St. Helena Parish History

The following chronology is taken from Dennis Q. McInerny's The Church of St. Helena 1913-1988.

 
June 24, 1913 Rev. Owen J. Rowan appointed pastor of a parish in south Minneapolis by Archbishop John Ireland.
July 6, 1913 Fr. Rowan celebrates his first Mass as pastor of the new parish in the hall at 3725 E. 45th Street.
August 29, 1913 First marriage in St. Helena Parish.
September 10, 1913 The new parish named "The Church of St. Helena" by Archbishop John Ireland.
October 9, 1913 Formal incorporation of The Church of St. Helena.
October 14, 1913

Filing of papers of incorporation with the State of Minnesota and Hennepin County.

August 27, 1913 First Mass celebrated in the original church of St. Helena.
October 18, 1914 Dedication of original church. Archbishop John Ireland presiding.
May 13, 1915 First Holy Communion class at St. Helena.
October 17, 1915 Sacrament of Confirmation administered for the first time at St. Helena. Archbishop John Ireland confirming bishop.
May, June, 1917 First parish mission, conducted by the Dominican Fathers.
September, 1920 Dorothy Hurley enters the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and becomes Sister Ellen Joseph. St. Helena's first religious vocation.
October, 1922 Fr. Rowan moves into the newly built rectory at 4320 33rd Avenue South.
August 3, 1925 Ground-breaking for school building.
September, 1926 St. Helena School opens its doors for the first time. Mother Agnes Clare, C.S.J., first principal.
August, 1927 Rev. Patrick J. Ryan appointed by Archbishop Dowling as the first assistant priest at St. Helena.
June, 1938 Twenty-fifth anniversary of parish.
March 28, 1939 Ground-breaking for new church.
October 20, 1940 First Mass celebrated in new church.
November 21, 1940 Dedication of the new church. Archbishop John Gregory Murray presiding.
July, 1946 to January, 1948 Installation of stained glass windows in the church. Windows designed by Conrad Pickel.
Summer, 1945 Demolition of original church building.
June 8, 1946 Rev. Eugene J. Sebesta becomes the first priest ordained from St. Helena.
September, 1950 Construction begins on the convent and the addition to the school.
Summer, 1951 Sisters move into new convent.
September, 1951 Addition to the school is completed and put into service.
June, 1955 Fr. Rowan celebrates the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.
June 14, 1957 Fr. Rowan is named a Domestic Prelate by Pope Pius XII.
September 15, 1957 Fr. Rowan invested as Domestic Prelate in St. Paul Cathedral. Becomes Monsignor Rowan.
June, 1963 Fiftieth anniversary of the parish.
June, 1966 Msgr. Rowan retires as the Pastor of St. Helena. Becomes Pastor Emeritus.
June, 1966 Bishop James. P. Shannon becomes the second Pastor of St. Helena.
September, 1969 Rev. Alfred Wagner becomes the third Pastor of St. Helena.
September, 1971 Consolidation of St. Helena School and Holy Name School The combined schools become South Parks Consolidated Catholic School. St. Helena School is called South Parks East.
April 8, 1976 Death of Msgr. Owen J. Rowan.
June, 1978 Rev. Richard Villano becomes the fourth Pastor of St. Helena.
September, 1984 Following the deconsolidation of South Parks Consolidated Catholic School, classes begin at the reconstituted St. Helena School.
June, 1988 Seventy-fifth anniversary of St. Helena.
October 23, 1988 Jubilee Dinner held at Fort Snelling.
November 6, 1988 Commemorative Mass celebrated in the church to mark the 75th anniversary of St. Helena.
To be continued . . .