Founded: November 1924
Location: 2222 W. 70th Street, Los Angeles
Our Lady of the Angels Region: Deanery 16

Few parishes can boast of having their patron saint mentioned in Dante's "Paradiso." St. Anselm is one exception.

In Canto XII, he is listed among the Spirits of Light and Power in the Sphere of the Sun --- a rare tribute for someone who wanted to be a simple Benedictine monk and wound up the Archbishop of Canterbury. Declared a doctor of the church and canonized in 1720, St. Anselm (1033-1109) also is known as one of the greatest theologians and philosophers of the Middle Ages; his feast day is April 21.

Many of his philosophical and theological works have been influential through the ages. "I want," he wrote, "to understand something of the truth which my heart believes and loves. I do not seek thus to understand in order to believe, but I believe in order that I may understand."

That spiritual tradition has been part of St. Anselm Church even from the beginning when Bishop John Cantwell saw the need for another parish on the "Westside" and formally established the new parish in November of 1924. A year later, 36-year-old Father James Morris from County Longford, Ireland, was appointed pastor. (He and his brother, Father Thomas Morris --- both later monsignors --- were among the last of the pioneer Irish priests who bridged the gap between the Spanish Padres and the new generation of local priests.)

Father James Morris, in his first pastorate, formulated plans for a church, but due to illness, was unable to carry them out. He served as pastor of Holy Family, South Pasadena, for 28 years and died in 1956 at age 67, remembered as "a hard worker with deep sympathy for others and a great generosity."

The pastor who completed the Tudor Gothic style church was Father (Msgr.) Patrick Concannon of County Galway. Father Thomas Stack celebrated the first Mass there in December 1926; Bishop Cantwell dedicated the church June 26, 1927.

During the Depression Father Roger O'Shea of County Kerry (who died in 1940 at age 51) headed St. Anselm, and through the generosity of the parishioners, a new parish hall was built. In 1937, a year after Baltimore native Msgr. Martin McNicholas became pastor, the parish school opened with 185 students under the direction of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. During Msgr. Martin McNicholas' 10 years of ministry in the archdiocese, he also directed the campaign that funded over 100 new schools. He was later pastor of St. John the Evangelist for 21 years, and died in 1967 at age 64.

On June 19, 1943, Father John K. Clarke of County Dublin, Ireland, began his 38-year pastorate at St. Anselm. In 1949 he built a new school and rectory and by 1956-57 undertook the construction of the new Spanish Colonial style church that with a cruciform floor plan could seat 900 persons. A large concrete dome, topped by a lantern-like cupola with a graceful carillon tower, was the striking feature of the new church. In describing the art and ornamentation of the new building, Msgr. Clarke said that "Cur Deus Homo," one of the celebrated writings of St. Anselm, had been used as a theme. ("Why did God become man?")

Elevated to the rank of Papal Chamberlain in 1945, Msgr. Clarke directed the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine for 33 years, and developed teacher training centers as classes increased from 36,000 students to more than 200,000 during his administration. He retired as pastor emeritus in 1981 and died in 1992 at age 88.

For a quarter century, St. Anselm's pastor has been Father Lawrence Shelton, a native of Monterey Park and alumnus of St. John's Seminary, ordained in 1966. This is his first pastorate after serving at Our Lady of the Valley, Canoga Park; St. Mark, Venice; St. Bernadette, L.A.; St. Pius V, Buena Park; Holy Innocents, Long Beach; and St. Eugene, L.A. He has also served as director of the permanent diaconate for the archdiocese.