Fr Gilsenan was born in 1877 in Lurgan, County Cavan, Ireland, the son of James Gilsenan and Mary Bradley Gilsenan. He was ordained in 1904.

The Catholic population of Roanoke was growing. In 1915, Father Gilsenan purchased a beautiful property on Campbell Avenue. It included a magnificent brick building which became a convent for the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, and also a two-story frame building which served as a school, staffed by the sisters. The school opened in 1916, with eight grades, and added a grade each year until there was a complete high school department. During the next fifty-six years, Nazareth School enrolled over 11,000 students.

The sisters' chapel was the focus of religious life until 1918. At that time, the lumber salvaged from the razing of the little wooden school at the foot of St. Andrew's hill was used to construct a hall on the Campbell Avenue property. On the Sunday preceding Christmas, 1918, public Mass was celebrated there for the first time. This building is the present St. Francis House.

Bishop Dennis J. O'Connell visited the hall on February 16, 1919, and announced the name of the new parish: Our Lady of Nazareth. At that time there was no other church by that name in the United States.

Within six years, the cornerstone was laid for a new building, which was completed in 1926. When Father Gilsenan dedicated the church, his major goals were realized, but there were many years of debt and struggle ahead. During these years, Father Gilsenan made an indelible mark on the community, winning the affection not only of the parishioners, but the respect of the civic community for his participation in the life of the city and for his work with youth. He was named a Monsignor in 1940. Msgr. Gilsenan died on September 12, 1953. His requiem was sung at Nazareth and he is buried in St. Andrew's Cemetery.

Father Robert F. Beattie was the second pastor of Nazareth. He made extensive improvements to the property and, looking toward the future, purchased the first land for a new church.

The last mass at the old church was celebrated on July 9th, 1978 and the new church on Route 419 was dedicated by Bishop Sullivan that same afternoon.

It was with the help of a legacy from Miss Anita Obermeyer in the amount of $450,000 that the present facility on Electric Road (Route 419) was built.

On June 25th, 1989 the Christian Life Center was dedicated in memory of Miss Anna Louise Haley (1910 - 1988).

Nazareth has undergone many changes over the years, reflecting change in the Church and the world. Old organizations have given way to new as we have sought to express our faith and respond to the needs of our time. Parishioner involvement has been a hallmark of Nazareth throughout our history.

Reference:
Our Lady of Nazareth Parish 1914 - 1986 Roanoke, Virginia
by Anna Louise Haley

Priests That Have Served at OLN:
Pastors :
Rev James A Gilsenan 1914-1953
Rev Robert F Beattie 1954-1966
Rev John J O'Connell 1967-1971
Rev John F Kain 1971-1975
Rev James M Noto 1975-1976
Rev Thomas J Caroluzza 1976-1983
Rev Thomas F Shreve 1983-1985
Rev William L Gardner 1985-1988
Rev Kenneth G Stofft 1989-1996
Rev Joseph P. Lehman 1997 - Present
Associate Pastors :
Rev Conrad Hoffner 1930-1933
Rev Joseph Rooney 1936
Rev Joseph F Jurgens 1936-1939
Rev Robert O Hickman 1939-1941
Rev Harris Findlay 1941-1948
Rev Joseph F McMahon 1945-1953
Rev Albert F Pereria 1948-1950
Rev John McGilley 1950
Rev James L Rizer 1950-1952
Rev Joseph G Heye 1952-1957
Rev Vincent L Campi 1957-1961
Rev Adolph Snella 1961-1963
Rev Peter A Quinn 1963-1964
Rev Frank Mahler1964-1967
Rev John J Ridgell 1967-1971
Rev Francis Potocky1970-1971
Rev Michaek S Schmied 1971-1974
Rev Dennis Murphy 1974-1976
Rev Vincent G Connery 1976-1979
Rev Brian Yanofchick 1979-1981
Rev Russel E Smith 1981-1984
Rev Daniel O Brady 1984-1986
Rev Raymond Machesney 1986-1987
Rev John Boddie 1988-1989
Rev Ed Prather 1990-1991
Rev John J Wagner 1991-1992
Rev Lawrence Mullaney 1992-1993
Rev Robert L Cummins 1995-1996
Rev Timothy Huffman 1996
Rev Rolo Castillo 1997-1999
Rev Andre Antao 1999 - 2001, 12/2002-5/2003
Rev Robert J. Cole 2006 - 2007
Rev Nixxon L. Negparanon 2007 - 2009

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