A Short Histroy of The Parish

Our Lady of Lourdes officially became a parish family on December 8, 1957 when the very first Mass was celebrated on the stage of the Palms Theater by Fr. DuBois for over 200 Catholic families in Dunedin. Prior to that historic event, Fr. William DuBois, pastor of St. Ignatius Parish in Tarpon Springs was chosen by Archbishop Joseph Hurley, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine to prepare the foundation for a church in Dunedin. He was permitted to select the name of the new mission. Fr. DuBois dedicated the new parish to the Blessed Mother using her title, Our Lady of Lourdes, and the first Mass was celebrated on the centennial anniversary of her apparition in France. The Jersey House, a turn-of-the-century hotel located on the southwest corner of Broadway and Monroe Street, in Dunedin, was the meeting site of other parish activities which included the Rosary Society, Ushers Club, the Holy Name Society and the Youth Club. The Jersey House was owned by Mrs. Emma Friz, a great benefactor of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Palms Theater was located on Broadway occupying the site now used by Sun Trust Bank. 

Groundbreaking on June 15, 1958. Shown digging, from left: Ralph Angelillis; Head Usher General Joseph Cumins, Chairman Building Fund Campaign Rev. W. Thomas Larkin, Christ the King Jacksonville Rev. Thomas A. Colreavy, St. Cecelia Clearwater Rev. William W. DuBois, Pastor Our Lady of Lourdes, Dunedin Rev. Aloysius Dressman, Our Lady Queen of Peace, N P Richey Rev. Joseph Moran, St. Cecelia Clearwater Charles Clark, President Holy Name Society James Clancy, President Continuing Building Fund Campaign

Fr. James Larkin became the third pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in January 1981 upon the relocation of Fr. Brubaker to St. Raphael's Parish in Lehigh Acres, Florida. Fr. Larkin was born in Galway, Ireland and attended seminary in Waxford, Ireland. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1959 and began his priestly duties in the United States. He brought invaluable teaching, administrative and pastoral experience to Our Lady of Lourdes. Under Fr. Larkin's direction Our Lady of Lourdes continued to grow and flourish providing the parish with a new rectory, the DuBois Center and renovations and additions to the school. The Our Lady of Lourdes parish family was jarred by the tragic, unexpected death of Fr. Larkin on July 1, 1996.

Through a very successful building drive, the first church and parish hall building were dedicated December 7, 1958. Confraternity of Christian Doctrine classes began in 1959, and Our Lady of Lourdes School opened its doors for grades Kindergarten through 4 in September of 1962. The arrival of five Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardon, Ohio in 1965 enabled the school to open with a principal and classes through eighth grade. The population of Dunedin grew steadily and rapidly as did the congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes. Another successful building fund brought about the current church, which seats 1200: it was dedicated on September 25, 1977. The present church is adorned with many items of historical significance to the parish. In June 1979, due to illness, Fr. DuBois reluctantly retired as pastor. Fr. DuBois led Our Lady of Lourdes for 22 years, from it beginnings at the Palm Theater to our present church. He was responsible for shaping Our Lady of Lourdes into what it is today, a church which welcomes all, a parish of traditions and rich in blessings. Fr. Thomas Spillet served as pastoral administrator from June 1978 to June 1979. Fr. Claude Brubasker became the second pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes on June 19, 1979. A native Floridian, he served his country in the US Navy before he entered the Sulpician Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland. He was ordained in 1955.Fr. Thomas Madden arrived at Our Lady of Lourdes on September 17, 1996. He was installed as the fourth and present pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes on December 7, 1996. Fr. Madden was born outside Boston, Massachusetts, and moved to Florida shortly after, in 1958. Educated in local Catholic schools, he attended seminary in Florida and was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1981 at St. Jude Cathedral in St. Petersburg. He has served at several local parishes and was pastor at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Tamp prior to arriving in Dunedin. Fr. Madden's vision for the future of Our Lady of Lourdes is a sense of inclusion where all people are welcome at God's table.