Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s mission and vision reflect its Lasallian Catholic identity, building upon the past and providing direction for the future. In 1912, Saint Mary’s College was founded by the Most Reverend Patrick R. Heffron, the second bishop of Winona (now the Diocese of Winona-Rochester). In 1933, the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (also known as the De La Salle Christian Brothers), an international Catholic teaching order, purchased Saint Mary’s College from the Diocese. The De La Salle Christian Brothers and their spirituality continues to animate the university today. What was a local college providing education for young men in 1912 is today an international university serving women and men of every age, race, and nationality. Saint Mary’s remains true to its Lasallian heritage in meeting the needs of the people of the times. It strives at the same time to remain a university that is attentive to unique individuals with varying psychological, social, physical, and spiritual needs. This has been a hallmark of the university’s success and a critical dimension that seems most appropriate in these ever-changing, conflicted times.