The Center of Gary

This Old Church ; This old Church has been the center of Gary for over a hundred years , multitudes have worshipped here, countless funeral services , numerous weddings , first communions and many other celebrations. This old Church still stands and still serves the community and always will.                                                                                                      The History of Our Lady Victory Catholic Church  ;          The foundation of the Gary Parish was created when Father Emil Olivier traveled the mountain by horseback from Powhatan to bring the sacraments to the Catholics in the newly developing Gary coal fields in 1902. Father Olivier had been working in the coal fields since 1882. It was through his efforts that the first three Catholic Churches in McDowell County were built at Powhatan in 1903, Gary in 1904 and Berwind in 1910.                              The first Church in Gary, St.Mary`s, was completed and dedicated on May 17,1904 with Rev. Patrick Gilseman serving as pastor. The beautiful church was destroyed by fire in 1907. Even though the church burned, the rectory was saved from the flames. A new church, Our Lady Of Victory, was built on the same site with the first services being held May 3,1909.                  As the coal operations and the influx of foreign immigrants grew,so did the parish. Due to the lack of transportation, a mission church was erected in Filbert and was called St. Joseph`s. The church served the area until torn down in 1973.                                                                                          On March 13, 1975 a new catechetical center and parish hall was dedicated. This now gives the shape of the grounds to the present time. The church continues to serve the community and its religious needs.                 On  May 9, 2004 , the church observed its 100th Anniersary. Through the years there have been 23 priests to serve the Catholics of Gary. The current Priest is Father Dennis Logue.        The History of Gary Catholic Church was submitted by Carmello Miano