Our Lady of Lourdes Celebrates Its Founding By Honoring Those Who Give So Much

The oldest Catholic Church in town, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish cherishes its rich heritage as a vibrant faith community within West Orange since its founding nearly 100 years ago. 

It was in November 1914 that Rev. Nicholas A. Marnell, the founding pastor, celebrated the parish’s first Mass at the home of Patrick and Bridget Byrne, not far from the church’s current location at the intersection of Eagle Rock Avenue and Main Street. 

The parish celebrates its 97^th anniversary this Saturday, November 12, with a 5:30 p.m. Mass presided by Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, former archbishop of the Newark and Washington, D.C. archdioceses, and assisted by Msgr. Joseph Petrillo, Our Lady of Lourdes pastor, and Fr. Edson Costa, parochial vicar.  Following is the Founder’s Day Dinner in Connor Hall, the parish community center located in the downstairs of the church.

According to John Healy, the dinner’s master of ceremonies, Founder’s Day is an opportunity for the Lourdes community to come together socially as well as to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the liturgical, organizational, financial and social activities of the parish for a number of years.

“The dinner-dance is a great annual celebration,” he said. “It’s important each year for the community to honor people who’ve been selflessly giving of their time and talents for many, many years.”

The highlight of the dinner is the presentation of the Marnell and Mahoney Awards, named for the first two pastors of Our Lady of Lourdes.  The Marnell Award was established as part of the parish’s 90^th anniversary celebration in 2004, and the Mahoney Award added in 2007. 

The list of past Marnell Award recipients reads like a Who’s Who of prominent West Orange residents noted for serving others and helping to make our town a better place for 50 years or more.  The 2011 award recipients – John & Arlene O’Connor and Alice McCauley -- are no exception.

Arlene Blake O’Connor was baptized at Our Lady of Lourdes, and her grandfather held a position on the first parish Board of Trustees.  A member of the church choir for more than 40 years, Arlene also is a founding member of the Heritage Committee, which compiled and maintains a comprehensive archive of parish history.  I remember years ago when Arlene served with my mother on the Our Lady of Lourdes School Mothers Guild, as well as her performances in parish CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) productions of Damn Yankees and Bye, Bye Birdie.  Recently, she sang as part of the non-denominational choir at the Township’s 9/11 Memorial Observance at OSPAC.

Arlene’s husband, John O’Connor, has been a tireless coach and mentor in youth sports programs for close to 50 years.  Well-known in town as a PAL coach (he coached my brothers), John also had an impressive record coaching CYO and Our Lady of Lourdes School basketball and baseball teams for decades.  He was the driving force behind the restoration and preservation of “the grotto,” a beautiful shrine and landmark of Our Lady of Lourdes that many use as a place for meditation and prayer.  Active in a host of parish ministries, John can always be found Sunday mornings ushering at the 11:30 a.m. Mass.

A parishioner for some 80 years (she, too, was baptized at Our Lady of Lourdes), Alice McCauley has never taken a break from her stewardship to the community.  Serving in many leadership roles (my mom and she were the two “Alices” of the Mothers Guild), she is still very much a prominent member of the Rosary Altar Society and Catholic Daughters of America, organizations that Alice has been involved with for more than 60 years. 

This year’s Mahoney Award recipient is Rev. Gerald A. Marchand, who served as pastor from 1979 to 1999.  Fr. Marchand is noted for providing strong spiritual, liturgical and financial leadership for two decades, as he shepherded the parish through a major redevelopment campaign to address issues concerning the vast physical plant including the church, convent and school.  He also began the initiative to collect and preserve parish history.

The past Marnell Award recipients are: Virginia Mahon (2004); Daniel Galate, Peg McDonald and Gertrude Weisbrot (2005); John Diveny and Loretta Landers (2006); John Healy and Katherine Sheridan (2007); Margaret Christiano and Margaret Shelley (2008); Muriel Chandler and John & Ann Pflug (2009); and Patricia Paxton, John Smith and Vincent & Stella Santucci (2010). 

The Mahoney Award recipients include: Sister Margaret Ann Kelly, SC (2007); Sister Anne Sweeney, OP (2008); Deacon Ernest Abad (2009); Sister Joseph Marie McManus, SC (2010).

My husband and I have attended several Founder’s Day Dinners, starting in 2007 when the late Kay Sheridan, my fourth-grade teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes School, received the Marnell Award.  It was a joy to see many old classmates there to honor an incredible lady and true gem of an educator. 

The 2011 dinner promises to be a memorable evening as well.  If you would like further information about the Our Lady of Lourdes Founder’s Day activities, please contact John Healy at 973-748-6398.