St. Mary was established in Lowertown St. Paul in 1865 at the request of the increasing, mostly Irish, population of workers in the area. Mary Hill, wife of railroad magnate James J. Hill, was one of the early donors who made the church possible. After selling the original property at the corner of 9th and Locust streets to the Great Northern Railroad, the present church with its rectory next door was completed in 1921 and dedicated in 1922. The parish was served by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, and then by the
Sons of the Immaculate Conception. Today, it is served by Oratorian priests.