Bellarmine College Campaign

In 1953, the Archbishop launched an educational financing campaign for Bellarmine College and the new Trinity High School.  Our Lady’s parishioners again rose to the occasion in the total pledged reached the significant sum of $36,338.

 

1953 was also a memorable year for the parish.  Our church was completely renovated at a cost of $15,000.  This included a total redecorating inside.  All Stations of the Cross and statues were refinished by two artists.  The original windows were repaired and storm windows were added to keep the church comfortable in winter.  It also included a complete rewiring of all the electrical outlets and a refinishing of the pews.  All parishioners were pleased with the results.

 

Vocations from Our Lady’s

In the past twenty-five years, vocation to ordained life include the Rev. William J. Brennan, who was baptized at Our Lady and ordained to the priesthood on June 11, 1949.  The Rev. Michael E. Byrne, ordained May 25, 1963, attended the lower grades of Our Lady school.  Among the women who entered religious orders are Sr. Mary James, O.S.B., Sr. Mary Redempta, S.L., Sr. Mary Gualbert, R.S.M. and Sr. Mary Laurita, R.S.M.

 

During the long history of Our Lady’s, the parish can only claim one ‘native son’ being raised to the dignity of the priesthood, that of Rev. William Fichteman (photo left).

 

He graduated Our Lady school in 1955 and St. Xavier High School in 1959.  From there, he spent several years pursuing a career in science.  Beginning with an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Bellarmine in 1963, he earned a Masters from Xavier University in Cincinnati in 1965 and a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Cincinnati in 1968.  Fr. Fichteman worked for E.I. DuPont in Louisville from 1968-77 as a research and development chemist and as supervisor of quality control.  He entered St. Meinrad in August of 1977 and was ordained May 30, 1981 by Archbishop Thomas McDonough at the Cathedral of the Assumption.

 

Fr. Fichteman’s assignments include: St. Francis of Assisi, associate pastor, 1981-86; Director, Office of Clergy Personnel, 1984-89; Church of the Epiphany, weekend associate pastor, 1986-89; St. James, Elizabethtown and St. Ignatius, White Mills, pastor, 1989-97.  In 1997, he became pastor of the Cathedral of the Assumption.

 

Rev. John Dalton, considered an ‘adopted son’ of the parish, received the sacrament of Holy Orders and he was assistant pastor at St. Ann Church in 1964.  As a young man who aspired to the Holy Priesthood, young John Dalton came all the way from the ‘old sod’ to America to enroll in St. Meinrad Seminary.  In doing so, he was taken under the wing by Fr. James Lehmann, with whom he lived during his vacations from school.  He held a night job during vacation time to pay educational expenses, but this did not prevent him from becoming well known in the parish and respected by the parishioners.  Fr. Dalton has let it be known that the many kindnesses of the parishioners can never be forgotten and he remembers them frequently at the altar.

 

Following his ordination, the young priest offered his first Solemn Mass on March 27, 1955.  This was followed by a reception in the school building.  At this time, the parishioners stole Fr. Dalton’s heart away by presenting him a gift of money which enabled him to pay a visit to his home in Ireland.

 

Korean War

During the conflict between North and South Korea from 1950-53, several men of Our Lady’s parish were called to duty in the Armed Forces.  One of those was John Edward Curley (photo right), who entered service in the U.S. Marine Corps April 18, 1949 and was discharged December 19, 1952.  He was awarded the Purple Heart.

 

Religious Jubilees

On Wednesday, March 13, 1957, three graduates of Innsbruck Seminary had a joint ‘clergy day’ celebration for the Silver Jubilee of their ordination to the priesthood: Fr. Lehmann, Monsignor Van Bogaert and Monsignor Schmidt.  Fr. Lehmann was celebrant of the Solemn Mass offered that morning at the Cathedral of the Assumption.  Each of the Jubilarians had a parish celebration on the following Sunday, March 17.  At Our Lady Fr. Lehmann was assisted in the Solemn Mass by Monsignor Joseph Misich of Cleveland, Ohio, who served as deacon and preached the Jubilee sermon.  Fr. Earl Rausch was the sub-deacon.

