Q. As a young boy in the ’70s I remember occasionally going to a Catholic church with my Dad located in the middle of Hanover Center. Do you know the name and any history of that church?
There is a strip of land on Oleander Drive between Hanover Shopping Center and Azalea Plaza. According to Joanne Daily of the Basilica Shrine of St. Mary, this land was bought by St. Mary’s with the idea of building a Catholic high school. The high school did not get built and it was decided to build a mission for this area.
St. Phillip Mission of St. Mary was built and Monsignor O’Connor was assigned there. The small building set back from the road was used from 1959 until 1967.
The sidewalk connecting the two shopping centers went across in front of the Mission. Often you’d find Monsignor O’Connor outside talking with those walking around the area. This was a very active mission in the community.
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Date posted: November 4, 2013
User-contributed question by:
Eric Boehling
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