Army maneuvers brought the first soldiers to Union County and then, in 1942, Camp Sutton was established as a training unit resulting in an influx of soldiers from all over the country, many of whom were Catholic. The Rev. Dennis Keatin, C.P. was assigned as the first Catholic Army Chaplain. Shortly thereafter, the Society of Priests of Mercy sent two priests from Our Lady of Lourdes in Brooklyn, NY, to establish a church in Monroe. This was an act of faith, since there were so few Catholics at that time. Most Catholic establishments in North Carolina have had to rely on Divine Providence and such was true with the beginning of Our Lady of Lourdes Church and parish. This founding, developing and sustaining of the Church from the beginning to the present day is a remarkable spiritual feat, as well as a great physical attainment.

The two priests with the Roman collars, walking the streets of Monroe while looking for property to purchase, brought questioning looks from the local towns-people.

One of the two priests, the Rev. James F. Hudson, S.P.M., became the first pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe, established May 10, 1942. After the establishment of the parish, the first public Sunday Mass was celebrated by the new pastor on May 31, 1942 in the Center Theater on Main Street. The Theater was crowded with about 500 soldiers, their wives and relatives and the three local residents: Mr. Patrick Dooley, Miss Margaret Dooley and Mrs. Polly Miller. A new Catholic family was thus born and sacramental and liturgical life began.

On June 2, 1942, the John Bowles residence on Maurice Street was purchased and remodeled in order to have a chapel across the front of the house, an office and a living area for the priests. On July 19, 1942, the Blessed Sacrament was first reserved in the chapel. That day, the first recorded baptism took place for Mart Hogan, an infant son of Raymond Hogan and Mary Morris Hogan.

Mass was celebrated each day in the chapel and on Sundays in the Center Theater. The first Solemn High Mass was celebrated Christmas, 1942, in the Monroe High School Auditorium with soldiers from Camp Sutton singing "Carlo Rossini's Mass". The celebrant was Father Hudson. The sermon was preached by the Catholic Post Chaplain, the Rev. Charles J. Webb, O.M.I. The subject of the sermon was, "The Prince of Peace in a World at War".

On November 20, 1942, the War Production Board granted Our Lady of Lourdes Parish permission to build a church at the corner of East Franklin and Deese Streets. After the war was over in 1945, the exodus of Catholic soldiers greatly reduced Mass attendance. However, some of the discharged soldiers had married local young ladies and decided to settle in Monroe. So, from Wisconsin, Indiana, New York, Tennessee and other states came the first influx of Catholics.

The Catholic Church of Our Lady of Lourdes was dedicated by the Most Rev. Vincent S. Waters, D.D., Bishop of Raleigh, on Wednesday, April 24, 1946. The Bishop then offered a Solemn Pontifical Mass with priests from 40 Catholic parishes in North Carolina, New York and Washington, D.C. Lunch was served by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Americana Legion at the Legion Clubhouse. It was a time of true celebration. Recognition was given to Father Hudson and to Father Thomas McAvoy, pastor of St. Joseph Mission, as well as to the entire Society of the Priests of Mercy, who, with faith, creativity and zeal had established the parish and directed the erection of the new church. They contributed generously to the construction of the new church and sought benefactors from Brooklyn, Boston and throughout the Northeast. A grant was received from the Catholic Extension Society.

The Fathers of Mercy were faithful to the young Catholic community. There were always two priests in residence, one to serve Our Lady of Lourdes and one to serve the Mission of St. Joseph in Monroe, and later, Sacred Heart Mission in Wadesboro.

On January 25th, 1955, excavation was begun for the rectory of the Fathers of Mercy on Deese Street. The rectory was ready for occupancy on June 6, 1955, built and paid for by the Fathers of Mercy.

In 1960, toward the end of Rev. Daniel Sheehan's pastorate, when the Father's of Mercy completed their ministry in North Carolina and turned over the care of Our Lady of Lourdes and its missions, St. Joseph's on Winchester Avenue in Monroe and Sacred Heart in Wadesboro, to the Diocese of Raleigh, everything was free of debt and all in excellent condition.

Bishop Waters appointed a diocesan priest, the Rev. Robert F. Shea, as the next pastor. When Father Shea first reviewed the Sunday collections with an average of $30 to $40 at Our Lady of Lourdes, even less at St. Joseph's, and about $60 at Sacred Heart, he lifted his arms in prayer and said, "Only the Good Lord can keep these establishments alive".

When the Diocese of Charlotte was formed in 1972, the Most Rev. Michael J. Begley, D.D., invited the Oblates of Mary Immaculate to assume the pastorate of Our Lady of Lourdes. In 1973, the Rev. Donald Joyce was the first O.M.I. to become pastor. Father Joyce was followed by the Rev. George Waggert, O.M.I., in 1976 and the Rev. Paul McCartin, O.M.I., in 1978. The parish hall was built during the pastorate of Father Joyce and the final payment was made during the pastorate of Father McCartin.

In the years that followed, the influx of Catholics that had started with ex-soldiers increased each year and in 1981 there were 154 families in the Catholic community. The parish continued to grow as many industries moved into Union County. In 1984, during the pastorate of Rev. Martin Walsh, O.M.I., it became necessary to build an education building for the ever increasing number of children in Religious Education.

Because of a realignment of personnel, the O.M.I. Fathers left Our Lady of Lourdes in 1988 and were followed by the Spiritans, also known as the Holy Ghost Fathers. The Rev. Edward J. Vilkauskas, C.S.Sp. became the next pastor of the parish that had grown to about 250 families. The education building was paid for at this time and a much needed four-room office complex connecting the church and the rectory was completed and paid for in 1991. In anticipation of future building, additional land adjoining the parking lot was purchased and paid for in 1992. During this period, the Spiritans assigned full-time associate pastors who served with Father Vilkauskas in the ministry of the parish. Growth continued and the parish, in 1992, had about 400 families.

In 2000, Father Carlo Di Natale Tarasi arrived as Pastor. Also newly ordained Father Luis Salvador Osorio came as parochial vicar to serve the parish.

The Very Reverend Peter J. Jugis took up his duties as Pastor in July of 2001. Thanks to the hard work of Father Jugis, the parish continued to grow and prosper. After two years of faithful guidance, Father Peter was appointed Bishop of Charlotte.

The present pastor is Reverend James Cassidy, O.S.A.