 

A dinner for the visiting clergy followed the Mass.  In the afternoon, Our Lady parish gave a reception for Fr. Lehmann.  The day closed with Solemn Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

 

Four years later the Silver Jubilee decorations were dusted off and put back in use.  On May 17, 1961, the class of 1936 celebrated the Silver Jubilee of their graduation at the Cathedral the Assumption with a solemn Mass for their fellow priests and friends.  Fr. Louis Bossung was celebrant; Fr. Charles Foltz, deacon and Fr. William M. Griesbaum, sub-deacon.  Fr. Michael K. Lally served as master of ceremonies; Fathers Richard O'Hare and Leo Sheeran were chaplains to the Archbishop.  In 1961, Fr. Lally also celebrated his Silver Jubilee.

 

On August 19, 1962, the 9:00 Mass was offered in thanksgiving for the Silver Jubilee of Brother Dionysius (Adolph B. Recktenwald, Jr.), and a parish reception honoring Brother was held in the school cafeteria that afternoon.  One year later, August 25, 1963, Sr. Bernard Marie, S.L. (Flora Recktenwald), an aunt of Brother Dionysius, observed her Golden Jubilee in religion with a Mass and afternoon reception at Our Lady.

 

Silver Jubilee Celebration of Fr. Lehmann - March 17, 1957

Fr. A. G. Gerst, Fr. Joseph Missig, Fr. Lehmann, Fr. Earl Rausch & Fr. J. B. Kieffer

 

 

Rectory late 1950s

 

The McAuley Girls

Dedicated to the practice of kindness and charity to others and to help spread sunshine and happiness in a drab world, the junior and senior groups of the McAuley Girls were organized in Our Lady’s parish under the direction of Sr. Mary Alicia, R.S.M. in 1957.  They have been worthy successors to the Young Ladies Sodalities of the past, to whom the parish has owed much.

 

These energetic groups get their name from the inspiration of Catherine McAuley, whose many charitable and benevolent deeds are widely known, especially in Ireland and wherever her daughters in religion flourish.  Born in Dublin and 1778 of Catholic parents, she was orphaned at an early age.  Then, she found a home with Protestant friends of her family, Mr. and Mrs. William Callagham, who later became Catholics.  After their death, Catherine, an heiress, now dedicated her life to aid Ireland’s poor and needy and brought relief to many people in the disease-infected areas of the country.  She began the first free school in Ireland.  In 1831, Catherine McAuley answered the call of God and in her 53^rd year became the first Sister of Mercy.  She dedicated her community to Our Lady of Mercy for her guidance and protection.  Since then, each Sister of Mercy has promised God to serve him through His poor, sick and uneducated.

 

Since 1957 the McAuley Girls have not swerved from the purposes of their organization.  On Sundays, the girls visit the neighboring Marine Hospital where they cheer the patience and tried to make their sufferings more bearable.  They also act as babysitters for parents who must go to the nine and eleven o’clock Masses on Sundays.  To poor families in the parish, the girls bring food and toys.  To those ill in their homes, they pay cheerful visits and bring gifts.  On Easter and Christmas, the members visit the Sacred Heart Home, now on Payne Street, and also hospitals and private homes.  There, they bring with them good cheer, cookies, cakes and holiday favors.

 

Senior McAuley Girls

The senior group of the McAuley Girls is made up of girls of high school age; the junior group is comprised of girls from grade school.

 

The first president of the senior group was Carolyn Drury who was succeeded by Janice Ziegler who served two terms.  Mary Ann Cronen Then took over for 1960, to be followed by Cheryl McKnight in 1961, Dolores Ziegler in 1962 and Carol Craven in 1963.  The 1964 officers were: Romana Hagan, president; Becky Grose, VP; Phyllis Powell, secretary and Judy Ande, treasurer.

