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PARISH HISTORY &
MISSION STATEMENT
PARISH HISTORY
Father James Ambrose Lane formed Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish June
10, 1918. The property, purchased by Bishop Schrembs, was located on River
Road. In 1920 there were 490 parishioners and 70 enrolled in the parish
school, located in the basement of the pastor's residence. The Ursuline
Sisters were the teachers when in 1921, a new "portable"
classroom had to be added. The parish continued to grow under the
leadership of Father James Elder. In 1930 Father Bernard P. Crane was
assigned as pastor. For 38 years Father Crane led OLPH from a small
building with "portable" buildings to become one of Toledo's
largest parishes. From 1945 to 1950 the parish doubled in size from 1,600
to 3,212 parishioners. In 1946, he purchased a strip of land on the
Anthony Wayne Trail (the newly filled in Miami-Erie Canal) and
construction began in August 1949 with one building opening (the new
school) in September, 1950. By the time the new school opened, ten Masses
were said every Sunday. By 1952 the hall/cafeteria was completed and in
1956 Bishop George Rehring consented to the construction of St. Joseph's
Hall, along with the building of a new parish in South Toledo, to
alleviate our overcrowded conditions. In 1969 Father Edward Mattimoe
continued Father Crane's legacy with the purchase of an additional
rectory and Sister's residence. Father Lawrence Devine came to OLPH in
1973 and the church underwent renovations to conform to the requirements
of the Second Vatican Council. He also purchased the present rectory on
Glynn Drive. Father Frank Crawford was named pastor in 1981, Father
Robert Thomas in 1982, and Father Francis Speier was named pastor in
1985. The Sister's residence was sold in 1985 and the Sherwood rectory
was sold in 1989. On May 22, 1988, a permanent Adoration Chapel was
dedicated. Since we were debt free, Bishop James Hoffman gave permission
for a Building Fund Drive to provide another need for our parishioners.
On December 3, 1989, the new Parish Activities Center, which includes a
multi-purpose room, music room, two classrooms and parish offices, was
dedicated. In July of 1997 Rev Robert Wilhelm was appointed the ninth
pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. In July of 2005 Father Robert
Reinhart was appointed the tenth pastor. Currently there are 4,500 parishioners who share in
worship, service and fellowship in the OLPH faith community, under the
leadership of Father Reinhart.
MISSION STATEMENT
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish is a Catholic community committed to
celebrating and extending the mission of Jesus Christ through spiritual
growth, education, service and compassion for all God's people.
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