Father William F.McDonough celebrates his first Mass in Jefferson

Priests from St.Paul ’s say Mass in the home of Mr.and Mrs.Frank

Father James A.Meurer is assigned by Bishop Jeremiah O ’Sullivan to

establish a parish for the German-speaking workers of Birmingham.After

St.Paul ’s,this is to be the second parish in the city and the second in the

county to be assigned a permanent pastor.(St.Catherine of Siena in

Pratt City had been operating as a mission of St.Paul ’s since 1880.)Mrs.

Father Meurer bui l ds the fi rst Our Lady of Sorrows church on the

School begins operation with Sister Mary Alfonso,R.S.M.,as principal.

In addition to the three R ’s,students are taught music,elocution and

Bishop Edward P.Allen lays the cornerstone for a new brick church,

assisted by Father Meurer.The church cost $25,000.(The cornerstone

Bishop Allen dedicates the new brick church and blesses the copy of

Michaelangelo ’s Pieta.The congregation of 1,500 hears Father Boniface

Seng,O.S.B.,speak on the waters flowing from the temple.A choir of 16

and a violinist provide music.The carved wooden main altar had been the

altar at St.Paul ’s.When it was damaged in a fire,it was given to Our Lady

Father Meurer dies.Father Louis H.Galland leaves Pratt City (where

he was the first resident pastor)to become the second pastor of Our

Lady of Sorrows.He conti nues the tradi ti on of preachi ng i n both

Father Galland dies,and Father Malachi Kitrick becomes temporar y

Father John O ’Kelly takes over as pastor,leaving St.Aloysius parish in

Bessemer.In his announcement book,he notes that he will continue

Father Galland ’s Mass schedule and will keep the same Pew Rents

Parishioners erect marble monuments at the graves of both previous

pastors at Our Lady of Sorrows Cemetery,near First Street and Sixth

Father O ’Kelly notes the total number of baptisms for the first 20 years:

Women of O.L.S.hold a "Pic Nic " at Ger mania Park (probably the

present-day Fairgrounds)to raise money for needed repairs in the

Parish begins annual Bazaar held in June.It was held for the next

fifteen years in a row.Mrs.Warren Snead,Sr.,served as Chairman

Red brick school and convent built on southeast corner of 14th Street

Financial statement shows church debt of $27,800.Father O ’Kelly

thanks parishioners for their valued assistance through the Envelope

System,the Spring Drive,the Parish Societies,Socials,Parties,Bazaar,

Father Edward F.Shea becomes pastor when Father O ’Kelly is assigned

Bishop Toolen approves a section of Elmwood cemetery to be used for

Catholics.All graves are moved from Our Lady of Sorrows cemetery.

Assistants in this year include Fathers Hugh J.Duffy,T.L.Flynn and

Her man C.Cazalas,also Director of Missions in Central Alabama.

C.C.D.Religious Vacation School enrolls 91 children from O.L.S.,St.

O.L.S.Parent-Teacher Association formed,with Mrs.Lee Hughes the

O.L.S.Catholic Youth Organization,with Floyd Stephens as president,is

Father Shea dies,and Father John O ’Sullivan,assistant pastor,takes

Father Timothy J.Pathe is assigned pastor,leaving St.Anthony ’s in

Father Francis J.Foley is appointed as pastor when Father Pathe leaves

Father Herman C.Cazalas is assigned as pastor,leaving Sacred Heart

Parish in Anniston.Father Foley becomes Administrator of St.Paul ’s

After Ash Wednesday services the night before,fire breaks out in the

furnace room in the basement and sweeps through the church,which

had been recently renovated at a cost of $15,000.Firemen fight the blaze

for five hours while parishioners work to set up the school auditorium for

Bishop Toolen offers Father Cazalas his choice of property in Mountain

Brook or Homewood to rebuild Our Lady of Sorrows.The Homewood site

is chosen,and the first Masses are celebrated in the brown house near

Archbishop Toolen dedicates the first building at the new location.It

includes 9 classrooms,cafeteria,auditorium and convent.The school

Two houses are purchased on the Eastern end of the lot.One stood

where the front parking lot now is,and the other is now the church

Midnight Mass is the first service celebrated in the new church building,

dedicated January 17,1960.Total cost of construction was approximately

Joseph Canary heads committee which organizes the Parish Council.