 

Other senior McAuley Girls were:

Judy Craven, Sherry Emge, Peggy Luckett, Lynn McKnight, Penny McTighe, Joan Stemm, Barbara Ande, Connie Lanham, Sue Seng, Rose Ullrich, June Craven, Barbara Fritz, Sue Frerman, Sandra Wimsett, Patsy Ande, Patsy McCrory, Barbara Vonderhaar, Donna Robbins, Sharon Robbins, Rita Down, Judy Coons, Pay Shawler, Carey Arnold, Mary Ann Patton, Karen Daly, Linda Stith, Rita Jamison, Beverly Crumpton, Sarah End, Beverly Bay and Janice Carroll.

 

Junior McAuley Girls

The junior group’s first president was Bonnie Hallahan.  Her successors, all of whom have served one term each, were: Cheryl McKnight, Mary Adams, Romana Hagan, Carol Ott, Teresa Craven, Sandy Wimsett and Maureen Harrington.  Other officers in 1964 were: Debbie Emge, VP; Kim Daly, secretary; Margie Stemm, treasurer; and Darlene Fambrough, corresponding secretary.

 

Other members of the junior McAuley Girls:

Pat Young, Martha Stemm, Colleen Denkhoff, Carol Cronen, Lynn Lockhard, Carolyn Jamison, Marilyn Jamison, Jane Craven, Kathie Hallahan, Frances Vonderhaar, Rita Yates, Barbara Snyder, Iris Harrington, Debbie O’Brien, Beth Cross, Connie McCoy, Mary McCoy, Joan Neuling, Karen Lally, Sue Wathen, Patty Malick, Rita Carpenter, Donna Pfuelb, Mary Agnes Ott, Nancy Anderson, Sue Luckett, Joan Ande and Luanne Wilson.

 

 

Death of Fr. Lehmann

After valiantly undergoing two major operations and going on to almost the very last, Fr. Lehmann died on March 12, 1959.  His Excellency, our Most Rev. Archbishop presided at his funeral Mass.  Bishop Charles Maloney was celebrant; Rev. William O’Hare, deacon and Rev. James Dalton, sub-deacon.  His classmate, Monsignor Edward Van Bogaert delivered a moving, memorable sermon.  His mortal remains are in Calvary Cemetery.

 

The following is a spontaneous tribute to his eighteen memorable years by Fr. M. Raymond. O.C.S.O., Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist, Kentucky:

 

“I want no fame, no other name, than this: A PRIEST OF GOD.”

 

These few words sum up the life, show the heart and express admirably the entire being of this man of God, who for the last eighteen years of his life on earth, was pastor of our church, of the parishioners of the Parish of Our Lady.

 

This distinction between parish and parishioners is made with set purpose; for, while Fr. James Edward Lehmann ably administered the former, it was the latter who were his life, his love, his soul’s consuming concern.  He well knew that, practically speaking, a competent layman could administer that organized physical entity called the parish, but only a man marked by God could administer on to the mystical organism made up of immortal souls.  He was keenly conscious of the fact that when God, on March 13, 1932, stamped his soul with the character of Christ the Priest, he had been set apart not as a builder of buildings, but as a sacrificial victim for people who would be branches of the Vine which is Jesus Christ.  Holy Orders was an anointing for him not only to offer the Holy Sacrifice; for, in the new law, priests and victim are one.  Hence, when Fr. James Lehmann bent over bread every day and said, “This is My Body,” and over the wine to say “This is My Blood,” he knew that personal, possessive pronoun refer to himself as explicitly as it did to Jesus Christ.  That fact explains this man of God as nothing else can, and as nothing else should.  It is the only satisfying explanation of his eighteen years as pastor of the parishioners of the parish of Our Lady.

 

Pastor is a Latin word meaning shepherd.  But when applied to a Catholic priest, it means more.  It means that he must be a “good shepherd,” one who, as Christ said, “lays down his life to save his sheep.”  When Fr. James Edward Lehmann offered his first Mass as pastor of the parishioners of Our Lady on the Feast of Our Lady’s Assumption, in 1941, he began the life of a “good shepherd”; he actually began to “lay down his life” for the people of his parish.

