Click HERE to download a PDF of St. John's History.

St. John’s was founded in 1950 with the first Mass celebrated by Rev. Joseph Vacek in the Hopkins movie theater.

Our Catholic school was reopened by the parish in the fall of 2004. The parish grade school opened in the fall of 1951 with 84 students in four classrooms. In 1970 a tri-parish school named Hopkins Consolidated Parish School comprised of St. John the Evangelist, St. Joseph ( Hopkins), and Immaculate Heart of Mary ( Minnetonka) parishes was formed. The school was renamed John Ireland School in 1980.

Our architecturally acclaimed church was planned by Rev. W. Leo Howley who sought the wisdom of fifty parishioners. Construction materials used complemented the homes in Interlachen Park. Completion and dedication occurred in 1969. The “dark into light” church design is reflective of the Gospel of St. John and his message of our journey from darkness into light through baptism.

The Laukhuff pipe organ, designed by Eric Fiss, was handcrafted in Germany. In 2002 the organ was upgraded as a Rodgers Pipe Digital Augmented Organ.

Sculptor Gerald Bonnett designed the Stations of the Cross on the north wall of the church along with the welded brass statue of the Blessed Mother in the church chapel.

The linden wood carved figure of Jesus risen, located on the front altar wall, was a gift by the parishioners for the 50th Anniversary of the parish. Angelo Gherardi, the liturgical design artist, worked with the Demetz Studios in Italy to bring the design into reality.