A new addition to the school is completed,containing 6 classrooms

The CYO House and school library is completed.The old church on

Southside,which had been rebuilt for Our Lady of Fatima,is razed to make

room for expansion of UAB.Msgr.Cazalas opens the cornerstone to find

newspapers,coins and medals from 1905,when the stone was laid.One

medallion is inscribed "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Century " and

After 28 years at O.L.S.,Msgr.Cazalas is reassigned to St.Stanislaus in

Father Charles Bordenca and Father Matthew Brennan are assigned

Father Brennan becomes Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish.Father

Father Martin Muller,in residence at O.L.S.for many years while on the

faculty of John Carroll High School,leaves John Carroll and becomes

The handmade organ was installed from the Kenneth Jones Company

Father Pascal A.Ferlisi,a native of Birmingham and of the Order of

St.Benedict,is assigned to OLS.He was previously a member of St.

Sister Janet Marie Flemming,O.S.B.comes to OLS from the Benedictine

Sisters in Cullman and is named Director of the Spiritual Life Office

The Our Lady of Sorrows School Foundation was established to assure

the survival of the Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School.The school

is a regional school dedicated to academic excellence and serves Our

Lady of Sorrows,St.Peter ’s,Prince of Peace,St.George and St.Elias

Parishes.The goal of the school is to provide students with a special

kind of education,one that not only recognizes and meets the needs

of the individual but also teaches through example and experience the

The Botti Studios of Evansville,Illinois begins installing the stain glass in

Bishop William Dermott Molloy,of Huancavelica,Peru dedicates the

500 seat Church of St.Joseph the Worker in Bellavista,Lircay,Peru.

The church was built entirely with donations from OLS parishioners

and proceeds from the OLS Fourth of July Festivals.Father Juan Jose

Sister Margaret Mary Liang,O.S.B.,the Director of Religious Education,

l eaves OLS t o wor k i n t he mi ssi ons of Chi na.Si st er Janet Mar i e

Flemming,O.S.B.,head of the Spiritual Life Office,leaves OLS to be

appointed Sub-prioress with the Benedictine Community.Father Muller

hosts a reception for both Benedictine Sisters thanking them for their

Mrs.Patricia Higuera returns to OLS as Director of our Parish School

of Religion beginning in September.She had previously served as the

Bi shop Raymond J.Bol and,D.D.dedi cates the new stai ned gl ass

windows on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.A reception was held

