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HISTORY OF THE PARISH, CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION |
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| January 29, 1945 | The history of Our Lady of the Lake Church began on January 29, 1945 when Fr. James Kirby, pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Westfield announced that a Catholic Church would be erected on Sheep Pasture Rd in Southwick. |
| September 1, 1947 | The new church was started on September 1, 1947 as construction began on a 3 acre parcel on land which had been donated by Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Keenan Sr. The basement church was completed by Easter, 1948 when the first Mass was celebrated. |
| 1st Pastor June 24, 1951 |
Three years later on June 24, 1951, Our Lady of the Lake was no longer a mission of St. Mary’s Church, Westfield. Bishop Christopher J. Weldon decreed that a new parish be started in Southwick and he appointed Fr. Thomas A. Shea to be the first Pastor…serving until 1964. |
| January 6, 1962 | Fr. Shea and his parishioners continued to use the cellar church until 1961 when the handsome colonial edifice began to be built. the new upper church was completed by Christmas of that year and, on January 6, 1962, Bishop Weldon solemney dedicated the church. |
| 2nd Pastor 1964-1968 |
2nd Pastor: Fr. Thomas S. Hanrahan…1964 – 1968… cleared the parish of all debt, purchased the Chapman Estate to the south of the church with a view to it’s use for the parish. |
| 3rd Pastor 1968-1970 |
3rd Pastor: Fr. James P. Sears…1968 – 1970…renovated the Chapman house for use as a convent and made some necessary improvements to the rectory and church. |
| 1970 | In 1970, Bishop Weldon extended the parish territory to include the towns of Granville and Tolland. |
| 4th Pastor 1970-1979 |
4th Pastor: Fr. James J. Flahive…1970-1979…the church was redecorated, the Sisters of St. Joseph came to the parish to work among the people, and a parish pavilion was built on the church property. |
| 5th Pastor 1979-1993 |
5th Pastor: Fr. James Menge…1979-1993…The steeple was erected on the church in 1981. The handicap elevator was installed. Renovation of the downstairs hall with handicap accessible bathrooms. |
| 6th Pastor 1993-2003 |
6th Pastor: Fr. Timothy Hallahan…1993-2003…Interior painting of the church.. Air conditioning installed in the church and hall. |
| 7th Pastor 2003-2019 |
7th Pastor: Fr. Henry Dorsch…2003-Present…Additional adornments received for the church, capital campaign begun for parish Faith Formation Center projected to break ground in the spring of 2011. |
| In 2011, the Parish will be celebrating it’s 60th Anniversary. | |
| In 2013, Bishop McDonnell blesses new Faith Formation Center. | |
| Fr. Henry enters into retirement | |
| 8th Pastor 2019 to Present |
Fr. Matthew Guidi becomes the 8th Pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish. Fr. Matthew comes from St. Mary of the Assumption Parish located in Cheshire, MA. |
| September 2019 |
Renovations begin for Rectory |
| June 2020 | Rectory Renovations completed. |