Holy Name of Jesus traces its history to 1856, when missionary priests began
traveling to Medina to say Mass at the homes of residents. Eventually, land
was donated for the building of the parish, which was incorporated in 1864. The
parish was administered by Benedictine priests from St. Boniface, and later from
St. John’s Abbey.
The first structure was a log church which was replaced by a frame church in
1875. By 1893, the parish house, school, and a gathering place were added to
the framed church. Unfortunately, in 1911, the frame church was destroyed by
two different fires, the second of which started in June when lightning struck
the church’s steeple on the eve of Pentecost. With the second fire, the church
was burned to the ground with only a few pews and stained-glass windows being
saved. In 1913, the rebuilt church, which used the old church’s cornerstone, was
dedicated by Archbishop John Ireland. This is the old white church that, while
it has undergone much rebuilding and restoration, still stands on the grounds
today. Holy Name of Jesus School was formally established in September 1919.
In August 1983, construction was completed on a new gymnasium, temporary
worship center, library, and additional classroom wing. The present church was
dedicated November 22, 1987. On June 30, 2007, after over 150 years of Benedictine
tradition, Holy Name of Jesus became an Archdiocesan parish.