Our History
Our First Quarter Century
Our History
Our First Quarter Century
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by Richard B Stone
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First Building Fund Drive
It was less than two months after that first Mass that the parish faced up to the problem of finances. The debt at that time stood at $250,000 and Father Bose recognized its reduction as a pressing responsibility. In January, 1960, he presented the matter to a group of men and women and outlined his plans for a massive door-to-door campaign. Jack Birkholz, now of Cupertino, was appointed chairman. Teams were formed and training classes held with Russ Jones now of Belmont, as coach; and on February 14, 1960, the teams swept through the area gathering donations and pledges.
Even before the building fund drive, the CCD was organized. Father Bose had the prospective teachers, fishers, secretaries and assistants at an orientation meeting February 8, 1960. Father Bose appointed Colleen Arnold, now of Los Altos Hills, the principal. There were volunteers for all grades, one through eight. Classes were held in the little church, usually two classes at the same time with always the plaintive plea, "Couldn't you keep your children a little quieter? We can't hear at our end." Classes were also held on week days in garages.
The men's earliest spiritual exercises occurred July 25, 1960, in their recitation of the Rosary over Radio Station KIBE. The broadcast originated at Saint Thomas Aquinas Church in Palo Alto.
June 19, 1960, was a day of special importance. Ground was broken for the school by Archbishop Joseph T. McGucken, of San Francisco, Archbishop Mitty having died. It would be five years, however, before the building would be used exclusively as a school. Meanwhile, it also served as the church. The first Mass in the school was celebrated Saturday, April 1, 1961. Walls were not yet in place, so an enormous folding curtain was installed to separate the church from the large open area where CCD classes were held. The school continued to serve as the church for four and a half years.
Women's Club Formed
From the start Father Bose enthusiastically promoted lay organizations. The Women's Club held its first meeting September 15, 1960. Sixty women were present not in the parish hall, for that was too crowded with pews, nor in the school or rectory, for they had not yet been built but in the American Legion Hall in Los Altos. Jean Winkle-man was president. The club was barely a year old when it held a rummage sale, the first of many. A fashion show featuring clothing to be sold the next day was "hilarious", according to the minutes. These rummage sales were by far the most profitable of all the club's projects. The first year the sale took in $1,500, the following year, $1,600.
The sustained drive and resourcefulness of the Women's Club was amazing. A bake sale netted $55; another bake sale, $108; a wine tasting festival, $240; a Christmas shopping program $44. The list goes on. And so does the list of good works. $205 for cups and saucers for the multi-purpose room, $100 for altar curtains, and for the pastor, a stole, an alb and an engraved ciborium. The club gave uninterrupted support of many kinds to the CCD, contributing money and serving along with many non-members as teachers, helpers, secretaries and clerks. Saint Athanasius CCD distinguished itself, ranking fourth in the number of representatives at the CCD institute of 1962. The following year it served as the host parish.
Forty-seven men met in the school October 9, 1961, to form the Men's Club. Father Bose appointed Commander Joseph W. Dochnahl, now of Los Altos Hills, president. They planned their agenda. They would make a crib for Christmas, tear down the vines that were rapidly covering the fence at the rear of the property, and look into the question of having bingo. There would be a dance and after that, other functions to bring the parish closer together. Pancake breakfasts were an institution over many years. From 1962 to 1967 the club sponsored a Boy Scout troop. The men installed a sprinkler system along Rengstorff and planted grass. Somehow, though, the weeds grew faster than the grass, so there were many work parties. The club also promoted retreats at El Retiro in Los Altos and San Juan Bautista.
Father Ahlbach Arrives
In June, 1962, Saint Athanasius welcomed its first assistant pastor, Father William J. Ahlbach, just out of Saint Patrick's. (Ten years would pass before the term "associate pastor" was used.) it was a Saturday and the Men's Club was working on the weeds when a taxi stopped in front of the rectory and a tall young man in clerical garb got out and disappeared into the rectory. Ten minutes later he came out in work clothes and approached the men. "Hi!" he said, "I'm Father Ahlbach." And with that he grabbed a mattock and went to work.
Father William Joseph Ahlbach was born February 17, 1937, to William and Margaret Ahlbach of San Francisco. Like Father Bose, he attended Saint Joseph's College in Mountain View before going to Saint Patrick's. He was ordained by Archbishop MeGucken in Saint Mary's Cathedral June 9,1962. Father Ahlbach would remain at Saint Athanasius for four years, until 1966, when he was transferred to the Holy Name of Jesus parish in San Francisco. While waiting for his associate, Father Bose had the help of several priests, among them the Jesuit Fathers Thomas Leary and John Giambastiani and the Sulpician Father Edward P. Cronan. Three months after the arrival of Father Ahlbach, the cathedral in which he and Father Bose had been ordained burned to the ground (September 8,1962). Without delay a multi-million dollar building fund drive was projected, the proceeds to be used also for schools. Other such appeals followed in quick succession, and to all of them Saint Athanasius made a creditable contribution.
