Amid Our Lady of Grace’s beautiful marble sanctuary, Father Casey Coleman offers Mass Sept. 17 in honor of the 70th anniversary of the dedication of the church. (Paul Campbell | Catholic News Herald)GREENSBORO — Joy filled the faithful of Our Lady of Grace Church Sept. 14 as the parish celebrated its 70th anniversary on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
“For 70 years, our church has been a font of grace overflowing into our community, the Church and the world,” said Father Casey Coleman, pastor, his voice catching with emotion as he welcomed the congregation to Mass.
He went on to reflect upon the nature of grace throughout the Mass and in a celebratory toast afterward – a poignant moment in the week’s anniversary festivities.
Renowned for its French Gothic architecture, exquisite Belgian stained-glass and ornate Italian marble sanctuary, the church is a memorial to Ethel Clay Price, the wife of wealthy insurance magnate Julian Price, who set out to build the church for his beloved after she died in 1943.
Its history also includes other remarkable moments: During his pastorate of Our Lady of Grace, Monsignor Michael Begley was elevated to become the first bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Charlotte in 1972. Four years later, Archbishop (now Venerable) Fulton Sheen offered Mass at the church, delivering one of his famous prophetic homilies and blessing a new activity center and school.
Today a diverse and vibrant parish, Our Lady of Grace offers a variety of liturgies, choral music, Eucharistic Adoration and ample opportunities to receive the grace of the sacraments – faithfully living out the title of its patroness.
Toast to Grace
In his anniversary homily, Father Coleman said a mother brings her children to the font of love. “A mother provides always for the cares of her children, so does Our Lady of Grace, especially from that fruit from this great font of the Mass and the gift of the Eucharist, which is the source of all grace,” he said. “That is why we exist as a parish: to show forth this love of God to all of Mary’s children.”
In a champagne toast following Mass, he continued, “Our Lady of Grace is the first title given to Mary, and the one given by an angel, ‘Hail, full of grace!’ This salutation became the namesake of our parish and has embodied her spirit since her founding. It was the grace of benefactors which built this beautiful building, the grace of generations of Catholics which has kept her doors open, and the grace of Our Lady which preserves and protects her through trial and adversity.”
Parishioner Troy Smrecek and his family recently moved to the area from Milwaukee, Wis., and have been members of Our Lady of Grace for four months.
“The people have been very welcoming, and we love the sacred music,” he said. “The thing that really piqued my interest in what Father Coleman said today was around Our Lady being full of grace and the pouring out of grace that is received from the Church. We see it here, too!”
Music amid reunion
Members of the OLG Parish Choir and OLG Latin Schola prepare to sing in a choral concert on Sept. 16. (Annie Ferguson)Celebrations throughout the week of Sept. 12 included Vespers, special parish and school Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, a choral concert, parish dinner and trivia contest. The events also included the return of Donut Sunday.
To open the week’s festivities, the Vespers Choir sang Vespers I of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, featuring Eric Mellenbruch of Austin, Texas, playing a special historical form of Organ Vespers. Father Joseph Wasswa, parochial vicar, officiated.
On Sept. 16, a blend of Our Lady of Grace adult and children’s choirs participated in a choral concert organized by Maggie Lovin, assistant choir director. Hymns were sung in Spanish, Latin and English. On the organ were A.J. Lyon, Oscar Hernandez and Matthew Sprinkle, the parish’s sacred music director.
Father Coleman rededicated the Kathleen Price Bryan Banquet Hall before the parish dinner on Sept. 17. After sustaining water damage, the hall underwent repairs, which had recently been completed, restoring this integral place for parish fellowship.
“A lot of our community has been really yearning for an opportunity to have a reason to come together, and this is a way that we can really enjoy the gift of that blessing,” Father Coleman said at the event.
Patty Jennings, coordinator of the anniversary events, agreed. “Folks were happy to be back together,” she said. “I think the celebrations offered a little of everything – worship and thanksgiving, fellowship, and some great food!”
Faithful clergy
Father Joseph Wasswa and Father James Stuhrenberg concelebrated the Sept. 14 Mass with Father Casey Coleman.The church’s anniversary has a unique connection to this year’s 50th diocesan jubilee. Monsignor Michael J. Begley was
Begley serving as pastor of Our Lady of Grace in late 1971 when he got a call from Raleigh Bishop Vincent Waters, whose diocese covered all of North Carolina at the time. The bishop wanted to meet with
Monsignor Begley in Greensboro, under the guise of looking for property for future parish use. As the two men drove together, Bishop Waters stopped his car and said, “Rome has decided to have a second diocese in Charlotte with you as the first bishop. Will you accept?” In the spirit of Our Lady’s fiat, his answer was yes – and the Charlotte diocese was born about six weeks later, covering the western half of North Carolina.
