Saint Michael Parish

458 Maple Street
Livermore, CA 94550
925-447-1585

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HOLY GHOST FESTIVALS

The traditional Portuguese celebration, the Holy Ghost Festival, was held in the summer of 1940, as it had been every year since 1907. Unknowingly though, it was being celebrated for one of the last times.

Madeline Henry (1978) recalls this colorful event:

"The Holy Ghost was sponsored by the I.D.E.S. It was a grand affair. We had a queen with her attendants. The beautiful crown, that is now in our St. Michael's Church in a lovely cabinet, thanks to the effort of Philamena Medeiros, Father Adams, and the I.D.E.S., was carried by the queen in the parade to the church for Mass on Sunday, usually Pentecost or Trinity Sunday." The crown was purchased in 1911; many of the local merchants donated toward its purchase.

"During the year, the crown was kept at the home of our neighbor, Mrs. Louisa Ferrera, on Chestnut Street. I can still see the room in which she kept it. It was like a little chapel with white linens, candles, and flowers. My, how she did polish that crown!" (Philamena Medieros had custody of the crown from 1946 to 1977.)

"On Saturday night before the Sunday parade, the Livermore Band would escort the queen with the crown and her attendants to the chapel at the Holy Ghost Grounds (as we called it in those days) on North Livermore Avenue." That property now belongs to the Order of Eagles Aerie 609. The chapel is still there. "After the crown was placed in the chapel there would be fireworks. The fire engine had to be close by, because there were hay fields across the street. Then the dance...everyone came...the ladies in their beautiful gowns, and the men in their suits. We would dance until we were ready to fall. If I remember correctly, the Jack Gardella Band was the first dance band to play. And then in the later years, it was the Mable Christensen Band. Mrs. Christensen was also our St. Michael's organist for many years."

"Sunday morning at 9:30, the parade from the chapel to St. Michael's with the queen and her attendants would begin.

An early I.D.E.S. Holy Ghost parade shown proceeding up First Street towards St. Michael's Church.

Then there were bands and drill teams from Livermore and from the surrounding towns. In 1929-30, St. Michael's had a girls drill team (I was in it). We wore our school uniform...a pleated wool navy-blue skirt and the white, long-sleeved blouse with the navy collar and cuffs. We marched in other local parades too! Mr. Fred Young Sr. was our instructor, and Madeline Bettencourt was our captain. What a year that was!" "There were all the beautiful flags and banners and the little children marching, all dressed in white; some were quite tired by the time we got to church to celebrate the Mass at 10:30. Sometimes we would have a Portuguese priest who would give a sermon in Portuguese. It was so beautiful; the older people would cry. It was a very religious celebration.

After Mass we would all march back to the Holy Ghost Grounds and all would be fed carne e sopas (meat and bread). The donated beef was cooked in large stainless steel pots. The meat would braise for hours in a flavorful sauce, then it would be served over French bread with fresh mint, and there always was sweet bread. In the afternoon there would be dancing and visiting with friends. There was also a carnival and an auction. It was a wonderful time." "When World War II came along, the parades had to be stopped because of the number of troops and equipment traveling through town on the state highway. But the festival was still celebrated at the Holy Ghost grounds. After the war, the parades were not resumed, and the property was sold to the Eagles in 1947."

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WORLD WAR II CHANGES VALLEY LIFE

The movement of troops and equipment profoundly affected our rural, small town. In the 1930's ranches still used 21-team horse drawn combine harvesters. John F, Regan recalls the beauty of the hills set afire during the burning of the rubble, and how East Avenue was a quiet two lane tree lined street. After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7 1941, the little city of Livermore, like much of the world, was forever changed. Within six months after war was declared, word came that Joseph Aurrecochea, a St. Michael's parishioner, had sold to the government his rich grain land bordered by East Avenue and Greenville Road. The government began building the Naval Air Training Station on that site. East Avenue soon became a bustling thoroughfare.

The war brought some 9,000 servicemen to the valley. Membership at St. Michael's soared to 1,584. Parishioner Manny Mello was on a destroyer in China when the attack on Pearl harbor took place. The Japanese attacked his ship and took him prisoner. Major General Joseph T. Smith was Livermore's highest-ranking officer in World War II. A native of Livermore and a graduate of Livermore High, he returned here after his retirement from the service in 1946. The older men and women took war jobs. They became airplane spotters, block wardens, and first aid and civil defense helpers.

