Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Northridge celebrated its golden anniversary Sept. 6-7 with a dinner dance and commemorative Mass. The festivities culminated a very special year that included the 150th anniversary of the apparition of our Lady of Lourdes in France (in February).

Cardinal Roger Mahony presided at the anniversary Mass, with Auxiliary Bishop Gerald Wilkerson, and Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo, North Dakota --- who attended Our Lady of Lourdes School --- concelebrating. Cardinal Mahony paid tribute to the founding pastor, Msgr. Paul Stroup (who died in 1983), and his successor and current pastor, Msgr. Peter Moran.

He also acknowledged several founding parishioners in the congregation; the Sisters from the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart, who teach religious education in the parish; and the Immaculate Heart Sisters, the original teachers at Our Lady of Lourdes School. Congregants filled the church and also a large tent with a live visual and audio feed erected for the event to allow everyone access to the ceremony.

In 1958 when Msgr. Stroup was asked by Cardinal James Francis McIntyre to start a parish in Northridge, much thought was invested in providing the new church with a name. The fact that two parishes already had the name Our Lady of Lourdes was a serious consideration. However, since the spiritual focus of the Catholic world that year was on Mary and her message at Lourdes, it seemed to be an appropriate choice for the new parish in Northridge.

As a first-time pastor, Msgr. Moran --- the youngest of 14 children, ordained in 1965 from St. Patrick's in Carlow, Ireland --- admittedly felt a bit overwhelmed. But the Lord's help and the ongoing love and support from the parishioners --- some of whom have been at the parish from its inception --- have helped to make his pastorate a great success. The 50-year celebration was designed to honor the past, celebrate the present, and nurture the future.