PEOPLE, BRICKS, and TIMBERS The Story of St. Michael's Parish Livermore, California 1878-1978 Published on the occasion of its Centennial i Most Reverend John S. Cummins, Bishop of the Oakland Diocese. ii DIOCESE OF OAKLAND Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, History can be very exciting, especially when you are living in an area that has been touched by the de Anza expedition, the beginnings of a new settlement, and the trek of the 49ers to the Mother Lode. The Church was there to serve the people, first with missionaries and finally with a fulltime priest who generously gave of himself to serve the people. He didn't even have a house, I understand, but slept in the S?Cristy for several years. St. Michael's and the Valley have grown together, first ministering to the Spanish, Irish, French and Portuguese who worked and farmed the land, and now to people of divergent backgrounds and talents who are building a different type of community. Throughout the history of the church in the Valley, the priests have been deeply committed to their people and the parishioners have been responsive to the concerns of their church and community. We are pleased to share in this Centennial celebration of St. Michael's and congratulate you on 100 years of faith and generosity. Sincerely, John S. Cummins Bishop of Oakland 2900 LAKESHOREAVENUE • OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA94610 • 415/893-4711 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON February 16, 1978 To the Congregation of St. Michael's Church Congratulations on the anniversary of your congregation. It is a pleasure to send my very best wishes to all of you and to join in your prayers for continued spiritual strength for all Americans.. Sincerely, Congregation of St. Michael's Church Livermore, California 94550 ,tatr nf @alifornia GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SA·CRAMEN,O 95814 EDMUND G. BROWN JR. GOVERNOR 916/445-4571 TO: THE MEMBERS OF ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH I am pleased to extend my congratulations as you celebrate the centennial anniversary of St. Michael's. This occasion provides an opportunity for the-­ congregation to reflect on the strength and unity which has been gained through the years. In bringing greater meaning to the lives of individuals, the special comfort which an active faith offers brings meaning to the life of the community as well. I hope that you will find that the future of your church is one of service and fulfillment. Best wishes on this festive occasion. Sincerely, 1llnurh nf �uptrtti.anrs Q!inmty nf Alamtba &tatt af Claltfomta CONMEND ST. MICHAE[S CHURCH fJHEREAS, St. r-lichael's Church was founded in the City of Livermore on August 24, 1878; and WHEREAS, for 100 years St. Michae�s Church has been a source of help and inspiration for its members and friends; and WHEREAS, St. Hichael's Church has made lasting contributions to the well­ being of the community at large through its many_activities, school, and convent; �OW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Supervisors of Alameda County does hereby commend St. Michael's Church for its achievements of the past and wishes St. :Michael's Church every success in the future. TABLE OF CONTENTS Prologue .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Spanish Settle Upper California.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Spanish Missions . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Archdiocese of San Francisco Started.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 The Early Valley. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Robert Livermore . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Early Settlements Begin . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 William Mendenhall.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. 7 Alphonso Ladd ................................................ � .· .. .. .. 7 Our First Hundred Years......................... t: ............................ - 9 Our Parish Begins ............................ _,. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 The First Church.......... .................................................. 11 The Early Catholic Settlers . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 Father Cassidy, First Pastor................................... ................. 12 Early Livermore ............................................................ 12 Father Patrick Power Becomes Pastor.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1-3 European Settlers Arrive.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 Larger Church Planned ............................................... • ........ 14 Gothic Church Built .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 Church Dedication Ceremonies.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 Parish Continues Growth.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 Twenty-Five Years as Pastor . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 Father Power's Influence.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 Father Power's Hobbies. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 Father Power and Progress .................................................... _ 19 More New Parishioners ....................................................... 19 Religious Education ............................. : .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 Parish School. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 Father Power's Fuaeral ...........................·. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 Father McKinnon Arrives ..................................................... 22 The Gothic Church Burns . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 Plans for New Church . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 World War I Affects Parish . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 Mission Style Church Completed....................... ........................ : 26 Dedication Ceremonies . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 7 Dedication Committees.................................. .................· .. .. 28 Parishioners Help Start Rodeo.............. ..........................-.. .. .. .. 28 Father McKinnon's Compassion . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 29 Father McKinnon's Funeral. ................................... ...............· . 29 Father Looney's Pastorate Begins ............................................... 29 Non-Public Schools Threatened......... ................................ • . .. .. 31 A Changing Town .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 31 Prominen-t Sports Figures .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 2 l 940's Begin Quietly...... ...........·. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33 Holv Ghost Festivals. 3 3 World War 11 Changes Valley Life ..... : . .. 35 Veterans Recall 1vVar Year:; . .. 37 Parishionors Ki��ed in War.. ................................................ 38 Home Front Aids War Effort...................... ........... ... ........... 39 Victory At Last.................................................... ........ 39 Father Looney's Death............................................... .. ...... 40 Father O'Donnell Becomes Pastor........................................ • • • • • • • .inI ,_ Father Egan is Assistant ............................................ .......... 40 Korean War Calls Parishioners ........................................ .......... 42 xi Coming of Labs ............................................................. 42 Father Hennessy Guides Parish ................................................. 42 Labs Bring New Parishioners ................................................... 44 Fall Festivals Ease Debt ....................................................... 46 Franciscans Help ........................................................... 46 School Enrollment Interviews................................................. 47 Father Clark,Assistant Pastor .................................................. 47 Changes in the 1960's ........................................................ 48 Father Hennessy Dies ........................................................ 48 Monsignor Adams Becomes Pastor .............................................. 48 Father Williams,Assistant Pastor ................................................ 51 St. Charles Parish F orrned.................................................... 51 Vatican II Changes Parish Life .................................................. 51 Church Music. Reflects... Vatican. II ............................................... 52 New Soc1a lA ct1V1t1es B egm................................................... 56 New BuildingsAdded to 1>arish................................................ 57 Youth Soccer Begins ......................................................... 57 Housing Boom Brings Parish Growth ............................................. 57 The Military and Vietnam.................................................... 58 Father Denis,Associate Pastor ................................................. 58 Our Present Associate Pastors ................................................. 59 The Centennial Year ......................................................... 59 Centennial Projects .......................................................... 61 Centennial Celebrations ....................................................... 62 Reflections on Our First Hundred Years .......................................... 63 The Parish Schools . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 67 St. Michael's School .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 69 Plans for Parish School .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 69 Dedication and Opening