A NEW CHURCH IS BUILT
The parish quickly turned its attention to the next project - a new church. To the disappointment of the school children who had established a baseball field on the corner of 255th and Eshelman, construction of a new mission-style church began in 1953. Several designs were considered. Father Hegarty wanted to build a church with the highest capacity of seats. Some were puzzled by his insistence. In fact, when the church was built, the entire parish community could fit inside. But always a visionary, he knew that his small parish would continue to grow and a large edifice would be needed for future generations.
Once again, the new church was to be a reflection of the people it would serve. While the organizations held bazaars, dances and the annual pit barbecue dinner to raise money, Father Hegarty turned to individual families for special requests. He personally asked individual families to donate the stained glass windows, altar, statues, tabernacle, candlesticks, all appointments for the new building. Suffice to say that few families turned him down. In record time, the parish raised the money - an astronomical $200,000 - to construct the church, which was ready for Easter Sunday, 1954.
Stories recount of parishioners overcome with emotion upon entering the new church for the first time. Tears flowed from the faces of hundreds of community members as Father Hegarty led his church to their new home - a church he was quick to point out that they built, not him. The large, 800-seat structure with forty foot ceilings was impressive upon entering (as it continues to be). Built for the pre-Vatican II liturgy, the large wooden altar at back wall of the sanctuary was crowned by a beautiful tabernacle in the center and flanked with large candlesticks. Behind the altar was a huge red drape which extended high above the altar to the canopy. The red fabric was accented with deep green flooring and light wood furnishings.
Parishioner Bertha Stanford painted two large oil art works depicting St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and the Agony in the Garden, which were hung over the two l wooden doors in the sanctuary leading to the sacristy (it was Mrs. Stanford and her husband George who were responsible for photographing the school children’s annual portraits for nearly thirty years). The nave was adorned with dark red Spanish tile flooring, handcrafted Italian Stations of the Cross and seventy pews.
Immediately the guilds were dispatched to set up a calendar to regularly clean and maintain the church and altar flowers. Many of those flowers were donated by the Arroyo family who owned a large farm. A parish choir was founded and altar boys were trained. The old church was moved to the parish grounds, converted to a parish hall and a small kitchen was built by the Holy Name men so that dinners could be held and hot lunches could be prepared for the school children.
Father Hegarty continued his efforts to further build the community spirit of his parishioners. School mothers were encouraged to attend regularly scheduled “Coffee Klatches” held at the beginning of the school day so that moms could socialize with one another. The men of the parish organized work parties for needed improvement projects on the parish grounds. And there were the dances, dinners, social events and bazaars that fundraised for the next project.
A convent was built in 1956, followed by a new rectory in 1960. Finally in 1967 a new parish hall complex was completed. Later that year, the beloved building which served as a one-time church and later hall was torn down. Longtime parishioners still have pieces of wood at their homes taken from the dismantled building as a memory of the old church.
Plagued by strokes and failing health, Father Hegarty’s service to God and Church were coming to an end. In late 1970 he returned to Ireland to visit family and died there in January of 1971. His family buried him there, returning is mortal body to the sacred ground of his Irish homeland.
Michael Molina
May 14, 2007
Once again, the new church was to be a reflection of the people it would serve. While the organizations held bazaars, dances and the annual pit barbecue dinner to raise money, Father Hegarty turned to individual families for special requests. He personally asked individual families to donate the stained glass windows, altar, statues, tabernacle, candlesticks, all appointments for the new building. Suffice to say that few families turned him down. In record time, the parish raised the money - an astronomical $200,000 - to construct the church, which was ready for Easter Sunday, 1954.
Stories recount of parishioners overcome with emotion upon entering the new church for the first time. Tears flowed from the faces of hundreds of community members as Father Hegarty led his church to their new home - a church he was quick to point out that they built, not him. The large, 800-seat structure with forty foot ceilings was impressive upon entering (as it continues to be). Built for the pre-Vatican II liturgy, the large wooden altar at back wall of the sanctuary was crowned by a beautiful tabernacle in the center and flanked with large candlesticks. Behind the altar was a huge red drape which extended high above the altar to the canopy. The red fabric was accented with deep green flooring and light wood furnishings.
Parishioner Bertha Stanford painted two large oil art works depicting St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and the Agony in the Garden, which were hung over the two l wooden doors in the sanctuary leading to the sacristy (it was Mrs. Stanford and her husband George who were responsible for photographing the school children’s annual portraits for nearly thirty years). The nave was adorned with dark red Spanish tile flooring, handcrafted Italian Stations of the Cross and seventy pews.
Immediately the guilds were dispatched to set up a calendar to regularly clean and maintain the church and altar flowers. Many of those flowers were donated by the Arroyo family who owned a large farm. A parish choir was founded and altar boys were trained. The old church was moved to the parish grounds, converted to a parish hall and a small kitchen was built by the Holy Name men so that dinners could be held and hot lunches could be prepared for the school children.
Father Hegarty continued his efforts to further build the community spirit of his parishioners. School mothers were encouraged to attend regularly scheduled “Coffee Klatches” held at the beginning of the school day so that moms could socialize with one another. The men of the parish organized work parties for needed improvement projects on the parish grounds. And there were the dances, dinners, social events and bazaars that fundraised for the next project.
A convent was built in 1956, followed by a new rectory in 1960. Finally in 1967 a new parish hall complex was completed. Later that year, the beloved building which served as a one-time church and later hall was torn down. Longtime parishioners still have pieces of wood at their homes taken from the dismantled building as a memory of the old church.
Plagued by strokes and failing health, Father Hegarty’s service to God and Church were coming to an end. In late 1970 he returned to Ireland to visit family and died there in January of 1971. His family buried him there, returning is mortal body to the sacred ground of his Irish homeland.
Michael Molina
May 14, 2007
