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Church Of Our Lady Of Lourdes - Part 02 - Building Of The First Church
Father L M Duvelle started to look for a piece of land in Ipoh to build a church for the Indian Catholics. Due to his ill health, the search was continued by Father Sausseau. After a few unsuccessful applications for a piece of government land as well as two attempts to buy a piece of private land throughout 1901, Father Sausseau (based in Tapah) sought the assistance of Father Mariette (assistant parish priest of St Michael’s Church, Ipoh). In July 1902, they secured a piece of land belonging to four Malays.
Father Sausseau went to every Indian catholic home to collect donations to put up the church building. The church’s greatest benefactor was Father Hermann who offered Father Sausseau a contribution from the profits of his share in a tin mine in Taiping.
By God’s Blessings, after three years of purchasing the land, the foundation stone was laid and blessed by His Lordship Monseigneur Barillon at the end of August 1905. The Bishop named the church ‘Church of Our Lady of Lourdes’. His Lordship was very pleased with this name and he wrote to Father Sausseau:
"We have Our Lady of Lourdes in the South (Singapore), Our Lady of Lourdes in the middle of the country (Klang), now we will have Our Lady of Lourdes in the North alright".
From left to right the photos show: