People and Faces in the Archives

The records in the archives are grouped around the province entities that created them. The province entities are either province level offices like the provincial’s office, local community offices like St. Francis School, Watsonville or province members like Fr. Louis Galli’s personal diaries. Only the first two types of province entities are dealt with here.

Local communities are divided into those that we still operate today (May 2020) like St. Francis School, Watsonville and those that we no longer operate like St. Mary’s, Edmonton.

Below you will find these entities named and numbered and each represented by one of the many individuals who were assigned to them at one time or another.

A photo and a personal interest note are added for each to try to provide some small insight into just a few of the many fascinating persons who, in carrying out their assignments, are together responsible for all the records we now have in the archives. NB: For the significance of the numbers preceding titles below contact this archivist. [email protected].

God-Gifted, Fallible, Fascinating People

(Province Assembly Days 1998)

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People and Faces in the Archives

Province Level Entities

1:0 – Provincial’s Office (Provincial) www.donboscowest.org 1:1 – Province Administration (Provincial) 1:2 – Province Animation (Provincial)

Fr. Orestes Trinchieri, our first Provincial but just Fr. “Trinc” to the kids who surrounded him, held this office from 1927 to 1934.

2:0 – Provincial Secretary’s Office (Secretary)

Fr. Arnold Buja proudly chauffeured the Provincial (Fr. E. Tozzi) around in a green 1947 Hudson Commodore and held this office from 1947 to 1949. .

3:0 – Province Finance Office (Treasurer)

Fr. Gabriel Zavattaro who could pinch a penny better than most (and could sing while Venerable Vincent Cimatti played organ) and who signed us up for Social Security held this office from 1962 to 1980

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4:0 – Formation Office (Delegate)

Fr. Arthur Lenti, though never Formation Office Delegate, was celebrated author, professor and gourmet chef at Don Bosco Hall (post-graduate formation community), Berkeley from 1984 to 2016.

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5:0 – Youth Ministry Office (Delegate) www.salesianym.org

Fr. Thomas “Tom” Prendiville, in the first class at St. John Bosco, Bellflower (1940), twelfth Provincial and cool- handed even with popes, held this office from 1981 to 1985.

6:0 – Vocation Office (Delegate) www.salesianvocation.org

Fr. W. L. “Larry” Byrne, confidant of the Minneapolis Lakers, US Marine chaplain in WWII at Iwo Jima, held this office from 1951 to 1979.

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7:0 – Mission Animation Services (Delegate) www.salesianvolunteers.org

Mr. Juan Carlos “JC” Montenegro, at times a missionary taking volunteers to Tijuana, Mexico, held this office from 2009 to 2020 …

8:0 – Care Ministry Department (Delegate)

Sheila & Louis Kun, Care Coordinators since 2012. Sheila, RN, is named the first Delegate of Care Ministry in the 2013-2014 North American Directory. See Sheila’s many INTOUCH articles on the Province website, www.donboscowest.org

9:0 – Social Communications Services (Delegate)

Fr. Thien Nguyen, accomplished and spell-binding magician, held this office from 2015 to 2018.

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10:0 – Education Office (Coordinator) Mr. Bill Goodman, longtime (1964) friend of St. John Bosco High School, was teacher, athletic director, principal and president there then headed the Province Education Office from 1985 to 2016. As a young Athletic Director (1967) at SJB

11:0 – Salesian Family Commission (Delegate) www.donboscowest.org/salesianfamily

Fr. Chris Woerz, puppeteer and ventriloquist extraordinaire (Linus-the-Lizard!), held this office from 2010 to 2016.

[12:0 – [There is no 12:0 Group]

13:0 – Archives Office (Archivist) www.donboscowest.org

Br. Larry King, born the eighth of ten children (thanks, mom), held this office from 2010 to 2020 …

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People and Faces in the Archives Local Level Entities We Presently Operate

L1: – Provincial Residence, San Francisco (Director)

Fr. Tom Juarez, six years in frigid Canada followed by six years in balmy Peru to thaw out, held this offce from 1987 to 1989.

L2: – San Luis Rey Church, Laredo (Pastor) www.sanluisreychurchlaredo.org

Fr. Rafael Sanchez, a Salesian from Spain, barred from Mexico, detoured to Santo Domingo then spent ten years in Cuba until, expelled by Fidel Castro, he settled in Laredo where to him the church “looked like a ranch (house)”. He May 23, 1990 blessing completely renovated it. of the renovated church Pastor from 1981 to 1990.

