Our World
1990
· October 3: After a 45-year division into communist and non-communist states, Germany is reunified.
· HIV-2, a second strain of the AIDS virus discovered in West Africa, spreads. Up to 208,000 new cases are reported by the end of 1992.
· August 2: Iraq invades Kuwait, an act condemned by the United Nations Security Council.
1991
· January 17: ‘Operation Desert Storm’ begins a war with Iraq to liberate Kuwait.
· December 25: Soviet Union is officially disbanded.
1992
· Fifteen new nations were formed from the former Soviet Union, including Russia.
· April 29: Los Angeles riots follow the acquittal of police officers charged with excessive force in the beating of Rodney King.
1993
· Bill Clinton is elected the 42nd President of the United States.
· The ‘Great Flood of 1993’ left at least 50 dead, 70,000 homeless, and some $12 billion in property damage in nine Midwestern states in the summer.
· February 26: A terrorist’s bomb explodes in New York City’s World Trade Center in killing six people.
· April 19: After a prolonged standoff, a government siege on the Brach Davidian compound in Waco, Texas results in the self-inflicted deaths of 80 people.
1994
· January 17: A major snow storm blankets the Midwest and shuts down all major roadways. The wind chill reached -35 degrees.
· Between April and June, an estimated 800,000 Rwandans are murdered in a massive genocide carried out by its government.
1995
· April 19: The Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is bombed killing 168 people.
1996
· July 19-August 4: Games of the XXVI Olympiad are held in Atlanta, Georgia with Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic flame during opening ceremonies. During a concert in Centennial Olympic Park, a terrorist’s bomb kills one person and injures 110 people.
· July 5: Scientists in Scotland successfully clone a sheep named ‘Dolly,’ sparking debate on genetic engineering.
1997
· Bill Clinton is reelected President.
· August 31: A tragic car accident claims the life of Princess Diana.
· September 5: Mother Theresa of Calcutta dies; later canonized as saint in 2016.
1998
· December 19: President Bill Clinton is impeached by the House of Representatives on grounds of perjury and obstruction of justice.
1999
· President Bill Clinton is acquitted of all charges by the Senate.
· April 20: Two teenagers fatally shot at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.
· Preparation continues for ‘Y2K’, a computer problem related to the year 2000.
2000
· November: A prolonged vote recount in Florida follows the Presidential election between George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore.
2001
· September 11: The worst terror attack on the U.S. kills over 3,000. Terrorists crash two planes into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. A third plane crashes into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and a fourth plane crashes in Pennsylvania after passengers attempt to overtake the plane.
· October 7: U.S. launches ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in response to the terrorist attacks of 911.
2002
· Clergy sex abuse scandal is revealed. Over 250 people eventually join a lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Louisville.
2003
· March 19: ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom’ starts a second war with Iraq. The nighttime bombing in Baghdad targets Saddam Hussein and other Iraqi leaders.
· Pope John Paul II celebrates the 25th year of his Pontificate.
2004
· Jan 4: After a seven-month journey in space, NASA’s probe Spirit lands on Mars.
· March 4: A terrorist group linked to A--Qaeda carries out simultaneous explosions on train stations in Madrid, Spain killing 191 people.
· Aug 13: Summer Olympic Games are held in Athens, Greece, the country of its origin, for the first time since the modern games began in 1896.
· October 4: SpaceShipOne becomes the first privately built rocket plane to reach orbital altitude.
· December 26: A massive earthquake off the coast of Indonesia in the Indian Ocean creates a tsunami that claims the lives of more than 125,000 in 12 countries.
2005
· Jan 30: First free elections held in Iraq in half a century following liberation from Saddam Hussein in 2003. Turnout estimated at 72% of eligible voters.
· April 2: Pope John Paul II dies in his residence at the Vatican at 84 years of age after a 26-year pontificate.
· April 19: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is elected Benedict XVI.
· July 7: Terrorist bombings in London, England kill 55 people, including the bombers. Three separate explosions occur in a subway and one on a bus.
2006
· August 24: The International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefines the term "planet" such that Pluto is considered a dwarf planet.
