The Springfield Diocese purchased a 10-acre tract of land destined to become Our Lady of Lourdes church and school. Two years later, on October 28, 1958, the parish was founded. Because 1958 marked the 100th anniversary of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin to Bernadette at Lourdes, France, Our Lady of Lourdes was selected as the patroness for the newly found parish.
November 30, 1958
The first Mass (for 286 families) was celebrated in the St. Teresa High School gymnasium. Under the leadership of pastor Rev. John Ratchford, the new parish began its faith journey.
May 3, 1959
Ground is broken for a new, ten-room Our Lady of Lourdes school.
August 6, 1960
Masses are moved from the St. Teresa gymnasium to a large all-purpose room in the school.
September 6, 1960
Staffed by three Dominican Sisters and two lay teachers, Our Lady of Lourdes school opens for grades one through six.
Fall 1964
With the expansion of the school to include eighth grade students, daily and Sunday Masses are moved to the Our Lady of Lourdes gymnasium.
August 1966
Rev. Joseph Murray assumes duties as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes. Rev. Leo Sestak is appointed the first associate pastor in June 1967. Later, with the transfer of Fr. Murray, the Jesuits take over the administrative duties and Rev. Patrick Holloran, S.J., becomes the third pastor in June 1968. Rev. James Hogan, S.J., is named his associate.
1968
Fr. David Wayne S.J., a native son of the parish, is ordained to the priesthood for the Society of Jesus.
1969
Rev. James O’Hara is appointed pastor and Masses continue in the gymnasium. By 1974, as a result of a tithing program, the parish debt is retired. The parish is then granted permission to draw up plans for a new church.
1975
Fr. Jim Micili, a native son of the parish, is ordained for the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
1977
Rev. Leo Sestak returns to Our Lady of Lourdes as pastor.
October 22, 1978
The dream of a church becomes a reality as Fr. Sestak presides over groundbreaking ceremonies for the proposed new church.
February 10, 1980
Rev. Charles Dahlby celebrates the first Mass in the new church.
On May 4, 1980
Bishop McNicholas dedicates the new church.
Summer 1980
Rev. Kevin Sullivan is appointed pastor.
1981
Fr. Steve Sotiroff, a native son of the parish, is ordained to the priesthood for the diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
Spring 1982
Under Fr. Sullivan’s leadership, the Risen Christ mosaic from Italy is installed in the church sanctuary.
Spring 1983
Additions to the north side of the school and the renovation of two classrooms into a Parish Center are completed. A new organ and church bells are installed; new parish offices, a library, and a Parish Enrichment Center are also completed.
1983
Fr. Kevin Loughery, a native son of the parish, is ordained to the priesthood for the diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
1992
Rev. Kevin Vann is appointed pastor; Rev. Dan Bergbower is appointed parochial vicar.
St. Vincent de Paul Society is established.
Fall 1992
The Dominican Sisters withdraw from the school administration, and the first lay principal is named.
1993
Celebration of the 35th anniversary of Our Lady of Lourdes parish.
Our Lady of Lourdes Youth attend World Youth Day 1993 in Denver, Colorado.
1994
Initiation of the first long-range planning process for the parish grade school.
Appointment of Rev. Donald Knuffman to Our Lady of Lourdes.
First year for the annual parish Lenten fish fries.
1995
Mrs. Maryrose Hagenbach becomes principal of Our Lady of Lourdes school.
Appointment of Rev. Jeff Goeckner to Our Lady of Lourdes parish.
1996
Establishment of endowments for the school and parish.
Beginning of Hispanic ministry and presence in the Decatur area. A regular Mass in Spanish is begun at Our Lady of Lourdes on Sunday afternoons.
Fr. Vann is appointed Dean of the Decatur Deanery.
Fr. Chris Comerford, a native son of the parish, is ordained to the priesthood for the diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
1997
"Play Day" and the "Fall Festival" are combined into one festival in early June entitled "Family Fest".
Fall 1997
The Our Lady of Lourdes parish census is 1300 households.
1997-1998
Yearlong celebrations for the 40th anniversary of Our Lady of Lourdes (including a parish mission by Scott and Kimberly Hahn, Forty Hours, a Concert in honor of the Charter Members of the parish), culminating with a mass celebrated by Bishop Daniel Ryan.
1999
Fr. Larry Burnette, a former parishioner, is ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
With the assignment of Sr. Myra Flahive O.P. to Our Lady of Grace School in Chicago, the formal association of Our Lady of Lourdes with the Springfield Dominican Sisters is concluded.
Bishop George J. Lucas, former rector of Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, is appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
Mrs. Mary Lou Walker becomes coordinator of our Parish School of Religion.
2000
Jubilee Year in celebration of the Third Millenium of Christianity.
A "Place of Faith" renewal/long range planning process for Our Lady of Lourdes is initiated.
"WATCH" – a parish renewal/retreat weekend is established at Our Lady of Lourdes. This idea originated at St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Peoria Heights, Illinois, in the Diocese of Peoria.
Our Lady of Lourdes youth attend World Youth Day 2000 in Rome.
A "Mariachi Mass" is celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes with Rev. Wilton Gregory, Bishop of Belleville, as principal celebrant. Bishop George Lucas of Springfield and other priests concelebrated the Mass.
2001
An endowment fund is established for Our Lady of Lourdes students who wish to attend St. Teresa High School.
Rev. Kevin Vann is assigned to Blessed Sacrament parish in Springfield, and Rev. Jeff Goeckner is assigned to St. Elizabeth parish in Robinson, Illinois; Rev. Richard Weltin is appointed pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes and Rev. Carlos Bohorquez is appointed parochial vicar.
Our Lady of Lourdes parish has four students studying for the priesthood: Steve Loftus at Mt. St. Mary’s in Emmittsburg, Maryland; David Cavenaugh and Jeff Long at St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois; and Brandon Allison at Kenrick-Glennon seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.
Our parish family, from the early days in 1958 to the present, is dedicated to Christ Our Lord, and to the honor of Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, joyfully proclaiming the Lord’s greatness.
St. James the Apostle Church in Guatemala is named "sister parish" of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Summer 2002
Forty-two Our Lady of Lourdes student pilgrims (accompanied by twelve adult chaperones) attend World Youth Day in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which includes a papal Mass.
2005
Former Our Lady of Lourdes pastor, Rev. Msgr. Kevin W. Vann is appointed Coadjutor Bishop-designate of the Diocese of Fort Worth (Texas) by Pope Benedict XVI. The announcement was made May 17 in Washington D.C. by Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Bishop-designate Vann, 54, will assist Bishop Joseph P. Delaney in the day to day affairs of the diocese. As a coadjutor, Bishop-designate Vann would assume the office of bishop when the office becomes vacant.
Parochial vicar, Rev. Carlos M. Bohorquez is appointed pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Pierron, Illinois and of St. Nicholas Parish, Pocahontas, Illinois effective July 1.
Rev. Jeffrey E. Stone is appointed parochial vicar of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, effective July 1.
Rev. Kevin M. Laughery, a native son of the parish, is appointed Interim Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, effective July 1.
Rev. Stephen T. Sotiroff, a native son of the parish, is appointed pastor of Mother of Perpetual Help Parish, Maryville, from pastor of Mother of Dolors Parish, Vandalia, and parochial administrator of St. Joseph Parish, Ramsey, and also concluding his appointment as chaplain of the Vandalia Correctional Center, Vandalia, effective July 1.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
3850 Lourdes Drive
Decatur, Illinois 62526
Phone: (217) 877-4404
Fax: (217) 877-5257
bulletin@ololchurch.com
