OUR LADY OF FATIMA
CATHOLIC CHURCH
|
|
OUR LADY OF FATIMA CATHOLIC CHURCH |
|
Bishop George Musey lends a hand 1982 - 83
An unfortunate disagreement between the
clergy of the ORCM spilled over into Spring Hill necessitating the congregation
of Our Lady of Fatima starting all over again.
For a while the congregation had to make do with a rented hall and the services
of Bishop George Musey who flew in from Texas
several times a month to say Mass and impart the Sacrament of Confirmation (as
the following photographs show):
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fr Francis Dougherty O.C.S.O. 1983 - 91
The disagreement resolved, the
parishioners regained ownership of the church in Spring Hill and set about
locating another permanent Pastor.
They found one in the unlikely person of Fr Francis Dougherty. I say unlikely
since Father, now well into his 80s had spent all his priesthood
as a Trappist monk in a monastery, much of the time in complete silence all of
which had him ill-equipped for running a parish..
He quickly learned the ropes, though, and became a beloved fixture of this
parish until his death in 1991.
The church building, however, had been emptied of all fixtures and the
congregation had to go back to basics for a while.
The Church as it appeared in October 1984
 |
 |
| The Pews and altar rail having been removed - theater seats were procured in the interim | A make-shift altar and communion bench were erected |
 |
 |
| Mr Edward Barry poses
by the votive stand (today this is the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima) |
The Statue of St Teresa
of Avila. Today this statue is at the back of the church and the large Sacred Heart Shrine occupies this location |
Father Francis Dougherty Poses by the Christmas Crib 1984
Photograph of Lori Donaldson
receiving Holy Communion,
her brother Matthew serving dated May 16, 1985
May Procession & Dedication of the Outdoor Statue of Our Lady of Fatima 1985
 |
 |
| The May Procession | Fr Dougherty leads the people in devotions to the Blessed Mother |
May Devotions 1986
For about a year (1985 - 86) two CMRI nuns were assigned to Our Lady of Fatima Church to help Fr Francis
 |
 |
| Fr kneels before the new wayside shrine on Spring Hill Drive of Our Lady of Fatima | The Parishioners singing in honor of Our Lady |
 |
 |
| Sister Celine gently helps a young lady to present the Blessed Mother a flower | Fr poses with the two
sisters. Sr Marija Ona (left) died a week or so after Bishop Fulham's ordination. He had the privilege of offering the first requiem for her soul 15 minutes after her passing |
Confirmation Visit of Bishop Moises Carmona y Rivera from Mexico 1987
 |
 |
| A newly confirmed young lady returns to her pew | The Bishop Celebrating Mass |
 |
 |
| Visiting with parishioners after Mass | A Priest identified as "Fr Manuel" who accompanied the Bishop from Mexico |
Christmas 1987
It began to look a lot like a church again... pews acquired, communion rail, High Altar and side altars
The Labors of 1989
dated "January 1989" on the back with the caption "after confession"
In 1989 work began on a new rectory for the church. Until then Father had resided in rented accommodation in the neighborhood.
First Holy Communions July 30, 1989
Baptism December 1989
  
|
Copyright© Our Lady of Fatima Spring Hill, |
|
