St. Boniface Parish to dedicate new Heritage Center honoring generations of faith and community

WESTPHALIA – St. Boniface Parish in Westphalia will celebrate the dedication of its newly constructed Heritage Center on Sunday, November 30, following 10:00 a.m. Mass. A meal and a blessing by the Bishop will mark this special occasion, honoring the parish’s long legacy of faith, tradition, and community leadership.
The new Heritage Center, connected to the St. Boniface Parish Hall, serves as a permanent home for the parish and community’s shared history. Among the centerpiece displays are the original front doors of the church, the refinished staircase preserved from the former rectory, and the historic cross that once stood atop the church steeple. These pieces stand as symbols of the resilience and devotion of Westphalia’s founding families and those who followed in their footsteps.
The project was made possible through the skilled work and dedication of parish members Ron Rosmann, Jay Schechinger, Frank Rueschenberg, Bruce Goeser, and Ed Goetzinger, whose countless volunteer hours brought the vision to life.  Several other men and women of the parish have assisted in the project as well. “It’s been a community effort of many volunteers to make this special space and planning for the dedication possible,” said one of female volunteers.
The Heritage Center features a comprehensive listing of every priest who has served St. Boniface, along with photos and years of service. There is also a listing wrapping around the room notating ever sister who served St. Boniface, as well as listing the women from St. Boniface who entered the sisterhood. It also recognizes the remarkable number of vocations that grew from the parish itself:
100 women from St. Boniface entered the sisterhood.
20 from the parish were ordained to the priesthood.
This strong legacy of religious vocations reflects the parish’s deep cultural and spiritual foundation.
Faith and community leadership at St. Boniface shaped far-reaching economic and social efforts. Under Fr. Bernard Duren, the parish launched the Complete Life Program, promoting the five pillars of rural community life: Religion, Recreation, Education, Commerce, and Credit.
The model gained national and international recognition, influencing cooperative programs across the globe. From this movement grew the Town & Country Credit Union (now Community 1st Credit Union) and the Double Circle Co-Op, which went on to evolve into Farmland Industries, one of the largest farmer-owned cooperatives in the nation.
Westphalia’s example was so strong that National Geography textbooks used in Catholic schools once featured St. Boniface and its town as a model rural community, demonstrating how shared values and cooperation sustain community life.
Westphalia is also known for its strong baseball heritage, with at least three community members having gone on to play professionally. The baseball field, like the parish, has long served as a gathering place where generations have passed down skills, stories, and pride.
The spirit of Westphalia continues to be shaped by the three words proudly displayed on the park sign at the entrance to town: Religion, Freedom, Community.
These values are not just slogans — they are the framework of daily life.
The St. Boniface Heritage Center will serve both as a museum and a shared gathering place — a home for stories, celebrations, and the passing of tradition from one generation to the next.
Parishioners, families, former residents, and friends of the community are warmly invited to attend the dedication following 10:00 a.m. Mass and share in this celebration of legacy, faith, and the enduring heart of Westphalia.