Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, in Malverne, celebrated its 100th anniversary on May 21 with a centennial gala at Sand Castle in Franklin Square. The ceremony was followed by a midnight Mass led by the Rev. Jim Stachacz.
Parishioners, current and former clergy, and village officials gathered for a cocktail hour before the ceremony. A slideshow of parishioners at a variety of outreach events held by the church was projected on a wall of the ballroom, celebrating its community involvement.
Stachacz expressed his gratitude for the support of the congregation and the community, and led the gathering in an anniversary prayer, honoring members of the clergy and parishioners who came before him and their commitment to the church.
“This is truly a quintessential moment, being here for our centennial,” Stachacz said. “I am deeply honored to be a part of this historic celebration.” He thanked former Our Lady of Lourdes spiritual leaders including the Rev. Chux Okochi, who was in residence from 2003 to 2017.
“It was great to be a part of the parish and to be here celebrating 100 years,” Okochi said. “I was involved with the youth group, and most of the kids are now married with kids. It is beautiful to watch them grow up — it’s so fulfilling to see.”
Stachacz noted that next year will be the 75th anniversary of the founding of Our Lady of Lourdes’ school. He asked parish staff and teachers to stand, and thanked them for their “day-to-day work that often goes unnoticed, and [for] making the parish look good.” He joked, “Thank you for making me look good as well.”
He commemorated the 100th anniversary of the church’s first Mass, on May 23, 1926. “Our Lady of Lourdes was built on the sacrifice of the people that came before us in the community,” Stachacz said. “But tonight is not only about celebrating the past, it’s about looking ahead. If our forefathers could build this parish without even e-mail, we can continue it.”
He concluded his remarks with a dedication to the past, and an affirmation of hope for the future. “We remember all the men and women who have dedicated their lives to make this parish the community it is today,” he said. “May Our Lady of Lourdes be a place of faith, warmth, welcome and courage for the next century to come.”
Mayor Tim Sullivan also spoke, recognizing former Mayors, including Joseph Canzoneri and Keith Corbett and thanking the members of the village board who attended.
Sullivan talked about his experience at Our Lady of Lourdes as a child, and the support and inspiration he felt there. “What I always felt at Our Lady of Lourdes was that God worked in mysterious ways,” he said. “When I thought I was a failure, I felt the love of the teachers and they helped me succeed.”
Sullivan also emphasized the impact of community on the success of the church. “In a world of increasing individualism, I’m glad that our parish is a true family,” he said. “It’s no secret that our success here over the years is because of our devotion to one another.”
State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick also spoke, before presenting Stachacz with a citation from the 9th District. “The thing that makes Our Lady of Lourdes so special is the people — it’s about taking care of each other at our time of need,” she said. “I’m blessed to be a lifelong parishioner, because Our Lady of Lourdes has made me who I am today.”
