Our Lady of Lourdes Parish

nOur Lady of Lourdes Parish was the third off-shoot of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, the mother parish of Jamaica Plain that was established in January, 1869.  The founding pastor, Rev. Msgr. Thomas Magennis presided over St. Thomas Aquinas Parish until his death on February 23, 1912.  In 1896, he erected a small church dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes on Brookside Avenue.  The church served as a mission of St. Thomas' until 1908. 

    On July 8, 1908, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish received its first pastor, Rev. George A. Lyons and was set off as an independent parish.  A native of South Boston, Fr. Lyons was born on August 16, 1863. After graduating from Boston College, he prepared for the priesthood at St. John Seminary and the North American College in Rome.  He was ordained in the Eternal City in 1889.  His first assignment was to Most Precious Blood Parish in Hyde Park (1890-1908).  Prior to his appointment to Jamaica Plain, he was appointed Diocesan Supervisor of Catholic Schools in November, 1906.

   Upon becoming pastor, Fr. Lyons found the small church inadequate for a growing congregation. He set to work to enlarge and remodel the building to provide a larger sanctuary and parish hall in the basement.  Archbishop O'Connell dedicated the reconstructed church on Sunday, September 12, 1909. On January 24, 1916, Fr. Lyons was appointed pastor of Gate of Heaven Parish in South Boston where he served to his death on May 29, 1932. 

    Rev. Peter C. Quinn was appointed the second pastor on January 24, 1916.  Fr. Quinn was no stranger to Jamaica Plain as his first assignment after ordination on December 21, 1894 was to nearby Blessed Sacrament Parish.  Before coming to Jamaica Plain, he had been serving as founding pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Chelsea, an appointment that took effect in September, 1913.   The growth of the parish led to a need for a grammar school.  Fr. Quinn began fundraising efforts.  On August 26, 1916, some 5000 people attended the annual field day on the grounds of the church, the proceeds benefiting the school building fund.  The school, on Montebello Road opened in September, 1916.  Fr. Quinn's pastorate was short.  On June 4, 1917, he was appointed pastor of St. Paul Parish in Dorchester, with the hopes of building a new church.  Fr. Quinn died on October 3, 1918, a victim of the influenza epidemic raging at the time. 

   Rev. Walter J. Browne served as pastor during the World War I  years.  A jovial man, he died on May 20, 1919 at the rectory.  Cardinal O'Connell presided at his funeral Mass on May 23, 1919.  Rev. Daniel H. Riley became the fourth pastor on June 4, 1919.   In 1920, he erected a new red brick rectory at the corner of Brookside Ave and Montebello Road.  Fr. Riley died on February 6, 1923. 

    A new era of growth in the parish began with the fifth pastor, Rt. Rev. James F. Kelly.  Appointed on February 19, 1923, his pastorate of thirty one years ended with his death on June 14, 1954.  His first building project was a new convent, of brick and limestone, erected in 1924-25.  Not satisfied with the church on Brookside Avenue, and seeing the need for a more suitable church, Msgr. Kelly and Boston Mayor James Curley broke ground on Montebello Road on July 13, 1931. Designed by Edward Graham and built by Martin Ryan, the new Our Lady of Lourdes Church was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1932 with the Most Rev. Francis J. Spellman (later Archbishop of New York) presiding. 

    Our Lady of Lourdes Church is of red brick and limestone in the Romanesque style.  The interior includes stained glass windows designed by the eminent artist in stained glass, Charles J. Connick.  An interesting historical note is the devotion of Mayor James M. Curley to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. By 1932, the Mayor had lost his daughter, Dorothea (laid to rest from Our Lady of Lourdes Church on January 31, 1925 at the age of 14), his first wife (Mary E. Curley, laid to rest from Holy Cross Cathedral in June, 1930) and his eldest son, James (laid to rest from the Cathedral in June, 1931).  The three altars and several windows were donated by the Mayor in their memory. 

     Rev. William J. Desmond served as pastor from August 2, 1954 to his death on January 4, 1960. During his pastorate, the golden jubilee of the parish was celebrated with major events in the fall of 1958.  Many vocations to the priesthood came from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.  Four native sons were ordained in 1958. 

    Pastors during the 1960's included Rev. James T.McKeon (1960-1965) and Rev. Thomas J. Burns (1965-1970).   Pastors during the 1970's included Rev. Raymond G. Thomas (1970-1971), Rev. John J. Connelll (1971-1973), and Rev. Harold J. Johnson (1973-1980). 

    Msgr. Charles J. Bourque arrived at Our Lady of Lourdes as curate in 1979.  He was appointed the present pastor on October 28, 1980.  Notable events during his pastorate have included the Diamond Jubilee of the parish in 1983 and the burning and rebuilding of the parish center in 1985.  In April, 1998, Msgr. Bourque was one of 32 priests named Prelates of Honor" with the title monsignor.  Parishioners honored our pastor at a reception on Sunday, June 7, 1998.