Churches of Rochester
Our Lady of Lourdes

Our Lady of Lourdes

Active

Brighton, Monroe County

Our Lady of Lourdes was founded in 1928 to serve the Catholic families of Brighton's Bel Air neighborhood, situated at the corner of Imperial and Rhinecliff drives. Father Frank Mason served as the founding pastor from 1928 to 1937, establishing the parish during the years of the Great Depression.

As Brighton's population grew through the mid-20th century, the parish expanded to meet the community's needs. The present church building was constructed in 1964, replacing earlier facilities that had served the parish for its first 36 years.

The parish has been notable for pastoral stability, with several pastors serving extended terms. Father John O'Connor led the parish for 26 years from 1980 to 2006. Today, Our Lady of Lourdes is clustered with St. Anne Church on Mount Hope Avenue near Strong Memorial Hospital, and the two parishes share ministry and resources while maintaining their distinct identities. Seton Catholic School, located at 165 Rhinecliff Drive, serves families from both parish communities.

Exterior Photographs

Front of the church. Left side. Church seen from parking lot. Bell tower. Church sign. Outdoor area. Statue of St. Theresa. Fountain and statue. Crucifix and plaque from the former St. George church (see here and here on old photos of St. George church). Cornerstone.

Interior Photographs

Interior. From back left corner. From back right corner. Right side. Left side. Back of the church. Stained glass in choir loft. View from the middle, left side. View from the middle. View from the middle, right side. Sanctuary. Sanctuary seen from an angle. Stained glass in sanctuary. Crucifix. Triptych Left painting. Center painting. Right painting. Altar. Celebrant's chair. Pulpit. Tabernacle. Baptismal font. Ambry. Painting of the two cluster parishes (St. Anne and Lourdes). Crying room. Painting in the crying room. Inside the bell tower. Inside the bell tower. Gates of Dawn - Mother of Mercy icon. Replica of famous Lithuanian icon. Our Lady of Lourdes statue. St. Bernadette statue. Relic. Last Supper relief. Marble piece. Tapestry. Wood reliefs of Our Lady. Holy water font. Spiral sculpture. Our Lady of Lourdes banner. Statue of St. Joseph with Christ child.

Chapel

Inside the chapel. From an angle. From left side. Painting on chapel wall. Statue of St. Theresa of Avila. ? Statue of St. Joseph with child Jesus Crucifix next to the chapel altar Relief depicting the symbols for the four Gospel authors Chapel stained glass Chapel stained glass Chapel stained glass Chapel stained glass

Stations of the Cross

Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes

Historical Photographs

Exterior of former church, 1939. Source: Catholic Courier Golden Jubilee Edition: 1889-1939 Exterior of former church, 1950s. May or may not be the original church building. Source: Brighton Municipal Historian Collection Pastoral leaders in the parish's history.

Interior before 2009 layout changes

Our Lady of Lourdes shrine was in front left corner of the church. Tabernacle was located in the base of the bell tower. Spiral sculpture was located where icon of Our Lady is now. Icon located where tabernacle is now. Former chapel appearance. Pews in the chapel instead of chairs.