About Father Francis Xavier Pierz

In 1835, Fr. Pierz joined the missions of the United States after being inspired by Father Frederic Baraga.  Fr. Pierz arrived in the Diocese of Detroit on September 16 and was assigned to the Ottawa in what is now Little Traverse Bay Reservation in Michigan.

He was very successful at making converts with the Ottawa Chief known as Sharp Knife.  In the summer of 1836, Fr. Pierz was transferred to Sault Ste. Marie.  He also sailed to to other missions around Lake Superior serving Catholics among the Ottawa and Ojibwa.

In the summer of 1838, Fr. Pierz was persuaded to re-establish the mission Grand Portage, MN .  There he preached and taught in the Ojibwa language.  In October of 1839, Fr. Pierz was ordered to move back to Michigan and take over the missions at Harbor Springs(now Traverse Bay Bands of Ottawa Indians).

In the Spring of 1852, was recruited for the Diocese of St. Paul.  He was assigned to the whole of Minnesota Territory north of the Twin Cities and established his headquarters in the village of Crow Wing.  He traveled on foot between his mission, carrying everything that was necessary  for saying Mass.

In an effort to recruit farmers, Fr. Pierz letters in German-American newspapers describing Minnesota's climate, soil and large tracts of fee land for homesteaders.  In May of 1855, the first wave of German, Luxembourger and Slovene settlers began arriving and staking out claims throughout modern day Morrison, Benton and Stearns counties.

In 1871, Fr. Pierz retired to the parish of Rich Prairie, Morrison County which was eventually renamed Pierz in his honor.  In September of 1873, Fr. Pierz returned to Solvenia to live out his last years.  He died on January 22, 1880. 

Fr. Pierz continues to be fondly remembered in both his native land and central Minnesota.  He remains a popular figure in Minnesota folklore and stories are passed down among both the Ojibwa and White ethnic Catholics of the area.