History & How We Are Connected
Our Journey of Faith
Christ Our Light Catholic Parish has deep roots in the communities of Princeton and Zimmerman, built on the faith and dedication of generations before us.
Originally, St. Edward’s in Princeton (est. 1898) and St. Pius X in Zimmerman (est. 1957) served as two vibrant faith communities—each rich in worship, fellowship, and service. In 2010, recognizing the call to grow together in faith, the two parishes joyfully merged to become Christ Our Light Catholic Parish, embracing the mission to: Love God. Live the Eucharist.
Since then, our parish has continued to thrive as a united faith community, offering dynamic faith formation, compassionate outreach, and engaging liturgies rooted in the Eucharist.
Now, we celebrate a new milestone: as of May 31, 2025, we have moved into our new Parish Home at 11700 293rd Ave NW in Princeton. This marks the first phase of our building project, a space that—while transitional—will serve as a welcoming home for worship, fellowship, and formation, supporting our continued growth.
We look forward with hope and joy as Christ Our Light continues to shine as a beacon of faith, hope, and love for generations to come.
Proud Parish of the Diocese
Christ Our Light is part of the Diocese of Saint Cloud, which serves Catholics across Central Minnesota. As a diocesan parish, we are committed to strengthening our faith and fostering unity within the wider Church.
Sherburne Area Catholic Community
Every parish in the Diocese of Saint Cloud is part of an Area Catholic Community (ACC)—a partnership of neighboring parishes working together to serve the spiritual and pastoral needs of the faithful. Established in 2019, ACCs collaborate by sharing resources, ministries, and outreach efforts to better serve the Body of Christ.
Christ Our Light belongs to the Sherburne Area Catholic Community, which includes:
- Christ Our Light – Princeton / Zimmerman
- Mary of the Visitation – Becker / Big Lake
- Saint Andrew Catholic Church and School – Elk River
Together, we are committed to strengthening our faith, supporting one another, and spreading Christ’s light throughout our communities.
Sherburne ACC Merger Decree
As part of the Diocese of Saint Cloud’s All Things New pastoral planning process, the Diocese has released the official merger decree, issued June 2026, concerning St. Marcus of Clear Lake and Mary of the Visitation of Becker/Big Lake within the Sherburne Area Catholic Community (ACC). While Christ Our Light of Princeton and Saint Andrew of Elk River are not directly part of this merger, we are part of the same ACC and wanted to share this information to help keep parishioners informed.
Please continue to keep the parish communities of St. Marcus, Mary of the Visitation, and our Diocese as a whole in your prayers during this time of transition and discernment. Those wishing to read the full decree or a summary thereof may do so here: