Our History
St. Margaret’s Church
St. Mary’s Church
Prior to 1921 — There are two small Catholic Churches in the Hopkins area. St. Margaret’s Church on Bren Road near Shady Oak Road in Minnetonka, serving the Bohemian settlers, was built in 1880. Fr. Joseph Hovorka has been pastor of St. Margaret’s since 1904. St. Mary’s Church, at 51- 6th Ave. South in Hopkins, was built in 1895. Fr. Benjamin Audus was pastor of St. Mary’s since 1913. Austin Dowling is the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul since 1919. The Pope at that time was Benedict XV, since 1914.
The 1920s
Church of St. Joseph School and Rectory, 1921
1921 — Archbishop Dowling decrees that St. Margaret’s and St. Mary’s Churches be merged into a new parish: St. Joseph’s. There are 250 families on the roster. Fr. Charles E. Hovorka (a brother to Fr. Joseph Hovorka from St. Margaret’s in Minnetonka) is called from Montevideo to begin his 34 year pastorate. Services are held in the St. Mary’s Church until the new church is built. The Knights of Columbus organize at St. Joseph’s.
1922 — A school, a pastor’s home and a convent are built. A “temporary” church is housed in the school building, and services begin there. Cost for the three buildings is between $112,000 and $120,000. The altar from St. Margaret’s is brought over and used in the new church. Pius XI is elected Pope.
1923 — The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondolet arrive to form the teaching staff. St. Joseph’s School opens with six grades the first year, adding grades 7 & 8 in the two succeeding years. Sr. Agnes Aloysius Thompson is principal. The other sisters are Sister Cosmos Shea, Sister Mary Magdeline Swoboda, Sister Marie Celeste Delage, Sister Theresa Louise McGuire and Sister Carlos Eue, who taught music. There were 125 students enrolled that year in grades 1 - 6.
1925 — Fr. Charles Portele is named assistant at St. Joseph’s.
1928 — The name of the Village of West Minneapolis is changed to Hopkins.
1929 — Sr. Claudia Keane is named principal of St. Joseph’s School.
The 1930s
1931 — John Gregory Murray is named Archbishop of St. Paul. Because of the Great Depression, Minneapolis Moline Power Implement Company closes for four years, leaving many Hopkins residents out of work. This nearly results in the closing of St. Joseph’s School.
1932 — Fr. Hovorka announces that the school will close unless $6,500.00 can be raised immediately. A valiant effort by those parishioners with jobs springs into action. A banquet, with Archbishop Murray as honored guest, kicks off the solicitation program. The campaign raises $1000 over the goal necessary to keep the school open. Sr. Bernard Dunphy is named principal of the school. Fr. Joseph P. Vacek is named assistant pastor at St. Joseph’s for four years.
1934 — The first Raspberry Festival is organized in Hopkins. School enrollment is now at 250 (double what it was when it opened!). Organizations in the Church are The Holy Name Society, Altar Society, Dramatic Society, Cecilian Choristers, Young Ladies Sodality, Catholic Boy Scouts, Catholic Workmen, and Knights of Columbus.
1935 — Sr. Agnes Claire Rickard is named principal of the school. The Knights of Columbus begin an annual production of Minstrel Shows to raise the spirits of everyone feeling the effects of the Great Depression.
1936 — Fr. Stanley Skluzacek is named assistant pastor at St. Joseph’s.
1939 — Pius XII is elected Pope. The Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary is organized for women at St. Joseph’s.