At this time an undercurrent of excitement was running through the parish for the Second Vatican Council was in session. It had been convened by Pope John XXIII to "throw open the windows" of the church.
Vatican II Innovations
The Council was in session from October 11, 1962 to December 8, 1965. By the time it ended, Pope John had died (June 3,1963) and Pope Paul VI had succeeded him. The church would never be the same. Latin gave way to the national language; altars were turned around so that the celebrants faced the congregation; laymen, including women, were reading the epistles. People who had been brought up to say their beads during Mass were expected to follow along and join in the responses. Extraordinary ministers were to be commissioned; parish councils would be formed. It was truly a time of renewal, invigorating and exciting. As fast as the changes were approved for use in this country Father Bose introduced them to his flock. It was about this time, 1965, that laymen began reading the epistles at Saint Athanasius.
Our lay theologian, William I. Burgan, arrived in Saint Atbanasius December 15, 1964. Immediately he set to work visiting Catholics and non-Catholics. He conducted convert classes and organized the first Bible study class. Encouraged by Father Ahlbach, he also promoted a fisher program for CCD.
The year 1965 brought more changes of lasting importance to the parish than any other year in our first quarter century. In January the Parish Council was formed. In April Father Bose introduced the Seder, a re-enactment of the ancient Passover meal. In May the Saint Vincent de Paul Society was activated, and the Guadalupe Society for our Hispanic community. June brought Project Head Start. In August the Sisters of Mercy came, and Mass was moved to the present church. In September Saint Athanasius School opened, and in October the first issue of The Saint Athanasius Family News appeared.
Parish Council Organized
The Parish Council held its first meeting January 7, 1965, with fifteen members. Ed Kevin was its first president. One of their first efforts was to set up a system of Little Parishes to welcome newcorners, arrange for Masses in homes and in other ways foster a feeling of neighborhood friendliness. The Council also maintained a calendar of events. At the first meeting Father Bose said the duties of the Parish Council could be likened to those of a "second assistant pastor." Specifically, he said, he wanted help in the areas of fund raising, Saint Vincent de Paul, a newsletter, ushers and parish records. Fund raising was, from the start, accorded major importance. There was at this time a project called the Parish Offertory Program. It centered around the plan to persuade as many parishioners as possible to contribute three percent of their income to the church. Thus, it became known as the "three percent program." All expenses directly related to the church would be met from these proceeds.
In accordance with Father's wish, a Saint Vincent de Paul Society was established with Mr. Burgan, the lay theologian, as the prime mover. Funds came from "begging" at the doors after all the Masses on every fifth Sunday of the month. That is still their only source of revenue.
In May of 1965 ten members of the Spanish-speaking community organized the Guadalupe Society. Their zeal was intense. Julia Garcia, a member of the original Parish Council, was the founder and first president. The first thing they did was visit over fifty families to urge them to enroll their children in the Montessori school. Arrangements were made for Masses in Spanish. More than three hundred people attended on one occasion, some from as far away as San Jose. Breakfast was served in the parish hall. The guest of honor was Bishop Samuel Ruiz Garcia, of Chiapas, Mexico. Mass in Spanish continues to this day. A dawn Mass on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with a full mariachi band is still a feature of our liturgical worship.
Sisters Come to Open School
One of the greatest blessings to be given to Saint Athanasius Parish was the arrival of the Sisters of Mercy in August of 1965. Their assignment was to open a grade school. Sister Mary Paulina was the first principal and Sister Marian Rose the vice principal. They were formally welcomed into the parish at a reception arranged by the Women's Club in the parish hall on August 29, 1965.
It is almost impossible for anyone who has not been a founding pastor to imagine the number of decisions that must be made to bring a church into existence. What will be the style of the altars? Where will we get the microphone? What color will the carpeting be, and what texture? What about the Stations of the Cross? What kind of crucifix shall we have? Father's choice for the crucifix was a larger-than-life figure of Our Risen Lord. It was also described as Christ the King and Glorified Christ, for it represented Him clothed in a splendid gold robe that reached to His ankles and to the wrists of His outstretched arms. The church was one of the largest in the area, seating over eight hundred. Long-range plans had this building used as a church only until the school was large enough to need a gymnasium. Then a new, permanent church would be constructed in the lot between the rectory and the shopping center. On August 22, 1965, the first Mass was said in the new church, and the following May 7, Archbishop McGucken came to dedicate the church and bless the school.
