After conducting the parish Masses in the grade school gymnasium for eight years, and in two rented locations prior to that, parishioners were very excited to finally celebrate Mass in “God’s house." Construction of the church began in June of 2003 and the first Masses were held on the weekend of August 21st and 22nd, 2004. Parish Hall construction began in April 2004 and was completed in September 2004. The blessing and dedication of the entire facility took place on September 26, 2004 by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz.

The parish has about 1230 registered families and about 525 children in grade school. The building includes the following features:

• Offices for priests and secretaries
• Family Multi-purpose room for meetings and other gatherings
• Music Room
• Main Sacristy where the priests and ministers vest
• Working Sacristy where liturgical items are stored
• an adoration chapel where 24-hour prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament can take place in a quiet and peaceful area.

North American Martyrs Parish is located at 1101 Isaac Drive. The street was named for Saint Isaac Jogues, the most well known of the eight North American Martyrs. The parish was established by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz in 1993 and met first at the Airport Ramada Inn for three months and then at Fredstrom Elementary School for about two years. Construction of North American Martyrs School began in March 1995. Parish Masses were held in the gym after it was completed in December 1995. The school opened in August 1996.

The Church was designed by Sinclair-Hille Architects, with Kevin Clark, a member of St. Teresa’s Parish, as the principal architect. Mr. Clark said he worked with the Building Committee through many brown-paper sessions in which they made cardboard and plastic foam models of the floor plan and then of what the church would look like in three dimensions.

The Parish Building Committee put much thought and effort into the endeavor. They selected high quality yet affordable construction materials, and gave substantial thought to what the appropriate design of a sacred worship space should be when they developed the layout and appearance of their new church. The church is very spacious and has an awe-inspiring and uplifting appeal.  Members were Julie Benes, David Brakenhoff, Mary Anne Classen, Steve Douglas, Joseph Maguire, Orwin Olson, Dale Schlautman, Morris Schroeder, Jean Wheelock, Richard Wiese, Paul Lewandowski, Gerald Doty, Cindy Schilmoeller, Craig & Tracey Boesch, Mike Volkmer, Charoyl Koenig, Laurie Rodaway, Sr. Patricia Heirigs and Fr. Huber.

The new building project has brought the people of the church into a tighter relationship as so many have contributed in various ways. The Altar Society, North American Martyrs School and the Knights of Columbus have all conducted fund raising events for the Building Fund. The Scrip program, an ongoing parish fundraiser whereby the parish receives a small percentage from the sale of certificates that can be used at local stores, is an important source of revenue for the parish that financed the purchase of the new pews in the church, and is now contributing towards paying down the building debt.

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