Catholic Church
Florence, OR
The History of St Mary, Our Lady of the Dunes Catholic Church
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. 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 another church here in Florence.
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 attendance count is low, but spirits are always high. May we always be a welcoming community of openness, love and faith.