LHS HistoryMay 24, 1877, must be regarded as a day of destiny in the history of Catholic education in Rochester. Father Thomas O'Gorman, Pastor of St. John's Church had communicated with Mother Alfred with reference to the institution of an Academy for young ladies in Rochester. In response to his invitation, Mother Alfred and a Sister companion came to Rochester on May 24, 1877, to confer with Father O'Gorman. The result: a site was purchased, and architect and contractor engaged, and work was begun before June 1, 1877, on the 72 x 48 feet building of what was to be known as The Academy of Our Lady Of Lourdes, on the site of the old Motherhouse of the Sisters of Saint Francis on West Center Street, known earlier as Fifth Street.
On Monday, December 3, 1877, classes were opened, and about 210 pupils were admitted to the Academy which served the purpose of Motherhouse, Novitiate, Boarding and Day School. Mother Alfred served as the first Directress. She with six Sisters of Saint Francis constituted the first staff. The formal Blessing of the Academy tool place on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1877, following a 10:30 Mass at Saint John's Church, after which the Congregation marched in procession to the Academy, witnessed the Blessing, and toured the building, the inspection of which was open to the public.
The Fall term of school opened in the Academy on the first Monday of September, 1878. Through the medium of the public press "parents desiring for their children the blessings of an early religious and moral training" were urged to enroll them in the Academy. While acknowledging the primary purpose of Catholic Education to be the "religious and moral training" of youth, the press article gave emphasis to the "mastery of the common branches of education --- English, French, German, Latin, Science, the study of Music, Art, and Needlework," subjects which were included in the curriculum. Before the close of the first complete school year, over 300 pupils had enrolled in the Academy of Our Lady of Lourdes either as day pupils or boarders.
The continuous growth of applicants, most notable among boarding pupils, caused the Sisters to purchase in 1882 from the Saint Hon's Benevolent Society, a hall which was moved to the corner of First Avenue and Sixth Street. This structure when enlarged, renovated and equipped, became Saint Mary's Hall. Beginning on November 6, 1882, all classes were taught in it, except Music and Fine Arts. Studios for Music and Fine Arts, expanded facilities for boarders, administrative offices and community needs quickly absorbed the space left free by the transfer of classes to Saint Mary's Hall.
A second addition to the Academy became imperative in 1888. With its completion, the Academy classes moved back to the Motherhouse where the Art classes had remained. A south wing was added to Saint Mary's Hall providing ample classrooms and Music rooms for instructors and students. Saint Mary's Hall them became Saint John Grade School, accommodating pupils in grades one through eight. The Sisters of Saint Francis taught there, providing sound Catholic Education for all who wished to avail themselves of the great opportunity for their children.
In September, 1910, under the direction of Bishop Heffron, the students of the Academy of Our Lady of Lourdes became the nucleus of Saint John's High School under the direction of Sister Lucia. At that time the high school was moved to what was originally Saint Mary's Hall, later converted into Saint John's Grade School. 
Another renovation, according to a Rochester newspaper account, created a large study hall on the second floor, with a science laboratory and classrooms over the music rooms in the south wing. The newspapers also stated that the faculty, Sisters of Saint Francis, was enlarged to include "ladies" well trained as high school teachers.
At the direction of Bishop Heffron, Saint John's Parish in 1912 built two schools - one for boys to be taught by the Christian Brothers, and known as Heffron High School; the other a Catholic girls high school, to be staffed by the Sisters of Saint Francis and called Saint John's High School for Girls. Throughout all the years that the Sisters taught in Rochester up until October 15, 1948, they lived at the Motherhouse, supported by the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes.
The Christian Bothers left Rochester in October, 1925. Their students were then transferred to the building known as Saint John's High School for Girls. It functioned thereafter as a co-educational institution known as Saint John's High School.
The Heffron building was converted into an elementary school housing the first six grades; pupils of Junior and Senior high school rank occupied the Saint John's High School building.
