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The History of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Gales Ferry, Connecticut, reflects the history of the Roman Catholic Church in America and the world since 1957. Come, follow us, as we retrace the history of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish for the last forty years.
We now go back in time to 1957. Pius XII was the Pope, the Vicar of Jesus Christ on Earth.
The Most Rev. Bernard Flanagan was Bishop of Norwich wich included Gales Ferry and
Ledyard. Pope Pius XII wrote his Papal Encyclical "Le Pilerinage de Lourdes" on
July 2, 1957, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the apparitions at Lourdes, France,
when the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared. Thus inspired, the church in Gales Ferry,
Connecticut, was to take its name from Lourdes.
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Gales Ferry began as a mission church of Sacred Heart Church in Groton in 1957. Fr. Leo Lavallee, the pastor, was assured by Jim Abbott and Helen Oviatt that a minimum of thirty people would gather at the Gales Ferry Community Center if he would agree to celebrate Mass for the growing number of Catholics in Ledyard and Gales Ferry. One hundred more than the thirty promised attended!. Over the next two years attendance at Mass increased and the parishoners spilling into a second room. In 1959, larger accommodations were found at the Gales Ferry Elementary School.
In 1958, the beloved Angelo Roncalli became the Pope named John XXIII. His spirit spread across the world and into Ledyard-Gales Ferry. The world and Ledyard-Gales Ferry were growing.
During the late 1950's and early 1960's, Ledyard enlarged rapidly from a population of 1,500 to over 7,000 rdsidents.
In 1959, Bishop Flanagan bought a 6.67 acre parcel of the old Hurlbutt Farm on Route 12 in Gales Ferry and a "chapel" which cost $58,288.00 was built. The first Mass was celebrated there on June 30, 1960, even though the doors and windows had not yet been installed.
The church in the world was undergoing a massive change, Pope John XXIII summoned the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). Two of Pope John's Encyclicals, Mater et Magistra, (May 15, 1961) and Pacem in Terris (April 10, 1063) changed the face and the heart of the church, which is well and truly reflected here at Our Lady of Lourdes. The Mass was to be celebrated in English with the celebrant facing the congregation. A spirit of ecumenism took hold and began to grow. Then, suddenly, John XXIII died, to be succeeded by Paul VI. He reconvened the Second Vatican Council and carried out many of its reforms.
Here, the "chapel" became Our Lady of Lourdes Church on June 18, 1963, and Fr. Bernard Miller was named pastor. Six hundred ninety families were registered in the parish and 465 children were enrolled in the CCD program.
Construction continued in 1964, as an addition to the east end of the church was completed for use as a hall for social activities, a church school, and overflow at Masses. One of the small houses on the property was enlarged to be used as the rectory. Another house (known as the "Red House") was used as a residence for pastoral associates and as a meeting place for some of the parish organizations and activities.
In 1965, a fund drive was undertaken to construct a shrine behind the church. Money donated in memory of John E. Fahey was used to purchase a statue from France to represent Our Lady of Lourdes. The shrine was modeled after the actual grotto shrine in Lourdes, France, where Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. It was built over a three-year period by men of the parish who often brought their own boulders. A piece of stone from the boulder in which Saint Bernadette first was the vision was presented to the parish and was embedded at the base of the statue at the shrine. A brook cascades down the hill to the left of the grotto in front of the shrine and is reminiscent of the River Care which flows in front of Lourdes. The bridge leading to the shrine originally stood near Brooklyn, Connecticut. Built in 1853, it was abandoned due to a proposed road improvement project. With minor alterations, it provided a perfect access to the shrine.
In 1966, three of The Congregation of Our Lady Help of the Clergy began their residence in the parish, and they became affectionately known as the "Blue Nuns" because of their bright blue habits. They assisted our parish as housekeepers in the rectory and as teachers in the religious education program for six years.
During the 1960's and 1970's, the parish continued to grow, and in October 1977, a pledge drive for a new church structure began. Construction began on the feastday of Our Lady of Lourdes, Feb. 11, 1980, and when completed in December 1980, it included seating for 700 parishioners. The design incorporated changing the existing church into a small chapel, a meeting hall, a library, and a kitchen.
Meanwhile, in 1978, the universally respected Pope Paul VI died and was succeeded by Albino Luciani who took the names of his two famous predecessors and became Pope John Paul I. Sadly, he reigned for only thirty-four days before his death and was succeeded by our first Polish Pope (and first non-Italian Pope in 450 years), Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II. He has labored tirelessly and traveled almost endlessly for the good of the church, renewing the spirit of Christ in the Church.