Our parish school opened September 13, 1965. One hundred and twenty-nine children attended, coming from five public school districts.
In October of 1965 Father Bose wrote: "It is with pleasure that I welcome the appearance of the first issue of St. Athanasius Family News." This well-written four-page newspaper was produced almost single-handedly by Mrs. John (Joanna) McLaughlin, now the editor of a weekly newspaper in Gualala, California.
The leaven that raised the Parish Council, The Family News, the Saint Vincent de Paul Society and the Guadalupe Society continued to work in 1966 as the Singles Club and Nocturnal Adoration Society were formed.
Parish Welcomes Nocturnal
A Nocturnal Adoration Society had been meeting for eleven years at Saint Matthew's Church, San Mateo, with men from South San Francisco to San Jose. Father Bose was eager to have Noctumal in his parish, so when it was urged that a group of nocturnalists be formed here, he gave enthusiastic support. A hundred men attended the organizational meeting, some from as far away as Sunnyvale and Redwood City. The first vigil was held June 11, 1966. The society continues its monthly vigils, but with an important change: women as well as men, take part.
Also in June Father Bose announced that there would be a second assistant pastor, Father Leonard Duggan, just out of the seminary. Autumn brought the departure of Father Ahlbach. Father Charles A. Aherne was introduced as his replacement.
Early in 1967 Archbishop McGucken gave his permission for the building of a convent, to be completed in January, 1968.
As 1967 drew to a close, we had our first folk Mass with guitars and new songs. There was standing room only. All musical activities as well as the lector program benefited greatly from the coaching of Father John Olivier. He also gave retreats (for which he refused the usual stipend) and said Mass.
On March 20, Father Bose observed the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination with eleven priests joining him in celebrating Mass the following Sunday. After that, there was a reception with dinner at the Sunnyview Family Club in Mountain View. Meanwhile, the roof had been put on the new convent and the Sisters moved in (August 31, 1968).
The parish was ten years old when our first pastor was reassigned. He had guided the parish through troubled waters as well as calm. He had directed the construction of the physical plant, welcorned the Sisters of Mercy, opened a school, generated enthusiasm, inaugurated lay organizations and sedulously promoted them. He had given us our first Seder, our participation in KIBE broadcasts and brought Nocturnal Adoration to Saint Athanasius, all this while performing his many and varied duties as pastor. Father Bose was reassigned as pastor of St. Lucy's Church in Campbell.
Fr. Reilly Our New Pastor
Father Bose' successor, Father John J. Reilly, was installed on November 30, 1969, ten years and a day after the first Mass in Saint Athanasius. Like his predecessor, Father Reilly was a native San Franciscan, a graduate of Saint Joseph's College and had been ordained by Archbishop Mitty in Saint Mary's Cathedral after graduating from Saint Patrick's Seminary. Upon his ordination, June 12, 1948, he was assigned to Saint Peter's Church in San Francisco as assistant pastor. Two years later he was transferred to Saint Francis of Assisi Church, San Francisco, where he remained until June, 1955. Later assignments took him to Saint Edward's, San Francisco, Queen of all Saints in Concord, Saint Kevin's Church, San Francisco, Saint Matthew's in San Mateo, and Saint Elizabeth's, San Francisco. It was during Father Reilly's first year with us (1970) that the 5:30 Mass on Saturday was established. Archbishop McGucken had granted permission and stipulated that attendance would satisfy the Sunday obligation.
On January 19, 1970, five years after it was formed, the Parish Council voted itself out of existence. There were several reasons, an important one being the chronic problem of members moving away
The second in a series of International Dinners was held at the Sunnyview Family Club, the purpose being to bring closer together parishioners of different ethnic backgrounds. Many Catholics had arrived from Vietnam and language still seemed to present a difficulty for some of the Spanish-speaking people. Thus, the International Dinners with many exotic dishes served a useful purpose.
Father Frederick Gallagher came to Saint Athanasius in October 1970, having arrived from Ireland only three months before. At dinner with the sisters, October 27, he said he hoped to be here at least a year, and as it turned out, he was here for two, until October 11, 1972.
In February of 1971, Sister Patricia Ann promoted the formation of a Teen Club. Each Tuesday evening members met for films, records, prayer, discussion and, of course, refreshments. On one occasion they drove to San Francisco to assist at Mass in the Cathedral.
