Parish History

Most Holy Trinity - The Downtown St. Louis Park Catholic Church

Many exciting changes are taking place in the heart of St. Louis Park on Excelsior Boulevard; the development of Town Center and Town Green, the expansion of Park-Nicollet Medical Center, the Aquatic Park and the growth of Wolfe Park. But, the thing that hasnıt changed is Most Holy Trinity! Weıve always been here near the corner of Excelsior Boulevard and Wooddale Avenue.

In the early 1940's, St. Louis Park with a population of about 8,000 was located on what was at that time the western fringe of the Twin Cities Metropolitan area. Miracle Mile Shopping Center was almost a decade into the future. Highway 100 had just been established. And much of the world was immersed in a vast and horrific war.

That was the scene locally and worldwide when a packed house gathered to hear Father J. Wilson Brady celebrate the first Mass of the Most Holy Trinity Parish. The date was a Sunday in May; the year 1943. The setting was the old Lilac Way Bowling Lanes and Cafe, located at that time on the northeast corner of Wooddale Avenue and Excelsior Boulevard.

A retired U.S. Coast Guard chaplain, Father Brady was Most Holy Trinityıs first pastor. Because Lilac Lanes was in use Saturday nights, he would arrive at 4:00 am Sunday and, with the help of a few parish volunteers, clean and set up the altar and chairs for Mass.

The following year, a semi-basement church and school was built just across the intersection at Most Holy Trinityıs current site. The first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Eve, 1944.

Next came the purchase of two rectories and a convent for the Benedictine Sisters, who taught the children of the Most Holy Trinity School from 1951 until the early 1970ıs.

The upper level church structure you see today was completed in 1952. Father Brady also designed the stained glass windows, which depict the seasons of the Liturgical calendar.

In addition to Father Brady (1943-56), six others have served as pastors: Rev. Nicholas Gillen (1959-63), the Rev. William McNulty (1963-74), the Rev. Al Skluzacek (1974-81), the Rev. Leonard Sibenaler (1981-93), the Rev. Jose Gutierrez (1994-95), the Rev. Dennis Thompson (1995-2002), and Most Holy Trinity's current pastor, Fr. Paul Feela, who assumed his duties in September of 2003.

Weıve come a long way since the Lilac Lanes in 1943. However, there are no more Benedictine Sisters at Most Holy Trinity. There is no assistant pastor, assistant priest or deacon. The pastor relies on the help of the parish administrator, the director of Faith Formation, the principal, staff members, and the help of many parishioners to carry out the work of the parish.