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Our Lady of Lourdes Parish History
Many priests have served at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish since it's inception in 1894.
Photos of Pastors of Our Lady of Lourdes
The original Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Benson in the late 1890's.
Our Lady of Lourdes was founded by Father Felix Emile Joseph Dilly in late 1894. Church construction
began immediately on the site of the today's church.
The church building was built by the parishioners of the day out of adobe bricks and wood. The church could seat about
80 worshippers on 12 pews when completed.
First Communion Class of 1915
The parish community thrived as Benson continued to grow over the
next 50 years as the ranching industry grew up, the railroad was constructed and the explosives
industry was formed to support the growth in mining around southern Arizona. There were 20 pastors of the church
in this span of years.
During this time period, Our Lady of Lourdes was a mission of Tombstone, St. Patrick's in Bisbee and
Sacred Heart in Nogales. Then Tombstone became a mission of Benson from 1931 to 1960. Then in 1966, Our Lady of
Lourdes became a separate parish of it's own.
Hijas Minimas de Maria Inmaculada -- Sisters who served in the parish from
1925 - 1967.
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