Our Lady of Lourdes Parish celebrates centennial

Intermountain Catholic

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Bishop John C. Wester concelebrates the centennial Mass for Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. See photo album on the Intermountain Catholic facebook page. IC photo/Christine Young

SALT LAKE CITY — Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Salt Lake City celebrated 100 years of faith, community and service during a centennial Mass June 30, celebrated by the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City. The parish also received a Papal Blessing.

The Mass was concelebrated by Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus; Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, vicar general; Father John J. Schwall, Our Lady of Lourdes pastor, Father James Semple, a former pastor who is now retired; and Father Val Bradley, of Belefonte, Penn., who was visiting Fr. Schwall.

The bishop welcomed the Holy Cross Sisters, who have been a part of the parish for many years, especially retired Sister Joan Allem, who was baptized in the parish, and later served as principal of Our Lady of Lourdes School and superintendent of Catholic Schools in Utah.

Sr. Allem and her seven siblings received their sacraments at Our Lady of Lourdes, she said. "We also buried my dad from here. Walking into the church was magnificent. I had a moment of emotion; being here has brought back a lot of memories."

In his homily the bishop reflected on celebrating the building which is 100 years old, but also the parish family, which is "forever young," he said. "This church is a beautiful symbol of sacredness, holiness, peacefulness and worship. But if only these walls could talk, they would echo community gatherings large and small, reflect strangers welcomed, parishioners comforted, roles accomplished, fear abated, life renewed, chapters ended and begun, divine discerned, sins forgiven, life restored, healing celebrated, souls refreshed, promises made and transgressions forgiven."

At the reception, parishioners shared their memories during interviews.

Msgr. Fitzgerald had his First Communion, was confirmed and celebrated his first Mass as a priest at Our Lady of Lourdes, he said. "This was my home parish. There were six priests from this parish: Monsignor Michael Winterer, Monsignor Lawrence Sweeney, Monsignor William McDougall, Monsignor John J. Hedderman and Msgr. Bircumshaw. There was also Holy Cross Sisters Marie Bernadette Rogers and Barbara Ruth Holtshouser. This parish has also produced a lot of significant lay people who have gone on to make contributions throughout the state."

Msgr. Bircumshaw was baptized by Monsignor Patrick A. Maguire in 1949, "and he was an amazing pastor," he said. "I came to see him before I left for the seminary. These are the roots of my faith and I remember going to school and Mass here every Sunday as a child."

Our Lady of Lourdes has been a second home for Clara Brennan. "I started attending daily Mass here in 1952 when I was in the fifth grade at Judge Memorial when it was a grade school," she said. "The Holy Cross sisters planted the seeds of my faith; I can remember all the priests. Two of my children were baptized here and all five of my children received their sacraments here. The church holds a special spirituality for me and my husband, Paul."

Long-time parishioners Bernice and Jay Mooney also attended the parish and Judge Memorial. Jay moved into the parish in the fifth grade and walked to school with his four brothers from the Avenues.

"The priest at the time was Msgr. Maguire," said Bernice Mooney. "He used to refer to the clock hanging in the back of the church, especially when people arrived late for Mass. But I think many people have come to love the parish because of the wonderful priests and the Holy Cross sisters, who were a major part of our lives."

For Joan Corey the parish has been "a very important aspect in my family’s life in terms of their education and spiritual development," she said. "The ambiance of the church is beautiful, but the thing that overwhelms me is the deep sense of commitment to faith that the parishioners have."

The Filipino community, known as Misang Bayan, has called Our Lady of Lourdes its home for almost 16 years. It began under visiting priest Father Augustine Opalalic, and is now run by lay people as a way for the community to share their traditions.

Prior to the establishment of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Catholics living in the area attended Mass in the chapel of the Judge Mercy Home and Hospital, which opened in 1910. The building later became Judge Memorial Catholic High School. On June 29, 1913, the cornerstone was laid for the church to be built where it stands today.