2007
· January 9: Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveils the world’s first smart phone - the iPhone.
· April 16: Virginia Tech massacre: A student kills 32 people and injures 17 before committing suicide.
· August 1: The I-35W Mississippi River bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, collapses during evening rush hour.
2008
· February 24: Communist Fidel Castro retires as the President of Cuba after nearly fifty years.
· April 20: Danica Patrick wins the Indy Japan 300 becoming the first female driver to win an Indy car race.
· May 2: Cyclone Nargis makes landfall in Burma killing over 138,000 people and leaving millions homeless.
· August 1: Eleven mountaineers from international expeditions died on K2, the second-highest mountain on Earth.
· September 10: The Large Hadron Collider, considered as the biggest scientific experiment in history, powers up in Geneva, Switzerland.
· September 28: SpaceX launches the first private spacecraft Falcon 1 into orbit.
2009
· January 15: US Airways Flight 1549 makes an emergency landing in the Hudson River shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in New York City. Known as "Miracle on the Hudson", all 155 passengers and crew members survive.
· March 12: Financier Bernard Madoff pleads guilty in New York to scamming $18 billion, the largest in Wall Street history.
· June 11: Outbreak of the H1N1 influenza strain (aka swine flu) is deemed a global pandemic.
· June 25: American entertainer Michael Jackson dies under mysterious circumstances.
Rev. Robert E. Reilly
Rev. Robert E. Reilly (photo left)
was born September 28, 1932. He was baptized at Holy Name Church
and grew up in the parish of the Most Blessed Sacrament with the Sisters of
Charity. He enrolled in seminary at St. Mary’s College in Kentucky and St.
Meinrad Seminary in Indiana. He was ordained May 31, 1958. Previous to
arriving at Our Lady, he served many other parishes:
1959-64 Holy Trinity
1964-67 St. Aloysius
1967-72 Cathedral of the Assumption
1972-77 St. Athanasius
1977-87 St. George
1987-89 Holy Spirit
1989-2003 Our Lady
He served as an assistant at St. Lawrence and St. Gabriel parishes and as an alternate delegate on the Senate of Priests. Fr. Reilly also was a counselor at Camp Tall Trees near Otter Creek Park and served on the Catholic School Athletic Association (CSAA).
Fr. Reilly’s accomplished many goals during his pastorate. Most significantly, he hired a Sister of Mercy as Director of Religious Education, arranged for the appointment of a deacon and hired a part-time music director. Other changes include:
· Establishment of a Legion of Mary chapter.
· Hosting of Eucharistic devotions (twelve hours a day, once per a week until spring 1993).
· Returning of the Blessed Sacrament to the high altar on December 22, 1991.
· Returning of the statues of Sacred Heart, St. Joseph and angels to the sanctuary.
· Annual crowning of the Blessed Mother along with enrollment in the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
· Establishment of a club for Grandmothers, Grandfathers and Fathers.
· Creation of the ‘Bits & Pieces’ parish newsletter.
· Establishment of the ‘Flush Fund’ to cover expenses for renovations and building projects.
· Hosting of annual parish missions.
· Establishment of annual fund-raisers (Winterfest, Spring Festival, Octoberfest and Chicken Dinner).
· Pilgrimages to the ‘Holy Land’ of Kentucky.
· Discontinuation of the early Sunday morning Mass at 9:30am on June 6, 1996.
Fr. Reilly officially retried June 18, 2003 but continued to reside in the rectory and celebrate Mass, alternating weekend Masses with Fr. John Burke who succeeded him. On June 14, 2003, parishioners hosted a dinner to honor the service of Fr. Reilly and Sr. Buniff. He retired to Sacred Heart Village where he served as a chaplain. Fr. Reilly passed away April 14, 2021 at Nazareth Home-Clifton and is buried at Calvary Cemetery.
Sister Mary Naomi Buniff, R.S.M.
Due to the decreasing health of the Sisters of Mercy, one after another left Our Lady Convent and returned to St. Catherine Convent on Broadway. Sr. Donald Kaufman remained, providing a religious presence to the parish. Others came to live with her, rotating on a weekly basis as duties allowed.
