ST. LUKE CATHOLIC CHURCH
17 HUNTVILLE ROAD - P.O. BOX 7
FAIRFAX, VERMONT 05454
Email:stluke17@myfairpoint.net

Phone: 849-6205

Masses:

Saturday - St. Luke - 4:00 p.m. - Ascension 6:00 p.m.
Sunday - St. Luke - 10:30 a.m. - Ascension 8:30 a.m.

Fax: 849-6078

Sacrament/Reconciliation

Saturday - 3:00 to 3:30 p.m.
or by appointment

 


Father Henry Furman
(Pastor)
Email: hpfurman@gmail.com


Deacon: Stephen Ratte
Email: spratte2@comcast.net

OFFICE STAFF
ANNE MOSSEY
KAREN MINOR
TEL: 8496205

CATECHETICAL MINISTRY:
MARY BETH REDDING, DRE TEL: 802-338-0197
E-MAIL: reddingcrew@surfglobal.net

RECTORY OFFICE HOURS:
MONDAY THRU THURSDAY - 9:30 AM TO 3:00 PM
FRIDAY - 9:30 AM TO 12:30 PM

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
(CONFESSION):
SATURDAY: 3:00 PM -- 3:30 PM
OR BY APPOINTMENT AT THE RECTORY

MARRIAGES: CALL SIX MONTHS BEFORE DATE IS SET

BAPTISMS:
CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
ONE GODPARENT MUST BE A PRACTICING AND CONFIRMED CATHOLIC

RCIA:
AS PER SCHEDULE INSIDE.



The young Altar Boy on the right identified as Tom Soules is Dick LeClair

Interior of original St. Luke Church as it appeared prior to 1948

In the year 1865 the congregation or parish consisted of about twenty families. They lived in the town of Westford and along the Fletcher Road as well as in Fairfax itself. Father Magloire Pigeon was given charge of the Catholic community in Fairfax in 1868. According to his letters, Bishop Louis DeGoesbriand intended to build a church in Fairfax as soon as there were enough families to support one financially. This, however, was not the case at the time that Father Pigeon was appointed, so it is assumed that one of the homes in the village was used for the saying of Mass for the Catholic members of the community.

A Burlington Free Press article dated November 19, 1870 stated that "A new Catholic Church is in the course of erection in Fairfax near the covered bridge. The frame is up and boarded." The Beers Atlas of 1871 shows the Roman Catholic Church to be located on what was then known as South Street, not far from the Lamoille River. The book entitled "Successful Vermonters by William H. Jeffrey" and published in 1907 stated that the Roman Catholic Church Building was constructed in 1872 under the direction of Father Magloire Pigeon.

Meanwhile, about 1872, the Oblate Fathers (later known as the Society of St. Edmund) gave a Mission to about 60 people, and at its conclusion, Bishop DeGoesbriand conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on a class of twelve including four adults. Things stayed this way for several years, but the Catholic population in Fairfax was growing steadily for those years until, on September 27, 1876, Bishop Louis DeGoesbriand for the sum of two hundred ($200) dollars, purchased the property, with the church building on it, from Orion W. Butler, who lived in Stowe and Ezra S. Butler, who lived in Fairfax. The deed specifically stated, "on which the Roman Catholic Church now stands". I have been unable to find anything in the Fairfax Town Records that shows exactly when the church was constructed or why it was constructed on land belonging to someone else. The church seated about 100 people and was placed under the patronage of St. Mary Magdalene.

About 1913, Father Boivin decided to enlarge the church and added the section which became the sanctuary and sacristy, increasing the seating capacity to accommodate 200 persons. Sometime around 1918, the church was placed under the patronage of St. Luke. The parish remained a mission of a number of other parishes which included, The Cathedral in Burlington, St. Ann's in Milton, St. Mary's in St. Albans and the Catholic Church at St. Albans Bay.

On December 17, 1940, a three acre tract of land was purchased for a Catholic Cemetery near the intersection of Routes 128 and 104 at the southern end of town from Joseph and Cordelia St. Jock for $175.

In 1943, parishioners heard rumors that St. Luke's might become a parish, so in order to be prepared, they purchased the original rectory, located on the corner of Main & Hunt Streets.