Sister Marian Rose Leaves
The end of the school year 1971 was marked by the departure of Sister Marian Rose. She left June 14 for Our Lady of Angels, Burlingame. Her successor as local superior was Sister Miriam Joseph Gallagher.
The idea of having bingo as a regular feature of Saint Athanasius Parish had lain dormant for ten years, ever since the Mountain View police chief told members of the Men?s Club that he would raid such a game. However, bingo was played weekly in other parishes and the district attorney seemed to tolerate it. Thus, Father Reilly called a meeting on February 16, 1972, and revealed that he had been approached by some parishioners who thought we could ease the financial strain by introducing bingo. March 15, 1973, was the night of the dress rehearsal, and the following evening, a Friday, Saint Athanasius Parish offered its first bingo game to the public. It was an immediate success, much work for relatively few people but an important contributor to our income. Bingo has been a feature of the parish ever since. Bingo involves so much work and benefits the parish so greatly that the names of the leaders must not be omitted: Ernie and Mary Flores did most of the work of organizing the game. When they moved on, Ernie and Lucille Bianco stepped in as supervisors, to be followed in turn by Steve and Verna Olival. Besided these, there were some workers who showed up almost every Friday night to serve as callers or to handle the sale of cards and the distribution of prizes. Joe Flood was one of these, and he also maintained the public address system as be had always done in the church. Hcnry Achcrmann and Jerry Ryan were also among the "regulars."
The Split Beam
Toward the end of October, 1972, a sharp-eyed parishioner, Larry Guglielmel II, notified the pastor that a crack was to be seen in one of the laminated beams in the church, the OflC just ahead of the front pew. Investigating immediately, Father decided that the damage was quite evident and dangerous. Scaffolding was erected the next day. Repairs were started in January; 1974, and completed the following April. All of the Kams were strengthened with the present turnbuckles.
Father Reilly's jubilee was celebrated on the feast of Saint Athanasius, May 3, 1973, with a Mass, entertainment by the school children and luncheon with the faculty. This feast of our patron saint usually was allowed to pass with no other observance than the ritual Mass, but the sisters always made it an occasion for special celebration, at least within the convent.
Remembering the feast of Saint Athanasius, arranging celebrations for other occasions, teaching and administering the school, participating in civic affairs where appropriate, distributing Communion to shut-ins and helping unfortunates who knocked
at their door?these occupied most of the sisters' time. But not all was work and worship. Their annals record "the excitement of Halloween: After an early vespers service and dinner, we each ran off to prepare for the bewitching hour and magic potions for our trick-or-treaters. When the ghosts and goblins appeared, our Halloween spook house was prepared. Shrieks and shouts could be heard as Sister Miriam Gerard, our white ghost, brought the children into our house of horrors. They were met by our risen corpse (Sister Patricia Ann), our long-haired witch (Sister Ruth) and a hunch-backed Frankenstein (Sister Michaelle)."
Masses in Spanish
Spanish Masses had been a feature of Saint Athanasius worship since 1965. They were offered at one o'clock every other Sunday by the Reverend James Poggi, a member of the faculty of Saint Joseph's College, Mountain View. Father Reilly learned that a Mexican priest, a Jesuit, was coming to this area so our pastor lost no time getting in touch with him and asking him to celebrate the Masses that Father Poggi could not. He agreed and eventually was the only one saying the Spanish Mass.
In 1973 a serious problem arose. There was no one to offer the Spanish Mass. Father Reilly then invited Father William J. Stout to supply the need. Father Stout, a Jesuit at Bellarmine Preparatory School in San Jose, had been caring for the Spanish-speaking community in Alviso. He accepted Father Reilly's invitation and served our people for many years. Later came Father Hern5n Toro, who was with us for two years. The Spanish Mass is now celebrated by Father Fausto Lopez.
Father Reilly's associate during his last two years at Saint Athanasius was Father John Joseph Saulis, a member of the Marian Order of the Immaculate Conception. In 1983, Father Saulis celebrated his fiftieth year as a member of that order. He was ordained May 26, 1941. He earned his doctorate degree in philosophy in Rome and then served on the faculty of Marian Hills Seminary, Illinois. In 1955 he embarked on the pastoral period of his ministry, working as associate in various parishes in Illinois and Connecticut. He came to Saint Athanasius in June, 1974. He was here for a short time after Father Reilly left for San Benino, helping out with Father Timothy Enright before the arrival of Father Kevin MeArdle. Father Saulis' principal occupation now is assisting with the updating of his Order's constitution in the light of modern changes in canon law. He works directly under his provincial.
