Father William F.McDonough celebrates his first Mass in

St .Paul ’s,t he f i r s t Cat hol i c Chur c h i n t he ar ea,i s

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

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.Frank Anthe serves as first president of the Altar

Father Meurer builds the first Our Lady of Sorrows church on

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

as principal.In addition to the three R ’s,students are taught

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

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

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

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 continues the tradition of

Father Galland dies,and Father Malachi Kitrick becomes

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

Parishioners erect marble monuments at the graves of both

previous pastors at Our Lady of Sorrows Cemetery,near First

Street and Sixth Avenue South,the present site of Our Lady

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

Women of O.L.S.hold a "Pic Nic " at Germania Park (probably

the present-day Fairgrounds)to raise money for needed

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

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

Red brick school and convent built on southeast corner of

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,

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

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 Herman C.Cazalas,also Director

of Missions in Central Alabama.C.C.D.Religious Vacation

School enrolls 91 children from O.L.S.,St.George and St.

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

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

president,is recognized on a national radio broadcast for their

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

Father Ti mothy J.Pathe i s assi gned pastor,l eavi ng St.

Our Lady of Sorrows Praesidium of the Legion of Mary is

Father Francis J.Foley is appointed as pastor when Father

Father Herman C.Cazalas is assigned as pastor,leaving

Sacred Hear t Parish in Anniston.Father Foley becomes

Administrator of St.Paul ’s Parish due to the illness of its

After Ash Wednesday services the night before,fire breaks

out i n t he f ur nace room i n t he 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 "Mass

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 the present location of

An enduring tradition begins with the first Annual Fourth of

Archbishop Toolen dedicates the first building at the new

location.It includes 9 classrooms,cafeteria,auditorium and

convent.The school auditorium serves as the church for the

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

Midnight Mass is the first ser vice celebrated in the new

church building,dedicated January 17,1960.Total cost of

Joseph Canary heads committee which organizes the Parish

A new addition to the school is completed,containing 6

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 Wylam,and Father Patrick Murphy returns to

Father Charles Bordenca and Father Matthew Brennan are

Father Brennan becomes Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish.

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

while on the faculty of John Carroll High School,leaves John

The handmade organ was installed from the Kenneth Jones

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

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

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

Benedictine Sisters in Cullman and is named Director of the

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

Father Jeffrie Reynolds is named associate pastor for the

The Botti Studios of Evansville,Illinois begins installing the

stain glass in the church.The various windows depict the

Bi shop Wi l l i am Der mot t Mol l oy,of Huancavel i ca,Per u

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

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

Education,leaves OLS to work in the missions of China.

Sister Janet Marie 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 contributions

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

School of Religion beginning in September.She had previously

Bishop Raymond J.Boland,D.D.dedicates the new stained

glass 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 School of Religion and A.A.during

The parish,the Birmingham 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

Father Muller announces that Lee Bruno ’s challenge to the

parish to match funds to $100,000 has been achieved.An

anonymous donor offers to match up to $25,000 of additional

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 delighted she chose OLS for her new

Under the leadership of Ida Wilker and Mary Claire Brouillette,

Perpetual Adoration started 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

