The following excerpt is from “A Century of Christianity on the Dakota Prairies” written by Fr. Albert Binder in 1970.

What event marks the beginning of a parish? Is it the arrival of the first Catholic settler? Is it the day Mass is celebrated for the first time in the community? Or does the erection of the first church spell the beginning, or the date when Mass came to be celebrated according to a regular schedule?

In October of 1870, the United States Government conducted the survey of the southern Red River Valley in what is now the State of North Dakota. On the notes of the surveying party, a little log church is noted. It was located “20 chains North & 25 chains West of the SE corner of Section 13 Twp 138 N, Range 39 W Cass Co.”. These notes were dated October 13, 1870. Here, then, is indisputable evidence of the beginning of what was then known as “Holy Cross Mission”, and what today is St. Benedict’s parish.

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