Significant Dates, Events, and Facts in our Parish History:
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October 2, 1887 - Feast of Our Lady of The Rosary: Day of Dedication of St. Frances of Rome Church. The Rt. Rev. William G. McCloskey, fourth bishop of Louisville presided over the dedication service.
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Rev. Thomas Walter White - founder and first Pastor of St. Frances of Rome Church, Louisville, KY.
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October 2, 1910 - St. Frances of Rome celebrates its 23rd anniversary of its dedication, but also celebrated a notable extension made to the church.
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March 19, 1912 - a damaging fire occurred at the church, but much was saved and following the fire another addition was added to the church. St. Frances of Rome Church became the first church in Louisville to be stuccoed.
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September 7, 1918 - Father White passed from this life at the age of 60.
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September 16, 1918 - The Rev. John Henry Riley, Pastor of the Church of the annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Shelbyville, KY, was appointed pastor of St. France of Rome Church. Father Riley organized the Clifto-Crescent Club, a month Parish bulletin, and started a building fund for a new church.
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January, 1927 - Rev. Bernard J. Boland arrived at St. Frances of Rome to take charge of the Parish.
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May 4, 1930 - The dedication of the new St. France of Rome School building, given by the Ret. Rev. Bishop John A. Floersh. Father Floersh eventually went on to found Holy Spirit Catholic Parish on Lexington Rd.
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September, 1937, the venerable old St. Mary's Church at 8th and Grayson, Louisville, KY, was closed and dismantled and the church was razed. The pews, alters, vestments, etc., were removed and used in various parishes in the Archdiocese.
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Father Boland, purchased the old organ of St. Mary's Church, along with all of her stained glass windows. These windows were repaired and fitted for St. Frances of Rome Church.
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In 1939, Rev. Charles G. Maloney was appointed as a new assistant of St. Frances of Rome. He eventually became the Auxiliary Bishop of Louisville.
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1945 - World War II ended with 272 men of St. Frances of Rome Church in the service of their country.
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June 3, 1951 - Msgr. Boland celebrated his Golden Jubilee in the Priesthood.
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1952 - The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth purchased a house at 2252 Payne Street, which was to become the first convent for the Sisters teaching at St. Frances of Rome.
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Just as renovation work had been completed to the church, Msgr. Bernard J. Boland died on March 7, 1955 at the rectory, after 54 years in the Priesthood (27 of those at St. Frances of Rome Church. Father Lawrence C. Kieffer was then appointed the administrator.
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July 17, 1956 - Rev. Josepph J. Rives was appointed pastor of St. France of Rome.
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September 30, 1962 - The Diamond Jubilee, the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of the founding of St. Frances of Rome was celebrated with a Parish Day.
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The St. Frances of Rome School, which was housed in the Clifton Center for 45 years, closed in 1975.
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In 1989, St. France of Rome and a few community leaders began to restore the Clifton Center theatre and it was incorporated as a nonprofit organization to continue the renewal of the building and its role in the community. The Center began a long-term lease from the Archdiocese of Louisville to operate the building. In addition to its public role as the Clifton Center, the building continues to be used for educational programs and gathering space by the community of St. Frances of Rome, our neighbors and partners in the renovation of the facility.
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St. Frances of Rome Church, circa 1900
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