One block warden recalls that when the sirens sounded, warning of a possible air raid, Father Looney would go with him on his rounds to detect any glimmer of light that escaped from a doorway or window. He hesitated to tell the pastor, "Put out that cigar!" though he felt that if a plane did come over, the gleam of that cigar would make them target one.

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FATHER LOONEY'S DEATH

After the war, Father Looney knew that Livermore would never again be the small town he had come to 25 years ago. Still he loved it and loved his people. When the Archbishop mentioned a transfer, Father Looney said, "I pray that god will take me before I see the day I have to leave St. Michael's" Nevertheless, he was advised that he was appointed Pastor of Holy Cross Parish in San Francisco as of January 2, 1946.

On the morning after Christmas in 1945, driving through to visit an ill parishioner, Father Looney was forced off the road at Edson Bridge, a mile west of Livermore, and struck a tree. He never had to leave Livermore; he died the next morning and was buried in St. Michael's Cemetery.

The Livermore Herald read: "With Archbishop John J. Mitty, D.D. presiding, final respects of the church and community were paid the late Reverend Edward M. Looney..."

John Michelis, who had become Chief of Police in 1942, sums him up: "They say he was strict. But the people respected him. I remember when he was buried, I was directing traffic and I thought the line would never stop. He was very firm in his ways...but we loved him."

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FATHER O'DONNELL BECOMES PASTOR

Father James O'Donnell succeeded Father Looney and was pastor at St. Michael's Church from January 1946 to January 1951. Father O'Donnell came here directly from service as an Army Chaplin. Father Patrick Egan served as his assistant. They were a great team.

Father O'Donnell is recalled as a fine priest with a pleasant, friendly way. He is credited with some major changes in the church and parish. He did away with "pew rent" and was the first to invite clergymen of other denominations to take part in Memorial Day services at St. Michael's Cemetery.

It was s during Father O'Donnell's tenure that the parish built the first two classrooms on the Fourth Street side of the school lot and built the Parish Hall at the corner of Third and Maple. He was often seen out there pushing a wheelbarrow.

Some 700 parishioners, officials, and friends from Livermore bade farewell to Father O'Donnell on January 16, 1951, as he departed to take up duties in a larger parish in San Carlos. Leo Callaghan, who was in charge of the farewell ceremonies, said, "Not only the parish, but the entire community feel a loss in the departure of Father O'Donnell."

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ASSISTANT PASTOR FATHER EGAN

Father Egan, a native of Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland, became assistant pastor in 1945. He unexpectedly died of a heart attack, stricken while saying Mass, June 1951. He worked hard on the St. Michael festival and took part in many public activities. He would take every opportunity to go over to the school at recess so he could play with the children. He is buried in St. Michael's Cemetery.

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KOREAN WAR CALLS PARISHIONERS

The Korean War of 1950 to 1953 brought more new people to Livermore as nearby bases were reactivated. Again St. Michael's members were called to service. One of those was George Serpa, the only California survivor of bloody Pork Chop Hill. One hundred ten men of King Company went up the hill, fewer than twenty came down. George (1978) still carries shrapnel in his body as a constant reminder. Parishioners William H. Armstrong and Tom Simonds also served in Korea.

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COMING OF THE LABS

In March 1950, San Francisco newspapers carried a story that signaled another change in the Livermore Valley. The Atomic Energy Commission, (later known as the Energy Research and Development Agency and then the Dept. Of Energy) was to construct a $30 million atom-smashing laboratory at the abandoned Naval Air Station that would employ 1000 people. In 1952, the University of California established the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory (LRL)...now know as the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory...at the same site. In 1956, Bell Telephone established Sandia Laboratories. In the 1950's the population of Livermore grew from 4,000 to 16,000 and by 1955, St. Michael's had more than 3,500 parishioners.

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FATHER HENNESSY GUIDES PARISH

The task of guiding St. Michael's through this rapid growth fell to Father William F. Hennessy. He was installed as St. Michael's pastor on January 25, 1951, succeeding Father O'Donnell. Father Hennessy was born in Listernane, County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1896.

In 1919, Father Hennessy and his brother Lawrence came to the U.S. They both immediately became ill with tuberculosis. The Archbishop of San Francisco arranged for them to recuperate at the home of personal friends of his who had a ranch near Oakdale.

These friends had lost their children to tuberculosis and found comfort in giving a home to the two Hennessy brothers until they became well. The brothers became like the children they had lost, and when the couple died, they left the ranch to the Hennessey's. They leased the land, and used the revenue to help pay for their relatives college education.

