History
On January 4th 1937, the Bishop of Louisville, Reverend John A. Floersh established in his See city, the parish of Our Mother of Sorrows and appointed Father H. Edward Link as the first pastor.
In anticipation of the needs of the newly formed parish, the Bishop had acquired two parcels of land, one on the corner of Eastern Parkway and Ellsworth Avenue for the church and parking lot; and a second one which is the site of the present school building.
Father Link, who had been pastor of St. Rita’s parish in the Okolona area, was directed by the Bishop to begin organization of the new parish on January 27th but, by that time, the Ohio River had flooded Louisville, paralyzing the city. When the flood waters receded, a few weeks later, the work was begun. Preliminary meetings were held with a census taken showing four hundred and seventy-five families in the new parish. Since the greatest number of these families were former members of St. Elizabeth parish, Father John Knue pastor, graciously offered the church basement for religious services, and Mass was said for the first time on Passion Sunday March 14th.
On April 5th, ground was broken for the temporary church. In May, the newly ordained Father Vincent Manger was appointed first associate to the parish.
During the Summer, the church was completed and on Sunday, July 25th the dedication ceremonies took place.
Dedication of Our Mother of Sorrows Parish - July 25,1937
On July 29th the diocesan newspaper, The Record reported the approximately 600 people overflowed the newly completed church of Our Mother of Sorrows for the dedication ceremony and blessing by Bishop John A. Floersh.
By 1956 the congregation, numbering about 725 families, had out grown the temporary church. The building fund had raised $472,000 and the Architects Thomas J. Nolan & Sons were engaged to design plans for the permanent church.
In August of 1957, construction of the new church was started by the general contractors, Hays & Nicoulin.
Construction of the new church begins in 1957
By permission of the Archbishop, Father Lyons blessed the cornerstone of the permanent church on Sunday January, 26 1958. During the ceremony a metal box containing medals of the Blessed Virgin and the Holy father, Pope Paul Pius XII, a copy of the archdiocesan newspaper, The Record; copies of our parish bulletin, names of various church and civic officials, and the officers societies and organizations, was placed inside the stone.
Father Dalton placing metal box inside the cornerstone, 1958
At the completion of the church building, it was debt free. On Saturday December 13, Bishop Maloney consecrated the new altar tables. On Sunday December 14, the second edifice was dedicated by Bishop Maloney. Nearly 100 priests honored the occasion by their presence. In 1959 the temporary church was removed in sections and donated to a small mission in Kentucky. The original church lot was located East of the permanent church. Later this lot was reworked into the present church parking lot.