Other clergy attending the celebrations included Fathers Robert Ferris, James Stuhrenberg, Louis Canino, OFM (retired), and Deacons Jack Yarbrough, Tim Rohan (retired) and Mark Mejias.
“We’re blessed to have such a beautiful church to worship in and to have such wonderful, holy priests who are dedicated to us,” said Rebekah Zomberg, a parishioner of 13 years.
“We got married here, our children were baptized here, and Lord willing, we’ll die here,” added John Zomberg. “13 years down, 70 to go!”
Looking back and ahead
Father Stuhrenberg, now pastor of Holy Family Church in Clemmons, concelebrated the 6 p.m. anniversary Mass on Sept. 14 with Father Coleman and Father Wasswa. He served at Our Lady of Grace as a parochial vicar from 2007 to 2010.
“It was my last time being parochial vicar before becoming a pastor, and I did a lot of learning here…” he said. “I enjoyed the people, the school, the faith formation and, of course, it’s the ‘wedding church.’ I remember having a wedding every weekend through the summer!”
Andrew Wong and his family have been parishioners for 15 years. “I really enjoy this parish family. We have a lot of good friends. One of the greatest things is to see our kids hanging out with other Catholic families, growing not just in friendship but also in faith,” he says. “It’s wonderful to see everyone here celebrating.”
Longtime parishioners Betty Tarantelli and Ed Alton share their stories.Betty Tarantelli has been a parishioner since 1988. She grew up in Geneva, New York, and was immediately drawn to the church.
“I like it here because I feel like it’s traditional. You can go to a Spanish Mass, Latin Mass or English Mass. They’re all just beautiful. There’s something for everyone,” she said.
Tarantelli served in a variety of ministries at the church including as a lector and a substitute teacher at Our Lady of Grace School, founded in 1953, just a year after the church. Originally run by the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters from Scranton, Pa., the school has fostered the Catholic faith and academic excellence of generations of students.
Ed Alton, an active parishioner since 1955, attended the parish school in first grade and received his First Communion at the church. He particularly enjoyed the anniversary trivia contest.
“I often looked at this church from the standpoint of its architecture. The architecture draws a lot of people. The sacred draws them because you’re drawn to beauty,” he said.
Throughout the preparation and celebrations, Father Coleman emphasized his gratitude for the founding families and all the clergy, religious and lay faithful who have gone before him to build the church and parish community. Their work “continues to nourish me and my priesthood,” he said.
Father Coleman then reflected on the future of the parish.
“My hopes are that we can continue to build on these firm foundations, grow a lot as a loving community, and as St. Paul says, live a life worthy of the faith that we have received, so that the concrete reality that’s continued to endure and perdure is realized in us for the future and for the continued foundation of the Church, the world and society for many generations to come,” he said.
“That’s my real hope – that we continue to do justice to the gift that we have.”
— Annie Ferguson
Pastors of Our Lady of Grace Church
1952-1962 Monsignor Arthur Freeman
1962-1966 Monsignor Peter McNerney
1966-1968 Monsignor (later Bishop) Charles B. McLaughlin
1968-1971 Monsignor Michael J. Carey
1971-1972 Monsignor (later Bishop) Michael J. Begley
1972-1979 Monsignor Francis M. Smith
1979-1986 Monsignor William N. Pharr
1986-1988 Father Thomas P. Clements
1988-1993 Father Walter M. Dziordz, M.I.C.
1993-2001 Father Mark Lamprich, M.I.C.
2001-2005 Father Francis J. O’Rourke
2005-2012 Father Fidel Melo
2012-2017 Father Eric Kowalski
2017-2020 Father Paul Buchanan
2020- Father Casey Coleman
Watch Vespers
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Anniversary photos
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Timeline and Historical photos
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Moments of Grace
1943 After the death of Ethel Clay Price in 1943, Julian Price approaches Raleigh Bishop Vincent Waters about building a church as a living memorial to his beloved and donates $400,000.
1950 After years of planning and challenges – including the rising cost of material during World War II and the sudden death of Julian Price in 1946 – the Price children donate another $300,000 and construction finally begins on Our Lady of Grace.
