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History

- 1920 – On October 17, Father Joseph Tonello said the first Mass in Tujunga in the Forster family living room at 10342 Mountair Ave. Twenty-three people came. A month later, Fr. Tonello was appointed as the first pastor. On December 18, 1921, the first Our Lady of Lourdes church and rectory on 7510 Valaho St., Tujunga was dedicated by Archbishop Cantwell.
  
  1941 – A new and larger church that could seat 450 was built on what is now the lower school playground on Mountair. The first Mass in that church was said on July 14. It was dedicated on September 21. 1949 – OLL School began as a 2-room school. Fr. Falvey invited the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary to open the new school. The school was expanded in 1951, and again in 1959. The present school on the north side of Apperson was built in 1960. The first graduation was held in 1952.
  
  Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary came to teach at our brand new school in 1949. They were the only order of nuns to serve at OLL. The school started with only 3 classrooms and was expanded in 1951 to include what is now our 3 buildings by the auditorium in the lower parking lot. In 1959 the school was expanded once again as the “new school” was built on the other side of Apperson.
  
  1967 – The Sunday bulletin for OLL was first printed professionally on May 21. It included the liturgical prayers of the Sunday Mass and parish events to enable the community to participate actively in the Mass and keep abreast of parish life.
  
  1969 – The present day OLL church, that seats 950 people, as well as the rectory was built in time to celebrate the first Mass on Christmas Eve. It was dedicated on May 3, 1970 by Cardinal Timothy Manning. Arch Bishop Timothy Manning dedicated it on the 50th anniversary (a few months early) of Our Lady of Lourdes’ founding. Following the dedication Monsignor Wade, the current pastor, was joined by Monsignor Falvey and Father Collins, two former pastors to celebrate mass.
  
  When the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine were in charge of religious education during the 1960’s and 1970’s there was a Banner Sunday in March at the 10:30 Mass. Banners made by each R.E. class were processed into the church by 2 or 3 children followed by the entire class. They were on display in the front of the church during the entire mass.
  
  1973 – On April 29, the People’s Garden of Our Lady of Lourdes, the ground around the shrine was readied for parishioner to plant their favorite plants and flowers. It was literally and figuratively putting down family roots to grow and bloom for the whole community. Once OLL had a very large and active Italian Catholic Federation. They provided dinners for various church functions and also had their own spaghetti dinner, which was a great fundraiser and open to all parishioners. They even provided meat sauce for the R.E. Stombolli sandwiches that were sold on Super Bowl Sunday. Yummy times!
  
  1990 – The Adult Choir went on a musical pilgrimage to Rome along with several valley choirs. They sang at five different churches in Italy. In the spring of 2000, they released their first CD, “Seasons,” which featured songs for the liturgical seasons.
  
  1998 – In November, OLL purchased the Jewish Synagogue property on 10275 Tujunga Canyon Blvd. It was renovated and opened as the Parish Hall and ministry meeting rooms.
  
  2000 – The OLL Children’s Choir, along with other choirs in Pueri Cantores, was invited to sing at the First Sunday Mass of the Year 2000 at the Vatican, In the summer of 2004, the choir went on an international singing tour in Germany.
  
  2007 – After Sister Jeanne Mary Miller retired, the BVM center was converted to Parish Offices. The chapel has been maintained for prayer and the parishioners’ use.
  
  2010 – Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Tujunga celebrated its 90th Anniversary with Mass and Parish Potluck on October 16 and 17.

Our Lady of
Lourdes Church

Tujunga, CA

History