L3: – St. John Bosco High School, Bellflower (Director) L3:1 – Salesian Religious Community L3:2 – St. John Bosco School www.bosco.org

Fr. Ernest. Giovannini, first Director of SJB, affable, enterprising, down-to-earth, held this office from 1940 to 1944 and then became Provincial of the Eastern Province from 1944 to 1958.

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L4: – St. Dominic Savio Church, Bellflower (Pastor) www.saintdominicsavio.org

Fr. Dave Zunino, who as a boy learned to play basketball at SS. Peter & Paul Boys Club, SF, held this office from 1960 to1970 1933 SS. PP. Boys Club team with Joe Aliotto, future SF Mayor, standing 3rd from left.

L5: – Don Bosco Hall, Berkeley (Director) www.salesianstudies.org

Fr. Jim Collins, a double bass player from Oakland with an Irish brogue, held this office (when it was at St. Paul’s Parish, SF) from 1972 to1973

L7: – Salesian High School, Los Angeles (Director) www.mustangsla.org

Fr. Roger Luna, musician and choir director, (Junior Seminary choir, Watsonville 1967), held this office from 1969 to1972

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L8: – Salesian Boys & Girls Club, Los Angeles (Director) www.mustangsla.org

Fr. Charles “Charlie” Farina, “They picked me up in a yellow Cadillac”, first to hold this office (informally), “Charlie’s” first ride from 1958 to 1959. to the club, 1958.

L9: – St. Bridget’s Church, Los Angeles (Pastor) www.stbridgetccc.com

Fr. Joseph Cheng, from Hong Kong, first Salesian at St. Bridget he produced the “Warm Front” a substantial parish newsletter. He held this office from 1994 to 2006 and formed its first Cooperator group in 2003.

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L10: – St. Mary’s Church, Los Angeles (Pastor) www.stmaryschurchla.com

Fr. Albert Negri, off to the missions in India at the young age of 15. Spoke 8 languages including 3 Indian. First Salesian pastor at St. Mary’s he held this office from1965 to 1968. In photo on Cardinal Raul Silva’s left.

L11: – Salesian High School, Richmond (Director) L11:1 - Salesian Seminary, Richmond L11:2 - Salesian All-boys High School, Richmond L11:3 - Salesian Co-ed. High School, Richmond www.salesian.com

Fr. Alfred Broccardo, the fatherly type (with a newly baptized) and “Fr. Brooks” to most, held this office from 1946 to 1951.

L12: – Salesian Boys & Girls Club, Richmond (Director) www.wccsbgc.org

Fr. Frank Vranjos, always a gentleman’s gentleman even at the beach, held this office from 1971 to 1974.

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L13: – Don Bosco Technical Institute, Rosemead (Director) www.boscotech.edu Fr. Felix Penna, a boy from the Bronx, ready to sail even very young, brilliant mind and dynamic, founder of Don Bosco Tech, Rosemead, held this office from 1955 to 1958

L14: – St. Joseph’s Renewal Center, Rosemead (Director)

Fr. Paul Maniscalco, a kind infirmarian, prayerful priest, indefatigable hiker, meticulous always, held this office from 1958 to 1959.

L15: – St. Joseph Novitiate, Rosemead (Director)

Fr. Harry Rasmussen, the Dane from Minnesota “I betcha”, tall man in the quartet (booming voice), Provincial (1973-1979), held this office from 1992 to 1998.

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L16: – Corpus Christi Church, San Francisco (Director/Pastor) www.corpuschristi.org

Fr. Thomas De Matei, second SDB vocation from SS. P&P. after Louis Galli, first Salesian ordained at SS. P&P. (Bishop Ernest Coppo, SDB - 1923), held this office from 1935 to 1941.

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L17: – Saints Peter and Paul Church, San Francisco (Director/Pastor) www.salesiansspp.org Fr. Raphael Piperni, founder at San Francisco of the first SDB presence in the United States (1897), held the office of pastor at SS. P&P from 1899 to 1928. Thank you, Fr. Raphael. You deserve two photos!

L18: – Salesian Boys & Girls Club, S. F. (Director) www.salesianclub.org

Mr. Russell “Russ” Gumina, who played basketball for the USF “Dons” as a 6ft. 2in. guard 1962-1966, co-captain, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973, was Executive Director of the club for 28 years holding that office from 1988 to 2016.

