Founded in 1884, St. Francis is the tenth-oldest parish in the city of St. Paul. Founded by German-speaking Catholics, the first church, a wood frame building, was erected in August 1884 on land donated by Frank Poppler. The original church served the community for nearly 80 years, until the present stone church was completed in 1959. Beginning in 1996, St. Francis de Sales partnered with nearby St. James, sharing a pastor, school, and administrative staff. St. James closed in 2011, merging fully with St. Francis
de Sales. But Sandcastle Early Learning Center, which was established in 1981, remains open under the care of St. Francis de Sales. The mission of St. Francis de Sales is to provide a home for the faithful to experience a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and, by God’s grace and with Mary, to worship, follow, and share Jesus with others.