St. Francis of Assisi Church in Bessemer, Alabama celebrated their 75th Anniversary this year. The parish was founded by Conventual Franciscan Friars, Fr. Francis Pikor, OFM Conv. and Fr. Oderic Palys, OFM Conv., in 1940.
Fr. Noel Danielewicz, OFM Conv., the last of our friars to serve as Pastor at that parish, was welcomed back as celebrant and homilist for the Jubilee celebration held October 9-11, 2015. The weekend festivities included a gathering of seminarians from Mundelein, IL at the Assisi–South Retreat Center on October 9th; a Prayer Vigil in the context of Eucharistic Adoration on October 10th; and the 75th Jubilee Liturgy and Outdoor Sunday Dinner, which took place on the Church lawns on October 11th.

Friar Noel served as Parochial Vicar (1977-1982) and Pastor (1990-2003). Check out the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church Bessemer Facebook Page for more pictures from the weekend’s events, as well as many pictures from the history of the parish, including our friars through the years.