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474 <br /> <br />A SHORT HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH'S PARISH - SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA <br /> <br />The Catholic faith first came to what is now Orange County with <br />the establishment of Mission San Juan Capistrano on November 1, <br />1776. The first parish established in the county was Saint <br />Boniface, Anaheim, in I860. <br /> <br />In 1869 a new town was founded to the south of Anaheim; Santa <br />Aha. Because of its location, Santa Ana, from her earliest <br />years, was destined to become "the city" of the area. <br /> <br />Among the new settlers were a number of Catholics, who desired <br />to have a church of their own. In 1887 the new church of Our <br />Lady of the Rosary was built and dedicated. Fathers Robert <br />Byrne, Patrick Grogan and Riedhaar were named as the first <br />pastors, but since the Santa Aha Church still had only the <br />status of a mission and not a parish, they acted as <br />administrators. One Sunday afternoon in 1896, the little church <br />was completely destroyed by fire. The congregation, although <br />not very large in numbers, set about rebuilding with the <br />encouragement of Bishop Montgomery. The new church was <br />dedicated in 1896 by Bishop Montgomery (his first dedication in <br />his new diocese) under the patronage of Saint Joseph. Both the <br />old and the new church had been located on the corner of Lacy <br />and Stafford Streets (Civic Center Drive East), now occupied by <br />the parish school. <br /> <br />On property adjoining the church there was a small house which <br />was used as the first school with two lay teachers and only four <br />grades. It appears that this first school was on Stafford <br />Street, roughly between the school and convent of today. In <br />1916 a new school was erected. It too was located next to the <br />church on Lacy Street. The Sisters of Saint Joseph of Eureka <br />were invited to teach, and the same community has continued to <br />staff the school, although they are now the Sisters of Saint <br />Joseph of Orange. The playground was enlarged by the purchase <br />of more property and a residence was acquired as a rectory. <br />This house was used as a rectory up until December, 1947. It is <br />currently used as a residence by the parish custodian and his <br />family. <br /> <br />In 1929, under Father Wekerman, a new convent was built on the <br />corner of Stafford and Garfield next door to the rectory. <br /> <br />During this time property was acquired for a new church and <br />plans were drawn up; or at least an artist's conception. <br />However, it was felt that the proposed chruch was a bit too <br />pretentious for the size of the parish and the plan was <br />abandoned. <br /> <br />Exhibit B <br /> <br /> <br />