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Parish archives record that in 1937, a year after the
bridge was built, there were three Catholic people
in the city of Florence
attending Sunday Mass in Reedsport. That same year Fr. Leipzig, pastor of
St. Mary’s in Eugene, began a monthly
journey to offer Mass for a large group of Catholic boys at the CCC Camp
south of Florence, and the Catholic people
of the area came to attend this monthly Mass. In 1949 Fr. Augustine Meyer was
assigned pastor of Reedsport. Then Mass was celebrated in Florence at opportune times in homes of
parishioners. In 1950 Fr. Gerald Linahen was
appointed pastor at Reedsport and promised the people of Florence
he would again institute the monthly Mass.
On Christmas 1951, he gathered a community of 36 people above the
Cooper’s Mercantile Store, in the Kyle
Building for the celebration of
the first Christmas Mass in Florence.
The space was without heat, so in 1952 the small community rented the
American Legion Hall for Mass.
A building campaign was started, and the parish purchased a lot uptown.
September of 1953 Erwin Moullet donated a 20 X 50
foot building for a church and moved it to the lot on 17th and Redwood Street.
The church was titled “Our Lady of Fatima”. The building still
stands and is presently occupied by another religious congregation. Once
the church was established, Catholic people came from all directions for Mass. Much of the
early organization and building of community is credited to Fr. Gerald Linahen.
The Church is on the move.
In 1953 this 20 x 50 foot building was donated to the Catholic Church and
was moved to a new location near East
17th street. The cost of the move was $750
dollars and was done by Rook Bros. from Eugene. The picture shows the building
supported by heavy equipment taking a hazardous corner through deep sand.
Heavy planks were used to hold up the wheels. Erwin Moullet
donated the building. This building still stands today and is used by other
church here in Florence.
First communion at the first ever Catholic church in Florence, “Our Lady of
Fatima” - 1954.
This church still stands today but is no longer a Catholic church. It is
currently located just off 17th
street behind the A&W restaurant.
In 1955 Fr. Cornelius Linahen was assigned to Reedsport with Florence
as a Mission.
By 1957 the population of Florence,
Mapleton, and Swisshome had increased. 75
Catholic families were counted in the parish; they had outgrown the church.
Fr. Linahen began the quest for new churches in Florence and
Reedsport. The Catholic Extension Society provided grants for the churches
in each location. The first Mass in the present church in Florence was midnight Mass of Christmas
1958. The church was dedicated on September 20,1959
and given the title “St. Mary”. John Jacobson purchased the
property next to the church with a small house on it for a Rectory. It was
later re-purchased from John by the parish. In 1961 Fr. Otto Scheffold was appointed pastor of Reedsport and for
many years pressed the diocese to send a pastor for Florence parish. September 7, 1967 St.
Mary’s was officially established as a parish, and on September 8,
1967, Fr. Larson was appointed the first pastor. Under Fr. Larson a CCD
center-Rectory was built and dedicated June 1968. “Our Lady Of The
Dunes” was added to the name of the parish. July 1, 1972 Fr. James
Maxwell was appointed as pastor. On February 20, 1978 Fr. Franz Schubert
replaced Fr. Maxwell. On August 1, 1979 Fr. John Betts came as
administrator of the parish. February 13, 1981 Fr. Vincent Cunniff was assigned as pastor. In need of a Parish
Center and unable to obtain a loan from the diocese, the initiative of the
parishioners financed the building, with the contributed service of Bernie LaForge and Gary Foglio
making the project feasible. The Center opened with the Parish Bazaar
November 6, 1982. From this time on, summer Masses are overflowing. In
winter the low attendance count is ~400 people. May we always be a
welcoming community of openness, love and faith.
St. Mary’s (1965) Notice no highway, no trees, grass
for a parking lot. No statue.
Building the rectory / June 1968 / Missing is the
parish center that is now a Kindergarten classroom.
Notice the lack of trees and bushes that now have overtaken the lot next
door.
After 1970 Our Statue of Mary is added to the parish grounds. The color of
church was very light brown with white trim, grass for a parking lot
Back In Time /1968 Summer / Notice cross built on top of back roof of
church. This cross was near the same height as the cross that currently stands
in front of the church This cross was removed later. Also notice gravel and
grass parking lot.
1957 - Fr. Jeremiah Linehan / Fr. Emil Kies / Fr. Jame Gallagher /
Fr. Edmund Murnane / Florence Mayor / Jack
Jacobson / Cornelius Linehan
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