OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION PARISH
By
Nicholas R. Cataldo (2005)
In order for any community to become a success, a whole lot of effort from the residents needs to make it work. And quite often, it is the church that takes on the role as the “cornerstone”. Such is the case with the Roman Catholic community in north San Bernardino and Our Lady of the Assumption Parish.
For much of the 20th century’s first half, the city’s “North End” consisted of several farms, a small elementary school and a general store. By the 1950’s, however, more and more people filtered in. Businesses such as Martin Drugs, Spic N’Span Market, Mimi’s Drive-In, Mountain Resort Delicatessen, Baker Oil Company, and Community Store sprang up along 40th Street and on north Sierra Way.
Meanwhile, the one hundred and fifty or so Catholic families living in this part of town approached the Diocese in request for a neighborhood parish and their prayers were answered in 1954 when 10 acres of grape vineyards were cleared out on west 42nd (now 796 West 48th) Street to make way for Our Lady of the Assumption Parish.
The members of the new parish met on October 10, 1954 at the American Legion Hall at 40th Street and Sepulveda Avenue where Mass was celebrated by Father Peter Mimnagh.
According to Sister Maura Redington, who has been associated with Our Lady of the Assumption since 1963, the well-liked priest announced that he arrived to San Bernardino with only $30 to his name and there was no money available from the Diocese for constructing a new church. So when groundbreaking took place on February 15, 1955 volunteers from the Catholic community, led by “Father Peter”, got together and did all of the work themselves!
The first Mass was held in the colonial style church on September 11, 1955 and formal dedicated was celebrated on the following January, by his Excellency, most Reverend Charles F. Buddy.
On March 28, 1956 the church rectory was completed but the community’s work effort was not quite finished yet. The majority of parents wanted their children to have the advantage of a Catholic education and they were ready to make sacrifices necessary to continue the building program at Assumption. Once again, volunteers from the congregation, which would include the Traina, Reilly, Plein, Oliver, Sandahl, Bennett, Herrbach and Kirkner families, pitched in and got the job done gratis.
Father Peter contacted a number of teaching congregations of Sisters in both the U.S. and in his native Ireland. The Sisters of Mercy in Silgo, Ireland agreed to to staff Assumption with teachers. The church leader and his dedicated parishioners took up their hammers and saws and went to work. A school and convent were completed in August of 1958.
When Father Peter Mimnagh was transferred to St. Vincent’s Parish in San Diego in 1968, Father John Campion took over. The big ex-Marine combined a tough exterior with a soft heart. His humor --filled sermons graced the church for six years.
The next church leader was Father Malachy McGinn (1974--1981), whose concern for the burned out victims from the Panorama Fire in November of 1980 was appreciated by many--and certainly by me. My family’s home was one of nearly 300 that were completely destroyed in the violent windstorm and I vividly recall Father McGinn consoling those of us left with little other than the clothes on our backs and organizing a donation drive from the more fortunate church parishioners.
Soft-spoken Ignatius Rodrigues (1981--1988) and intellectually compassionate Michael Sturn (1988--1998) followed as church pastors. During Sturn’s tenure, repairs and repainting began inside the church. This renovation project continued when Father Joseph Krah took over in 1998.
When Father Joe died in 2000, the always-hospitable Father James Mc Laughlin came to Assumption and served until Father David Fitzgerald arrived earlier this year. (2005)
Our Lady of the Assumption Parish and its congregation, which recently celebrated its 50th Anniversary, continues to exemplify the true spirit of community today. The church currently flourishes with more than 1100 families.
