ST. CATHERINE'S MARKS 50 YEARS.Byline: Jesse Hiestand Daily News Staff Writer One of the pioneering parishes in the western San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. will celebrate a major milestone Sunday as St. Catherine There are seven St. Catherines:
The church, which faces the street with a towering tile mosaic of Jesus and St. Catherine, has been at 18115 Sherman Way since 1966. The Rev. Sean Flanagan, pastor since 1981, will join Cardinal Roger Mahony His Eminence Roger Michael Cardinal Mahony (born February 27, 1936) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as the fourth Archbishop of Los Angeles, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1991. and other church leaders at 3 p.m. Sunday for a Jubilee Mass with the theme ``Standing Together, a Family of God.'' ``Fifty years is very special,'' Flanagan said. ``This anniversary lets people know they have a tradition behind them, gives them a sense of belonging and makes them feel they're part of an ongoing adventure, an adventure as a pilgrimage of people with the Lord.'' A reception will follow the Mass. Strolling musicians, the Rondalla Armonica of Romance, will perform. All former and current parishioners are invited. The ethnically and racially diverse parish now serves 1,300 families. The parish was founded in 1949 by the Rev. John Hackett The name John Hackett may refer to three prominent men. They include a father and son, both called John Winthrop Hackett:
The church's school was established in 1952 and staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph
The Sisters of St. Joseph are a Roman Catholic order of women founded in Le Puy, France. of Carondelet. The convent convent: see monasticism. was built in three parts between 1952 and 1956. Hackett retired as monsignor in 1981. Flanagan added a kindergarten in 1982 and set up an after-school care program in 1983. Don Dyer, the school's principal for the past nine years, said Flanagan played a pivotal role in getting the church to its 50th year. ``The stability of the parish is due to our pastor,'' Dyer said. ``Father Sean (Flanagan) is the one taking us into the millennium. He has great foresight and great vision.'' One of the most trying experiences for the parish was the 1994 Northridge Earthquake The Northridge earthquake occurred on January 17, 1994 at 4:31 AM Pacific Standard Time in the city of Los Angeles, California. The earthquake had a "strong" moment magnitude of 6. , which was centered within a mile of St. Catherine's. The temblor left $2 million in damage to the church buildings but inspired an invaluable sense of spirit among parishioners, Flanagan said. ``It bonded us like nothing ever did before,'' he said. ``The most emotional event since I came here was the Mass the first Sunday after (the quake Quake - A string-oriented language designed to support the construction of Modula-3 programs from modules, interfaces and libraries. Written by Stephen Harrison of DEC SRC, 1993. ). We all came together in the tents.'' During the rebuilding, Masses were celebrated in the parish hall for 10 months until the church reopened in November 1994. Flanagan said there is a deep significance to the 50th anniversary because the number 50, in the Hebrew Bible, is said to signify a new beginning. ``It represents a kind of mystical era,'' he said. ``We've come through one era and started on a new one.'' |
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