Father Hennessy is remembered as a real taskmaster who ran a tight ship and did not give an inch on Church rules. He was always impeccably dressed, and kept reminding his parishioners to guard their health and to keep things clean. He was considered rather stern by many and not much given to smiling. But people who knew him well remember his wit and good sense of humor. The high school students and youth of St. Michael's found Father Hennessy a kind, considerate person who was very interested in everything they did. He would often invite the students and friend to the ranch to spend the day. In 1958 he added six new classrooms to the school, behind the parish hall on the Third Street side, and also made plans to build a new convent.

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LABS BRING NEW PARISHIONERS

The influx of people permanently changed the valley landscape as fertile vineyards and farmlands were sold to developers to build new homes. Scientists, engineers and technicians came to Livermore from colleges, universities, and trade schools all over the country and paid $15,000 to $17,000 for the new homes. Many became new parishioners at St. Michael's. Joe Ammendolia moved here in 1951 from Illinois to work at the California Research & Development Agency (CR&D as the Lab was known in those days) and he tells the story..."I remember the priests.

We had just moved into our home on Rincon, and I was working in the garage on my hands and knees, trying to fix a gate. I saw a pair of black shoes, looked up, and there was Father Hennessy looking over one of his new parishioners. Another time, I heard a knock at the door at 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning. There was Reverend Mr. Mangini, a deacon at St. Michael's. He said: 'Your boy Phil invited me to come in and have Captain Crunch with him.' Phil got up, I went back to bed, and they ate Captain Crunch for breakfast." Ray and Irma Zimmer moved to Livermore from San Leandro after being very impressed by all they met at a turkey dinner they enjoyed at St. Michael's. George and Hayde Michael moved to Livermore in 1958, and were quite charmed by the beauty of the church and school and the anticipation of being part of a small town parish.

George reported at the time: "In order to properly savor the ambience of St. Michael's in the early 1950's, it will be helpful to mention a few things about Livermore. Generally, we found the residents to be not so much unfriendly as aloof. Newcomers were sort of resented and for many good reasons. By coming here, people were straining the limited resources of the area. The consequent congestion and increase in the costs were drains on those who were already here. The things that were attractive about the area were being destroyed by the very people who came seeking them. In general, newcomers weren't financially able to own land. Absentee landlords put up a lot of substandard housing, so the old things were being ruined and some people didn't like it. However, we are now an established part of the community. We have raised our family here...eight children. In March 1956 we lost a set of twin boys at birth. It was very traumatic for us. Father Simpson, assistant pastor at the time, visited us at the hospital, and Father Hennessy called on us at our home."

When George and Virginia Bing arrived in Livermore in 1954 from Cleveland Ohio, the population was around 8,500. Virginia recalls how important St. Michael's was to their becoming at home in a new place. "Everyone was so warm and friendly, the church was our first social contact. Margaret and Manus Brosnan who worked at the church were our first friends and "stand-in' godparents for our 'unexpected' twin boys." Herb DiGrazia, a chemist, started working at Livermore Berkeley Laboratory in 1951. In 1955, he transferred to Livermore and he and Barbara moved to a small duplex on East First Street. The duplex was one of three known as Sunny Acres. A year later the DiGrazia's bought their home on Scott Street. Soon, Herb was serving on the Men's Organization, the forerunner of the Parish Council. He became a lector and has been in that capacity ever since.

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FALL FESTIVALS EASE DEBT

Even before the labs opened, the parish physical plant was at its limits: The school was overcrowded; there was no meeting room for the large parish organizations. The parish wanted to build new facilities to provide more room, but how to finance the expansion? The parish decided to start an annual Fall Festival because it seemed to offer the best means of spreading the tremendous cost of building construction over the greatest number of people. William (Bill) J. Armstrong was chairman of all the festivals and a prime force behind them. He spoke of their success: "Once the idea got started, it really snowballed. Everyone wanted to help and, of course, the first Festival was such a success that others in the neighboring areas wanted Livermore's formula for such a marvelous response. Each year the Festival became more successful, reflecting the work of all the people who cooperated fully with one another."

Bill Armstrong used to drive the "Festival Train" into town from his place out in the Altamont. People used to run out and greet him. By the time he reached the church, he had a trainload of children. The train was a popular attraction for the children as it chugged around the grounds.

Over the years the Fall Festival raised sufficient funds to build the church hall at Maple and Third streets, to add eight classrooms, and to remodel the original school building.