The diaconate being one of the means to such growth and renewal, the first three deacons of the parish were ordained in 1981. The rectory was enlarged and now contains housing for three priests, offices for the staff, meeting rooms, and a storage room.
Our Lady of Lourdes is fortunate to have had so many dedicated clergy and parishioners who have worked diligently over the years to provide religious education, promote spiritual growth, carry out the work of God, and be Christian witnesses.
Some of the highlights that distinguish us as a parish include the following activites and interests:
In 1958, the Ladies Guild was formed while the church was still a mission. The guild has been critical to the life of our parish, sponsoring apostolic works, prayer, the annual Christmas Bazaar, fund raising events, fellowship and more.
In 1970, the Parish Council was founded. The Council is made up of twelve elected members at large, seven committee representatives, one deacon, and the pastoral associate. It meets regularly to discuss all matter of parish life and mission work. They are advisory to the Pastor and Pastoral Staff.
In 1972, the Annual Parish Festival was established as an opportunity for fellowship and to provide funds for charities and improvements to the church. Each year more than two hundred parishioners volunteer to make this four-day festival a success.
In 1986, the parish became committed to stewardship. One way our Christian outreach is manifest is in our support for orphans, families and religious in Haiti. Sister Ellen Flynn, a pastoral associate at Our Lady of Lourdes from 1985 until 1989, was subsequently assigned to Haiti where she carries out her mission. Approximately fifty-five families from our parish help to support the girls, administrators and teachers at Paula Thybulle's orphanage. Each month, the Haiti Outreach Committee has a bake sale and proceeds earmarked for the Haitian poor. Another favorite charity at Our Lady of Lourdes is providing gifts for children at Christmas through Catholic Charities and the "Giving Tree." From 1976 until Norwich Hospital closed in 1996, monthly visits and generous Christmas gifts brought a little cheer to the residents. In 1988, the parish sponsored the resettlement of a Laotian refugee family.
For the last three years, the students in pre-K through eighth grades have taken on a special Lenten project. Through bake and craft sales, car washes, giving pennies, etc. our children have built a school in Mexico, four houses in Peru, and a settlement house in Mexico out of their concern for the poor and oppressed in the world.
On April 17, 1999, a meeting took place between the Pastor, Rev. Joseph F. De Costa and a parishioner, Eileen McCarthy concerning a very special project -- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. No other parish in the diocese had this, so the pastor suggested that Eileen speak to the Bishop about it, and that if he granted permission, then the task of organization could begin. On Sunday, October 17, 1999, (six months to the day), Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration was instituted by Bishop Daniel A. Hart. There were 420 signed up adorers at that time -- many from some of the surrounding parishes. This parish was the first, and at the time of this writing (April 2001), still remains the only parish in the entire Diocese of Norwich that has Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. The chapel is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week where committed adorers spend one hour in silent adoration. In addition to many parishioners, people from surrounding parishes (even as far away as Colchester), come and spend time before the Blessed Sacrament. This has been a great blessing to this parish and to the diocese. Currently, a new Friary in Griswold is in the process of orgainizing Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, and this is also being looked at for the Cathedral in Norwich.
Our Lady's Shrine Council No. 7054, Knights of Columbus, was chartered in 1978. This organization, comprised of men from the area, supports the many activities and charities of the parish, promotes vocations, assists parishioners and their families, and carries out the good works of the Knights of Columbus.
The Youth Ministry program continues to grow in our parish. Its mission is to strengthen a sense comradery among teenagers and to promote service with fellow teens.
Carrying out the ecumenical teachings of Popes John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, and John Paul II, and the bishops who succeeded Bishop Flanagan, Vincent J. Hines, Daniel P. Reilly and Daniel A. Hart, Our Lady of Lourdes joyfully joins the churches of Ledyard and Gales Ferry in a strong ecumenical commitment. They have sponsored vacation bible schools, Thanksgiving Eve services, the Ledyard Interchurch Emergency Assistance Fund, musical programs, the "Week of Christian Unity" and others.
Today, under the leadership of our current pastor, Rev. Joseph F. De Costa, the parish has grown to 990 families and has a religious education program for nearly 500 children in Grades 1-8 who are instructed by a teaching staff of 80 catechists and a support staff of over 100.