The accreditation of Saint John's High School to the University of Minnesota was lost in February, 1938, through failure to act on repeated recommendations and warnings received following routine periodic visitations by University visitors. The heart of the issue was the imperative need of a new, enlarged, and modern well-equipped building wherein adequate provision would be made for classrooms, science laboratories and lecture rooms, home economics, business education courses and equipment, enlarged library, visual education equipment, gymnasium, auditorium, administration offices, and numerous other needs.
On Sunday, August 18, 1940, "plans for the construction of a Saint John's high school building were disclosed. The site faced West Center Street, in the block bounded by Sixth and Seventh Avenues NW, and by First Street NW."
The Rochester Post Bulletin of October 23, 1940, outlined the groundbreaking ceremony for the morrow to which the public was invited. Bishop Francis M. Kelly was to officiate and deliver the address.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press on October 27, 1940, described the groundbreaking ceremony and supplied information as follows: "The edifice was to be constructed of Mankato stone in the Tudor-Gothic style at an expected cost of $225,000, to easily accommodate 400-450 pupils, and provide for all regular activities with its ample classrooms, auditorium-chapel room with stage and altar for assemblies and religious services and seating to accommodate three hundred people; gymnasium, spacious library, study hall, business offices, faculty rooms, dining room and band room." For these and all facilities "only first class material" was to be used throughout.
Architects for the project were Fuller, Schober, Berners, Safford and Jahn of Green Bay, Wisconsin, with Peter Bross of Rochester as associate architect. All but two contracts were awarded to Rochester firms.
Father Bartholome explained that since the new building would serve as a central Catholic high school for the entire city of Rochester, a new name would be selected and announced, and that the project was scheduled for completion by August 15, 1941.
On Sunday, March 9, 1941, the naming of the new facility under construction as Lourdes High School was announced at all the Masses in Catholic Churches in Rochester. The selection of the name "Lourdes" for the new high school gave promise that it would operate according to the sound educational philosophy and continue the noble traditions that characterized Rochester's first Catholic academy, the Academy of Our Lady of Lourdes, from its foundation, December 3, 1877, on.
The laying of the cornerstone of the new Lourdes High School by Bishop Kelly took place Sunday, May 18, 1941, with the Reverend F. A. McCarthy, pastor of Saint Francis Church, Rochester, presiding. Mayor Paul A. Grassle and the Reverend William F. Griffin were the principal speakers, along with Robert Hentges, representative of the student body.
September 15, 1941, marked the opening of a new school year filled with promise. Enrollment in Lourdes junior high school classes at the building numbered 160; Lourdes senior high school enrollment numbered nearly 100, the combined 260.
The Reverend Frederick W. Freding was named Superintendent, Sister Callista continued as Principal. Five new faculty members were added to take care of the increased attendance and new subject offerings.
Construction, scheduled for completion by November 1, 1941, was delayed. In consequence the hoped-for moving-in operation was delayed until the Christmas holidays. When school resumed all Junior and Senior High School classes were transferred to the striking, beautiful new Lourdes High School building.
The Lourdes High School Open House, hosted by the parent-teachers association, was held February 15, 1942. The excellent pictorial and narrative advance coverage given by the Rochester Post Bulletin of February, 13, 1942, undoubtedly contributed to the interest and brought to the event 2,800 visitors. 
The conditions that triggered the loss of accreditation from the University of Minnesota in February, 1938, were now completely removed. Negotiations with the University were resumed, and accreditation was re-established in 1942.
The Formal Blessing and Dedication of Lourdes High School took place on Sunday, May 16, 1943, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Leo Binz, coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Winona, presiding.
Lourdes High School has brought untold blessings to Rochester and its environs. It symbolizes the great sacrifices that Catholic parents have cheerfully made to insure to the youth of the parishes the enduring spiritual and temporal blessings of a Catholic education.