Our Lady of Lourdes (Archdiocese of Atlanta): Difference between revisions

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Atlanta was established in November 1912 by Father Ignatius Lissner from the Society of African Missions as the first African-American Catholic parish in Atlanta. It was founded with funding from Mother Katharine Drexel, who aimed to serve African Americans and Native Americans through her established order, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Initially known as Our Lady of Lourdes Colored Mission, it was built as a three-story building combining church and school functions. The church has been a significant historical site, notably located near the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr., and played a role during the civil rights movement with many parishioners participating in protests. The school associated with the parish operated until 2001, after which the building became the Katharine Drexel Community Center. The parish has seen several expansions, including a capital campaign in 2008 to construct a new sanctuary, reflecting the growth of the congregation.<ref name="lourdesatlanta_history">History – Our Lady of Lourdes Atlanta - lourdesatlanta.org. [http://lourdesatlanta.org/about-us/history/]</ref><ref name="archatl_lourdes">Our Lady of Lourdes, Atlanta | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta | Atlanta, GA - archatl.com. [http://archatl.com/parishes/our-lady-of-lourdes-atlanta/]</ref><ref name="georgiahistory_lourdes">Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church: Atlanta’s First African-American Catholic Church - Georgia Historical Society - www.georgiahistory.com. [http://www.georgiahistory.com/ghmi_marker_updated/our-lady-of-lourdes-catholic-church/]</ref>