On September 28, 1947, Monsignor Joseph A. O’Brien, founding Pastor, celebrated the very first Mass of the newly established Parish of St. Bernadette of Lourdes. The Mass was celebrated in a home (901 Foss Avenue) that Father O’Brien purchased shortly after he received word from the Archdiocese that he would lead a new parish in the Drexel Hill section of Upper Darby Township.

On July 2nd, 1947, ground was purchased for the future parish buildings. In September a contract was signed for construction of the Auditorium Chapel. Those plans were later supplemented to provide two additional floors for school classrooms. The parish site was located between Turner and Harper Avenues and between Bond and Marvine Avenues. 

On April 6, 1948, The Sisters of Notre Dame  formed the parish school. School opened for the first time in September of 1948. Three Sisters of Notre Dame welcomed the first 127 students. The Sisters traveled back and forth daily from Villanova. There were originally six gradesand each Sister taught two grades at a time. For one year the school children of St. Dorothy’s Parish occupied the third floor of the new building.

In 1951 both the convent and rectory buildings were completed. Sister Jeanne Finnegan and six Sisters of Notre Dame moved into the convent. 

In March of 1953 it was announced that permission was granted to St. Bernadette of Lourdes Parish to begin construction of the new church. On October 17th, 1954, The Most Reverend John F. O’Hara, the new Archbishop of Philadelphia, blessed and dedicated the Church of St. Bernadette of Lourdes.

Over the next 25 years the number of parish members increased, as did enrollment in the school. 

In 1972 the Sisters of Notre Dame, who opened the school and began teaching in 1948, announced a change in their mission, which meant they would be leaving the school. The administration of the school continued in with the Sisters of St. Joseph in September of that same year. 

After 51 years of serving the faithful in various Archdiocesan parishes, but particularly in founding and serving St. Bernadette Parish for more than 26 years, Monsignor O’Brien officially retired in 1975. For several years following his retirement, Monsignor O’Brien continued to be active in the parish, continuing to  offer daily and Sunday Masses and the distribution of Holy Communion.

Monsignor O’Brien was succeeded by the Reverend George J. Dougherty, who came to us after having served as pastor at St. Martha’s parish in Philadelphia.

The year 1983 marked another change in the staffing of the school as the Sisters of St. Joseph announced they were leaving the parish and school. Soon after, it was announced that the school would be administered and staffed by the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis DeSales. 

On November 6, 1986, the United States Department of Education presented St. Bernadette School its prestigious "Excellence in Education" award. Sixty-eight thousand elementary schools throughout the nation were eligible for this award. St. Bernadette was one of only 272 schools chosen, one of only 60 non-public schools chosen, one of only 34 Catholic schools nationwide chosen.

In 1988 with Father Dougherty in poor health the Archdiocese appointed Father William A. Wright as parish administrator and in 1989, realizing Father Dougherty's health would not permit him to return as pastor, Father Dougherty officially retired and Cardinal Bevilacqua named Father Wright as the third pastor of St. Bernadette Parish.

On December 24, 2008, God called Father Wright to his eternal home after a courageous battle with cancer. The Archdiocese appointed Reverend John J. Kelly, who arrived in February 2009 to replace Father Wright as pastor of St. Bernadette Parish. 

In early 2010 it was announced that the Oblate Sisters were receiving new assignments and would be leaving our school after 27 years of service.

Mrs. Janet Glennon, a Catholic School educator for more than 15 years, was named as the school Principal in May 2010.

On September 17, 2012 our parish welcomed, Reverend Christopher J. Papa as pastor.

For the 2015-16 school year, Dr. Tom Tobin who had a highly successful career as teacher, principal and assistant superintendent, was named interim principal of the school. Dr. Tobin.

In the Summer of 2018, Mrs. Joanne Montie was appointed principal of St. Bernadette School. Having taught at the school for nine years prior to being named principal, Mrs. Montie has a unique understanding of the culture of our school and is building on our current strengths and propelling our students to the next level.

In 2019 Fr. Michael Saban came to our parish as the new Parochial Adminstrator. Fr. Saban became pastor of St. Bernadette of Lourdes Parish on August 16, 2020.

In an ever-changing environment, the administration, faculty members and staff continue to work together to provide a quality, faith-based education and to enable families to entrust their children to the wonderful school that is St. Bernadette of Lourdes.

In March 1990, at the age of 12, Bernadette McKenzie, a student in St. Bernadette School, had been experiencing severe pain and underwent surgery for a tethered spinal cord. Two subsequent surgeries occurred in January and November of 1991. Her surgeon referred her to another physician, solely for pain therapy.  He felt her case was unsolvable. 
In March of 1992 our grade school was run by the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales.  Sr. Anne Elizabeth was its Principal at that time.  On the 21st of that month Sr. Anne Elizabeth began a novena in the convent chapel to Venerable Mother Aviat, the founder of their Order, praying for a cure for 15 year old Bernadette, who by now was unable to stand or walk and was almost completely immobile.  The novena, attended by family, friends and parishioners quickly outgrew the chapel and was moved to the main church by Father Wright, our Pastor at the time, so that more parishioners could participate.  Sr. Anne Elizabeth had given young Bernadette a relic to wear around her neck and encouraged her to pray along with them to Venerable Mother Aviat.  On March 24th, the third day of the novena, Bernadette began to feel a lessening of the pain and a return of strength.  Before very long her doctor wrote on a prescription blank: “I see no medical explanation for the cure of this patient”.  On December 18, 2000, Cardinal Bevilacqua announced that Pope John Paul II decreed that Bernadette’s healing was attributed to the intercession of Mother Aviat.  The Holy Father’s decree was the last major step needed for her canonization. 
Since the cure occurred in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the diocesan inquiry regarding the case was opened by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua on September 8, 1994.  It was submitted to Rome in November 1994.  On February 17, 2000, a board of medical experts decided there were no scientific, natural or medical reasons for the cure.  On June 23, 2000, a board of theologians decided that the healing was due to the intercession of Mother Aviat.  On December 5, 2000, a board of cardinals and bishops, members from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, recommended the healing to the Holy Father as miraculous. On December 18, 2000 the Pope decreed the healing miraculous. 
On Sunday, November 25, 2001 Pope John Paul II canonized Saint Leonie Aviate in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy. 
A statue of St. Leonie Aviat can be found in the front of the church next to the Blessed Mother’s altar.