The Shrine Of The Little Flower

History of Our Parish (cont.)

  Fr. Joseph Donald Fuller was appointed the third pastor of Shrine of the Little Flower on March 1, 1969.  He had just completed a six-year pastorate at St. Joseph's Midland.  His sudden death on May 9, 1969, was a shock to the parish.

  Cardinal Shehan appointed Fr. John V. Ballard to succeed Fr. Fuller on June 14, 1969.  Ordained in 1944, Fr. Ballard had served at Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., St. Mary's in Hagerstown and as pastor at both Corpus Christi Church and St. Bernard's in Baltimore.

  On October 18, 1970, Cardinal Shehan invested Fr. Ballard as a Domestic Prelate with the title of Monsignor.

  Msgr. Ballard retired in 1992 and died on February 15, 1992.

             
Fr. Joseph Donald Fuller
  
       
                Msgr. John V. Ballard        


Fr. Michael J. Orchik

 



Fr.John J. Lombardi

  
  Fr. Michael J. Orchik was appointed by Archbishop William Keeler as the fifth pastor of Little Flower in March, 1992.  Fr. Mike had just completed his first pastorate at Sr. Rose of Lima in Brooklyn.  His first assignment after his ordination in 1973 was as associate pastor at St. Patrick's in Fells Point, and later he served as associate pastor at Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Graceland Park.

  Fr. Mike brought an energetic preaching style to the Shrine, and is a strong supporter for the school.  He was assisted by Fr. Restrepo and later by Fr. Richard Bozzelli.

  As the number of parishioners continued to decrease and the shortage of priests became an even greater challenge for the Church, the lay people of the parish continued to provide key leadership.  Since 1997 to 2021, Fr. Mike had been the only full-time priest on staff.  He had been ably assisted by Fr. James Miles, and Fr. Thomas Bauernfeind, who had celebrated funerals, weekend Masses, and hear confessions. Father Bauernfeind passed away in January of 2003. Fr. Miles passed away in October of 2014.

  In July of 2021, Fr. Michael J. Orchik became chaplain in residence of The Little Sisters of the Poor, Baltimore, MD.

  Fr. John J. Lombardi became Pastor of The Shrine of The Little Flower on July 1, 2021.


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