History of Our Lady of the Gulf

Our Parish History

In 1948, Father Philip Lambert persuaded Bishop T.J. Toolen to allow him to celebrate Sunday Mass for the few Catholics then living in Gulf Shores. Thus began our mission, originally under the care of St. Matthew’s Parish in Elsanor. Early Masses were held at Romeo’s Restaurant, with confessions heard in Father Lambert’s car. Winters were quiet and sparsely attended, so Father Lambert creatively celebrated Christmas on July 4th — when the summer crowds were at their peak.

Worship spaces in the early days varied — from “The Little Casino” to a small wooden hotel — but it soon became clear that the community needed a permanent place to gather. Thanks to the generosity of pioneer realtor George C. Meyer, land was donated, and with the help of Robertsdale contractor Alex Lennicx and a Sears catalog, Father Lambert built the original church in 1952 for just $19,000. This modest but meaningful structure was not only the start of our parish’s physical presence but also the first church building ever constructed on what we now know as Pleasure Island.

In 1971, Monsignor Lambert retired and was succeeded by Monsignor George Royer. As more winter visitors began attending, the parish gained year-round vitality. In 1977, Monsignor Royer retired, and Monsignor Joseph Adams took over as Pastor. On September 12, 1979, Hurricane Frederick struck Gulf Shores — but miraculously, the church remained unharmed. Monsignor Adams passed away in January 1981, and Father Barry Desmond became Pastor, immediately starting a building fund to support the parish’s growing needs.

Father Desmond prioritized faith formation and oversaw the construction of a new C.C.D. building. He retired in October 1985 and was succeeded by Father Anthony Zoghby in November. Under Father Zoghby’s leadership, major changes took place, including the construction of our current church building. It was dedicated on January 28, 1989, by Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb. Thanks to the generosity of parishioners and seasonal members — including a significant gift from Lee and Nancy Bruno — the $1.5 million debt was paid in full before the dedication. The original church was later transformed into a parish hall, honoring Father Lambert’s legacy.

Father Zoghby was known for his warmth and hospitality, making everyone feel welcome. Recognizing the need for administrative support, he hired Vivian Castano, a new local resident with 11 years of parish experience in New York.

In 1990, Father Lee O’Neil joined the parish. Known for his overalls and hands-on work around the church, he initially lived in a modest building on the property, affectionately known as the “outhouse.” Parishioners soon rallied to build a modern residence for both priests. Sadly, Father Zoghby passed away on June 18, 1994, before the rectory was completed.

That summer, Father Patrick O’Connor was asked to delay his retirement and became our new Pastor. He took on the dual task of leading the parish and completing the new rectory — a $350,000 project that was paid off by April 20, 1998. With the Hire Building (used for religious education) demolished to make way for the residence, Father O’Connor led the acquisition and renovation of a new facility at Hwy 180 and 23rd Avenue. By October 1998, our parish children had a new spiritual home for learning.

Father O’Connor passed away on November 28, 2000. Father O’Neil continued to serve until illness led him to assisted living in Daphne, Alabama, where he passed away on March 1, 2005.

For three months, the parish was without a resident Pastor. Thanks to the support of retired and visiting priests — including Fr. Charles Bordenca, Fr. Brendan Keller, Fr. Gerard McMahon, Fr. John Sullivan, Fr. Jerome Fortenberry, Fr. Vince Arimond, and especially Fr. John Spanjers — Masses continued uninterrupted.

On February 23, 2001, Father Robert Fulton was assigned to Our Lady of the Gulf. Elevated to Monsignor the following year (though he humbly insisted on still being called “Father Fulton”), he brought with him exceptional leadership, construction, and financial skills. After a decade of saving, he led the building of our $1.4 million parish hall — paid entirely through parish savings. His teaching during homilies was widely admired: “I learned something” was a frequent response. Father Fulton passed away on August 18, 2013, after two years of declining health.

Reverend David Carucci was appointed Pastor following Father Fulton’s death and continues to lead our parish.

Our history is also one of resilience. Our Lady of the Gulf has weathered decades of trials — both natural and spiritual — and emerged stronger each time. We have survived direct hits and brushes from several major storms, including Hurricane Frederick (1979), Ivan (2004), Katrina (2005), Nate (2017), and the devastating Hurricane Sally (2020), which made landfall directly in Gulf Shores as a slow-moving Category 2 storm, bringing catastrophic wind and flooding. In that same year, we — along with the rest of the world — faced the immense challenges of the COVID-19 global pandemic, which disrupted worship, gatherings, and daily life.

And yet, through every trial — storm, loss, or isolation — our faith has remained unshaken. With each test, the spirit of our parish family has proven enduring, anchored in prayer, unity, and service.