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FRANCISCANS HELP

As St. Michael's parish grew in the late 50's and early 60's, Father Hennessy arranged for Franciscan priests to help the parish on weekends.

The Franciscan who made the most lasting impression was Father Bruno Hicks from Stockton, who would make the trip to Livermore on Saturdays and return on Sunday evenings. At first he traveled by bus, but it was not long before parishioners, captivated by his personal charm, were driving him back and forth.

Jack Wilson tells us father Bruno's "courses in spiritual growth and Christian living were among the best attended ever at St. Michael's. Through him many parishioners came to understand the needs of the spiritually poor nations of the world."

Father Bruno so endeared himself to these people that when the time came for him to accept a missionary assignment in the Philippines, they helped collect over 1200 Blue Chip stamp books to pay for a much needed Jeep to help Father Bruno in his work.

 

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SCHOOL ENROLLMENT INTERVIEWS

interviewed parents to determine if their children would attend St. Michael's school. Sometimes that interview would be traumatic. Ed Lafranchi remembers: "I didn't know Father Hennessy very well in those days. He had a reputation for being a stern taskmaster, and the stories going around about the grilling the parents got was unsettling. As it turned out, the stories were exaggerated. I found him to be a kind and gentle man. He asked a few questions and the interview was quickly over. Our son was admitted. Involvement of the parents in St. Michael's School was almost a requirement for entrance into the school for the children."

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CHANGES IN THE 1960'S

Under Father Hennessy's guidance, the parish successfully weathered the growing pains of the 1950's. The 1960's brought far-reaching changes of a different sort.

On January 13,1962 the Holy See established the Diocese of Oakland, and area of 1,467 square miles compromising the counties of Alameda and Contra Costa that formerly had been part of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The most Reverent Floyd Lawrence Begin, Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland, Ohio, was appointed the first Bishop of Oakland on February 21 and was officially installed on April 28. St. Michael's was part of this newly formed Diocese.

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FATHER HENNESSY DIES

In the fall of 1963, Father Hennessy became seriously ill. Some parishioners cite the tremendous work burden he had, but he was not one to complain or relent. He called a cab to take him to the hospital, never even telling his assistant of his plight. He died November 30, 1963, at the age of 67 after serving 12 years as pastor of St. Michael's. His brother, Father Lawrence Hennessy, celebrated the requiem Mass. Our former pastor is buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Eugene, California, near the ranch he and his brother inherited in Stanislaus County.

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MONSIGNOR ADAMS BECOMES PASTOR

Father Robert G. Adams succeeded Father Hennessy and was installed on January 12 1964. He was born October 4, 1919, in San Rafael, California. In 1945 he was ordained in St. Mary's Cathedral, San Francisco, by Archbishop John J. Mitty.

He was an associate pastor in San Francisco, Manteca, and Oakland. He was chaplain for Providence Hospital, Oakland, for many years; instructor at Providence College of Nursing; and a member of the faculty of the College of the Holy Names. He was a state licensed marriage, family, and child counselor. Occasionally he served as chaplain at the Veteran's Hospital in Livermore and had been a member of the Diocesan Board of Education.

Father Adams was, generous with his time to all his parishioners and deeply interested in administering to the spiritual needs of everyone in his parish. He has a good sense of humor and likes to kid people in a good-natured way. He greets people with a firm handshake. Father Adams gave responsibility to the laity. He was always for harmony and if a policy did not work, he was willing to change it. Father liked to keep himself in condition and loved hiking and golf. He liked being the parish handyman and was not hesitant about rolling up his sleeves to do repair work around the church property.

Jimmie Tejada recalls a funny incident that involved Father Adams. "Father really disliked the olive trees and wanted to cut them all down because the olives would drop and people would track them into the church on the new carpet. One day I was coming home from work and father Adams was out on Fourth Street sawing off all the limbs on the olive trees. I stopped my truck with a screech and yelled: 'What the heck are you doing? You want the parishioners of St. Michael's to tar and feather you and run you out of town?' Father just laughed and said he had to do something about those darn olives. So I immediately set to work getting someone to spray the trees so they wouldn't shed olives. The olive trees did grow back where Father had cut them, and it is now the standing joke. Never give Father Adams pruning shears or a saw, or he'll cut down everything in sight."

On Sunday, September 28, 1975, at Saint Francis de Sales Cathedral, Oakland, Father Adams was installed by Bishop Begin as an Honorary Prelate with the title of Reverend Monsignor. When Father heard the news of his appointment he was pleased because of the honor it gave his parish; however, he still prefers to be known as "Father".

