Founded: October 1920
Location: 10321 Tujunga Canyon Blvd., Tujunga
San Fernando Region: Deanery 6

How could a legendary mountain and a famous California poet laureate contribute to the history of a parish? The answer is found in the exotic story of the "Sister Elsie" mountain and the extraordinary contribution of author, poet, congressman, journalist, lawyer and historian John Steven McGroarty.

First, the mountain legend. Oldtimers relate the story of a kind and gentle Sister (some said she was a Daughter of Charity) who visited in the late 19th century, taught catechism to the Paiute Indian children and supervised the grazing of cattle in the uplands. Years later, traces of an Indian camp were found on the Begue Ranch and a plaque with the name of Sister Elsie was placed on an old well at the campsite. Renamed Mount Lukens in a later geological survey, it rises some 5,200 feet in the Sierra Madre Mountains above the city of Tujunga in the "green Verdugo Hills," overlooking the present, modern church of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Next, the legendary poet laureate. For 40 years McGroarty wrote a column for the Los Angeles Times called "From the Green Verdugo Hills" with reference to his home nestled under the looming mountain. His greatest achievement, however, was the production of the "Mission Play" that he wrote in 1911. The three-hour pageant, focused on Junípero Serra and the missions, drew more than two million people to 3,268 performances over 20 years at San Gabriel Auditorium.

It was also McGroarty who donated his original home in 1940 as the site for the second church of Our Lady of Lourdes parish. An outstanding Catholic, honored by Pope Pius XI, McGroarty coined the name "Tujunga" which he said means "an Indian mother's smile." He died in 1944; his home is an historic monument.

The parish's first Mass in the area was celebrated Oct. 17, 1920 in the home of Mrs. Catherine Forster, with 23 persons gathered in the living room and Father Joseph Tonello, an Italian priest and musician, presiding. Ill health had brought him to the "salubrious" climate of Tujunga and he remained as pastor for five years.

Under McGroarty's leadership, a 40-by-60-foot frame chapel and rectory, designed by sculptor Leon Tosi, was soon erected. The church was dedicated Dec. 18, 1921 and the first baptism was performed, with McGroarty as godfather.

Four pastors served the hillside parish in the four years following Father Tonello: Fathers William Stewart, John Corcoran, P.A. McCusker and Gabriel Ryan. In 1929 Father (later Monsignor) Denis Falvey of County Kerry, Ireland, began a 20-year pastorate that saw construction of the new church on Mountair Avenue on the property donated by McGroarty; the rectory was the writer's home. Under Father Falvey's guidance, many new parish activities were inaugurated, particularly after World War II with the massive influx of new families. By 1949 a school was completed, staffed by the Sisters of Charity. Msgr. Falvey held five pastorates in the archdiocese before his death in 1975 at age 82.

Additional school expansion occurred with another Irishman, Msgr. Patrick Collins from County Limerick, who in his 15 years as pastor acquired additional property along Apperson Street to provide for future needs. He died in 1976.

Succeeding him in 1966 was Msgr. Edward Wade, a native of Connecticut who began plans for the third church on Tujunga Canyon and Apperson. The new church, contemporary in design, symbolizes the surrounding mountains of Sister Elsie, Mount Gleason and Mount McGroarty. Cardinal Timothy Manning dedicated the new church, May 3, 1970, that also commemorated the parish's golden anniversary. Msgr. Wade, a former secretary to both Archbishop John Cantwell and Cardinal James Francis McIntyre, retired in 1979 as pastor emeritus and died in 1993 at age 80.

The next pastor --- Father, then Msgr. and finally Bishop Sylvester Ryan --- was the only native of Catalina Island to be ordained a priest. He served seven years as pastor, then as rector of St. John's Seminary, and then named an auxiliary bishop in 1990. In 1992 he became bishop of the Monterey Diocese, and retired in 2007.

Father George Brincat, an associate during the pastorate of Bishop Ryan, was appointed pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes in 1986. The native of Malta served for 14 years, continuing the tradition of family outreach in the ever-growing parish. He retired as pastor emeritus in 2000.

Father Mark Strader, from Torrance, headed the parish for five years. The current pastor, Father Freddie Chua, is a native of the Philippines where he earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting; he was ordained in 1998 from St. John's.

As one of the three parishes in the archdiocese named for Our Lady in honor of her apparitions at Lourdes in 1858, the Tujunga parish joins in celebrating the 150th anniversary of her feast day.