accension Church)

By around 1880, a great number of people from Germany had made their homes in the North Minneapolis area. In those days, they were worshipping God in their own language and looking for a church. This came to attention of the Lutheran Mission Board of the Iowa Synod. They assigned missionaries to minister to the people, at first, in an old and small church. As the congregation grew up, the larger church building became critical. A lot was purchased at the corner of 18th Ave., and Dupont Ave., North for $2,100.00. Groundbreaking for the present Church took place on August 12, 1894 and the building was completed at the end of the same year with the total cost of $5,218.00. In the decade of 1920s on, St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church had the most successful period of its 99 year history. Fifty years later, the congregation voted to close St. Petri on September 14, 1986.

In 1975, another group of immigrants from the Asian countries came to the Twin Cities area: The Vietnamese Catholic people. They also worshipped the same God in their own language and formed themselves a Catholic Community. At first, they had to borrow the Church of St. Peter Clever then St. Vincent De Paul in St. Paul for their spiritual nurtering. Several Vietnamese priests were asked to be chaplains for the Community.

In 1987, Archbishop John R. Roach had decreed the cononical erection of a Vietnamese Parish to serve the pastoral needs of the Vietnamese Cmmunity of the Archdiocese (Decree on Oct.28,1987), and given permission to purchase St. Petri's Church with the cost of $180,000.00. The Church was renamed under one of 117 Vietnamese Martyr Saints' names: The Church of St. Joseph Hien. and entrusted to the Congregation of the Mother Co-redemptrix for its pastoral care.

The Church is a 3-story building including a hall (3rd floor), the church itself (2nd floor), and Cafeteria (basement). The Parish is now serving about 3,000 parishioners in mostly 700 registered families. It is an active Church with:

  - Five masses on weekend (10:45AM on Sunday for 450 students)

  - 24 CCD classes (Sunday School) and RCIA program.

  - Eucharistic Youth Movement (includes 30 Alter Servers)

  - Young adult Groups gathering for mass and conference once a month,

  - Seven Church Choirs taking turns in every masses

  - League of Sacred Heart of Christ

  - Christian Mother Confraternity,

  - Cursillo Movement,

  - Little Soul League

  - Parish Renewal Program

  - Legion of Mary

  - Movement of Reparation of Our Lady of Fatima

  - Marriage Preparation Program held twice a year

  - Computer Training Program held every Sunday

  - Other special events in a years included: Lunar New Year Celebration, Marian processions (in May and October), Christmas and Easter traditional Celebrations, Church Festival in July, Parish outdoor picnic...

  - Also Sponsoring a leper-camp in motherland Vietnam.

  (prepared for the Archdiocesan Year Book of Jubilee 2000)