Many parishioners feel that of all the priests they have known, Father Adams is the most charitable pastor they can remember. He never judges anyone. He is a remarkable example of a priestly person, who tries to apply the life of Christ to his everyday life.

 

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FATHER WILLIAMS, ASSISTANT PASTOR

From 1964 to 1968, Father Adams had as his assistant pastor Father John Williams. Ed LaFranchi tells: "Father Williams was probably one of the most practical priests St. Michael's ever had. He was ordained after he had 'kicked around life' for a while. He found it easy to mix with the people and laugh and have a good time. He understood them very, very well. He was probably not as outwardly 'holy' as some of the other priests, but in his own way he was a really, truly marvelous person." Father Williams left Livermore to become Pastor at Mission San Jose. He died in 1977.

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ST. CHARLES PARISH FORMED

Father Adams had many tasks facing him when he assumed his duties here. In the summer of 1964, by direction of the Diocese, St. Michael's helped to start a second parish in Livermore, St. Charles Borromeo. The second parish had become a necessity because it was "standing room only" at St. Michael's. There just wasn't enough time, facilities, or priests to take care of a parish that had grown to 8,000 people. The parishioners of St. Michael's made a contribution to help get the new parish started. Geographical boundaries were drawn to delineate the two parishes. St. Charles parish began with about 400 families and had its first Masses in the multipurpose room of Granada High School on Sunday, August 16, 1964.

In 1976 as part of the Nation's bicentennial celebration, the two parishes participated in the reenactment of the deAnza expedition's visit to the Livermore Valley in 1776. Father Dollard of St. Charles blessed a plaque at the corral Hollow campsite; Father Adams blessed another plaque at the Livermore Library grounds.

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VATICAN II CHANGES PARISH LIFE

Probably the biggest changes in the modern Catholic Church occurred in the early 1960's when the second Vatican Council under Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI examined and upgraded the life and practices of the Church. The goal of the Council's actions was the spiritual renewal of all church members. The changes were just beginning to be implemented at the parish level when Father Adams became pastor. So it was he and his assistant pastors who had the task of introducing and interpreting these changes.

Father Adams had served many years as a priest before Vatican II, and some of the mandated changes were as difficult for him to apply as they were for some of his congregation to accept. But he knew that when the Pope said to "open a window" he had to accept new ideas. Father Adams was one of the first pastors to start a Parish Council and Parochial School Board long before the Diocese required them. There were struggles, but he kept at them to succeed and it is to his credit that the laity is as involved in the parish as they really are.

The changes in the liturgy were the most visible signs of the new spirit because of Vatican II. The priest no longer said Mass in Latin with his back to the congregation; he said it in the vernacular facing the congregation. The people responded aloud to prayers that only the altar boys had formerly answered. Lay lectors began to read bible passages from the pulpit. Lay ministers could now distribute Communion. (Eucharist.) Petitions recited aloud and aligned to particular needs of the parish were a new way of praying in church. Priests began to emphasize the need for parishioners to develop a more social conscience, and to practice the catholic ethic in their everyday lives and relations.

Other changes brought about by Vatican II had been reflected in the music of the church. Seeing the need for a musical director, Father Adams appointed Pat Mueller to the new position in 1964. In 1962, Father Hennessy had asked her to become choir director when Mrs. Annette Burch, wife of Livermore's mayor, retired. Mrs. Burch had been the first choir director and recommended that Pat succeed her.

Pat first became interested in church music when Mabel (Sachau) Christensen convinced her to join the choir in the early 50's, shortly after Pat had married Erwin Mueller.

 Father Joseph Taranto is shown with Mike Wilcox and Mrs. Patricia Mueller. Father Taranto helped prepare new hymnals containing songs for folk Masses.

When Pat joined the choir, Mabel was the organist and choir director all rolled into one. They used to spend hours talking music at the Golden Rule Creamery, at Second and South I Streets.

"In those days", Pat recalls, "The choir was up in the choir loft. We had big cards for the Unison Mass. Father Hennessy had us sing it every Sunday. He was a very saintly, very devout man."

Some choir members can vividly recall Mabel rolling her eyes as Father Hennessy sang the first note of each Mass song. She knew it would be difficult for the choir to come in "on key" after that, for, as it was said, "Father Hennessey couldn't carry a tune in a bucket."