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L19: – St. Francis High School, Watsonville (Director) www.stfrancishigh.net

Fr. Louis B. Galli, mugged by thugs on Christmas Day 1935 and paralyzed, held this office (first SDB to do

so) in 1921 (came by train) and Watsonville train again from 1929 to1932. station, 1921

L20: – Camp St. Francis, Watsonville (Director)

Br. Mike Herbers, a long-time green-thumb gardener, worked four of the Province youth clubs including at San Pablo (see photo) and was Camp St. Francis Administrator from 2002 to 2020 …

L21: – Help of Christians Church, Watsonville (Pastor) www.olhcchurch.org

Fr. Pasquale Beccaria, who rebuilt the 1902 church after it burned down in 1927, was pastor of Help of Christians [known as Immaculate Heart of Mary until 1928] from 1921to1923

and again from 1926 to1928.

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L22: – St. Francis De Sales Hall, Bellflower (Director)

Fr. Frank Ribotta, who could kick a football a country mile, held this office from 1968 to 1971.

Frank at 2 years old cares for his little brother, Mike (Fr. Mike later)

L23: – St. Luke’s Church, Stockton (Director/Pastor) www.stlukestockton.us

Fr. Tuan Nguyen, a South Vietnam pilot during the long Vietnam war, held the office of Associate Pastor from 1992 to 2012.

With “Lucky”, a friend in Stockton

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Fr. Ted Montemayor, Provincial.

A Texan from Laredo, Provincial from 2014 to 2020, he was also Province Vocation Director twice..

People and Faces in the Archives

Local Level Entities We No Longer Operate

L25: – St. Mary’s School, Edmonton, Alberta

Fr. Louis “King Louie” Masoero, big hockey fan, founder of St. Mary’s, served this ministry from 1951 to 1957 and was present at its closing in 1991.

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L26: – St. John Bosco Parish, Edmonton, Alberta

Fr. Anthony (Tony) Di Falco, always upbeat/pleasant (even his admonitions were fun), trained in drama and music (played clarinet), held this office as pastor from 1980 to1983.

L27: – St. Dominic Savio Parish, Edmonton, Alberta

Fr. Harold Danielson, his first time as pastor, administered the parish from 1976 to 1978

Dedicating the new Savio

church with music. (1974).

L28: – St. Emeric Parish, Edmonton, Alberta

Fr. Joseph Hamor, an Hungarian who loved his violin and his countryman composer Franz List, was pastor of this Hungarian parish 42 years from 1957 to 1999.

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L29: – Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Surrey, BC

Fr. John Malloy, who loved “Zack” (his lap-dog) and built the Youth Center at OLGC (breaking ground 1997), served here from 1990 to 2001.

L30: – Sacred Heart Parish, Vancouver

Fr. Joseph (Giuseppe) Della Torre, also known as “Joe Mac Tower”, came to our province by way of Australia, chaplain of the “Alpini” mountaineers, was pastor of Sacred Heart parish from 1953 to 1987.

L31: – St. Joseph Parish, Oakland

Fr. Henry Ferreira who spoke Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, French and English, was secretary to Don Rua at one point and later assistant pastor at St. Joseph’s from 1906 to1934. (“Don Bosco Boys [Scouts] of America”)

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L32: – St. Andrew/St. Joseph Parish, Oakland

Fr. Edgar Rocha, born in Brazil, proficient in art, music and stage, spiritual adviser to Carmine Miranda, the “Brazilian Bombshell”, was pastor of this humble parish from 1965 to1969.

L33: – St. Mark Parish, Richmond

Fr. George Hacker, “one of the most popular priests ever to head the parish”, survived being shot by a sniper on June 4, 1975. He was pastor from 1970 to 1977.

Fr. George’s unique punting style

L34: – Theology Seminary, Aptos

Fr. Francis Knific, hunted first by the Nazis and then by the Communists (Slovenia 1948) with PhDs in philosophy and in theology, was Director (Don Bosco in profile) and professor in Aptos from 1948 to 1958

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L35: – St. Patrick Parish, Los Angeles

Fr. Rinaldo Bergamo, a rotund, kind, outgoing man “This calls for a celebration”, artillery officer in WWI (1915- 1919) but preferred barbequing, was pastor of St. Patrick’s from 1944 to 1950.

