Our Lady of Loretto Redford

June 30, 2007	Father Ralph Besterwitch celebrates his first Mass as the eighth pastor of Our Lady of Loretto. His Excellency Bishop Reiss will install Fr. Ralph canonically on July 29.
June 24, 2007	Father J.J. celebrates his last Mass as pastor of Our Lady of Loretto and blesses what has been accomplished with the Memorial Garden. Father J.J. moves on to his new assignment at St. Anastasia's in Troy.
June 5, 2007	Father J.J. along with Father Joe preside over the last school Mass for Our Lady of Loretto school.
June 4, 2007	Preparations for the Memorial Garden have been completed. On June 5th, workers begin to unearth the ground.

June 27, 2004	Msgr. Flanigan celebrated the 9 a.m. Mass. As a parish, we have adopted Msgr. as our official Retired Clergy member. Fr. Flanigan entered the seminary in the ninth grade and finished his studies in 1947. His class was the first to be ordained from the then-new St. John Seminary in 1951. Msgr. Flanigan has served in four parishes as pastor and grew to love all the parishes and the people. Asked what would be noted as one of the big sacrifices of his life, he replied, "Having to leave a parish and going to another parish". His love of serving God's people has made him well-loved wherever he served. He enjoyed working with so many wonderful deacons and found it difficult to part with them when they were ordained and went to a parish of their own. He arrived here at OLL in June of 1966 and served as the Associate Pastor until October of 1968. He not only graciously cared for the many members of OLL, but also its leader. Msgr. arrived during the final months of the life of our founding pastor, Fr. Clare Berry, and carried on the duties of the parish. Msgr. has returned many times over the years to assist us here at OLL. He retired in 1995 and is now living at the Clergy Village on Madonna University Campus. He loves being a priest and couldn't think of anything else he would rather be. Being in so many parishes gave him a chance to meet so many good people. One of his greatest rewards of being a priest is going to an emergency sick call and the feeling of worth he feels to be needed. We welcome Msgr. Flanigan as our Retired Clergy member. We pray for him and support him.
July 1, 2000	Father J.J. Mech begins his ministry as the seventh pastor of Our Lady of Loretto. Officially installed as pastor by Bishop Neinstedt on August 6.
June 25, 2000	Father Joe Esper celebrates his last Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Loretto before departing to become pastor at St. Edward On-the-Lake.
December 31, 1993	Our Lady of Loretto concludes the 40th year of faithful service with a formal celebration at the New Year's Eve party.
December 12, 1993	Our Lady of Loretto's parish families celebrate with a dinner in honor of their 40th anniversary.
December 10, 1993	Our Lady of Loretto celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Loretto.
July 1993	Sister Marguerite Niedzwicki retired after 18 years of dedicated service as parish secretary.
May 26, 1993	Sister Mary Anne Bilgen died of cancer after six years of illness. Despite her poor health, Sister Mary Anne served as our grade school principal and made immense contributions. A Memorial mass was held at Our Lady of Loretto on June 5, which would have been her 61st birthday.
July 1, 1992	Father Joe Esper appointed by Archbishop Maida as the sixth pastor of Our Lady of Loretto. Officially installed by Bishop Schoenherr on July 11.
April 6, 1992	Father Arnold Dachille appointed interim pastor upon Father Ron Essman's departure.
Summer 1991	Mass was held in the air-conditioned Family Center while the church was being remodeled.
January 21, 1990	Father Ron Essman installed as the fifth pastor of Our Lady of Loretto Parish.
July 18, 1988	Father Ricardo Bass began his ministry as the fourth pastor and officially installed August 28. Father Roodbeen became pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Southgate.
February 26, 1988	First Lenten Fish Fry held by the Administration Commission to benefit the Activities Center and the parish.
January 24, 1988	Open house and blessing observed for the new Family Activities Center.
November 8, 1987	Handbells and chimes blessed and dedicated in a special service, followed by the first performance of the new Handbells Choir.
February 1986	Archdiocese approved final plans and financial support for building the activities center and gymnasium.
May 1985	Parish became westside center for the West Detroit Catholic Deaf. This Archdiocese Hearing Impaired Program is ministered by Father Richard Yost.
January 7, 1985	Father Robert V. Ryan died after suffering a heart attack. His 17 years of service as the second pastor of our parish will be long remembered by our parish family.
February 27, 1983	Father Henry Roodbeen formally installed as pastor.
January 3, 1983	Father Ryan retired as Pastor of Our Lady of Loretto.
July 15, 1982	Father Henry W. Roodbeen (Associate Pastor) appointed as Coadjutor due to Father Ryan's health.
June 28, 1981	Loretto Sisters depart Our Lady of Loretto after 27 years of service to our parish and school. A total of 44 Sisters participated in teaching OLL students.
February 1978	Church organ purchased and installation completed with donated funds.
June 1974	Bishop Joseph Imesch installed Father Ryan and Father Shirilla as co-pastors
June 13, 1971	Bishop Schoenherr installed Father Ryan and Father Borkowski as co-pastors.
May 23, 1971	Installation of the first Lay Eucharistic Ministers.
April 7, 1970	First meeting of the new Parish Council. Commissions were formed for Worship, Christian Formation, Christian Service, and Administration.
December 14, 1966	Father Robert V. Ryan arrived to become second pastor of Our Lady of Loretto.
November 25, 1966	Parish community mourned the death of its founding pastor, Father Clair J. Berry, who served our needs for over 13 years.
October 1, 1960	First "Family Fun Fair" opened for one day with a net profit of $1,158.74.
November 12, 1959	Grade school expanded and Cardinal Dearden blessed the new school addition.
June 10, 1956	First 8th grade graduation class exercises held.
April 9, 1956	Parish began its first Youth Club.
September 8, 1955	New school building completed and children moved into new classrooms.
February 24, 1955	Excavation began for the new school building (8 rooms) to be built at a cost of $132,850.
January 12, 1955	First rehearsal for the new men's choir with 14 men in attendance.
December 10, 1954	Cardinal Mooney blessed the new church on the Feast of Our Lady of Loretto.
September 9, 1954	School classes began in the two classrooms located in the basement of the church.
August 29, 1954	Mother David and companion Sisters of the Ladies of Loretto (Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, located in Toronto, Canada) arrived to open the new grade school.
April 4, 1954	First Sunday Masses held in the new church proper. First Communion class numbered 40 children who were instructed by the Sisters of Mercy from Mercy College. Sisters conducted school registration for the first and second grades.
February 14, 1954	First parish census completed and indicated family potential in the parish at 1,000.
December 1953	Sunday Masses transferred to Redford Union High School to increase seating capacity for growing attendance. Cornerstone laid for the new church building.
October 26, 1953	Father Berry turned first spade of dirt during ground breaking ceremony for the new church building.
October 17, 1953	Clarence Gleeson Company contracted for the erection of the church building designed by architect Ernest Tamplin.
September 1953	Chapel erected in basement of the rectory for services other than Sunday Mass.
August 4, 1953	Altar Society formed with Mrs. McCabe as first President.
July 12, 1953	First two masses offered at Bulman School attended by 350 people. Offertory totaled $339.10. Ushers Club formed and Edward Jeffreys elected first President. Frischorn Construction contracted to join two residences to serve as the rectory.
June 26, 1953	Parish founded by Edward Cardinal Mooney. Father Clair J. Berry appointed first pastor. Parish boundaries established as follows: Telegraph Road (east); Inkster Road (west); Puritan (south); and Pickford (north).
June 21, 1951	Archdiocese of Detroit purchased the land.
June 15, 1831	U.S. government granted land, on which the parish is located, to Mr. Allen Bates.