At the invitation of Sr. Mary Donald, Sr. Mary Nicholas Stuber, O.S.U., moved into the Convent on March 19, 1991. Sr. Mary Nicholas has served as lector, Eucharistic minister, cantor for Sunday liturgy and president of the Ladies Club. Sr. Mary Nicholas moved to the Ursuline Motherhouse on Lexington Road in June, 2002. Sr. Mary Rosalia Schroering, R.S.M. moved into the Convent in 1991 and spent several months at Our Lady’s. She too, served as Lector and extraordinary Eucharistic Minister.
In July 1991, Sr. Mary Naomi Buniff,
R.S.M. (photo left), arrived to begin her ministry at Our Lady’s. At
the end of the school year in 1988, Sr. Buniff was teaching at St.
Paul School in Pleasure Ridge Park. She asked the Sisters at Our Lady’s
Convent if she could live there for the summer. During that summer, she played
the organ on Sunday and during the week visited the elderly with Sr. Mary Donald
Kaufman.
This was a period during which the Sisters of Mercy were to find their own ministries and had them approved by the Religious Congregation. Needing a place to serve, Sr. Buniff asked Fr. Eckert if she could continue to serve in the parish, at least part-time. Needing more information, particularly about what salary was expected by the Community, the answer was delayed. After the matter was taken to the parish council, it was decided not to hire her.
Sr. Buniff went to retreat, and on the last day received a phone call from the vice-president of Mercy Hospital in Owensboro, asking if she could fill in as Director of Pastoral Care until another director could be found. This service lasted from early September 1988 to June 30, 1989.
Needing another ministry to follow, Sr. Buniff received a phone call from a member of the Provincial Council asking her if she would consider giving a year’s service to the Sisters of Mercy’s mission in Jamaica. Another ‘yes’ followed, and she went to Mount St. Joseph Preparatory School in Mandeville, Jamaica West Indies. At the end of one year, Sr. Buniff heard of no one needing her service, so she stayed a second year. This is an account of her story:
In January, Sr. Marjorie Rudemiller, my contact, came to Jamaica for visitation. She said she had been to Our Lady’s in the fall and that there was no money there. I could return to St. Catherine Convent in Louisville and begin to look for a place to minister.
It was April 2, 1991. A valentine card arrived in the mail from Sr. Mary Donald, dated February 7, 1991. She invited me to live with them. That was nice, but it did not seem possible. The next day two letters arrived, also dated early February. Sr. Mary Rosalia said that Fr. Reilly would like me to work in the parish at Our Lady’s. I heard that before, but there is no money there, remember. The other letter was another invitation from the Sisters to live at Our Lady’s.
The very next day, another letter arrived from Sr. Mary Rosalia. She said that Fr. Reilly wanted to know if I was coming or not, that he was going to hire someone else if I was not interested. So I wrote four letters: one to Fr. Reilly saying yes, one to the Sisters thanking them for inviting me to live with them, one to Sr. Mary Rosalia thanking her for her letters, and one to Sr. Mary Marjorie telling her what I did.
Then I waited. It is early April. I received no response from anyone! In the meantime, I was receiving letters from the sisters saying they were glad I was going to Our Lady’s. But I didn’t know that. I was waiting for approval from the Council.
May 20th arrived. I was watching the evening news on TV and heard, ‘Mandeville Post Office was robbed two weeks ago and all the mail had been destroyed.’
I called Sr. Marjorie in Cincinnati, got the answering machine and asked that she return my call. On Wednesday I wrote Sr. Marjorie a letter and the same afternoon she returned my phone call. Everything had been settled and mailed to me. All the return mail had been destroyed in the robbery. I finished out the school year which ended on June 30.
Sr. Buniff moved to St. Catherine Convent to live with her Community of the Sisters of Mercy on June 1, 2002, but continued to go back and forth to Our Lady’s every day until Fr. Reilly’s retirement, June 18, 2003. In 1994 Sr. Mary Donald returned to St. Catherine Convent because of the increase of health problems.
