Clemmons Mission - 1976

 

The significant growth of Saint Leo's parish over the years led to the need for the Diocese of Charlotte on October 7, 1976 to purchase ten acres of land to build a new church in Clemmons. At the same time, a home on the corner of Knob Hill Avenue and Peace Haven Road was purchased as a rectory and also served as a chapel for weekday Mass, office and meeting space, and Religious Education classes.

Father James Solari, assigned to Saint Leo's at the time served as resident priest of what was known then as the Clemmons Mission during the years 1977 and 1978. Father Hoover arrived to replace Father Solari at what was becoming better known as Saint Leo's West from 1978 to 1979.

In March of 1977 a parish celebration was held upon completion of the Rectory basement renovations. This space was named Saint Joseph Hall because his feast day is March 19 and the two key men who coordinated the work both were named Joseph, Joseph Kwolkoski and Joseph Dovi. The four classrooms were named Holy Family, Holy Cross, Holy Scripture and Holy Spirit.

The first Mass was celebrated on July 15, 1978 in the Clemmons Presbyterian Church on Highway 158 and celebrated by Monsignor Richard Allen, then pastor of Saint Leo's. While they had generously offered their hospitality, after two weekends of Masses, we were overflowing their facility.

For the next five years, the Saturday evening Mass and Religious Education classes were held at the Clemmons Moravian Church on Spangenberg Drive and Sunday morning Masses and nursery were held at the Clemmons Vogler Funeral Home Chapel.

The first formal organization, the Elizabeth Ann Seton Guild was formed in November of 1978 and provided the most significant strength in the faith community for the formation of an independent parish. The guild handled all of the parish necessities including spiritual needs, social functions and even housekeeping. Most of these functions are currently handled under a variety of parish commissions.

Paulist Father Robert Scott was installed as the first Pastor of Holy Family as a church on August 15, 1980 with Saint Francis in Mocksville named as our Mission. Bishop Michael Begley canonically established the parish under the patronage of the HOLY FAMILY.

The name was one of the choices proposed by the parishioners and was chosen based on the "Year of the Family". In that same year the first building committee was created with 170 registered families. Pastors succeeding Father Robert Scott included Father Tom Clements, Father Cecil Tice, Father Tom Walsh, Father Frank J. O'Rourke, and our current pastor Father Michael Buttner.

Commissions - 1981

The original six commissions recommended by Diocesan guidelines were organized and chairmen appointed subsequent to our Parish Council and Board of Education elections in March of 1981.

In the next month plans were under way to build a 9,200 square foot structure comprised of worship area, reconciliation room, two offices, nursery, kitchen and a concourse for social events, classes and overflow of the worship area. The following year parish registration had grown to 329 families.

Breaking Ground - 1984

Bishop Michael Begley conducted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new church building on March 4, 1984. New furniture arrived in December of 1984 and the first Mass was celebrated in the new building. Parish registration has now grown to 550 registered families.

History, continued... page 2