| First Church Erected in West Sacramento Area |
Old time residents recall a small wooden Church standing on
lower Jefferson Boulevard and Davis (Gregory) Road, which is
now the site of a fire station. The erection of this first Church
(unfortunately the name is not known) is credited to the efforts of
the late Father Michael Wallrath, then Pastor of Holy Rosary
Church, in Woodland. This little Church was the third of two
similar Churches he had constructed in East Yolo County. Father
Wallrath was referred to a "A builder of Churches," having built
many Churches in the Sacramento Diocese. Father Wallrath was
74 years old when he built the Broderick Church, and 75 years old
when both the Bryte and West Sacramento Churches were
constructed. Following Father Wallrath to this area were the late
Monsignor Cornelius Murphy and Monsignor Michael Lyons, then
both Assistant priests in Woodland.
From "Pages Out of the Past," which the Yolo Independent
reproduced from its files, we read from a December 13, 1918
article that Father John Ellis, by appointment of the Right
Reverend Bishop Grace, took charge of the Catholic Churches in
the Washington District, on or after the second Sunday in
January. Father Ellis stated his intention at that time to celebrate
mass every Sunday in Washington (now Broderick), and every
other Sunday in Riverbank (now Bryte), or West Sacramento,
alternately. The little wooden Church in West Sacramento had its
turn for Mass about every fifth Sunday.
lower Jefferson Boulevard and Davis (Gregory) Road, which is
now the site of a fire station. The erection of this first Church
(unfortunately the name is not known) is credited to the efforts of
the late Father Michael Wallrath, then Pastor of Holy Rosary
Church, in Woodland. This little Church was the third of two
similar Churches he had constructed in East Yolo County. Father
Wallrath was referred to a "A builder of Churches," having built
many Churches in the Sacramento Diocese. Father Wallrath was
74 years old when he built the Broderick Church, and 75 years old
when both the Bryte and West Sacramento Churches were
constructed. Following Father Wallrath to this area were the late
Monsignor Cornelius Murphy and Monsignor Michael Lyons, then
both Assistant priests in Woodland.
From "Pages Out of the Past," which the Yolo Independent
reproduced from its files, we read from a December 13, 1918
article that Father John Ellis, by appointment of the Right
Reverend Bishop Grace, took charge of the Catholic Churches in
the Washington District, on or after the second Sunday in
January. Father Ellis stated his intention at that time to celebrate
mass every Sunday in Washington (now Broderick), and every
other Sunday in Riverbank (now Bryte), or West Sacramento,
alternately. The little wooden Church in West Sacramento had its
turn for Mass about every fifth Sunday.
According to historical background, "The parishioners of Our
Lady of Grace were grateful to the Parella Family, who in their
generosity granted the deeds to three lots on the corner of
Jefferson and Park Boulevard to the Bishop of Sacramento and
his successors. These lots were given for the consideration of one
dollar ($1.00), which was paid to the Parella Family by the
Bishop. However, these lands were designated on the
consideration that the Bishop agreed within five (5) years to erect
a Church for religious worship of the Roman Catholic Faith.
After the demolition of the Mission Church on Jefferson
Boulevard and Gregory road, an Army Chapel from Camp
Bealfin, Marysville, was broken down in sections and transported
to the site of the present Church on Park Boulevard and the
corner of Jefferson Boulevard, for the sum of one dollar ($1.00).
Our Lady of Grace Church was then designed by Architect,
Vincent Buckley of San Francisco. The planning was begun in
Spring, 1944 and completed in June, 1948 under the direction of
the late Reverend James O'Shea, then Pastor of the Broderick,
Bryte, West Sacramento Parish. The Mother Church, at the time
was Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, located at Third and E.
Streets in Broderick. After Our Lady of Grace Church was
completed, it was made the Parish Church, with the churches in
Broderick and Bryte serving as Mission Churches. Our Lady of
Grace then served the communities of West Sacramento, Bryte
and Broderick.
With the completion of the Church, the dedication took place
on October 21, 1948, with a solemn High Mass at 11:00 a.m.,
celebrated by Bishop Robert J. Armstrong and assisted by the
Pastor, Reverend James O'Shea and his assistant, Reverend
Thomas Relihan. The acolytes of the Mass were Everett Mower,
Albert Armijo, Louis Marquez, and Gary Monez.
