Founded: 1969
Location: 4595 Highway 166, New Cuyama
Santa Barbara Region: Deanery 1

"Cuyama," meaning clamshell, is the name the Chumash Indians gave the Valley of Northern Santa Barbara County --- somewhat of a mystery since the ocean is some 75 miles away. But then the parish of Immaculate Conception, located on the most northern edge of the archdiocese, is quite a distance from most everything; the 130-mile trip from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels would wind through the dioceses of both Monterey and Fresno.

Early records list a Father E. Ylla who visited around 1900 and said Mass for the few scattered Catholic families. Then there is a gap until the early 1950s when Father (later Msgr.) Thomas Murphy, of County Tipperary, visited monthly from St. Mary of the Assumption in Santa Maria, 65 miles to the west. Later Augustinian priests from Ojai made the 140-mile round trip to minister in what was then the Richfield Oil Company settlement. Father Samuel D'Angelo, a teacher at Villanova Preparatory School and former Navy chaplain, was among those who found willing families who offered their living rooms as chapels.

Other early Augustinians included Fathers Richard Smith and John Blethen, but for six years the valley was without a priest until in 1961 when a Father Blett came to "Old" Cuyama and celebrated Mass in the C and H market. In 1963 Cardinal James Francis McIntyre established the growing church community as a mission, and by 1969 Conventual Franciscan Father Leonard Kolodziej, a Chicago native, was resident administrator. On October 5 of that year Auxiliary Bishop John Ward officially dedicated a new chapel that could accommodate about 100 persons and the remote area could finally boast of a real church --- Imamculate Conception in "New" Cuyama.

The site on Highway 166 was originally donated by Richfield Oil and most of the residents in the sparse area were Richfield employees, although ranchers and field workers comprised the rest of the population. Father Kolodziej served for three years (he died in 1981), and was followed by Franciscan Father Samuel Bonikowski from Wisconsin, who ministered and traveled the far-flung area for six years (he died in 1995 at age 80).

For 14 years L.A. native Father Dan Buckley, an archdiocesan priest, headed the 250-square mile parish. "Distance is the biggest problem," he said in a 1981 Tidings interview. "It isn't uncommon for me to travel 100 to 200 miles a day to visit the people. The car is my office." An artist who painted the patrons of the 21 California Missions and many other themes, Father Buckley is now retired.

Another Franciscan served for two years, Father Thomas Zagorski, who died in 1999. A year later, parish and archdiocesan history changed dramatically, when Cardinal Roger Mahony appointed St. Joseph of Carondelet Sister Mary Dorothea Quinn as parish director, the first time a woman was named as a parish administrator.

For six years the former educator --- "I do not wear an alb, I am not clergy," she insists --- has served the community in this remote rural town whose main attractions consist of a post office, grocery store, laundromat and beauty parlor. Her main concern is the congregation who have "kept the faith for so many years in this rather isolated part of the archdiocese," she said.

Sister Quinn does her best to address the Spanish-speaking congregation, having studied the language in Mexico and Texas. At first the voluntary assignment was lonely, she admits, and she was grateful with fellow Carondelet Sister Maria Lucinda Lopez joined her and helps with religious education classes and Bible study.

Most of the hard-working parishioners are employed in the agricultural industry, mainly run by corporations, and in cattle and sheep ranches. "They are not seasonal workers," Sister Quinn noted, "and although some have nice houses, many live in terrible conditions." Despite long hours and heavy work, some parishioners helped to paint, plant and refurbish the small church in a recent "Fiesta del Trabajo." During Lent the parishioners raised $411 in Rice Bowl donations.

"The people here have kept the faith and have supported the church through many hard times," Sister Quinn said. She also noted that most of the populace attends the other denominations in town --- Methodist and Baptist. "But twice a year Bishop Thomas Curry visits and I plan to renew my time of service here."