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.