Fr. Saulis Forms Bible Class
As 1973 drew to a close, Father Saulis held the first meeting of the present Bible study class in the church on May 9, 1974. The turnout was disappointing; only three people came. Nevertheless, Father Saulis persevered and gradually attendance increased. The meetings were moved from the church to the home of Frank and Rosemary Avila, where the warm and friendly atmosphere seemed to help attendance. Still, preparation for the leadership took many hours and Father Saulis' other responsibilities did not leave him sufficient time to continue, so, rather than disband the group, he turned it over to Dick Stone, who is still conducting it every Monday evening at the Avila residence.
About this time l974~ the school found that it was unable to support its expanding athletic program with the funds available. To help raise the needed money the Boosters Club was formed with about twenty-five couples. They saw to it that equipment was provided and transportation furnished. But the most visible memorial of the Boosters' Club was, without a doubt, the baseball field with its twenty-foot poles supporting vast screens of wire mesh. The club president, Pat Smith, now of Modesto, was a head linesman for the telephone company, so he was able to get the poles and have them set up without charge. These poles were cut down to their present height in the course of transforming the baseball field into our picnic area.) But not all was clear sailing. From one of the homes on Palmer Avenue came protests, loud and clear. The kids are noisy, ran the complaints. They scream and holler and throw things into my yard. They tease my dog. Complaints were made to the Mountain View police seventeen times. Protests were even addressed to the archbishop as well as Father Reilly and the sisters. Sister Miriam Joseph and Father Reilly visited the neighbor and promised to do their very best to quiet the children. But when they asked for the balls back that had been knocked into her yard, the protesting neighbor refused. Eventually she moved away but by that time the school had closed, and the Boosters Club was disbanded.
Parish Progress Fund Inaugurated
By 1976 the parish debt had climbed to $700,000 as we experienced several years without paying anything on the interest. We were by no means the only parish in such difficulty, so to provide the needed assistance Archbishop McGucken inaugurated the Parish Progress Fund in 1975. According to this plan, known as "twinning", affluent parishes would allot a portion of their unneeded income to their less fortunate neighbors. Parish Progress Fund 1975 actually began in 1974. At first we had no "twin"... we were helped out of the general fund which was supported by a number of parishes. In 1976, however, Father Reilly approached Father William Lenane, of Saint Joseph's, which was debt free, with the request that his parish "twin" with us. Father Lenane agreed and Saint Joseph's made a substantial contribution. Later, Saint Anne's, San Francisco, also came to our aid.
Saint Athanasius School served our parish for eleven years, from September 1965 to June 1976. It had opened with grades one through four, and each September another grade was added until in 1969 there were eight. The number of pupils increased, too, but not proportionately. After 1970, when the student body reached 250, their number began to decline. In 1974 there were only 179. The final graduation exercises took place June 2, 1976, with twenty-one students receiving diplomas.
The sisters remained after the school closed, and others came: Sister Yvette Perrault, Sister Marie Meller and Sister Mary Tarcisia Sutton. And they had additional work as the archdiocese inaugurated the Family Religious Education Program. This program took the place of CCD, which had been terminated with the closing of the school. CCD had been for children; the new program was for children and adults. Each Sunday before the 10:30 Mass, classes were held. Parents were encouraged to learn along with their children and also to help them during the week and point out opportunities for putting into practice what they had learned.
The program was announced at Mass; then the sisters and pastor wrote many letters explaining what was happening and inviting children and adults to attend. They also made personal calls on likely prospects. Seventy-five people attended the first meeting, and the program was off to a good start.
Come, Holy Ghost!
In early June, 1976, Archbishop McGucken proposed to Father Reilly that he leave Saint Athanasius to become administrator of Saint Bruno's Church in San Bruno. He also informed Father Reilly that the administration of Saint Athanasius would pass from the diocesan clergy to the priests of the Irish Holy Ghost Community. Father Reilly left Saint Athanasius on June 18, 1976.
With the departure of Father Reilly, the administration of Saint Athanasius Parish was turned over to the Congregation of the Holy Ghost. Our first Holy Ghost pastor was Father Kevin MeArdle. However, he was not the first in residence, for at the time of the transition he was vacationing in his native Ireland, and his compatriot, Father Timothy Enright, represented him here.