In November 1953 the Parish was divided with Broderick and
Bryte being separated from the West Sacramento area and Our
Lady of Grace Parish becoming a separated unity. Reverend
Father James O'Shea was the first Pastor of Our Lady of Grace
Church. Father O'Shea was born in Killarney, County Kerry,
Ireland, and educated for the priesthood at All Hallow College,
Dublin. In 1955, the late Bishop Armstrong granted permission to
Father O'Shea to build a Rectory on the property adjacent to the
Church. In November 1957 a Parish Council was formed in Our
Lady of Grace Parish. Mrs. Edward Lammerding was the first
president.
Realizing the need for a Catholic School for the number of
children in the area, Monsignor Markham visited the Provincial
House of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit in Putnam, Connecticut,
and invited them to staff an elementary school in Our Lady of
Grace Parish. Joyfully, the Sisters accepted this responsibility and
left the East Coast for the West Coast. Before the arrival of the
Sisters, Our Lady of Grace School and Convent were constructed
on the Linden Road under the direction of Monsignor Markham.
Lady of Grace were grateful to the Parella Family, who in their
generosity granted the deeds to three lots on the corner of
Jefferson and Park Boulevard to the Bishop of Sacramento and
his successors. These lots were given for the consideration of one
dollar ($1.00), which was paid to the Parella Family by the
Bishop. However, these lands were designated on the
consideration that the Bishop agreed within five (5) years to erect
a Church for religious worship of the Roman Catholic Faith.
After the demolition of the Mission Church on Jefferson
Boulevard and Gregory road, an Army Chapel from Camp
Bealfin, Marysville, was broken down in sections and transported
to the site of the present Church on Park Boulevard and the
corner of Jefferson Boulevard, for the sum of one dollar ($1.00).
Our Lady of Grace Church was then designed by Architect,
Vincent Buckley of San Francisco. The planning was begun in
Spring, 1944 and completed in June, 1948 under the direction of
the late Reverend James O'Shea, then Pastor of the Broderick,
Bryte, West Sacramento Parish. The Mother Church, at the time
was Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, located at Third and E.
Streets in Broderick. After Our Lady of Grace Church was
completed, it was made the Parish Church, with the churches in
Broderick and Bryte serving as Mission Churches. Our Lady of
Grace then served the communities of West Sacramento, Bryte
and Broderick.
With the completion of the Church, the dedication took place
on October 21, 1948, with a solemn High Mass at 11:00 a.m.,
celebrated by Bishop Robert J. Armstrong and assisted by the
Pastor, Reverend James O'Shea and his assistant, Reverend
Thomas Relihan. The acolytes of the Mass were Everett Mower,
Albert Armijo, Louis Marquez, and Gary Monez.
In November 1953 the Parish was divided with Broderick and
Bryte being separated from the West Sacramento area and Our
Lady of Grace Parish becoming a separated unity. Reverend
Father James O'Shea was the first Pastor of Our Lady of Grace
Church. Father O'Shea was born in Killarney, County Kerry,
Ireland, and educated for the priesthood at All Hallow College,
Dublin. In 1955, the late Bishop Armstrong granted permission to
Father O'Shea to build a Rectory on the property adjacent to the
Church. In November 1957 a Parish Council was formed in Our
Lady of Grace Parish. Mrs. Edward Lammerding was the first
president.
Realizing the need for a Catholic School for the number of
children in the area, Monsignor Markham visited the Provincial
House of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit in Putnam, Connecticut,
and invited them to staff an elementary school in Our Lady of
Grace Parish. Joyfully, the Sisters accepted this responsibility and
left the East Coast for the West Coast. Before the arrival of the
Sisters, Our Lady of Grace School and Convent were constructed
on the Linden Road under the direction of Monsignor Markham.
| Our Lady Of Grace Parish |
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Our Lady of Grace
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| 911 Park Blvd. West Sacramento, CA 95691 (916) 371-4814 Fax: (916) 371-4816 |
