Ever since 1913 when the first Catholic families in Greenwood began gathering for Mass in a private home, the Catholic community has continued to grow in numbers and in faith, fed by a constant influx of families from other parts of the nation and world. Our first permanent church, a small wooden Gothic chapel, was built at the corner of Grace and Durst through a bequest to the Catholic Extension Society in 1926. We moved to our previous five-acre site located at 110 East Laurel Avenue in 1964 with the completion of a multipurpose building that became our parish hall. The church located on Laurel Avenue was constructed in 1978. Our new church site is located at 915 Mathis Road.  The church was dedicated on July 11, 2004.

 To date,  762 currently active families are registered with the parish.  United in faith and strengthened by prayer and worship, our actions witness to the life of Christ within us. Over the years we have offered our gifts of time, material resources, talents and leadership to the parish, the community and the world beyond.

As we entered this new Millennium, it was very evident that our vibrant, active parish had outgrown our present facilities. With seating for 208 in the main church, we overflowed into the parish hall every weekend at several Masses. For many, this was not conducive to full participation in the liturgy. Our Sunday morning religious education classes occupied every possible space, including the church itself. Some evenings, every meeting space was in use.  We started planning for a new church building and seen those plans come to fruition on July 11, 2004 when our new church was dedicated at 915 Mathis Road.  Religious Education Classes are temporarily using Appletree Pre-School on Calhoun Road for Sunday morning classes.  More than 200 students attend.

   Plans are underway to provide meeting space, new offices and classrooms.

Strengthening our unity as members of the Body of Christ

Working and playing together at special events and in year-round activities help us get to know one another.

 The Hispanic Community sponsors the annual Fiesta in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12. 

 The Women's Club and the Knights of Columbus grow in membership this year, as their members enjoy fellowship, interesting programs and find numerous opportunities to serve the parish and the community.

Bringing Christ’s care and compassion to others

 Members of Our Lady of Lourdes Church continue their long tradition of compassionate care for those in need in the parish, in the Greenwood community and beyond. A few years ago, we established our parish food pantry. The first of each month we celebrate I Care, I Share weekend, bringing contributions of groceries and other household necessities as part of our weekly offering. Through your generosity, we are able to share our surplus with the Community Food Bank and the Greenwood Soup Kitchen. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, the "I Care, I Share" Committee prepare, and the Knights distribute, holiday food baskets to needy families in the community.

 As a founding member of the Greater Greenwood United Ministries and the Greenwood Soup Kitchen, OLOL joins with other local churches to help meet emergency needs for meals, medical care, financial assistance and referral to appropriate social service agencies. A significant number of volunteers for Meals-on-Wheels and the Literacy Council are members of our parish. Parishioners are active in numerous other organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, as well.

 Outreach and the AIDS Care Team are parish-based groups that provide compassionate care to individuals in the community who have special needs. Our  Prison Ministry provides the sacraments, weekly visits, and small personal gifts to women at the Leath Correctional Institution. Through our Christmas Giving Tree, we remember those in the community, young and old, who might not otherwise receive any holiday gifts.

 Within our own parish, the Bereavement Committee assists families who lose a loved one by providing transportation, meals, and any other services the family might need. After the funerals, the Women's Club coordinate dinners or receptions for family and friends.

Sharing our gifts with those in need

 Our Lady of Lourdes has become a tithing parish, since the first week of Lent in March 2000.  A full 10% of each weekly offertory collection is being distributed to local, diocesan, national and international organizations that meet a variety of social, spiritual, and economic needs. These organizations include the charities normally supported through diocesan second collections and other organizations that have requested our assistance or have been nominated by our parishioners. The Stewardship Committee reviews all requests and recommends organizations to share in our weekly tithes.