following the dedication honoring the donors.Father Muller writes in his

weekly letter to the parish,"Deacon Bill Hanks and the altar servers,

Rober t Sullivan and his music ensemble,the Alter Sodality ’s lovely

reception,and the Knights of Columbus all added to the solemnity and

The Knights of Columbus donated $30,000 toward the new "Knights of

Columbus " building used by the school during the week and by the Parish

The parish,the Bir mingham Catholic community and the entire city

mourn the loss of Angelo and Lee Bruno.They are remembered for

their smiling faces,wonderful optimism,love,and concern for people

and their dedication to God and their families.Father Muller writes,

"The Bruno brothers were a legend in their own time.Of the many

charitable acts by the Bruno family,Lee Bruno offered matching funds

up to $100,000 for all donations made during a designated time for the

Father Muller announces that Lee Bruno ’s challenge to the parish to

match funds to $100,000 has been achieved.An anonymous donor offers

Sister Thomas Jude is named the new Minister to Sick &Shut-Ins and

organizer of Bible groups.She is a Trinitarian nun and the parish is

Under the leadership of Ida Wilker and Mary Claire Brouillette,Perpetual

Adoration star ted on Saturday,August 15,1992 at 9:00 a.m.In the

previous months,parishioners signed up for at least one hour each

week in the Chapel of Our Savior for a devotion to our Lord ’s presence

in the Eucharist.The chapel is located on the side of the church office

Father Thomas Kelly is assigned associate pastor for the parish.Father

Muller writes in his weekly letter to the parish,"He [Father Kelly ] has

been ordained for 2 years,comes from Ireland and is an accomplished

Father Mul l er announces that the par i sh wi l l be getti ng a second

Trinitarian sister with the arrival of Sister Pat Sullivan as the head of the

Ministry to the Sick while Sister Thomas Jude moves to be the Director

The choir loft (now called the balcony)is extended adding 100 seats of pew

space in the choir loft.At the same time,the Ave Maria Shoppe is enlarged

The OLS School Foundation,established in 1991,has grown to $800,000.

Father Muller announces another individual has agreed to match new

The Angelo Bruno Family agrees to donate $1,500,000 if the parish raises

$500,000 to completely renovate the OLS School.With the renovation of

the Homewood Library,Father Muller discusses purchasing the former

The Parish School of Religion (PSR)Building is to be built next to the

Knights of Columbus building.It will provide additional classrooms and

Father Muller announces that funding for the OLS School renovations is

The OLS School Foundation reaches the $100,000 matching fund goal

and the anonymous donor agrees to match all new donations until

The Parish School of Religion (PSR)Building is completed next to

the Kni ghts of Col umbus bui l di ng provi di ng addi ti onal cl assrooms

Father Mul l er announces the par i sh rai sed $128,282 i n 1995 and

the anonymous donor matched that amount bringing the OLS School

Father Ferlisi,O.S.B.celebrates the Silver Jubilee of his Ordination

to the Holy Priesthood by inviting the entire parish to par ticipate in

a solemn Mass of Thanksgiving.A reception was held following the

Father Muller blesses the newly completed Our Lady of Peace Patio

located in the back of the CYO House.The Our Lady of Peace Guild

Father Mul l er announces the par i sh wi l l be addi ng an el evator to

the nor thwest corner of the church to accommodate the elderly and

Sister Thomas Jude dies after 53 years as a nun with 13 different

assignments.Father Muller writes,"She had as her basic thrust in life to

bring people to Jesus.She had a great sense of mission and a sense of

The parish purchases the former Electrician ’s Union building and parking

The choir goes on their second pilgrimage to Rome,Italy.Their first

The parish gave Father Muller a surprise birthday par ty in the Parish

Bishop David E.Foley blesses and rededicates the newly renovated

OLS School.The new elevator is now operating and being used by

Father John Delclos from the Archdiocese of Baltimore conducts his fifth

mission at the parish.As always,he fills the church each night with his

Father Muller celebrates 40 years as a priest without public celebration.In

his letter to the parish he writes,"There will be no public celebration in that

you,the parishioners,already gave me a most fantastic surprise birthday

Father Kelly is assigned to be pastor at St.Williams in Guntersville,

AL and Father Sean Merino is named associate pastor.Father Kelly

reluctantly agreed to a fond farewell with a reception as long as there

would be no roast.Father Sean,a native of Decatur,comes to OLS

from Holy Spirit Church in Huntsville where he has been a priest for

The parish celebrates the fifth anniversar y of Per petual Eucharistic

Adoration on the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady with a procession

