Founded: 1913
Location: 7125 Mission Place, Huntington Park
San Pedro Region: Deanery 17

Ninety-two years ago a small group of five or six attended Mass in a "tent house" in the backyard of Catherine Cassidy in an area southeast of Los Angeles that was mostly wheat fields. Presiding was Father Mathias Ternes, a young priest from Wyoming who spelled his name with one "t" and had come to California for his health.

Father Ternes named the new parish for his patron saint, the disciple whose name stems from the Greek word meaning "gift of Yahweh," and who was elected to take the place of Judas as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The spelling eventually became what it is today, and the wheat fields, backyard tents and small groups have evolved into one of the busiest parishes in the archdiocese, St. Matthias Church in Huntington Park.

The original small frame church building at the corner of Belgrave and Seville Avenues that accommodated 200 in 1913 gave way 38 years later to a modern Gothic concrete edifice on Florence Avenue, with seating for more than 800. From St. Matthias a nearby mission of St. Martha's in Vernon was established, the first church of any denomination in that city. Eventually the parishes of St. Rose of Lima (Maywood) and St. Helen (South Gate) were carved from the original portion of St. Matthias.

A succession of pastors contributed to the parish's continued growth. Following Father Ternes after he moved to his next pastorate in Porterville in 1916 were two natives of County Kerry, Ireland, who both later became monsignors. Father James Deenihan received his first pastorate at St. Matthias and built several churches and schools during his 56 years serving in the diocese before he died in 1966 at age 80.

Father Patrick Pierse, pastor for six years, opened the first school in the parish at the corner of Belgrave and Stafford in 1922, staffed by Sisters of Notre Dame. He served in the archdiocese for 52 years and, during his pastorate at St. Clement in Santa Monica, swam in the ocean every morning. He died in 1964 at age 77.

Father Leo Murphy (later monsignor), born in Redlands to an immigrant family from County Cork, headed the parish for 12 years, expanding the school which was severely damaged during the 1933 earthquake. He died in 1972 at age 81, after serving 53 years in the archdiocese.

During the 16-year pastorate of Msgr. Thomas Morris, a native of County Longford, Ireland, Archbishop James Francis McIntyre dedicated the new church in 1951 that included a basement auditorium with seating for 1,000 and a large Crucifixion group above the high altar. Msgr. Morris also erected a new two-story rectory. He died in 1967 at age 83, an archdiocesan priest for 56 years.

The next pastor, Msgr. Patrick Shear, enjoyed almost 20 years at St. Matthias and later recalled with pride, "I was always out in front of the church before and after each Mass on Sunday." An Irishman from England, he directed the new ministry of the Propagation of the Faith for 10 years, driving all over Southern California to solicit funds for the missions. At St. Matthias he built a new grade school and opened a girls' high school in 1960. In retirement he continued to visit the sick and assist in the parish. He died in 1992 at age 92, having served the church and his priesthood for 66 years.

Father Rody Gorman, a native of County Galway, Ireland (the sixth Irish pastor), headed the parish for 23 years and witnessed enormous growth and changes in ethnic and social structures. Father Gorman retired as pastor emeritus in 1999 and was succeeded by his associate for five years, Father Abelardo Bailon, a native of Chihuahua, Mexico, where he was ordained in 1958 and incardinated for the archdiocese in 1984.

Increased numbers are reflected in all parish activities --- baptisms, weddings, school enrollment, religious education and participation in social action and justice issues in the community that has become primarily Latino. At St. Matthias' 75th anniversary Father Gorman noted, "St. Matthias has grown immensely so that now it is hard pressed to find room for all parishioners. But its doors are always open to welcome people of every culture."