Do you know the reason why St. John Notre Dame has such a unique name? We like to think we are extra blessed to have a name that is connected with the greatest prophet and with a religious order of French nuns. To understand St. John Notre Dame, rewind the clock 170 years to the rural area, once called Granite City, now known as Folsom. This part of California saw a huge spike in population after the discovery of gold along the American River in 1848. Thousands of “49ers” came from all corners of the world to strike it rich. The desire for spiritual nourishment quickly became evident. It was in 1851 when Fr. John Ingoldsby arrived by muleback to celebrate the first ever Mass in Folsom, much to the delight of the many Irish Catholic immigrants still settling into this New World. However, it would be another six years before Folsom could celebrate Mass in a church of its own.