L36: – St. Peter Parish, Los Angeles

Fr. Robert Wieczorek, born in Poland, missionary to Mexico in 1897at age 20, contributed in major ways to many SDB works in the USA including the Stations of the Cross in Richmond (1934) and was pastor of St. Peter’s from 1926 to 1930.

L37: – Angels Flight, Los Angeles

Br. Phil Mandile, at the request of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, directed Angels Flight for street kids, For angels who couldn’t fly yet from 1984 to 1990.

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L38: – Rupertswood/Sunbury, Australia

Fr. Alfred Cogliandro, as Provincial (1950 to 1963), sent several young Salesian Brothers to Sunbury for practical training.

“Australian wool” at Rubertswood, 1929.

L39: – Lungi, Sierra Leone

Br. Bill Regner, with little regard for personal pain, could build/fix most anything and served in Sierra Leone, Africa from 2000 to 2010.

L40: – Mary Help of Christians Parish, Los Angeles

Fr. Frederick Barni made his perpetual vows into the hands of Don Bosco himself at the end of his Novitiate year, six years earlier than present practice! Ordained at 23 he was pastor of this church from 1926 to 1930.

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L41: – St. Mary’s Parish, Sacramento

Fr. Mathew Cravero, escaping both firing squad and gallows in a Mexican prison (1914), lived to later serve at St. Mary’s Parish

from 1930 to 1935.

L42: – Mary Help of Christians Parish, Oakland

Fr. Anthony Ragogna, to the Bororo natives of the jungles of Brazil “Capitao Grande” (in Portuguese), served this parish from 1919 to 1923.

L43: – San José Parish, Albuquerque, NM

Fr. Joseph Farias, a barber and the son of a big-hearted barber, pastor of five Province parishes,

was pastor of this parish from 1997 to 2001. Fr. Joe’s barber dad.

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L44: – Our Lady of Fatima, Edmonton

Fr. Arduino Antonello, a gentle soul from Moto Grosso, Brazil (raised canaries) was pastor of this Portuguese parish from 1972 to 1982.

L45: – St. Patrick’s Church Chinese Community, Edmonton

Fr. Mario Rosso, after serving the Chinese

people in China for 42 years (1939-1981), claimed to be “white on the outside but yellow on the inside”. (Sounds a lot better in Chinese) He served the Chinese in

Edmonton from 1991to 1994.

L46: - Camp Don Bosco, Arrowbear.

Fr. Carmine Vairo, was Camp Director in 1972 with five councilors and 100 campers. Carmine’s mother’s vocabulary was, like the lady herself, devilishly colorful. Provincial from 1979 to 1985.

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L47: - Camp Salesian, Middletown

Fr. John Roche, who was a “vocation from among those we serve”, while a student of theology in Ohio, 1982-1986, returned each summer to direct Camp Salesian.

L48: - Camp Bonny Doon, Bonny Doon

Boney Doon began operating as a camp for junior seminarians in 1956. Fr. Mike Ribotta then operated it from 1966 to 1968 for grammar school boys. He loved sports, a great coach. His 1943- 1944 basketball team won six

games and lost only one.

L49: - Camp Pala Rey, Pala Rey

Fr. Mirko Flac. Communist Marshal Josip Tito of Yugoslavia had thirteen of Brother Mirko’s fourteen

Salesian classmates executed. Mirko escaped and spent 24 years as a Salesian Priest serving the poorest of kids at Camp Pala Rey 1967-1991

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L50: - Mary Help of Christians Chinese Church, Edmonton

Fr. Francis Lau, born in Macao, Salesian in Hong Kong, won an architect’s award for remodeling MHC and was pastor of this Chinese Parish from 1987 to 1991.

L6: – St. Ambrose Church, Berkeley (Pastor)

Fr. Joseph Paradayil, from Bangalore, India to Berkeley, CA, with a master’s in counseling

psychology, was pastor of St. Ambrose Church

from 2006 to 2009

Don Michael Rua, Don Bosco’s First Successor.

Don Rua, “Don Bosco’s double”, sent the first four Salesians to San Francisco in 1897 at the request of Archbishop Michael Riordan of San Francisco.

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St. Francis School, Watsonville Band Mr. Gothier was the band director. They marched in the 1922 Watsonville 4th of July parade.

Yes, Some Very Fascinating People Have Served the Youth Of our Province

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