St. Luke's Rectory 1943-1996

In 1963, St. Luke's Parish Center was constructed at a cost of $90,000 during the pastorate of Father Francis Hickey. In 1982, the original St. Luke Church, which had suffered severe structural damage during the flood of 1927 and been repaired numerous times was found to be unsafe with major repairs needed again. All activities were moved to the Parish Center and it was dedicated as St. Luke's Church on October 10, 1982. The old St. Luke Church stands at its original location, however, renovations were made and it is now Steeple Market on the first floor and has apartments on the second floor.

In 1996, the original St. Luke's Rectory was sold and a new Rectory constructed on the Church Property near the church on the Huntville Road.

CLICK ON LINKS BELOW FOR OTHER WEBSITES

Bishop Matano Visits St. Luke's Nov 22, 2009

Ascension Parish Site

Weekly Bulletin for St. Luke

Complete more detailed History of St. Luke Parish

Unique Applet with St. Luke Church (1927)

Former Pastors of St. Luke's

How St. Luke Parish helps a mission in the Dominican Republic

Photos of Sister Cecile's Sept. 11, 1999 Lawn & Bake Sale

Photos of Father Feltz's Farewell Party

World Youth Day 2002 by Kaitlin Langelier

St. Luke Valentine Day Dance - 02/08/2003

St. Luke's Pot Luck Holy Thursday Supper - 3/28/02

St. Luke's Pot Luck Holy Thursday supper - 4/17/03

St. Luke Annual Lawn & Bake Sale - 2004

Jean Groseclose Honored By Women's Commission

Interior Photos Of St. Luke's Jan 15, 2005

St. Luke's Pot Luck Holy Thursday Supper - 3/24/05

Father Donald C. Kelly 10830 K Of C Web Site

Shirley & Madeline Minor Receive Papal Blessing On Their 50th Wedding Anniversary

Collins 50th - 50th - & 94

St. Luke Annual Lawn & Bake Sale - 2005

St. Luke Confirmation Web Site

Bishop Matano Visits St. Luke's - Jan 8, 2006

Father Joseph T. Sullivan's Obituary

St. Luke's Pot Luck Holy Thursday Supper - 4/13/06

K of C Children's Carnival -- 2006

St. Luke's Bids Jim & Donna Varrichione Farewell

Farewell Father Frank - Welcome Father Rome

Donna Varricchione Recognized At Annual Women In Ministry

How To Gain Indulgences

Interfaith Service Photos - November 19, 2006

Links To The Christmas 2006 Pageant Video

Links To The Christmas 2006 Pageant Photos

Photos Of Cross Being Removed From Old St. Luke's Church

St. Luke First Reconciliation Photos - January 20, 2007

St. Luke's Holds Job Fair After All Three Masses

Laurent & Doris Lavallee Celebrate 60th Wedding Anniversary

Karen Langelier Recognized For Work In Women In Ministry

Father Ray Giroux - Obituary

Father Rome & Deacon Steve Bless Parishioners Throats February 3, 2008

St. Luke's Confirmation Class 2008 "Souper Bowl Sunday"

St. Luke Directory Of Family Photos Published In 1991

St. Luke Parishioners Clean Up - May 10, 2008

Farewell To Father Rome

Welcome Father Julian

Photos Of St. Luke Altar Server Outing 2008

Farewell Reception Photos For Mary McDevitt

Fairfax History In Ashes

World Marriage Day Photos - February 22, 2009

Pot Luck Supper Photos - Holy Thursday 2009

Farewell To Chris Racine Family - Photos

Photo Of Confirmandi - 2009

Gilles Rainville Presented With Honorary Life Membership Card & Pin

St. Luke Community Picnic - July 26, 2009

Jim & Jean Groseclose Celebrate 50th Wedding Anniversary

Lake Memphremagog Vacation Winner Drawing

St. Luke Prayer Chain For Our Deployed Soldiers

Raising Of The Flag - May 30, 2010

Thanksgiving Interfaith Service - November 21, 2010

St. Ann's Priest Promoted To Army Colonel

Lake Memphremogog Vacation Drawing - March 27, 2011

St. Luke's Says Goodbye To Bill & Dot Meisenzahl

KofC Children's Carnival & BBQ Photos 2011

Welcome Father Henry Furman

Bishop Matana Visits St. Luke Parish - Sep. 1, 2013

KofC 2013 Carnival, BBQ, Soccer Challenge

Bike Collection Program For 3rd World Countries

Feast of Corpus Christi Procession - June 22, 2014

Web Design and Maintenance: Henry A. Raymond
vtgrandpa@yahoo.com
Updated June 23, 2014