St. Bridget of Sweden Catholic Church

On August 3, 1947, a group of Catholics from Chisago City, Lindstrom and Center City met to discuss the formation of a Catholic Church. The consensus of the meeting was that a Catholic Church should be built in Lindstrom.

With the help of Fr. John Garvey, the parish was incorporated on Sunday, February 22, 1948. Land near US Highway 8 was purchased that year with an extra strip of land being purchased shortly after in 1949 which gave St. Bridget’s highway frontage.

Ground was broken for the church building on Sunday, May 7, 1950. Excavation began in June. Footings and walls were built up to grade by July 15th. The shape of the building was modeled after the Convent of Saint Birgitta in Sweden, a contemporary Swedish style. The church building was completed that summer and dedicated on Sunday, October 29, 1950.

The parish which began with forty families in 1950, grew quickly to 225 families by 1965. The community of Lindstrom also grew rapidly and changed from a diversified farming and tourism area to a growing industrial and residential community. In 1982, the Building Planning Committee, Finance Council and Trustees evaluated the need for a new worship space.In the summer of 1984, construction started for a new, larger worship space which is the worship space we use today. St. Bridget’s currently serves over 1200 families.