Founded: September 30, 1906
Location: 1022 Cleveland Avenue, Montebello
San Gabriel Region: Deanery 10
French monks, sheepherders, old ranchos, fires and wars all form the fabric of the history of St. Benedict Church. More than a chronological history, however, is the colorful background of Old California mixed with the tides of progress.
The history of Montebello (the name means "beautiful hills") dates back to when Franciscan Missionaries established the original San Gabriel Mission near where San Gabriel Boulevard crosses the Rio Hondo River. However, heavy rains forced the padres to find another location and the present mission was founded five years later, in 1776.
Several famous Ranchos flourished in the area and, after the Civil War, a 5,000-acre ranch owned by Alessandro Repetto was sold to a group of businessmen. Out of the shares of Harris Newmark and Kaspar Cohn were the 1,200 acres that in 1899 became Montebello, originally named Newmark City.
In the early 20th century, the Benedictines from Oklahoma, invited by Bishop Thomas Conaty, had arrived to minister to the many scattered Basque people in the area who mainly tended herds of sheep and Mexican workers. These pioneering Benedictines were able to build a small cottage-chapel in 1906 that seated 40 people and cost $200.
The first pastor was Father Leo Gariador who was shrewd enough to secure all the mineral rights for the 40 acres he acquired for what was to be a Benedictine abbey, monastery and seminary. When oil was discovered on the property, the profits were instrumental in saving the financial problems of the Abbey in Oklahoma.
The first Mass was celebrated Sept. 30 in the simple chapel, but it and other buildings were destroyed by fire in 1910. A new church was built the same year that seated 500 and cost $300. A new brick church was built in 1929.
In addition to ministering this new parish, the Bendictines also attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Mission in Simons. It was the first of a series of churches established for the Mexican population of the diocese. Located just three miles from the monastery, the Mission was part of the Simons Brick Company and in 1913 was the largest such operation in the world. Father Raphael Defives was one of the first pastors and bicycled to the yard every Sunday to celebrate Mass. By 1952 the old houses were condemned and burned, including the 39-year-old church.
One of the early catechists for the Simons parishioners later became pastor at St. Benedict --- Father Albert Brousseau. From 1936 to 1953, the Canadian-born Benedictine enlarged the parish by expanding the school and erecting the hall and convent. There were just 53 families registered when he started and some 950 when he left. He died in 1956 after suffering a paralytic stroke while pastor in Montebello. (His 17-year pastorate was one of the longest among the 18 Benedictines who served St. Benedict's from 1906 to 1998.)
Cardinal James Francis McIntyre blessed the fourth and newest church in 1959 on Cleveland Avenue when Father John Bloms was pastor. The brick cruciform designed church seats 1,000 and cost $315,000; the bell tower is 85 feet high topped with a 10-foot cross.
The parish continued to grow, and by 1998 weekend Masses were attended by some 4,500 persons. At the same time, the Benedictine Monks who had served the parish for more than 92 years found it necessary to withdraw their services in California and return to St. Gregory's Abbey in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Their decision reflected Pope John Paul II's call for religious communities to return to the core mission of their founders --- living the monastic life.
The Order of Augustinian Recollects, however, has continued the spirit inspired by the Benedictines in their ministry of St. Benedict. Since 1998 three members of the order have served as pastors. Father Euben Capacillo, a native of the Philippines, servd from 1998 to 2000 and then was appointed pastor at Mary Star of the Sea in Oxnard. For six years Father Anthony Palos, a native of Spain, headed the parish.
At St. Benedict's 100th anniversary in 2006, Augustinian Recollect Father Joseph Gallardo was the pastor. Cardinal Roger Mahony attended the celebration and praised the parish that had fostered so many vocations to religious life and noted how the design of the new church helps "to bring people together." |