Our Lady of Lourdes Parish creates a heritage wall

Intermountain Catholic

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The heritage wall at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish was created so parishioners could look back and remember the gifts each priest and the parishioners offered to their parish. IC photos by Christine Young

SALT LAKE CITY — "Seeing the face of a priest is more meaningful than just looking at his name on a plaque," said Father William Flegge, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Salt Lake City. "That was the philosophy behind creating our heritage wall, which is located in the social hall in the basement of the church.

"It is really important for the people of a parish to know something about the history of their parish," said Fr. Flegge. "There have been many people, for almost 100 years, who have made sacrifices and generously built this parish with their hearts and their hands. I think, too, it is important for people to remember the priests who have served in a parish. It is important for older and newer parishioners alike to be able look back and remember the gifts each priest brought to the parish.

"Msgr. Patrick A. Maguire, who served as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish from 1938 to 1966, once said, ‘There is nothing so quickly forgotten as a dead priest,’" said Fr. Flegge. "I thought wherever I am, I am going to do whatever I can to not let that happen. In the future, more pictures will be added and the story of the parish can be told somewhat through the pictures."

Fr. Flegge said many people remember Msgr. Edward F. Dowling, who was pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish from 1966 to 1980, and Msgr. James T. Kenny, who was pastor from 1982 to 1989. The more current priests are Father James Semple, who was pastor from 1980 to 2000, and Fr. John Norman, who was pastor from 2000 to 2003."

Prior to the establishment of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Catholics living in the area attended Mass in the chapel of Judge Mercy Home and Hospital, according to "Salt of the Earth," by Bernice Maher Mooney, the former archivist for the Diocese of Salt Lake City. The hospital opened in 1910 on 1100 East between 600 and 700 South in Salt Lake City. Bishop Lawrence Scanlan, bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City from 1891 to 1915, established Our Lady of Lourdes Parish to include all the territory east of 700 East between 300 South and 1700 South and all that territory east of 900 East and south of 1700 South.

A ceremony was conducted June 29, 1913, for the laying of the cornerstone for a new church to be built on Judge Mercy Hospital property at the corner of 1100 East and 1700 South. The new church was dedicated June 14, 1914. On that day, 50 children made their First Communion, and Bishop Scanlan conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on 40 people.

In October 1919, Father Richard J. Cotter, who had come to the Diocese of Salt Lake City from California and was working at St. Ann’s Orphanage in Salt Lake City, was named pastor. He renovated the church, installed new stained glass windows, and built a parochial residence at 1253 East 400 South.

The boundaries of Our Lady of Lourdes were decreased in 1934, when some parishioners transferred to St. Ann Parish, and again in 1948 when the territory included St. Ambrose Parish.

The grade school at Judge Memorial became the financial responsibility of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in 1949, when the diocesan educational system declared Judge Memorial a high school exclusive of lower grades. After 12 years of planning and saving, construction of the rectory and Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School on 700 South between 1000 and 1100 East was completed and the school opened in 1963. Holy Cross Sister Peter Clare Berna served as the first principal.

In 1951, the original church structure was remodeled and the addition of a basement was added. It was dedicated in 1951 by Bishop Duane G. Hunt, bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City from 1937 to 1960.

Within the last three years, the rectory has been remodeled and made into a parish center. The rectory is now located behind the church. The parish center has a day care center, and a board room used by parishioners and the teachers and staff of the school. The board room is also used as a classroom during the week.