“Established in September 1980.” Remember that date as we delve into the story of Our Lady Help of Christians. James Cardinal Hickey formally established Our Lady Help of Christians. He appointed Fr. Peter R. Alliata as the first pastor.
In those early years Our Lady Help of Christians had a wonderful ecumenical spirit. The local churches opened their doors to the community. They invited them to share their facilities. For over 10 years, Saturday evening Mass was held at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church. The Peace Lutheran community gave Our Lady Help of Christians a key to their front door for evening meetings. The key was for space available. Our Lady Help of Christians formally returned the keys to both churches in June 1990. The construction of their own church was complete then. Hopefully, those years of wandering that formed them will never be forgotten.
In November 1987, Fr. Alliata was transferred. Fr. Eamon Dignan was appointed as the second pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians. Construction of a church and education facilities became the highest priority. This was for a rapidly growing community.
The present structure of the sanctuary includes classrooms and a social hall. It was constructed in three phases. The first phase was completed in May 1990. The second phase was completed in the fall of 1999. It added 10 classrooms and offices. It was ready for the CCD program. The final phase, the social hall, was completed in the spring of 2000.
In June 2004, Our Lady Help of Christians welcomed its third pastor, Fr. Thomas Crowley. The current pastor is Fr. Alain Colliou. He arrived at Our Lady Help of Christians in September 2010.
Today, Our Lady Help of Christians offers a variety of services. These include masses in English, Spanish, and French. Confession is available. There is also Eucharistic Adoration. The community gathers for the Rosary as well. Our Lady Help of Christians stands as a testament to faith. It is a welcoming place for all. Remember its humble beginnings. Remember the strong community that built it. Remember the pastors who have guided it. Our Lady Help of Christians continues to serve. It enriches the lives of its parishioners.