Pat continues, "After Vatican II, we started saying the Mass in English and didn't regularly sing the entire mass anymore. From then on we sang hymns...entrance, offertory...communion, and recessional. The choir no longer sang alone in the loft; we sang downstairs with the congregation. This was a difficult transition for both the choir and the congregation. The parishioners were shy about singing at first, and the choir had to learn new hymns and adopt to new conditions."

The new music required a new type of choir. Sister Patricia Bruno, head of the music program in the school, helped Pat with the choir. Pat had to recruit and teach musicians.

One problem was having a different lector at every Mass. That meant different voices and different tempos. Andrea Fontaine responded to an ad in the bulletin, and Pat appointed her the first song leader.

New hymnals were needed. Father Joseph Taranto, assistant pastor from 1967 to 1970, was anxious to implement the changes in Vatican II, especially those that would provide greater lay participation in the Mass. He saw the Masses with folk music as a way of encouraging such participation and did most of the preparation of the new hymnal. Although some people were initially opposed to folk Masses, eventually they were a success.

The St. Michael Choir was so good, Pete Kachel a member of the parish, prodded Pat into making a recording. Assisted by the Liturgical Chairman, Herb DiGrazia, Pete made all the arrangements with the recording studio and the first recording of the group, "Sounds of St. Michael," was released in December 1976.

Loree Cornwell reminisces about Gertrude Foxworthy. "During the early 1940's the St. Michael's Choir was similar to our local fire department...all volunteers, except for our organist, manager, director and friend...Mrs. Bill Foxworthy. "Gertie" as she was lovingly called, never missed a performance despite a hectic life as the mother of six children. I always felt a special tribute should be paid to Gertie's family for their untiring faith and devotion to the St. Michael's Choir. Gertie played for all the Masses, funerals, weddings, and holy days. The organ was manually pumped and it took strength as well as musical talent to play it.

"I don't recall any male members in the choir, maybe others can. I do remember Matie Clark, Estelle Volponi, and Elizabeth Roberts. They were our stars."

Loree Cornwell also recounts the need for a new organ. When Father Taranto requested donations for a new organ in the Sunday bulletin, Rose Connolly quickly fulfilled his request. She donated a new organ in memory of her parents, Patrick and Margaret Connolly and family. Rose died shortly thereafter, but lived long enough to hear the dedication recital played by father John H. Oliver, a Sulpician Priest who came to St. Michael's especially for the occasion.

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NEW SOCIAL ACTIVITIES BEGIN

Shortly after Father Adams came, some new parish activities began. A social in the form of a parish picnic was organized. The first picnic was at Mission San Jose in honor of Father Adams first year in the parish. After that, it was moved to the Alameda county Fairgrounds where it has been ever since.

There were other events over the next two decades. The "St. Michael's Players" put on the show "Miss UnAmerican Girl Contest", directed by Bill Hayden. Others in the cast were Tom Silvey, Virginia Gregory, Jerry Fahnhorst, Howard Bettencourt, Ed Lafranchi, Francisco (Nio) Alemania, Carl Schweickert, Ken Hansen, and Al Garcia. The music man, who put the whole thing together, was Dick Rufer. Howard Webb did a terrific job as Miss UnAmerica for 1966.

The next year Tom Silvey and Bill Hayden put on "The Dr. Faker Medicine Show". Tony Kliss built a medicine wagon, and Jim Fallon and Ray Fagundes helped with the stage lighting. Barbara DiPaoli, Barbara DiGrazia, Joan Turpin, Geraldine Coots, Emily Fagundes, and Vi Silva did a Can-Can that can only be described as "professional". Also in the cast were Keith Fraser, Madeleine Silvey, Bob Kaifer, Pat Pereira, Jay Jost, Bonnie Avila, Nio and Sophia Alemania, Jerry Fahnhorst and Ken Hansen. Parish spirit was beginning to form just as Father Adams had hoped it would.

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NEW BUILDINGS ADDED TO PARISH

In 1966, the parish added two classrooms to the school complex, built a new convent, and remodeled the original school building to serve as the Parish Education Center.

In 1968, the church was remodeled at the cost of $265,000 plus $10,000 for furnishings. It is impossible to put a value on the labor and materials that were donated by the parishioners. During the remodeling, Masses were held in the schoolyard under a cover of tents and parachutes. The old pews from the church were placed in the schoolyard. The altar was portable and placed in front of the seventh grade classroom. The wind billowed the 'chutes during Mass so that one minute it was like a cathedral and the next the 'chutes were down on the heads of the people, but the parishioners loved the outdoor Masses.

