Still flying for now. The Diocese flag waves at the diocesan offices just off Main Street and next to the historic Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
Once a bustling church enclave, now less so
WINONA, Minn. – The massive Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, built of locally quarried Biesanz stone in 1952, remains among the last reminders of a once-sprawling sprawling Catholic enclave along Main Street. The next-door Cotter parochial school has relocated to the West End campus of the former College of St. Teresa. Now the diocesan offices, also next door, also in matching Biesanz stone, are being relocated to Rochester. The bishop’s quarters are less and less used with diocese’s locus shifting to Rochester. Since 2007 the cathedral has been part of St. Casimir Parrish, whose offices are 16 blocks away. Now dominant in the Main Street neighborhood is the Winona State University’s McCown athletic complex and campus parking lots.
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. 360 Main Street.
What next?
The Winona-Rochester Diocese has yet to announce plans for the current diocesan offices in Winona. Might the building be put up for sale? As tax-exempt church property, there is no assessed valuation in public records. How a buyer could repurpose the building is an unknown. Thirty-seven people work in the building, some being clergy, some laypeople. With their jobs shifting to Rochester, staff members may need to weigh moving. Bishop Robert Barron says those discussions will be going on in coming weeks.