‘We come to give thanks to God’
Our Lady of the Rosary Parish celebrates 75th anniversary
Bishop Peter Jugis and five priests concelebrated the 75th anniversary Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church. Pictured from left are: Father John Paul Arowosoge, MSP; Father Peter Nouck; Father Ambrose Akinwande, MSP, pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Church; Bishop Jugis; Father Paul Asoh, MSP; and retired Father Wilbur Thomas, a local vocation from the parish. (Photos by SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald)LEXINGTON — The 75th anniversary of Our Lady of the Rosary Church was commemorated Oct. 5, with a special Mass offered by Bishop Peter Jugis that also included the blessing of a new altar.
Bishop Jugis was joined at the altar by Father Ambrose Akinwande, MSP, pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish; retired Father Wilbur Thomas, who grew up at the parish; Father John Paul Arowosoge, MSP, who has assisted at the parish over the past three summers; Father Peter Nouck, parochial vicar of Holy Family Church in Clemmons; and Father Paul Asoh, MSP, parochial vicar of St. Therese Church in Mooresville.
“You have reached a significant milestone in the history of your parish, now 75 years. I am happy to be here with all of you,” Bishop Jugis said during his homily.
He recalled that St. Paul wrote to the Christians of the first century that we are to give thanks to God the Father always and in everything in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
“So it is in that spirit today that we come in thanksgiving to God the Father, in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ… to give thanks for Our Lady of the Rosary Parish which He, God the Father, has planted here in Lexington, North Carolina,” Bishop Jugis said.
He noted that it was fitting to come together to give thanks to God for all the graces He has granted throughout the years to help the faithful grow in holiness: by receiving the sacraments; by listening to the Word of God and putting it into practice; and by being formed in the teachings of the Catholic faith given to us by Jesus.
“We come with that sense of thanksgiving to God for all of the blessings and graces that have been bestowed upon the Catholic community here over the past 75 years,” he said.
The new altar, carved from wood, was donated by a longtime parishioner in memory of her late husband. It features a relief image of the Last Supper.
Before blessing the new altar, Bishop Jugis explained the dedication ceremony and why it was a significant moment for the parish.
“It is quite significant that the Holy Mass is the place where we come in thanksgiving to God the Father through Jesus, because the Holy Mass is where it all began 75 years ago in 1944 – with the celebration of the first Mass here in Lexington.”
“So it is a beautiful testimony to the faith and the holiness of the faithful of this parish that you present a new altar to the Lord for the celebration of Mass today,” he said, “to honor the 75th anniversary year of the celebration of the first Mass and the establishment of the Catholic mission here in Lexington.”
“What we celebrate here transforms us and we carry that transformation and that power of Christ’s grace and love and holiness with us into our homes, into our families, into our workplaces, into our schools, into stores, into every place we go.”
Parishioner Mary Ann Brown has been a member of the Lexington parish since 1971, and helped get a weekly Spanish Mass arranged at the parish.
“I was fortunate to find a wonderful, welcoming parish,” Brown said. “I feel like our church has been so open and caring for the community.”
Jimmy Day, a member of the Knights of Columbus, has been at the parish for 30 years now, ever since he relocated with his job from Pittsburgh, Pa.
“It’s a small-town atmosphere, like a family more or less… we do everything together,” Day said. “In our parish we try to get our kids involved. They are our future.”
Teresa Kines, a lifelong member of the parish who was instrumental in organizing the 75th anniversary events, said, “I think tradition is ingrained in me, in that I have never looked at any other church to attend.” She added, “I think the next 75 years will be amazing as we begin building a new foundation for the future.”
Father Akinwande has served at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish for the past three years and shared that his experiences there have been spiritually enriching, morally uplifting and pastorally inspiring.
“I have encountered wonderful parishioners who love and believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and in the Catholic faith and principles,” he said. “Their belief in the salvation that our Lord Jesus Christ has brought us, has always strengthened their resolve to be true ambassadors of God’s Holy Church. We’ve really come a long way, leaning and depending on Jesus.”
In the closing remarks of his homily, Bishop Jugis prayed, “May this 75th anniversary year encourage you to a greater witness and service to Christ. As the Gospel reading today reminds us, we are His servants. We have done what we have been asked us to do. It is all about Jesus and faithfully following Him.”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
History of Our Lady of the Rosary Church
1944
In January, the current parish of Our Lady of the Rosary was a mission of St. Edward Church in High Point. At that time, Davidson County was only 1 percent Catholic. In April, the mission was transferred as a mission of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury.
1945
With 15 Catholics enrolled, the mission was named Holy Rosary Parish.
1946
A house and property located at 619 S. Main St. was purchased for approximately $7,000. The house was more than 100 years old, and was owned by Dr. Cathell, who was a mayor of Lexington. That November, Our Lady of the Rosary Church was officially named.
1948
Weekly Masses began being offered at Ideal Funeral Home, and continued until 1952. Mass also held in homes.
1951
Thomasville became a mission of Our Lady of the Rosary Church.
1953
Parishioners requested permission to build a church with $8,000 in savings. They were required to have one-third of the cost, so a fundraiser was held. Pews were $75 each and a brick was 50 cents.
1954
The Thomasville church was completed.
1957
The parish was given permission to evaluate building a church at a cost of about $15,000, not to exceed $18,000, on the present site. In September, construction began on the new church.
1958
Holy Rosary Church was completed, and on July 16, 1958, the church was formally dedicated by Raleigh Bishop Vincent S. Waters. In November, Mocksville became a mission of Holy Rosary Parish and the mission of Thomasville then became a mission of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish. Late that year, the old residential house was demolished.
1960s
The parish, numbering approximately 2,000 members, celebrated its 25th anniversary.
1973
Father Wilbur Thomas, a Lexington native and former member of the parish, was ordained to priesthood – one of the first priests for the Diocese of Charlotte.
1990
Patrick Pollen was commissioned to design the stained glass windows. These windows were made and installed by Glass Sculpture for $15,750.
2017
The church went through an extensive renovation. The parish used $46,520 of its “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign money towards the $70,000 remodeling effort. Parishioners pitched in with their own labor, saving thousands of dollars.
