[4] A congregation of Catholic French Canadians acquired the church in 1877 and named it in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary who had recently appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in France as Our Lady of Lourdes.

The church survived extinction when the Minneapolis City Council persuaded bishops of the diocese to stop plans to close and board it up in 1968.

In the 1880s, the Catholic congregation added a V-frame beam truss, the steeple, the transept, bell tower, sacristy and vestibule in French Provincial and Gothic Revival style.

[10] To support the continuing restoration of their church, the congregation produces and sells French Canadian tourtières, a savory meat pie.

[11] Parishioners have protected the stained glass, building exterior, and the Blessed Virgin's grotto above the front entrance, and have restored the interior, renovated the rectory and added carillon bells.