The old pews were donated to a parish in Angles Camp. Manny Mello, a member of the Knights of Columbus, recalls loading the pews into a van to take them to Angles Camp. He started at 5:00 a.m. in order to get back in time to go to a dance the Knights were having in the evening of the same day.

The debts incurred in this remodeling and the building of the new convent in 1966 were in excess of $400,000, but by December 1977 this debt was paid.

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YOUTH SOCCER BEGINS

In the spring of 1966, the Youth minister for St. Michael's, John Martin, received a letter about a youth soccer program from the Pleasanton Recreation Department. He contacted Al Payne, who, along with Ken Gels and Steve Heffernan, decided to start a soccer program in Livermore.

St. Michael's Parish Council provided financial support and facilities for meetings and in doing so was a major factor in soccer becoming so popular in this valley.

In 1970, with the help of Marty Edwards, Leo Meisner, Ken Mitchell, Ilidio Pereira and others, 16 teams were playing soccer. Soccer continued to grow, and got to 30 teams by 1975.

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HOUSING BOOM BRINGS PARISH GROWTH

The late 1960's and early 1970's were years of rapid population growth in Livermore as builders erected new houses in every corner of the city. Unlike those who came in the 1950's, many of these people did not work at one of the Labs. Instead they commuted to jobs outside the valley or found employment within the valley.

Ilidio Pereira came to this country in 1969 when he married his American wife Cedalia. He remembers, "I love this country and became a citizen of the United States of America in January 1976. I have been a member of St. Michael's since that time. I am very thankful to God for the concerned and helpful people I have met in this parish, and I intend to stay here for many years."

Randall Schlientz, his wife Brenda, and their three sons David, Ian, and Mark came here in 1968. Margaret Lanfri, a district chairman, brought them information about St. Michael's. They were looking for C.C.D. teachers, so he volunteered to teach seventh grade during 1970-71.

"We attended a parish dinner in the hall, after Al Lewis phoned and invited us. That was the beginning of my involvement with the council.

I became chairman for District 9 and began to assist Al on the Parish Council. In 1976 I succeeded Ed Lafranchi as head of the council. It is hard to say 'no' to Father Adams. I started to learn the frustrations of being a pastor."

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FATHER DENIS, ASSOCIATE PASTOR

Father Denis Araujo, Ph.D., served as associate pastor at St. Michael's from 1974 to 1977, when Bishop Begin appointed him pastor of St. John's the Baptist Church in El Cerrito. Father Denis was very outgoing; everyone liked him. His trademark was a big, friendly smile and "have a happy day." From the pulpit he delivered very articulate sermons.

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OTHER ASSOCIATE PASTORS

Monsignor Robert J. Quinn was one of the associate pastors at St. Michael's as well as chaplain at the Livermore Veteran's Administration Hospital. He was an outspoken critic of any form of medical practice against the aged, the mentally ill, the unborn, and the sick. He especially enjoyed ministering to the sick. He visited those in hospitals, in rest homes, or prisons. He often said Mass in private homes for those who cannot attend Mass in church.

He did not worry about politics, and what side is the popular side. With him, the right side was the only side and he often exhorted the congregation to take personal responsibility for the social injustices in the world. Father Edward Bratton came to St. Michael's in 1977. He was ordained in 1947 and was assigned to Africa where he served for 14 years. He then went to Hawaii for 12 years. Then in 1973 he came to Oakland and served at St. Joseph's and St. Leander's before coming to St. Michael's.

Father Bratton was cut from the same cloth as Fathers Power, Looney and Hennessy. When people come in late for Mass, he did not ignore the commotion or allow them to become "invisible". One time he said, "I certainly wish you people who are late would make a greater effort to come to Mass on time, especially when you come to the last Mass!"

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THE CENTENNIAL YEAR AND CELEBRATIONS

On Sunday April 16, 1978 twins Sister Francis Raphael and Sister Ursula were honored with a special Mass. A new stained glass window bearing the Dominican Shield was installed in the church commemorating their 50 years of service. The last few of their teaching years was spent at St. Michael's.

As the major commemorative project, St. Michael's Cemetery on East Avenue received an extensive beautification treatment, including a new fence and gate constructed of masonry and wrought iron, the planting of parallel rows of Italian Cypress beside the central access road, and the renewal of the frontage road.

In the garden courtyard, outdoor stations of the cross were erected, a Cactus Garden, designed by Jimmie Tejada, was planted, a Grotto of our lady of Guadalupe was constructed, and a new sign was installed in front of the church. A time capsule was to be buried near the outdoor stations.