All of our Holy Ghost fathers, with the exception of Father MeArdle, came from the southern part of Ireland. Father Enright was born in County Kerry in 1924 and entered the Congregation of the Holy Ghost in 1943. Eight years later in 1941, he was ordained to the priesthood by Dr. J. C. McQuaid, Archbishop of Dublin, after graduating from Kimmage Manor. He then spent a year studying pastoral theology (obligatory for all Holy Ghost missionaries) and was assigned to Eastern Nigeria. He was re-assigned to the United States fifteen years later, assuming the duties of associate pastor in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1967. Two years later he went to the Holy Angels parish in Colma, and from 1972 to 1976 he was at Saint Brigid's parish, San Francisco. He came to Saint Athanasius in the summer of 1976.
The change in administration from secular priests to religious or "regular" priests, was a matter of no concern to the parishioners. There was no diversion of parish revenue to the congregation, as a few people feared; all parish income was distributed exactly as it had been under the secular clergy. The only difference was that instead of the pastor being appointed by the ordinary, he was appointed by the Congregation, with the local bishop's approval.
Fr. McArdle Becomes Pastor
Our first Holy Ghost pastor, Father Kevin B. MeArdle, is now back in his native Ireland, living in the town of Dunleer, Country Louth. Born January 11, 1922, in Crossmoglen to Michael and RoseAnn (O'Rourke) MeArdle, Father was graduated from Saint Patrick's College, a secondary school, before going on to the Holy Ghost seminary, Kimmage Manor. Like our other clergy of that order, Father MeArdle was ordained by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid in the church of Clonliffe College, Dublin, and then spent a year in pastoral theology. In 1950 he was sent to Nigeria, where he was engaged in pastoral work for eighteen years. He came to this country in 1968 and served as associate in Saint Adalbert's parish, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and at Saint Anne's in San Francisco until 1976, when he was made pastor of Saint Athanasius. He arrived here June 18, 1976, and left us in July, 1979.
Father MeArdle set a fast pace for himself right from the start. Two days after his arrival he spoke as the new spiritual moderator at the annual meeting of the Saint Pasehal Nocturnal Adoration Society. June 27 there was a reception for him. The next month he organized the Saint Athanasius branch of the Legion of Mary, and in August he called a work party. In October, he informed the Women's Club that he wanted to have thirty priests at Mass to celebrate Pentecost, which is the patronal feast of the Holy Ghost Congregation ... and would the Women's Club please arrange to feed them? A few months later he was conducting a religion class.
The Core Group
Father MeArdle was deeply interested in our experience with a parish council and in April of 1977 he re-formed it. Its purpose was to allow him a deeper insight into the concerns of the parishioners and to promote social affairs. It consisted of two representatives of each lay organization plus two unaffiliated parishioners. These people met at the call of the pastor and were known as the Core Group.
The Core Group's first formal meeting was held April 28, 1977, when it was decided to hold a picnic the following July 20. At its next meeting, plans were made for an International Fair. Both picnic and fair were successful, and in early fall a dance was held. The Core Group continued in existence almost until the time Father MeArdle returned to Ireland.
Father MeArdle had frequent dealings with the Mountain View City Council, so he knew that if he was going to put a large sign along Rengstorff Avenue, there would be municipal red tape. But he also knew the man to help, Mr. Joseph P. Cusimano, who, having served on the council, knew how to get things done. Mr. Cusimano also had many friends; one of them designed the sign; another donated a twenty-foot beam. Another friend, a carpenter, cut the beam to length; and still another drew out electric lines from the school.
It was in August, 1977, that several of the parish men assembled the sign, affixed the letters, varnished the sign and did the electrical work and put in the flowers.
Originally, Father MeArdle wanted the sign to include the words, "Holy Ghost Fathers". However, to include them would have made "St. Athanasius Church" too small or "Holy Ghost Fathers" would have hung in the flowers. Father MeArdle was in Ireland when the sign was erected, so with Father Enright's permission the extra words were left off.
From time to time the church is decorated with a banner displaying the word, alleluia, in several languages, the colors matching the colors of certain vestments. This banner was the work of our Sisters of Mercy. Sister Yvette did the research and Sister Marie was the main artist. The banner was hung for the first time on Easter Sunday March 26, 1977.
In 1977.
Marcella Tabellija, CCD worker, was swept out to sea by a huge wave off Guam and drowned. Abe, her husband, had coached the school athletics . . . . John Berwald, member of the old Parish Council, CCD, and Men's Club, honored by the pope with the Order of Saint Gregory.
