3rd December 1952 – Fr. Denis Lee, of Our Lady of Grace, Prestwich is appointed by the Bishop, Right Rev H V Marshall to start a new mission in the Whitefield area
Sunday 21st December 1952 – The first Mass is celebrated at 9 am in the dance room of the old Liberal Club in Morley St in the presence of about 120 people. The second Mass is at 11am.
Christmas Eve 1952 to Good Friday (3rd April) 1953 – Fr Lee lives as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Martin of 7 Pinfold Lane.
February 1953 – A dwelling house, 388 Bury New Rd Whitefield, is secured as a Presbytery.
7th April 1953 – After prolonged negotiations, Whitefield Council agrees to the transfer of approximately 4 acres of land to the Diocese of Salford for the purpose of erecting a Church, School and Presbytery.
21st July 1954 – Permission is granted by the Finance Board, and the plan is passed for the erection of a new church, although only the first stage is permitted with the plan for extending the church in future years approved. The presbytery plan is approved, but the build is postponed for financial reasons.
26th March 1955 – The Foundation Stone of the church is laid by the Vicar General, Monsignor J Cunningham. Bishop Marshall is ill and unable to officiate. (However, Bishop Marshall’s name appears on the stone)
11th February 1956 – St Bernadette’s Church is opened and blessed by the Bishop, Most Rev G A Beck. Solemn High Mass is celebrated by Fr Lee with Fr O’Keeffe of Nottingham Diocese as Deacon and Fr V Fay as Sub deacon in the presence of many clergy and a full church. Architects – Reynolds and Scott. Builders – Thomas Campion and Son. Total contract – £22,446.10s.
Bishop Beck suggests that a presbytery is built as soon as possible.
14th August 1958 – Fr Lee takes up residence in the new presbytery (same architects and builders) the property at 388 Bury New Road is sold.
1960 – A Parochial Chalice is purchased made from parishioner’s offerings of old gold and silver amounting to a value of £80.
26th November 1961 – The parish hall is opened and blessed by the Vicar General, Monsignor A McNulty. The architect, Leo Bellotti and the quantity surveyor, Patrick Norton are both parishioners, saving the parish ‘many hundreds of pounds’ (Fr Lee).
The hall is made possible by a gift of £5,000 towards the parish debt from Our Lady of Grace parish through Fr Denis O’Brien.
The site (2,232 sq yds) is purchased from Whitefield UDC for £325.00.
17th February 1965 – The new Sanctuary and side chapels are blessed by the Bishop, Right Rev T Holland.
28th January 1966 – Bishop Holland makes the first formal Episcopal Visitation of the parish.
Clergy
3rd December 1952 – 18th September 1974 Fr Denis Lee Parish Priest.
On 18th September 1974 – Fr Lee died following a heart attack. He is buried in St Mary’s Cemetery Moston.
March – September 1967 – Fr Thomas Lyons assistant priest (afterwards PP St Michaels Whitefield)
10th September 1970 – 16th May 1975 Fr John Williams assistant priest (afterwards assistant priest St Mary’s Levenshulme)
9th October 1974 – 1994 Fr Michael Joseph Feeley Parish Priest (afterwards?)
16th May 1975 – 9th September 1980 Fr Myles Sheahan assistant priest (afterwards assistant priest St Catherine’s Didsbury)
1994 – 1997 – Fr Terence P Drainey Parish Priest (afterwards Spiritual Director at the English College, Valladolid
15th September 1997 – Present Fr Christopher Lough Parish Priest
7th October 1997 – 31st August 1999 Fr Philip Brady assistant priest (afterwards Chaplain to Trafford General Hospital)
31st August 1999 – 25th August 2001 Fr Christopher Dawson assistant priest, also Chaplain to St Matthew High School Moston (afterwards to Rome, at the request of the Bishop, undertaking further studies in Canon Law)
Buildings
8th January 1968 – The new Primary School is opened for classes and on 22nd May 1968 the Solemn Blessing and opening of the school is performed by Bishop Holland.
November 1970 – The Parish Hall and Social Club is extended at a cost of £6,361.
30th October 1975 – Following a proposal by Fr Feeley, the Members of the Social Club pass a resolution that the club should in future be known as St Bernadette’s Social Centre.
July 1989 – After three years of fund-raising and construction work completed by voluntary labour the Scout Group open their new building.
23rd April 2001 – St Bernadette’s Nursery opens. Funding from the LEA being repeatedly refused, the three prefab units are provided by a former parishioner, Mr. Eamonn O’Donoghue, refurbished and equipped by a combination of government grants, PTA and school fund, plus a loan from parish funds, with the approval of the Board of Administration.
