ST.
LUKE CATHOLIC CHURCH
17 HUNTVILLE ROAD - P.O. BOX 7
FAIRFAX, VERMONT 05454
Email:stluke17@myfairpoint.net
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Phone: 849-6205 Masses: Saturday - St. Luke - 4:00 p.m.
- Ascension 6:00 p.m. |
Fax: 849-6078 Sacrament/Reconciliation Saturday - 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. |
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Father Henry Furman |
Deacon: Stephen Ratte
Email: spratte2@comcast.net
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OFFICE STAFF |
CATECHETICAL MINISTRY: |
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RECTORY OFFICE HOURS: |
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION |
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MARRIAGES: CALL SIX MONTHS BEFORE DATE IS SET |
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BAPTISMS: |
RCIA: |
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.
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Updated June 23, 2014
