St. Mary’s
gives farewell thanks—1853-2008
Acolyte Cheryl Resh and Bishop Emeritus John Cummins enter St. Mary’s
Church for the July 26 Mass of Thanksgiving for 155 years of continuous
ministry. The celebration honored former parishioners, school alumni
and all those who ministered in the parish since its founding in 1853.
The parish community (which in recent years absorbed parishioners
from the now closed St. Francis de Sales Cathedral and St. Andrew-St.
Joseph Parish) is leaving the site to become the Parish of Christ
the Light at the new cathedral.
JOSé LUIS AGUIRRE PHOTO |
|
St. Mary’s Church and other parish buildings
at 7th and Jefferson, Oakland, circa 1950.
CTL PARISH ARCHIVES
 |
LEFT: Jenny Kimball (left) and Sylvia Mill-Mulia of the Omega
West Dance Company throw rose petals during the final procession leaving
St. Mary’s Church, July 26. ABOVE: Rose Souza (left)
and her daughter Gloria Corral, a graduate of St. Mary’s School,
look for classmates during the farewell celebration, July 26.
JOSé LUIS AGUIRRE PHOTOs
|
 |
 |
LEFT: During the
July 26 liturgy, Father Antonio Valdivia, a graduate of St. Mary’s
School (see photo at right) says the parish gave him the experience
of a “true ecclesia” where Irish, Italian, Mexican, African
American, Greek and Portuguese worshipped together. RIGHT:
In June 1948, the winners of the fifth-sixth grade spelling bee at
St. Mary’s School were, from left, first row, Tomas Juarez (now
a Salesian priest) and Loretta Chin; second row, Antonio Valdivia
(now a diocesan priest), Bobby Stratman, Evangeline Cruz, Dora Lucero;
third row, Joe Benevidez, Gene Grady, Jeannette Perrin, Loretta Lucero;
fourth row, Ed Perry, Fernando Arroyo, Anita Gomez, Elodie Gallet.
JOSé LUIS AGUIRRE PHOTO • HISTORIC
PHOTO COURTESY OF JACKIE GILLIO MADERA
|
 |
LEFT: Parishioners and former members gather outside St. Mary’s
Church following the July 26 Mass of thanksgiving. ABOVE: Holy
Names Sisters, from left, Donna Maynard, Cynthia Canning, Jean Elizabeth
and Rosario Maria are honored during the thanksgiving celebration.
The religious community has served St. Mary’s from 1868 to the
present.
JOSé LUIS AGUIRRE PHOTOs |
 |
Father Michael King, pastor of
St. Mary’s Parish from 1865-1904, with young students, circa
1903.
CTL PARISH ARCHIVES |
Concelebrating the July 26 with Bishop Emeritus John
Cummins are, from left, Father Quang Minh Dong, rector of the Cathedral
of Christ the Light; Father Donald Osuna, rector of St. Francis de Sales
Cathedral, 1975-1986; Father Jerrold Kennedy, Father Antonio Valdivia and
Salesian Father Tomas Juarez.
JOSé LUIS AGUIRRE PHOTO
RIGHT: Father Charles Philipps, pastor, welcomes the Sisters
of Social Service to the parish in 1938. They served the poor and
homeless in the area until the late 1950s.
BELOW: Parishioners
gather in Jefferson Park on July 26, 1942, for Exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament in observance of St. Ann’s Day.
RIGHT: MONITOR PHOTO/CTL PARISH ARCHIVES
BELOW: CTL PARISH ARCHIVES |
 |
back
to top
home
|