Fr. Reilly’s Stroke
On March 16, 1993 Sr. Buniff was driving down 34th Street on her way home and pulled over to let an ambulance pass. Little did she know that the patient was Fr. Reilly! She had only been home a few minutes when there was a pounding on the door of the Convent by Ray Yates and Mike Recktenwald with the news that Fr. Reilly had a stroke. Sunday bulletins recall his recovery:
March 28, 1993
Father is very grateful for all your prayers and said to tell you he is thinking of you all. He is now at Baptist East Rehab Center. We welcome Fr. Jones who will be with us on weekends and Holy Week until Easter. Fr. Reilly’s progress will determine future arrangements until his return to us. Continue your prayers for a speedy recovery. Thanks, too, to Fr. Caskey who celebrates daily Mass with us.
April 11, 1993
Father is still working on special therapy and he has made several small gains. But he still has a very long time in therapy before he is released. He does want everyone to know that the cards and prayers mean a great deal to him and he sends Easter greetings to all.
April 18, 1993
Father will be able to leave the hospital for a few hours this weekend and go to his family home. This will be a test to see how well he can do for himself outside of the hospital. Keep him in your prayers.
April 25, 1993
Father did well on his Sunday pass out of the hospital. He was tired when he got back but looking forward to another trip. He is still making small but steady progress. He still needs all the prayers he can get for a full recovery.
May 9, 1993
Fr. Reilly has been released from the hospital and moved in with his family.
Fr. Reilly wrote the following message to the parish June 6, 1993:
My dear people of the family of Our Lady’s parish. I just want to let you know how very much I appreciated all your cards and visits while I was in the hospital. They brought a lot of joy and comfort to me. I especially thank you for your prayers. When my stroke happened I had no pain or illness; all of a sudden I just couldn’t move my left hand or arm or leg. I’m doing somewhat better now, but am a long way from being able to do the things I used to do.
I can put up with the paralysis but am having trouble dealing with another problem caused by the stroke. Namely, I cry at the drop of a hat. I’ve visited many stroke patients and realize that crying goes along with many strokes, but I don’t just ‘tear up’ a little, I start sobbing and bawling when something is said that is sad or sentimental. So when I get back, please don’t be too nice to me. I know you love me and I know you know how much I love each and every one of you. But please don’t say it to me because it makes me cry and is very embarrassing to me.
I’ve had Mass at my sister’s house a few times and most of the time I can’t get through it without crying. If it weren’t for crying like I do, I’d let someone wheel me out in a wheelchair to have Mass. I’m trying to come to the Rectory a couple of times a week for a few hours each time. Once again, thank you for your prayers. I’m praying for you also.
Fr, Reilly returned to the parish in July. The Altar of Sacrifice was moved to the side and the small table from the back of the church was put in its place. For a time, he celebrated Mass while sitting in his wheelchair. Later, he was able to stand. The ambo was moved to the right side of the altar to shorten the walking distance. Rails were also installed on the altar steps. After Mass ended, he would process down the center isle in his motorized cart to greet people in the vestibule - sometimes honking the small horn on the cart.
40th Jubilee of Fr. Reilly
The celebration of Fr. Reilly’s 40th Jubilee took place May 30, 1998 with Mass at 5pm.
Concelebrants...... Rev. William Brennan, Rev. Anthony Chandler, Rev. Joseph Hamilton, Rev. Frederick Hendrickson, Rev. John E. Jones, Rev. John B. Lenahan, Rev. John H. Morgan, Rev. Vincent Schweizer
Servers............... Brian Cassady, Bradley Cassady
Lector................. Jack Elder
Hospitality........... Cecilia Cassady, Kelly Watson
Gift bearers......... Family of Fr. Reilly
A reception and dinner followed in Lehmann Hall. Master of ceremonies, James McIntyre, led the ‘roast’ following dinner. Fr. Reilly was presented with the gift of the car he had been driving. He shared these words:
First, of all, I thank God for the gift of my vocation to be a priest. I thank each and every one of you who have contributed in any way, large and small, to all of the preparations that went into making this 40th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood such a memorable occasion. I ask your prayers for my continued perseverance as I strive to do His Holy will in His service all the days of my life.