This book was written as a special Centennial project.

The Centennial Celebration opened with a liturgical event that set the tone for the year of celebrations. Bishop John Steven Cummins administered the Sacrament of Confirmation on March 14. (Bishop Cummins succeeded Bishop Floyd Begin, who died in April 1977. Bishop Cummin's sister, Mrs. Mary C. McCarthy was one of St. Michael's parishioners.) On September 24,1978 Bishop Cummins returned for the official Centennial Celebration and preside at the Centennial Mass. George Kramer Jr., a very talented music student and parishioner, wrote the Mass the St. Michael's Choir sang that day.

(The following was written in 1978.)

On August 24, 1978, our official birthday, a special liturgy and party are planned for all those who participated on Centennial committees. The parish picnic in September will be one of the last Centennial events. The Centennial Celebrations will close officially with a parish open house for the community on October 1, 1978.

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REFLECTIONS ON OUR FIRST HUNDRED YEARS

By Monsignor Robert G. Adams, Pastor (1978)

A hundred years later, St. Michael's parish is far different in structure and practices than the parish of 1878.

The differences cannot be explained merely on the numbers of families...over 2500 families presently, compared to less than a hundred in 1878. Rather, we of this era are quite direct recipients of the results of the now famous Council of the Catholic Church, Vatican II, called by the late Pope John XXIII and concluded under our present Holy Father, Pope Paul VI. The Council opened officially October 11,1962, and ended officially December 8, 1965. A relatively short period, but the effects of the Council have been far reaching, down to the very depths of parish life.

We have witnessed and experienced many changes in our Liturgy and Mass. Active participation by the people (laity) has come to stay, even though there have been mistakes and experimentation. The Bible is more and more becoming the book by which Catholics live. Ecumenism has become something official, and our relations with Protestants, Jews, and all other people of good will have changed for the better.

One very important innovation in recent years is the establishment of parish councils, with laity of the parish working together with the priests and the religious in the administration of a parish. As the Decree of the Apostolate of the Laity states: "The laity should accustom themselves to working in the church in union with their priests, bringing to the Church Community their own and the world's problems as well as questions concerning human salvation, all of which they should examine and resolve by deliberating in common. As far as possible the laity ought to provide helpful collaboration for every apostolic and missionary undertaking, sponsored by their local parish."

Lay leadership is also being seen in the formation of school boards within the parishes themselves. Women, too, are being offered more leadership and responsibility. Education at all levels is more evident today from the Confraternity of Catholic Doctrine (C.C.D.) schools for public school children, to adult classes in religious education.

In many ways, therefore, the Clergy have had to re-assess their work and methods. For the sake of their "survival" they have had to become more open to the ideas and demands of others, have had to make changes in their style of life and administration, and have had to see laity assuming some of their "ancient" tasks. Today the parish is talked about in terms of "community," "ministry," "service," and "family."

And in recent years, we have seen so many movements in the Church, such as Marriage encounter programs, various prayer groups, Bible study groups, and charisma tics. However many examples we might state, the point is this: the structure of today's parish is so different from the idea of a parish 100 years ago.

If this is so obvious, why do we even bother to mention it? Change is nothing new. The reason for mentioning it is that although the structure may change, the spiritual foundation of a parish must always be the people, the bricks and timbers, who make up the core groups of the parish. That feature has not changed, and that is a feature on which the future of the parish depends.

One hundred years ago our parish began officially and started to grow because of the faith and hope and charity of a relatively few number. On their faith was built a parish. It would not have been if there had not been this faith.

Down through the years success in the parish must be attributed to the great faith and loyalty of just such core groups.

And today, in the midst of so many changes, in the midst of some uncertainty about the future of parish direction, in the midst of clergy shortage, and the great need for laity involvement, it will again be the faith, hope, and charity in the core groups within a parish that will spell success and survival and perseverance.

What God began 100 years ago, He will continue, for "Unless the Lord builds the house, they will labor in vain who build."

Maybe this too, is another way of saying that today's parish must not forget it's spiritual roots and must keep spiritual renewal as a continuing priority. Thus, today's parish is just as missionary as it was 100 years ago.

Then, a small structure on a strong spiritual foundation! Today, a large structure...but may it's spiritual foundation become even stronger.

 

St. Michael's Catholic Church, built in 1918, as it looks in the Centennial year of our parish, 1978

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