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

Father Muller announces that the parish will be getting a

second Trinitarian sister with the arrival of Sister Pat Sullivan

as the head of the Ministry to the Sick while Sister Thomas

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 providing additional room

The OLS School Foundation,established in 1991,has grown

to $800,000.Father Muller announces another individual has

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 Electricians ’ Union ’s

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

to the Knights of Columbus building.It will provide additional

classrooms and office space for the 450 students on Sundays

Father Muller announces that funding for the OLS School

renovations is complete and the project will be finished in the

The OLS School Foundation reaches the $100,000 matching

fund goal and the anonymous donor agrees to match all new

The Parish School of Religion (PSR)Building is completed

next to the Knights of Columbus building providing additional

Father Muller announces the parish raised $128,282 in 1995

and the anonymous donor matched that amount bringing the

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

Ordination to the Holy Priesthood by inviting the entire parish

to participate in a solemn Mass of Thanksgiving.A reception

Father Muller blesses the newly completed Our Lady of Peace

Patio located in the back of the CYO House.The Our Lady of

Father Muller announces the parish will be adding an elevator

to the northwest corner of the church to accommodate the

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 humor that mixed the Irish

The parish purchases the former Electrician ’s Union building

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

The parish gave Father Muller a surprise birthday party in the

Bishop David E.Foley blesses and rededicates the newly

renovated OLS School.The new elevator is now operating

Father John Delclos from the Archdiocese of Baltimore

conducts his fifth mission at the parish.As always,he fills the

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 party six months

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

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

During the traditional "Appreciation Dinner " for those who

worked the famous Fourth 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 service to our parish will never be forgotten and

Bishop Foley dedicates the renovations to the Chapel of Our

Savior (Adoration Chapel)and the gym.The gym has installed

a new wooden floor and added two meeting rooms.The church

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

During his ten years at OLS,he lost both legs and his left arm,

but never was he deterred from continuing his priestly ministry

and duties at the parish.His determination,spirituality and

Renovations begin to modernize the CYO House and the

Bishop Foley grants his permission for the parish to purchase

a new "mini bus " for the church ’s disabled parishioners to use.

Festival and raises $39,000.The proceeds go to the Knights

of Columbus charities (10%),the OLS School (45%)and the

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

Renovations are completed on the modernization of the CYO

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

purchasing materials 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 Seifert,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

1,850 pounds of boneless pork butts,2,000 pounds of pork

ribs,750 pounds of chicken halves,350 pounds of beef,300

hot dogs,250 pounds of coleslaw,96 gallons of pork and

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

Shop,the renovation of the kitchen in the nursery and the

new Catholic Learning Center on the other side of the CYO

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

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 church at the front 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 Mountain Brook to become the associate

Father Joseph Pal athi ngal l eaves to study i n Cal i for ni a

and Father Jose I.Manjaly comes to Birmingham to be the

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 as an ordained priest to become

The parish celebrated with great joy and thanksgiving the

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 after Mass and the Chapel of Our

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

dates back to 1668,when the Servite friars,who were especially devoted to the sufferings of Mary,were granted a feast on

the third Sunday in September.The feast spread to the whole Roman Church in 1814.The Servites have established many

churches named Our Lady of Sorrows,but the founder of our parish,Father James Meurer,did not belong to any order.Thus,

it is not clear how this name was chosen for our parish.The seven sorrows,symbolized by the seven crosses on the back wall

of the sanctuary,are as follows:

1)the prophecy of Simeon

2)the flight into Egypt

3)the disappearance of the boy Jesus

4)the progress to Calvary

5)the crucifixion

6)the taking down from the cross

Beginning Experience is an international organization with over 130 teams.A spiritually-centered Christian

weekend program,affiliated with the Catholic Church,is offered to minister to the needs of divorced,separated

and widowed persons and their children ages 7 to 19.Locally,Beginning Experience weekends are held three

times a year in Cullman,AL.A weekly support program,New Beginnings,meets on Tuesday evenings at 6:

This prayer group,which is part of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal,has met continuously since January of

1971.We meet for worship,intercessory prayer and learning more about the work of the Holy Spirit in our

The Cursillo is an apostolic movement within the Catholic Church.It prepares and supports men and women

to revitalize their environments of work,home and community with Gospel values.The Cursillo consists of

a preparation three day weekend and follow-up small and large group (Ultreya)gatherings to share spiritual

journeys and apostolic efforts.The Birmingham Ultreya meets the fourth Tuesday of each month in the CYO

This is an interfaith support group for men and women who suffer from an addiction,particularly alcohol.This

group meets multiple times a week as follows:

Voice (205)871-8121

Fax (205)871-8180

1728 Oxmoor Road • Birmingham,,Alabama 35209-4096

(205)871-8121 Voice

(205)871-8180 Fax