with the Blessed Sacrament from the chapel to the church.The event

includes the Knights of Columbus Honor Guards,OLS choir and a

Mass.An appreciation dinner was held for everyone in the Parish Hall

Father Sean Merino is assigned to be associate pastor at St.Peters

in Hoover,AL and newly ordained Father Gerald Holloway is named

During the traditional "Appreciation Dinner " for those who worked the

famous Four th of July Festival,Harriet Bischoff was given a surprise

appreciation for her sixteen years of service in the church office.Father

Muller wrote,"Harriet ’s years of ser vice to our parish will never be

Bishop Foley dedicates the renovations to the Chapel of Our Savior

(Adoration Chapel)and the gym.The gym has installed a new wooden

Father Pascal A.Ferlisi,a diabetic since early childhood,dies.During

his ten years at OLS,he lost both legs and his left ar m,but never

was he deterred from continuing his priestly ministr y and duties at

the par i sh.Hi s deter mi nati on,spi r i tual i ty and rel i gi ous knowl edge

Bishop Foley grants his permission for the parish to purchase a new

"mini bus " for the church ’s disabled parishioners to use.The van is also

raises $39,000.The proceeds go to the Knights of Columbus charities

Bishop Foley writes a letter to the parish stating:"It is a great joy for me

to name The Perpetual Adoration Chapel at OLS as a pilgrimage site for

the Great Jubilee Year,beginning December 25,1999 and ending January

6,2001." Father Muller writes,"The Jubilee Year is a year of forgiveness

of debts and sins,and the chapel is a place for visits,prayers and the

Renovations are completed on the modernization of the CYO House and

Father Gerald Holloway leaves OLS to become associate pastor at Holy

Spirit in Huntsville,AL,and Father Thomas Ackerman leaves Holy Spirit

The parish donated all proceeds,totaling more than $45,000,from the

for three new chapels in three Catholic communities in Matamoros,

Mexico.Father Michael Seifert,who grew up at OLS and is the son of

OLS parishioners Mr.and Mrs.Gordon Seifer t,spoke at each mass

thanking the parish on behalf of all of the 6,000 families he works

with in Mexico.

According to Joe Falconer,Jr.,the festival chairman,the following was

of bonel ess por k butts,2,000 pounds of por k r i bs,750 pounds of

chicken halves,350 pounds of beef,300 hot dogs,250 pounds of

coleslaw,96 gallons of pork and beans,50 gallons of sauce and 60

New stained glass windows were installed in the Chapel of Our Savior that

were designed by Diane Meyers from Statesville,North Carolina.

The parish completes its latest modifications to the campus after borrowing

$400,000 for the following:renovation of the parish hall kitchen,the new

women ’s and handicapped restroom in the church,a new storage room for

the Ave Marie Shoppe,the renovation of the kitchen in the nursery and the

The tabernacle is moved from the front,right of the church to a more

The church installs the Divine Mercy painting of Jesus along with a painting

of the Assumption of Mary.These paintings are hung on either side of the

Father Thomas Ackerman leaves OLS to become the pastor at St.Williams

in Guntersville,AL and Father Joseph Palathingal leaves St.Francis in

Father Joseph Palathingal leaves to study in California and Father Jose I.

Father Jose I.Manjaly leaves OLS to become the pastor at St.Francis of

Assisi in Talladega and Father Michael Deering accepts his first assignment

of Perpetual Adoration.The celebration was held on the feast of the

Assumption of the Blessed Mother.Concelebrating the Mass with Bishop

Foley were Father Muller,pastor;Father Michael Deering,associate pastor,

Father Emmanuel,in residence and Father Ed T.Hartel,a visiting priest

from Washington,D.C.A covered dish dinner was held in the parish hall

Father Muller learns that he has earned the Monsignor title

Newly anointed Monsignor Muller reluctantly agrees to allow

the parish to host a congratulation party in the Parish Hall only

after Bishop Foley has a friendly talk with him.There was a

huge turnout by the parish,former students and many others

The par i sh cel ebrat ed 11 bl essed year s of Per pet ual

Eucharistic Adoration on the Feast of the Assumption of

Our Blessed Mother.Mass was held after a procession from

the Chapel of Our Savior to the Church with the Knights of

Columbus leading as the Honor Guard.The OLS Choir lead

the singing.An appreciation dinner to all committed Adorers

Father Joe Underwood

Father Tim Burns

Father George Kirkpatrick

Father Denis Putman