About Our Church

The history of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish began as a small adobe church on the corner now known as 55^th Avenue and LaMar, where mission priests held services in their native Spanish. The church- then called Saint Joseph, was destroyed by fire in 1936 and with great efforts it was rebuilt in 1938 under the new name of “Our Lady of Perpetual Help” (Santa Maria aka “rock church”). 
 
 In 1947 the Bishop of Tucson established the area as a parish under the title of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Father James McFadden was the first pastor, taking possession in 1948. Father McFadden purchased 11 acres of land on Orangewood between 55^th and 57^th avenues, where the new school opened in 1953 and the new convent in 1954.  The multi-purpose building (the Hall) planned to serve as a temporary church was completed in 1959.
  
 In 1970, the “rock church” at 55^th and LaMar was again destroyed by fire and in 1971 the present chapel (Guadalupe Chapel) was built.  In 1972, long-time OLPH parishioners, Mr. and Mrs. J. Austin Sinnott donated land for a new permanent church which was finished in August 1973. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish was renovated in 2022 with the help of our parishioners and the community.