July 13, 1952 The parish holds its first Mass with 10 people in attendance.
Sept. 14, 1952 With 600 people on hand, Our Lady of Grace is formally dedicated by Archbishop Amleto Cicognani, the Vatican’s apostolic delegate to the United States.
1953 Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters from Scranton, Pa., arrive to lead Our Lady of Grace School.
Thanksgiving 1971 In a clandestine meeting, Bishop Vincent Waters asks Our Lady of Grace pastor Monsignor Michael Begley to be the first bishop of the soon-to-be-formed Diocese of Charlotte.Nov. 14, 1976 Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen offers Mass at the church, complete with inspiring homily, and blesses new facilities.
1977 The parish celebrates its 25th anniversary and its rare, 2,226-pipe organ and gallery are installed and dedicated to mark its silver anniversary and the golden anniversary of Kathleen Price Bryan and Joseph M. Bryan, the primary benefactors of the additions.
2013 The parish breaks ground on a new school building, andwork begins renovating the original school into a Parish Life Center.
Oct. 23, 2015 Thousands visit Our Lady of Grace to venerate the major relics of St. Maria Goretti.
Sept. 14, 2022 The parish celebrates its 70th anniversary with a special Mass and champagne toast afterward – a highlight of a week full of anniversary festivities.
A memorial worth celebrating
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A memorial worth celebrating
Sunday, Sept. 14, 1952, was an auspicious day in the history of Our Lady of Grace Parish. After nearly a decade of planning and setbacks, the church’s meticulous construction was complete. It all culminated in a solemn pontifical Mass and dedication rite presided over by Archbishop Amleto Cicognani, the Vatican’s apostolic delegate to the United States.
The “North Carolina Catholic,” the diocesan newspaper at a time when the entire state comprised one diocese, described the liturgy as “rich in religious pageantry.” Attending the celebration were Raleigh Bishop Vincent Waters, four additional bishops, two abbots, numerous other clergy, the Raleigh Cathedral Choir, the new church’s renowned architect Henry V. Murphy, and 600 lay participants – all there to witness the placing of the cornerstone and the blessing of the outside walls. The congregation then proceeded inside for the Mass and dedication rite. Archbishop Cicognani thanked the Price family, the church’s donors, and urged his listeners to unite themselves with the beauty of the church and to lift their hearts and minds to God.
“Archbishop Cicognani was very popular, and the dedication Mass was lovely,” says parishioner Eva Schaustadt, 94, who transferred from St. Benedict to the parish with her husband in 1952 because of a connection to the Price family. “We always did a candlelit procession in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary for every big event like that in the early years.”
Schaustadt also recalled that the church’s first Mass on July 13, 1952, was not advertised and therefore an intimate occasion. She was one of only 10 people in attendance – a contrast to the packed dedication Mass two months later and the busy parish of today.
Based on Murphy’s design for Our Lady of Refuge Church in Brooklyn, N.Y., Our Lady of Grace was built in the French Gothic style. Materials sourced from nine states were shipped to Greensboro for the construction, including pink granite from nearby Salisbury, for the exterior walls and Indiana limestone for the trim and sculptures. Chiaro marble was imported from Italy for the sanctuary and side altars, and more than 30,000 pieces of cut stained-glass were imported from Belgium for the windows, which depict the Blessed Virgin Mary in many of her titles.
Lauded by historic preservationists for its fine architecture reminiscent of world landmarks such as the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris – near impossible to recreate today – the church has inspired ardent devotion to Our Lord through His Blessed Mother for seven decades.
Yet it all began with an earthlier love story.
When she was a student at Notre Dame Academy in Maryland, Ethel Clay Price converted to the Catholic faith. She met Julian Price when she was training to become a nurse at Watts Hospital in Durham, N.C. They married in 1897, were blessed with two children and spent most of their married life in Greensboro.
Price, a Baptist, served as Chairman of the Board of Jefferson Standard Life Insurance. Since the city’s Catholic population was small at the time, a visiting priest would come on Sundays to offer Mass at St. Benedict, the city’s only Catholic church at the time. Often, this was Abbot Vincent Taylor from the Benedictine monastery in Belmont, who would also visit his sisters Mary and Lucy. His sisters also happened to be Price’s secretaries, and the group would often have Sunday dinner at the Price home after Mass at St. Benedict.
The Prices also traveled the world together. As the story goes, Ethel would often stop and visit the Catholic churches along the way, where she would admire the architecture, reflect on the sacred art and pray. Despite her invitations, Julian would stay outside. After she died in 1943, he regretted the time he missed sharing in prayer with her.
Determined to honor her memory and her devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Price sought to build a church worthy of his beloved wife, a place of prayer and worship she would have cherished and would live on well into the future. He approached Bishop Waters for permission to build a memorial church for Ethel Clay Price.
Murphy, the architect of Our Lady of Refuge in Brooklyn, agreed to create a scaled-down version of his Brooklyn design. The bishop approved the project, and Price turned over $400,000 in Jefferson Standard Life Insurance stock to finance the effort. But then he encountered numerous obstacles that delayed construction: first, World War II, then rising building costs.
Tragedy struck again in 1946 when Price died in a car accident. It looked as though construction would be permanently delayed until the couple’s children, Kathleen Price Bryan and Ralph Price, made an additional gift of $300,000. George W. Kane Construction Co. of Greensboro started building the church in the spring of 1950.
When it was completed, Our Lady of Grace Church was indeed striking to behold and a fitting memorial not only to Ethel Clay Price and her devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, but also that of a loving couple and their children. They continued to bless the church for years to come through contributions to its ethereal beauty.
– Annie Ferguson
OLG's Architecture
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Our Lady of Grace Church's architecture
The Sept. 12, 1952, edition of "North Carolina Catholic" printed the following article about Our Lady of Grace:
Henry Murphy, Architect, made elaborate plans
A most interesting story surrounds the selection of Henry V. Murphy, architect for the Church of Our Lady of Grace. At the time the late Julian Price was conferring with His Excellency, the Most Reverend Vincent S. Waters, Bishop of Raleigh, to consider a fitting memorial to his wife in the form of a Church edifice, a portfolio of selected outstanding contemporary American churches had been published and distributed throughout the nation to various church dignitaries.
Inspiration Sought
The Bishop possessing one of these portfolios showed it to Mr. Price, and together they searched for an inspiration for the ideal edifice to grace the city of Greensboro. From cover to cover they searched and each time returned to the page depicting the Church of Our Lady of Refuge in the city of Brooklyn, of which Henry V. Murphy of that city was the architect. Mr. Murphy was then commissioned by His Excellency to prepare plans for the Church of Our Lady of Grace, the Ethel Clay Price Memorial.
Conferences are held
Conferences followed, and after months of study, with the critical cooperation of His Excellency, a solution was arrived at, plans were completed, construction begun and the Church of Our Lady of Grace took concrete form.
Architecture
Although following the French Gothic style it is a perfectly free rendering of that remarkable tradition. Its general aspect is notably one of refined simplicity. The austerity of the seam-face granite walls is relieved at salient points with sculpture of symbolic motive – as the tympanum over the central doorway depicting Our Lady of Grace with figures both contemporary and traditional grouped about her – the tympanum over the south doorway depicting the recently defined Dogma of Mary's Assumption into Heaven – the tympanum over the tower entrance representing the adoration of the Virgin.
Dominant Feature
The dominant feature of the composition is expressed in the main facade in the enshrined lifesize stone carving of Our Blessed Mother holding her Divine Child, with angels standing guard, and silhouetted against a stone tracery forming a rose window.
Pyramided against the sky is the graceful tower surmounted by a delicate copper fleche.
Interior
Upon entering the nave one is at once impressed by the emphatically religious and Catholic atmosphere created by the stations of the Cross, the stained glass windows, the decoration throughout, and by the spacious sanctuary treated in finely selected marble. Appropriately placed throughout are devotional shrines, confessionals and Holy Water Fonts. Instead of following the usual custom of placing the organ loft over the narthex, it has been located in the tower. The organist's balcony projects slightly to afford a full view of the altar as well as of the central entrance.
Proportions
The piers, arches and walls are all of brick, of a delicately warm tone, imparting a sense of vitality to the design. Several features of the plan deserve attention – the traditional division of the body of the church into three parts is preserved, but the nave is widened to contain all the pews, while the side aisles are reduced to circulating passages.
Fine study
With the passing of time public attention will become more and more aware that in the beauty of its modest proportions, the thoughtfulness of its design, from the largest to the smallest interest, this building has been given study worthy of a Cathedral."
— Reprinted from the Sept. 12, 1952, edition of "North Carolina Catholic"
