Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (Atlanta) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church |
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Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (2020)
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 Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
Location in Atlanta
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
Location in the United States
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| 33°45′17″N 84°22′19″W / 33.75472°N 84.37194°W | |
| Location | Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Founded | November 1912 |
| Founder(s) | Ignatius Lissner |
| Dedication | Our Lady of Lourdes |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta |
| Province | Ecclesiastical Province of Atlanta |
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is a special Catholic Church located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It's in a historic area called Sweet Auburn. This church started as a "mission" in 1912. A mission is like a special church group sent to help people in a new area. It is also an important part of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. This means it's recognized as a place that helped tell the story of Dr. King and the civil rights movement.
Contents
History of the Church
How the Church Started
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church began in November 1912. A priest named Ignatius Lissner helped start it. He was part of a group called the Society of African Missions. The money to build the church came from Katharine Drexel. She was a very kind woman who also started the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.
The church was built in Sweet Auburn. This was a neighborhood in Atlanta where many African American families lived. The church worked well with other Christian churches nearby. This friendly cooperation between different churches is called ecumenism.
Early Years and Community
The church was first known as Our Lady of Lourdes Colored Mission. It was built as one building with three floors. It served as both a church and a school. Father Lissner was the first priest there.
At that time, it was only the second Catholic mission in Georgia built to serve African Americans. It was the very first one in Atlanta.
Connection to Martin Luther King Jr.
The church is on the same block where Martin Luther King Jr. was born. When he was a child, Dr. King often played on the church's grounds. This shows how close the church was to important history.
The Civil Rights Movement
Later, during the civil rights movement, many people from the church took part. They protested peacefully to help gain more equal rights for everyone. The church was a place of support during this important time.
The School's History
The school connected to the church stayed open for many years. It helped educate children in the community. However, the school closed in 2001. This happened because the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta could no longer provide enough money to keep it running.
See also
- List of Roman Catholic churches in the Archdiocese of Atlanta
