In 1918, early settlers in the Village of Columbia Heights visited
Archbishop Dowling and asked him to establish a Catholic parish
in Columbia Heights. Until then, Catholics in this area would travel to
nearby parishes such as St. Clement, St. Boniface, St. Anthony or Our
Lady of Lourdes to celebrate Mass and the other sacraments.
By 1923 there were enough Catholic families in Columbia Heights and they
had saved up enough money to build a church, so Archbishop Dowling
agreed to establish a parish. Archbishop Dowling sent Fr. George Rolwes
to be the first pastor of the new parish of Immaculate Conception. The
first Mass was celebrated on Saturday, December 8, 1923, in the unused
dance hall at the old Forrest Park amusement grounds.
In 1924, Fr. Rolwes bought a large property in Columbia Heights, and the construction of
a permanent building began in the spring of 1924. On December 8, 1924, the church was
dedicated. In 1955, a campaign was begun for a new church building, since the community
had long outgrown the original church and school. The present church was dedicated on
December 8, 1958, by Archbishop Brady. The original church continues to serve as the school
auditorium and cafeteria.