Events and visitations
14th January 1973 – Bishop Holland Visitation
12th June 1973 – St Bernadette’s Church is consecrated by Bishop Holland
11th February 1975 – Fr Feeley is inducted by Very Rev P Mulcahy
6th February 1977 – Bishop Geoffrey Burke Visitation. Confirmation of 220 children.
22nd June 1977 – Parish Celebration of Fr Feeley’s Silver Jubilee of Ordination
21st December 1977 – Parish Celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the foundation of the Parish.
30th April – 14th May 1978 Parish Mission led by Passionist priests.
Sunday 11th August 1979 – The school is badly damaged by fire. After the summer holiday 60 children are temporarily accommodated at St Michael’s school. The Junior Department is re-opened on 1st September 1980 after reconstruction costing £67,000.
24th April 1981 – At St Bernadette’s, Bishop Burke Commissions about 60 Lay Ministers of Holy Communion, for parishes in the Bury Deanery.
5th July 1981 – Bishop Holland Visitation. Confirmation of 200 children.
February 1982 – Announcement of the Pope’s visit to Great Britain 28th May – 1st June. Preparations, practical and spiritual, begin immediately. Many parishioners contribute in various ways to both the organisation and celebration at Heaton Park.
July 1982 – Brian Kealey ordained Deacon at Ushaw College Saturday 23rd July 1983 Fr Brian Kealey is the first man from the parish to be ordained priest. Bishop Burke performs the ceremony followed by a Reception in the Social Centre. Celebrations continue on Sunday 24th with Fr Kealey’s First Mass and ‘general rejoicing…an epoch-making day in the history of St Bernadette’s Parish’(Fr Feeley)
June 1984 – Fr Frank Moran appointed by the Home Office Chaplain to Strangeways Prison takes up residence at Rufford Close Whitefield
September 1984 – After consultation, Saturday evening Mass is introduced. At 6.30pm it replaces the Sunday evening Mass.
3rd March 1985 – Bishop Burke Visitation.
July 1985 – Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament started on Saturdays 11 – 12 noon.
31st December 1985 – The outstanding debt of £5,039 owed by the parish to the Diocesan Trustees is paid off. ‘The Parish is clear of debt for the first time.’ (Fr Feeley)
18th July 1987 – Fr Barry O’Sullivan is ordained by Bishop Burke at St Bernadette’s.
13th October 1989 – Bishop Patrick Kelly Visitation. Bishop Kelly opens and blesses the new Scout Headquarters and also opens for use the new ramped entrance to the Church.
July 1991 – Mr. Ron Greenall retires as Head Teacher of St Bernadette’s Primary School. Mr. Desmond Burns is appointed to replace him.
29th March – 5th April 1992 Parish Mission led by Fr Don O’Connell and Eamonn Flanagan CM.
6th March 1993 – Celebrations to mark the 25th Anniversary of the opening of St Bernadette’s School.
4th July 1993 – Fr Gerard Murphy is ordained by Bishop Kelly at St Bernadette’s.
4th September 1993 – Dom Matthew Carney OSB (Mark Carney) is ordained at Belmont Abbey Hereford.
Christmas 1993 – ‘Splendid attendance at all three Masses. Total attendance estimated at 1160.’ (Fr Feeley)
15th September 1997 – Fr Christopher Lough takes up residence as Parish Priest. He also continues his role as diocesan advisor for adult education.
14th August 2000 – Fr Lough relinquishes his post as advisor for adult education. He leaves for a study sabbatical at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, California. In his absence Fr Dawson is appointed priest-in-charge.
19th December 2000 – Fr Lough returns as full time Parish Priest.
23rd April 2001 – St Bernadette’s Nursery opens.
1st January 2002 – The parish enters its Golden Jubilee year. A number of pastoral, spiritual and social events are planned.
24th February – 2nd March 2002 A week of guided prayer led by Salford Prayer Guides. 24 parishioners take part in preparation for the parish Golden Jubilee.
20th – 21st April 2002 – An exhibition of Parish Groups and Organisations Takes place in the Social Centre.
29th June 2002 – the Manchester Chorale give a concert in church, the first time the building has been used in this way.
6th December 2002 – Bishop Terence Brain presides at a Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving for the 50 years of St Bernadette’s Parish. Priests who worked, were ordained or originated from the parish were invited, as were other local parish communities. ‘Organisation was superb and it was a great team effort by the parishioners’ (Fr Lough)
22nd July 2003 – Fr Chris Lough, and the Parish, celebrate his Silver Jubilee of Ordination to the Priesthood.
October 2003 – The Bishop decides that St Bernadette’s parish will amalgamate with St Michael’s Whitefield at an unspecified date in the future. There will be two churches, two schools and one priest.
10th February 2004 – An open meeting is held at St Michael’s Whitefield for parishioners of both parishes to discuss the future amalgamation. The meeting is friendly and open to prepare the way for change.
