Beloved Pastor Fr. Ralph Zimmerman of Sacred Heart Parish in Sauk Rapids, has officially orated his final sermon and is currently striding towards retirement.

Fr. Ralph was  a popular priest at Our Lady of the Lake Church a few years before it changed over to Mary of the Visitation in Becker and Big Lake. He was respected, revered and treasured in his tenure at OLL and his retirement from shepherding leaves many of his sheep grateful.

Zimmerman served Big Lake from 1999 to 2005 following a 10-year stint at Immaculate Conception in Becker. Coincidentally, in 2008, both parishes Zimmerman shepherded merged to become one, now called Mary of the Visitation.

Fr. Gene Doyle succeeded Fr. Ralph at OLL and he, too is also celebrating retirement this summer.

“It has been an honor and a blessing to walk with you, the People of God of Sacred Heart, Sauk Rapids on the journey of faith,” said Fr. Ralph in the church’s June bulletin.

“Our footsteps together have taken us through six liturgical years, and most recently in the COVID-19 pandemic. I never imagined that this was the way I was to conclude active ministry, but we have coped well.”

Fr. Ralph G. Zimmerman grew up in St. Cloud at St. Anthony Parish and is a “lifer” in Catholic schools: St. Anthony’s Grade School, Crosier Seminary Prep High School and Junior College in Onamia (1964-1970), and St. John’s School of Theology and Seminary in Collegeville (1970-1976).

He was ordained June 5, 1976, and has served the following parishes: St. Joseph in Waite Park, Immaculate Conception in Becker, St. Mary in Melrose; Our Lady of the Lake in Big Lake, the twinned parishes of Immaculate Conception in Osakis and St. Nicholas in Belle River, the parish cluster of Christ the King in Browerville, St. Joseph in Clarissa and St. Joseph in Bertha; the cluster of St. Wendelin in Luxemburg, Holy Cross in Pearl Lake and Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Rockville; and six years at Sacred Heart, Sauk Rapids.

“I was inspired to become a priest by the parish priests at St. Anthony’s when I was in grade school and by my family who supported me. Grandma’s prayers were also a great help,” said Zimmerman.

“Thanks especially to parish staff — present and past with whom I have had the privileged to serve. They are God’s team and pour their hearts out in ministry.”

Congratulations Fr. Ralph!