 

That he was no “hireling” is evidenced by the fact there were months on months where he would take no salary, and year after year when he would forego all vacations.  That he was determined to be the kind of shepherd described by Christ, one who would “know his own” and be able to “call them by name,” as evidenced by the fact that it was the pastor of these parishioners who gave the names to all the parishioners’ offspring in the Sacrament of Baptism.  That actually he was the sacrificing good shepherd is evidenced by the medical facts that for the last half of his term in office, he was a dying man who went on living in laying down that life of his for his sheep.

 

For seven full years, Fr. Lehmann was under medical care, a very sick man.  But his contention was that while the man in him might be sick, the priest and pastor in him was never unwell.  So he went on “unto the end” loving his own and living for them alone.  The end came on the eve of his 27^th anniversary of his ordination, March 12, 1959.  It was an end worthy of a man of God, a priest, victim, and a good shepherd.

 

The parish he’s so ably administered will one day ceased to be.  The school he erected will ultimately crumble to dust.  But the souls he shepherded will live on as long as God is God and be a glory, not only to God, but to him who attained eternal fame by truly acquiring the holy name of “Priest of God - James Edward Lehmann.”

 

Rev. Michael K. Lally

On August 3, 1960, the Most Rev. Archbishop appointed the Rev. Michael K. Lally (photo left) pastor of Our Lady’s.  A native of Paducah, Fr. Lally was ordained to the holy priesthood on June 6, 1936, at the Cathedral of the Assumption.  After being at Holy Cross Church briefly, he went to St. Benedict’s, also of this city, on October 9, 1936.  He remained there until August, 1941, when he was appointed chaplain at St. Joseph Infirmary.  In October of 1942, Fr. Lally was named resident chaplain at St. Joseph Prep School, Bardstown, Kentucky, and for eighteen years worked also with negro Catholics and built St. Monica's Church and school in Bardstown.  He became St. Monica’s first pastor after it became a canonical parish in 1956.

 

Boy Scout Troop

One of the first activities to appear after Fr. Lally’s arrival was the official chartering of Boy Scout Troop #391.  The following scouts were named on the first charter: Joseph Mattingly, Ronald Joyce, Bill Veasey, Denis Kline, William Powell, William Cahill, Dennis Jamison, Perry Aberli, Kenneth Krekel, Stephen Weber, al Bere, Richard Downs, William Drury, Michael Connor, Terry Luckett, Thomas Bernardi and John Carroll.

 

Walter Lally was named institutional representative and Randall Watkins became committee chairman.  The committeemen were Paul Recktenwald, Anthony Pfuelb, Douglas Downs, Thomas Bernardi and Charles Mattingly.  Joseph Cahill was named scoutmaster and Gerald Recktenwald and Thomas peak were his assistants.

 

By November, 1961, there were 42 boys registered.  In 1963, the troop received the national camping award.  To qualify for this award, 50% of the troops registered scouts must have had ten days and nights of camping during a twelve-month period.

 

In December, 1963, the committee announced the selection of Gerald Recktenwald as scoutmaster to succeed Joseph Cahill who resigned.  His assistants were Michael Recktenwald, Larry Meixsel and Paul Recktenwald.

 

The 1964 charter listed these names:

Corky Amos                               James Austin                 Paul Booker                   John Kane

Terry Luckett                             Nickey Paine                  Tony Pfuelb                   Michael Shawler

Dennis Thompson                      Charles Wahl                 Garry Brown                  James Joyce

Wayne Roberts                          Joseph French               Mike Woods                   Mike Sils

David Elder                                Dennis McTighe             Terry Dearing                John Luckett

Morris Paine                              Steve Pfuelb                  Jerry French                  Marty Hellinger

Mike Carroll                               Val Bere                        Michael Mulloy               Michael Falone

Robert Robbins

 

The institutional representative is William Shawler, Claude Paine is the committee chairman and his committee men are Randall Watkins, Donald French, Arthur Woods and Chuck Luckett.