Archbishop John Raphael Quinn succeeded Archbishop Joseph McGucken on April 26.... Father MeArdle went to the convent to bless the crops in Sister Tarcisia's garden, found none, blessed them on faith, and the next day the turnips appeared ....Mass at the Olivals Steve and Verna) for Father MeArdle's second anniversary at Saint Athanasius . . . . Balloons all over the parking lot to publicize the upcoming International Faire, which was held on the hottest day of the year, and there was competition from Moffett Field: the Blue Angels.
On January 19, 1978, about ten men met to consider reorganizing the Men's Club, which had disbanded some years earlier. It was agreed the group would serve primarily as a work party. Father MeArdle showed his interest by attending a later meeting. The newly formed Men's Club held its first official meeting June 7, with Jerry Ryan, David Sandoval and Kevin O'Leary sharing the presidency. Meetings would be held on the first Tuesday of each month.
Up until 1978 it was customary to celebrate the first Sunday Mass at 7:30 a.m. However, very few people attended this Mass, so Father MeArdle asked for and received permission to discontinue it, making the 8:30 Mass the first Mass on Sunday. This change went into effect in January, 1978.
Eucharistic Ministers Commissioned
Father MeArdle, like Father Reilly before him, frequently visited the bingo games to let players know how deeply? he appreciated theircontributions. One night (April 28, 1978) he approached one of the workers and asked, "How would you like to distribute Communion?" "I'm not worthy", was the astonished reply. "Who is?" said Father.
Thus the eucharistic ministry was introduced to the lay men here. The sisters had been taking the Holy Eucharist to sick and shut-ins for over a year. Sister Marie and Sister M. Tarcisia had been commissioned February 27, 1977. The following month they made sixty-three visits with the Host Sister Marie driving to private homes and Sister Tarcisia walking to Julia Sanitarium. Sister Tarcisia also helped at the Saturday and Sunday Masses.
Permission was granted by the archbishop for the commissioning of eight laymen during June, 1978, and at the 10:30 Mass Sunday, June 25, 1978, the original eight lay ministers were appointed. They were: Frank Avila, John Berwald, Joseph Flood, Ed Valenzuela, David Sandoyal, Joe Szewszak, Richard Stone and Gaudenzio Telan. Inevitably the original band was reduced in number as some of them moved away and others withdrew for personal reasons, so in 1979 October, seven additional eucharistic ministers were commissioned. This took place when Father Prendergast was pastor.
From the first, our priests have practiced frugality and sought ways to economize. One of the large expenses in former years was heating and lighting the church. Father MeArdle decided to do something about that. There was at the rear of the rectory and abutting the rear wall of the priests' garage a long slab of concrete. This was used as a catch-all for garden and cleaning supplies, lumber, empty boxes and other such things. Father MeArdle converted this storage area into a chapel, with most of the men who had demonstrated construction skills being put to work. The Women's Club donated the tabernacle and a statue; various parishioners provided other furnishings, and some things we had to buy, like the carpeting and drapes. Pews were brought in from the church, enough to accommodate about thirty. The first Mass in the new chapel was celebrated at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, February 10,1979, and that night the Nocturnal Adoration Society held its monthly vigil in the chapel. The chapel was blessed February 16.
When summer came, work started on the garden outside the chapel. But first the fence had to be rebuilt and made higher because Father felt that it was unfitting for the worshippers to look out over the garden and see the shopping center Among those who worked~on the fence was Ernie Biancos eighty-five year old father, Joseph, who died the following December 27. It was finished July 21, with the hanging of the gate and the painting of the outside of the fence by the Young People's Club. The garden was the work of David Sandoval and Ruben Sierras.
Fr. Prendergast Succeeds Fr. McArdle
Father MeArdle served as pastor for a little more than three years, leaving in charge his associate, Father Enright, since his successor, Father Prendergast, was about to go on his annual vacation.
Father Joseph S. Prendergast was born in Limerick, Ireland, to William and Brigid (Devereaux) Prendergast, July 16, 1928. A member of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost since 1945, he was graduated from National University, Ireland, and ordained July 31, 1954, by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid in Dublin. After the customary year of pastoral training, Father Prendergast was sent to Nigeria, where he remained in teaching and pastoral work from 1955 to 1969. He then came to the United States to serve as associate pastor at Saint Matthew's Church in San Mateo for seven years. His last assignment before coming to Saint Athanasius was to Saint Patrick's in Larkspur, Marin County. Father Prendergast has been our pastor since July 4, 1979.
Along with many other priests of the archdiocese, Father Prendergast spent several months during the winter of 1979-80 at Saint Patrick's Seminary, taking a course designed to illuminate theological doctrine and pastoral principles by the light of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. The course was called Vatican II. It was expected that those attending would not interrupt their instruction by returning to their parishes, so during that time we were in need of someone to help Father Enright. It so happened that another Holy Ghost priest was in the area, Father John P Cooper, and he came to help out.
