Local History of Catholic Church

• Before 1883, Mass was celebrated occasionally in the home of Mrs. Martin Bruce in Bagdad when a traveling priest came through or one from Pensacola could come.

• 1883 St. Ann’s Church, a mission church, was built in Bagdad from contributions made by Mr. William Ollinger, Mrs. Martin Bruce and Mrs. John Casey.

• Mass was celebrated by priests from St. Michael’s in Pensacola and St. Mary’s in Fort Walton Beach.***

The Church 1940’s & 1950’s• 1948 Rev. James Gilligan, Assistant Pastor at St.

Mary’s in Fort Walton Beach, was charged with responsibility for Crestview and Bagdad.

• 1950 Gas and electricity are installed in the church.• 1955 Archbishop Toolen (then Bishop) purchased land

on Park Ave. in Milton for future church, from E. N. James and J. D. Hembree, church members.

• 1957 October 20 - Ground breaking for new church. New church was helped by a $5000 grant from the Extension Society and $2000 from the Diocese of Mobile. The total cost of the church was $23,000, exclusive of furnishings.

• 1958 First Mass in new church. Church still a mission church out of Crestview.

The Church 1960’s & 1970’s

• 1960 Father Gilligan made Pastor. House across the street purchased for office, rectory. Father was still serving Crestview.

• 1962 Kindergarten started. Ground is broken for Educational building.

• 1964 Father Gilligan has only St. Rose as his responsibility.

• 1968 300 students enrolled in CCD. Parish celebrates 10th anniversary. Father Lorrigan replaces Fr. Gilligan as pastor.

• 1976 Ladies Club reorganized and resurrected.• 1978 Knights of Columbus chapter formed.

The Church 1980’s & 1990’s• 1982 January - Father Todd Hevia becomes

administrator after Fr. Lorrigan collapses.• 1982 New rectory/office building completed.• 1982 October - First Fall Festival• 1984 “Hometown boy” Michael Reed is ordained.• 1987 Deacons Tom Kennell and Dave Davey ordained

permanent deacons.• 1988 Church is bursting at seams even after

renovation; new church committee formed.• 1990 Plans approved for new church• 1994 First Mass in new church• 1998 Father Thom Crandall replaces Father Todd

Hevia as Pastor.

The Church in the 2000’s• 2002 Jan. - Father Tom Collins appointed temporary

administrator. New rectory purchased for priests; former rectory is made into all offices for parish.

• 2002 June - Father Steven J. O’Connor appointed Pastor of parish.

• 2004 Father Kurian Manikuttiyil joins Father O’Connor as Parochial Vicar. Deacon Chris Christopher joins us.

• 2004 Nov. Father Dennis J. O’Brien comes to St. Rose as Pastor• 2006 Father Peter Hung Nguyen, SOLT becomes new Parochial

Vicar.• 2006 Sept. Father Peter goes on temporary assignment; Father

Mathew Chandrankunnel in residence.• 2006 October - Pastoral Plan for next 3-5 years presented to

parish.• 2007 August Father Bernard Jakubco, MSC assignment Parochial

Vicar

Church Notes

• ** Between 1930 and 1932, French-speaking persons from across America and Canada came to north Santa Rosa County in search of good agricultural land. The community of Belandville, just south of Munson, in 1932 had 500 residents. A French Franciscan priest, Rev. August Beyne ministered to them. In 1932, a church was built with Extension Society Funds. By 1937, the small community failed despite having raising fine crops. The people left; the houses were moved. The church was dismantled and reassembled at the Catholic Boys’ Home summer camp on Mobile Bay. Old maps identify the area as “Santa Maria,” which is what Father Beyne called it.