 

Parish Improvements

It has already been pointed out how interested Fr. Lally has been in the parish’s athletic program.  Now he forged ahead on other activities.  In 1961, he followed through with the plans previously made to sand-blast, tuck-point and water-proof the exterior of the church.  In 1962, there were new front doors and new floor and furnishings for the sacristies and the ambulatory.  That same year, the parishioners painted the convent and helped remodel the chapel.  In 1963, the communion rail was lowered, the interior of the church was redecorated, and the aisles were carpeted.  In 1964, Mr. T. W. Merrified, 2400 Bank Street, a blacksmith for the K&I RR, made a wrought iron gate for the baptistery.

 

The Ladies Club

The Ladies Club was formed in the mid-thirties by the group who worked in the kitchen, preparing and serving meals for parish socials and other affairs.  Even today, they meet each month for a social hour, and each year, and make a substantial donation to the pastor to be used for the needs of the parish.

 

 

Altar Society

For many years, faithful altar society members quietly served the honor and glory of God by cleaning the church, washing linens, and sewing and mending vestments.  Twenty-five years ago, the officers were: Mrs. Paul Hicks, president; Mrs. William Bay, VP; Mrs. A. B. Recktenwald, secretary-treasurer.  These officers continue to serve for twenty years.  On April 26, 1956, Mrs. Recktenwald died and was succeeded by Miss Rose Recktenwald.

 

Fr. Lally reorganized the Society on July 26, 1961.  Its officers were Mrs. Earl Neff, president; Mrs. William Buecher, VP; Mrs. William Fichteman, secretary and Miss Rose Recktenwald, treasurer.  They served for two years and on September 5, 1963, they were succeeded by the present officers: Mrs. John Grose, president; Miss Quinlan, VP; Mrs. John Carroll, secretary, and Mrs. Tyler Veasey, treasurer.  The society has two meetings a year and each meeting is usually addressed by visiting priests.

 

Confraternity of Christian Mothers

Given that mothers have a profound impact on their children’s spiritual formation, the Confraternity of Christian Mothers was established to aid them in their family life.  To increase the involvement of mothers, Fr. Lally introduced the confraternity to the parish in 1967.  The following letter was sent to the ladies of Our Lady:

 

February 7, 1967

 

Dear Friend:

You and all the adult ladies of the parish (those over high school age) are invited to join with us in introducing the Confraternity of Christian Mothers to Our Lady Church, as combined with our already existing St. Ann's Altar Society.

 

Enclosed are two leaflets, one describing how the Con­fraternity can be operated with an already existing society, to the benefit of both; and the other, a guideline for parents in their God-given responsibility toward the Christian upbringing of the children placed in their care.

 

At the last PTA Meeting, Feb. 1st, Dr. Elliott Podoll, M.D., local child psychiatrist, insisted that it is of the greatest importance for parents to realize that no matter what you teach a child, the child will still do as the parents do.  The purpose of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers is to spiritualize the home education or character formation and development of children guided primarily by the mother at home.

 

We were short on the enclosures; consequently there may be quite a number of ladies eligible for membership who do not receive one of these letters.  As an act of charity, insist that the omission of their name was not intentional and that the benefit which they and their families will reap should make them most anxious to become active members.

 

On Sunday, February 19th, after the evening devotions, there will be a meeting of the Altar Society and all the ladies interested in becoming charter members of our combined St. Ann Altar Society and the Confraternity of Christian Mothers. The following Sunday, Father Bertin Roll, O.F.M. Cap., National Secretary of the Confraternity, will speak at all the Masses and in the afternoon at 4:00 PM and receive the new members in a church service.

 

Yes, we really do need you, so spread the news around and resolve to be a joiner.

 

Devotedly in Christ and Our Lady,

Father Lally & Father Fowler

               

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