Parishioners from St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Santa Maria celebrated the 100th anniversary of their parish Aug. 20 with Santa Barbara Region Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry, pastor Father Riz Carranza and associate pastor Father Tom Cook. Their theme for the celebration was Gather Your People, and gather they did.

For the 1,200 member parish that gave birth to two other local parishes, St. Louis de Montfort and St. John Neumann, many memories were evoked and shared.

"I've always loved St. Mary's - the community and atmosphere," said Mickey Pardo, 70, a parishioner from birth. "It's my family. It's my home." He and his wife Teresa were married in the church and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in the parish. He serves as a Eucharistic minister and she as a lector, and both were on the centennial planning committee. They also have seen their children and grandchildren get involved in the parish.

Teresa described the parish as "a faith building community. We come here to praise God and to see God present here in this church."

Father Carranza said he was pleased to be pastor of the parish as it marked 100 years of community.

"The parishioners and I are very fortunate to be living in this time and moment to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Father Carranza. "I am certainly grateful for the love and dedication of the pastors before me. I am honored to join the ranks to keep this community spiritually alive and growing to serve the needs of the people of God."

Bishop Curry encouraged parishioners to reflect on how they will pass on the gift of faith to the next generation.

"We are inheritors of a great tradition," said the bishop. "Take courage. You have the faith and grace of God within you. We will be able to pass on the faith to your children and grandchildren for the next 100 years."