A few years later, Fr. Reilly participated in the Jubilee Mass in Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Exposition and Convention Center on September 3, 2000. Although he was unable to sit with the dozens of priests assembled, he was seated just right of the choir.
Sr. Teresa Anne Kelemen, C.D.P.
On August 28, 1997, Sr. Teresa Anne Kelemen, C.D.P. (photo left), moved
into the convent while teaching at Holy Angels Academy on Magnolia Street. The
parish benefited greatly from the generosity of Sr. Kelemen’s experience and
talents, helping out wherever needed: as lector, extraordinary Eucharistic minister
for daily Mass, teaching religious education and chairing booths at festivals.
She is remembered for collecting cans for the benefit of the Sisters of Mercy.
Proceeds were used for renovating the convent chapel and providing tuition for
girls to attend Mercy Academy High School. She was also an active member of
the St. Vincent de Paul Society and visited the sick and homebound of the
parish.
At the end of the 2001-2002 school year, Sr. Kelemen resigned from Holy Angels Academy. After consultation with her community (Sisters of Divine Providence), Sr. Kelemen returned to her Motherhouse in Melbourne, KY on May 22, 2006. From the parish newsletter:
We are very grateful for Sr. Teresa’s presence and ministry at Our Lady’s in the past 8 years. We thank God for her 60+ years of dedicated service and pray that more people might respond to God’s call to service in religious life.
On December 1, 2002, Sr. Frances Schaf, O.S.U., came to stay with the Sisters during the week. She taught 7th and 8th grade religion and did remedial work at Community Catholic School. She found it more convenient to stay at the local convent rather than to go back and forth to the Motherhouse on Lexington Road every day. She remained at Our Lady’s until Community Catholic School closed in May 2003.
Deacon William R. Klump
Three years after Fr. Reilly returned
to Our Lady’s after suffering a stroke, the Parish Council resumed their
meetings. At one meeting, Fr. Reilly asked the Council about getting a deacon.
Greatly encouraged, he called Archbishop Kelly the next day. Deacon William R.
Klump (photo left) was ordained August 17, 1996 at the Cathedral of the
Assumption. He responded to the invitation and arrived October 1, 1996,
becoming Our Lady’s first permanent deacon.
He was born September 10, 1952, and though baptized at St. Louis Bertrand Church, he grew up in the parish of St. James. By profession he was a Certified Public Accountant. He married his wife Barbara at St. Louis Bertrand Church in 1974 and raised five children: Edward, Jennifer, Robert, Stephen, and Andrew. His sons attended Catholic high schools and a few were Mass servers. His daughter Jennifer sung in the choir, married at the church and earned a PhD from Harvard University.
Deacon Bill was an asset to the welfare of Our Lady’s parish, not just temporally, but spiritually. He assisted at weekend Masses, funeral Masses and prayed with families, both at the funeral home and the cemetery. He also conducted Eucharistic Adoration, organized parish missions and contributed content for the parish newsletter. Since the Deaconate is a commitment shared by the couple, Barbara also assisted Bill with spiritual programs and the sacramental preparation of youth at the parish for many years.
Parish Staff
In 1991 Fr. Reilly hired Sr. Mary Naomi Buniff, R.S.M. as Director of Religious Education. She prepared children for the Sacraments, trained servers, lectors and ministers of communion and facilitated spiritual life organizations.
After twenty-five years of faithful service as parish secretary, Mary Helen Recktenwald retired in 1993 and Cecilia Cassady became secretary. Mike Recktenwald was head of maintenance until he retired in 1999. He was assisted by Jesse Leet, Ray Yates, Mona Yates and Jim Doolan. Bob Quire was hired as maintenance supervisor in May 1999 to tend to the physical needs of the church, rectory, Lehmann Hall, convent and grounds. Outside work Mr. Quire lent his voice to the choir. He left the parish in October 2007 to serve the Little Sisters of the Poor.
