Saint Casimir Parish was established in 1892. Large companies and several railroads were arriving in the area, increasing the number of Poles in St. Paul. In 1888 they organized themselves into a society named from St. Casimir Prince. A committee was formed to collect funds for a church building.
In 1890 three lots at the corner of Forest & Jessamine were purchased. Economic conditions prevented the beginning of construction until 1892.
The first building housed both a school on the ground floor (which opened in September of 1893 with an enrollment of 50) and a church on the upper floor. The building was blessed on November 27, 1892. The first mass was celebrated on December 3, 1892. The temporary rectory was at 924 East Jessamine.
In 1895 a new rectory was built at the corner of Forest and Geranium.
Polish immigrants and other nationalities joined St. Casimir parish. The Franciscan Sisters, who were stationed in the parish mainly to teach in the parish school, lived in a convent at 1130 Forest.
in 1899, several building projects were begun, including a convent in 1901 and a Romanesque church in 1903. The cornerstone was put into place in September 1904 and the structure was blessed on November 27, 1904 by Archbishop John Ireland. The first mass in the new church was also celebrated that day.
From 1908-1987 the Felician Sisters served St. Casimir Parish. Their last year of teaching was the 1986-87 school year.
The parish was without a pastor until April 15, 1916 when an Oblate of Mary Immaculate was appointed. The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate presence as overseers of the parish, a relationship that lasts to this day.
The parish silver Jubilee was celebrated on November 8, 1917.
A new school was built in 1923. A Fall Festival lasting a week was held to raise funds for the building. The school was blessed on November 4, 1923 and had a capacity of 600 students.
In 1929 land for a new convent was purchased and construction began the following year, with completion in 1932.
During the 1920's the parish received its first assistant pastor from Poland. The number of Polish immigrants to the area decreased after 1918 when Poland gained its independence.
In 1942 St. Casimir celebrated its Golden Jubilee.
There was a setback in projects in 1945 when two young boys lighting candles were involved in a scuffle, causing a fire which nearly destroyed the organ and the altar. The Blessed Sacrament was rescued by the assistant pastor and the vessels were rescued by the nuns.
In 1960 ground was broken for the new school addition (Geranium Street side). The pastor in 1962 mandated that he reduce the $400,000 debt of the parish.
In 1969, the basement of the Church was redecorated to include a chapel and community room, with a new entrance on the west side of the Church.
The 100th Anniversary of the parish was celebrated in 1992, the church was redecorated before the 100th celebration.
Since June 2001 the parish has made great strides in making our facility handicap accessible. An elevator project began April 8, 2003. Other capital improvements include tuck-pointing the steeples and placing copper shingles on the steeples.
November 2004 was the 100th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Church (building).