His title at that time was Mission Promotion Director for the Congregation of the Holy Ghost. In this capacity he travelled widely throughout the United States, spending much time in New York. Before coming to this country, February 9, 1977, he had taught for four years at Templeogue College, Dublin.
Father Cooper was born March 3, 1935, in Cork City, Ireland, a son of John J. and Mary (Breen) Cooper. He entered the Holy Ghost order September 2,1952, and was educated at University College and the Holy Ghost College, both in Dublin. His ordination took place July 14, 1963, in Dublin while he was completing post-graduate work at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Father served as a missionary in Sierra Leone from 1964 to 1970 when he was given his appointment as Director of Mission Promotion. He was in residence at Saint Athanasius with this title from September, 1980, until 1983, when he was appointed associate pastor.
Father Kevin Brendan Corrigan came to us in June 1981, after completing two years of graduate study at University of Santa Clara and earning his M.A. degree in pastoral counseling. He left in 1983. His missionary career, spanning a period of about seventeen years was spent in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa. There he did high school work and helped out as a supply priest in local parishes for fifteen years. He then served as hospital chaplain in Kenya for two years.
Father Corrigan?s parents were Michael and Anna Maria (Higgins) Corrigan. He was born June 4, 1933, in Tang, County Westmeath, Ireland, and entered the Congregation of the Holy Ghost when he was nineteen. After attending the minor seminary of Blackrock College in Dublin, he went to the Holy Ghost College, Kimmage, Ireland, and was ordained July 10, 1960, by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid.
The Liturgy Committee was formed by Father Corrigan to serve as an advisory group in matters of making the liturgy more meaningful. It was concerned with the work of the lectors and eucharistic ministers as well as ceremonies in general.
Early in 1982 the Couples Group was formed at the suggestion of Chris and Sandy Bergquist. One of its first activities was to help with the soup suppers the parish had during Lent. Then there were outings, a Halloween dance, and a Monte Carlo Night. The group went to the beach and on a camping trip to Portola State Park. With such a varied program, the club attracted many members. There were twenty-five active couples in the group. They meet in the parish library once a month, on the last Wednesday.
Soup Suppers Served
The Seder, which had been introduced to our parish by Father Bose, was observed regularly during the Easter season under the Holy Ghost fathers. The meal was served by the Women's Club. Last year, 1983, the clergy added a new feature, a series of soup suppers leading up to the Seder. Soup and bread were served by the Couples Group, the Women's Club, the Young Adults, and teens. Although the menu was spartan in keeping with the spirit of Lent, there was rich food for thought. After the supper ...and the hall was invariably full ... those attending took part in discussions which ranged over a wide range of subjects: church discipline, nuclear warfare, abortion, gun control and anything else the guests felt like discussing....were conducted each Monday evening from February 21 to March 28, 1983, with concentration on the first chapters of Acts. The response and participation was excellent even at the meeting of February 29, when a wide area of Northern California was blacked out by a particularly violent storm. It knocked out transformers and plunged the area into darkness which lasted, in some places, all night. The class was enlightened by candles and a lantern as well as by Father's commentary.
At the conclusion of the early Mass, August 11, 1983, Father Corrigan announced that he would be leaving the following Saturday. First he would take a three-week vacation. Then he would go to the University of California at Berkeley to study theology. He planned to be there nine months. Whether he would return to Saint Athanasius was uncertain.
Under the benign guidance and open administration of the Holy Ghost Fathers, the parish prospered. More and more people came to Mass. Even the early morning weekday Masses were well attended, sometimes crowded. People said they liked the friendly atmosphere, the prayerful attitude of the liturgical celebration and the inspiring homilies. Days of recollection and retreats were held at Mercy Convent in Burlingame in the fall of 1980 and again in 1981. About fifty parishioners attended. Then in March of 1982 we had a mission.
Father Prendergast has always been greatly concerned with the appearance of the church property. Almost daily one might see him conferring with Louis Salvatierra over some beautification project, and Louis gets to work before the 6:45 a.m. Mass, trimming the hedge, cutting back bushes and attending to inside jobs. Work parties are frequent and well attended. At the suggestion of the Couples Group, the baseball field was converted to a grassy picnic area. Dave Sandoval, Ruben Sierras, and Larry Guglielmelli saw to its execution.
In order to deepen our appreciation of the events following the Resurrection, Father Cooper offered a series of six Bible study sessions in the school.
More soon........
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