Mona Yates used her creative talents to design various artwork and decorations used during the liturgical year, particularly banners. For Christmas 1981 Ray and Mona created a Star of Bethlehem. It involved 32 hours work, 1500 holes and over 750 miniature lights. She also drove the bus for Community Catholic School from the 1970s until 1990. After their retirement in 1999, Mona and Ray Yates continued their dedicated service to Our Lady’s and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2007.
Jim Doolan served as the parish electrician. His wife Betty was Fr. Reilly’s housekeeper until she and Jim retired in March 2002. After their retirement, Jim and Betty continued their service to the parish as members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. In April 2002, Vivian Saettel graciously assumed the role of housekeeper, residing with Fr. Reilly in the rectory until 2006.
Rev. Joseph Fowler
After Fr. Reilly’s retirement, Rev.
Joseph Fowler (photo left) was named parish administrator on June 18,
2003 and served until a new pastor was named in 2004.
Fr. Fowler was ordained May 27, 1961 by Archbishop John Floersch and pastored numerous parishes in addition to teaching:
1961-64 Teacher Trinity H.S.
1964-65 St. Columba
1965-66 Teacher St. Aloysius H.S. (Shepherdsville)
1966-72 Our Lady (assistant pastor)
1972-75 SS. Simon and Jude
1975-86 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
1986-96 St. Bernard
1996-2002 Holy Trinity
2002-04 St. Cecilia and Our Lady (administrator)
Fr. Fowler was a board member of the Catholic School Athletic Association (CSAA) for 35 years, chair of the Peace and Justice Commission and served on the West End Catholic Council. He made a significant contribution by establishing Hand in Hand Ministries, a nonprofit organization co-founded with his brother Wayne Fowler. It provides food, clothing, shelter, education and medical care to the poor of Central America, the Caribbean and the Appalachia. Fr. Fowler celebrated his 60th jubilee in 2021.
Rev. John Burke
Rev. John Burke (photo left) was
installed as pastor October 24, 2004 by the Most Rev. Thomas
C. Kelly, Archbishop. Given the available priests in the Archdiocese, he was
also named pastor of St. Cecilia Church. It was the first time in the history
of the parish that its pastor shared the responsibility of two parishes. Fr.
Burke alternated between Our Lady and St. Cecilia each weekend, celebrating
Mass on either Saturday evening or Sunday morning at each church.
Baptized at Holy Name Church, he grew up in the parishes of Holy Spirit and Our Lady of Lourdes. After studying at St. Thomas Seminary and St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati, he was ordained May 27, 1972. Later he completed post-graduate studies at Mount St. Mary’s, earning a Master of Divinity and Master of Theology.
Fr. Burke served as pastor of many parishes over his long tenure: St. Denis, Christ the King, St. Peter Church in Monticello, KY and Good Shepherd Chapel in Whitley City, KY. He served as associate pastor of SS. Simon and Jude, St. Mildred in Somerset, KY and St. Peter Mission in Monticello. Fr. Buke also served as Sacramental Minister of St. William’s.
Fr. Burke was active in many ministries, demonstrating his commitment to living the Gospel and motivating those under his pastoral care to do the same. He assisted fellow priests serving on the Priests’ Council, the Priests Personnel Board and Priest Health Panel. He was co-president of CLOUT (Citizens of Louisville Organized and United Together) and served in prison ministry at Luther Luckett Correctional Center, Kentucky State Reformatory and Roederer Farm Correctional Center. He helped form the Christ the King Senior Housing Complex (2002) and the St. Cecilia Senior Housing Complex (2005) on the site of the former schools of St. Cecilia and Community Catholic.
Fr. Buke shared this with parishioners just before his installation:
As you know, I was recently appointed pastor of both Our Lady’s and St. Cecilia’s while continuing to minister at St. Williams. I really don’t know how this arrangement will work out. What I do know is that I am honored to work in two parishes that have such rich histories and traditions. I also know I have much to learn and will need all the help I can muster! I look forward to getting to know you and exploring how together we can grow in our awareness of God’s love for us and be signs of God’s love to others. Please keep me in your prayers!
