Founded: May 1886
Location: 311 N. Raymond Avenue, Pasadena
San Gabriel Region: Deanery 10

In the year 1886 the first electric lights illuminated the main streets in Los Angeles and a general building boom increased the city population to more than 18,000.

To the northeast, the city of Pasadena celebrated its first Tournament of Roses on January 1. Eight days later, a young Irish priest, Father Patrick Harnett from St. Vibiana Cathedral, celebrated the first Mass in the city once known by its Indian name as "Crown of the Valley." The land now famous for the Rose Bowl, Jet Propulsion Lab and Caltech, was originally occupied by the Hahamongna tribe of Indians, and under Spanish settlers became Rancho San Pasqual and, later, the California Colony of Indiana.

Only through a petition from a small committee to Bishop Francis Mora was Father Harnett assigned to serve some 400 Catholics in the area. Before that they had to travel to San Gabriel Mission, La Placita or St. Vibiana. That first Mass, celebrated in a hotel on Fair Oaks and Colorado Streets, inaugurated what would become the historic Catholic presence in the new city of Pasadena, incorporated the same year as the establishment of St. Andrew Church.

A plain frame building erected on the corner of Pasadena Avenue and Bellefontaine became the first site for the church. The first resident pastor was Ireland-born Father Andrew Cullen, appointed in 1888 and died two years later. However, according to tradition, it was Father Cullen who requested the bishop to put the parish under the protection of his patron saint --- Andrew, one of the first apostles of Christ. At the time no other parish in the state bore this title.

Father Cornelius Scannell, the second Irish pastor, had previously worked among the Indians in the San Joaquin Valley, then headed San Gabriel Mission before his appointment in 1890 to the Pasadena parish. During his six-year tenure he brought the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary to give religious instruction at Sunday school, the start of their educational tradition at St. Andrew that continues today. In 1895 they drove to Pasadena from Ramona Convent in Alhambra by horse and buggy. One of their early pupils was Thomas Gorman who became the first bishop of Reno, Nevada.

The third pastor, Father Patrick Farrelly who was also from Ireland, rented a house to use as a school and the Sisters opened it for 25 students in 1897. Next, he was able to build a new permanent brick church at Fair Oaks and Walnut, dedicated in 1899. In ill health, he retired in 1909 and died that year in Ireland. His successor, Father William Quinlan continued the educational growth of the parish by establishing Holy Names Academy and a parochial school. Also from Ireland, Father Quinlan served as a member of the diocesan school board, the board of consultors and developed several parish societies. Among them the Knights of Columbus thrived under the direction of the famous lawyer, Joseph Scott. For nine years the civic-minded pastor headed the parish, but died suddenly in 1918.

During the severe influenza epidemic of that year, the fifth pastor arrived --- Msgr. John McCarthy. Although born in New York, like his predecessors, he was ordained in Ireland. He was one of the state's first priests to be named monsignor and was known as the "adobe priest" for his love of the Mexican people. For 26 years the distinguished church leader shepherded the parish, opened a new high school and in 1927 built the present outstanding edifice in the third location for St. Andrew's at Raymond and Chestnut Streets.

This remarkable building is modeled after the Basilica of St. Sabina in Rome, one of the earliest Christian styles of architecture. St. Sabina's was dedicated in 432 and St. Andrew's follows the plan, design and general proportions of the original. The interior of the church is noted for the richness of its decorations, the use of unusual marble throughout and the paintings of the Stations of the Cross above the side columns. The first Mass was celebrated in the new church May 27, 1928 at which Bishop John Cantwell said this is "the pride of the diocese and a worthy replica of the ancient church on the banks of the Tiber."

In February 1944, Msgr. McCarthy was the first priest to be named "Pastor Emeritus" when his successor was named --- Bishop Joseph McGucken, the first native son to be raised to the episcopacy. Msgr. McCarthy died in 1951 at age 87, having served more than 60 years in the priesthood.

For 11 years Bishop McGucken served at St. Andrew and was also chancellor of the archdiocese until his appointment as Bishop of Sacramento (and, later, archbishop of San Francisco where he built the new St. Mary's Cathedral). He died in 1983, at age 81.

Following the Irish tradition in pastors, Msgr. James Hourihan was appointed in 1955 after serving as the first pastor of St. Luke, in Temple City. He served as assistant at the parish in his first position in the archdiocese and as pastor for 27 years. Msgr. Hourihan, a special friend and confidant of Cardinal Timothy Manning, was noted for his service to the sick and bedridden. In 1986, St. Andrew's centennial year, he published a 224-page parish history. He died in 1997 at age 90.

Father Tobias English, born in Ireland, was appointed the eighth pastor in 1982. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and came as associate to the parish in 1977. Named a monsignor in 1984, he contributed throughout his pastorate to the growth of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Chamber of Commerce and the Pasadena Depot for the Homeless. He retired in 1999 as pastor emeritus.

A former teacher of moral theology for 10 years at St. John's Seminary is the current pastor of St. Andrew, Father Francis Colborn. A native Californian, born in Berkeley, Father Colborn was ordained in Rome and received his STD degree in 1969. He previously served as pastor of St. Alphonsus and Holy Name of Jesus (L.A.), as chaplain at Claremont Colleges, and has taught and written on social justice issues.

A man called to many areas of discipleship in his ministry --- like St. Andrew himself.

---Hermine Lees