A rose garden at “Little Flower Church” in Mt. Airy was once famous around the country as “The Shrine of the Little Flower.” The garden at the northwest side of the old church is still dedicated to the Little Flower Rose Garden Society.

1926

Chapel established at corner of North Bend Road and Colerain Avenue at back of former blacksmith’s shop.

1928

Parishioner donated 15 acres of land with a pond in wooded valley near chapel. Archbishop John T. McNicholas approved construction of church and school; both completed 1929.

1930

Memorial rose garden honoring St. Therese of Lisieux planted; visitors came from around country to “The Shrine of the Little Flower.”

1937

Novena to St. Therese drew 50,000 participants.

1961

Present church completed on Kirby Road side of property. Featured: A-frame roof over nave, with ribbed wooden ceiling to look like ship’s hull; Indiana limestone and brown marble stone wall behind sanctuary; and abstract stained glass.

1964

Wing added to school for junior high classrooms and cafeteria.

1992

St. Richard of Chichester, historically Black mission church on North Bend Road in College Hill, closed; most parishioners joined Little Flower.

1996

Parish center completed.

2000

Parish twinning program began with Sisters of Divine Providence in Madagascar.

2006

Electronic organ installed.

2008

School consolidated with parish schools of St. Ann, St. Margaret Mary and Assumption to form Our Lady of Grace School at St. Ann campus.

2022

Parish formed Family of Parishes (eventually named Our Lady of Guadalupe) with St. Boniface, Holy Family, St. Joseph and St. Leo the Great.

“…I will send down a shower of roses from the heavens; I will spend my heaven doing good upon earth.”- St. Therese of Lisieux