OUR HISTORY
The Church of the Beatitudes of Our Lord Parish became a reality on June 15th 1964.
The name itself was unusual. Cardinal McIntyre, then Archbishop of Los Angeles, had just returned from the Second Vatican Council. While in Rome he prayed daily at the Church of the Beatitudes. He decided that the first new parish to be established after his return would be named for the Beatitudes.
Reverend Msgr. Matthew Marron, administrator of St. Bridget's Parish in Los Angeles, was named pastor and assigned the task of building the new parish.
About 800 families from St. Paul of the Cross Church in La
Mirada, St. Gregory the Great Church in Whittier, St. Bruno Church in Whittier
and Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Habra became the foundation of the new
parish.
Beginning on July 5, 1964, Mass was celebrated at Kling Elementary School and
continued there through September of that year. From September of 1964 to
1966, Mass was celebrated at the Benton Middle School. Father Marron
resided in a home close to the parish site that was a part of early La Mirada
development. Daily Mass, Baptisms, and Confessions were held in that
house. Christmas Masses were held in the La Mirada Theatre.
The first church property was located on Imperial Highway but was traded for the present location. The young parish quickly grew. A parish hall to be used as the temporary church, a school and a convent were completed in September of 1966.
Four Bernardine Franciscan Sisters and five lay teachers became the cornerstone of the school. In addition the Religious Education Program. (formerly known as CCD or Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) offered religious formation to many young families moving to La Mirada.
Over the years Father Marron continued to oversee the
spiritual and temporal needs of the parish.
In the spring of 1989, it was announced that a new permanent church would be
built on the vacant portion of the Parish property, on the corner of Santa Gertrudes Avenue and Olive Branch Drive.
As the 25th Anniversary of our community approached, Father James Williams arrived as the parish administrator. Monsignor Marron, now in failing health, remained in residence as Pastor Emeritus. He did live to see the new church become a reality; though he died in May of 1992.
The first Mass in the new church seating 750 people was celebrated on December 24, 1991 and was dedicated by Cardinal Mahony on November 21, 1992.
Father Tony Page was appointed as Administrator in the winter of 1998 after
Father James Williams was reassigned to St. Ambrose Parish in West
Hollywood. Sadly, Fr. Jim Williams passed away on September 6, 1999.
Father Page was appointed Pastor on July 1, 1998 and served until June 30, 2019.
On July 1, 2019, Archbishop Jose Gomez appointed Father Ed Dover as our current Pastor.
Many priests have assisted at the Church of the Beatitudes, but none served
longer than Fr. Frank Shigo. Father Frank Shigo passed away on September
29, 2007. Other associates, priests in residence and regular presiders at
our Sunday Liturgies included: Fr. Richard DeLahunty, Msgr. Pete Amy, Fr.
Desmond Colleran, Fr. John Daley, Fr. Dennis Vellucci, Fr. Al Conners, Fr. Mike
Smith, Fr. Mac Gonzales, Fr. Mike O'Shea, Fr. Bede Wevita, Fr. David Loftus,
Fr. Emile Belletty, Fr. Joseph Visperas, Fr. Wharren Banico, Fr. Jimmy Nieblas
and Fr. John Galvan, S.J. We are grateful for all of their service and we
keep them in our prayers.
You are all asked to pray for an increase in vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life.