One of the archdiocese's busiest parishes will celebrate its service and ministry to the northeast San Fernando Valley June 27, when Mary Immaculate Church in Pacoima will host a 50th anniversary Mass at 3 p.m. with Cardinal Roger Mahony presiding.

Well over 5,000 families are registered at the parish, which celebrates 10 Masses from Saturday evening to Sunday evening, primarily in Spanish. Mary Immaculate has been administered by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who also serve nearby St. Ferdinand Church and Santa Rosa Church in San Fernando.

Mary Immaculate Church was established in April 1954 (from territory that had been part of St. Ferdinand's), with its first Mass celebrated at the Moose Club near Laurel Canyon and Van Nuys Boulevards. The first pastor was Oblates of Mary Immaculate Father Harold Conley, a former missioner and wartime chaplain.

The next three Easter Sundays marked, in order, the celebration of Mass in more "comfortable" quarters (the Panorama Theater, 1955); formal groundbreaking ceremonies for the parish school and church-auditorium (1956); and the first Mass in the new church-auditorium (1957). Auxiliary Bishop Timothy Manning blessed the facilities in May 1957.

In 1994, the Northridge Earthquake severely damaged the church and school, causing the parish to hold Mass and classes in temporary bungalows and "bubble" tents. A reconstructed and renovated church was completed and dedicated in January 1998, and the new school reopened soon after.