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“It’s Like a Rock of the Community” St. Benedict Parish in Montebello California, Celebrates Its 100th Jubilee
One year ago, on September 30, 2005, the St. Benedict Parish family issued a proclamation which, after situating the event in the third Christian millennium, and the history of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, declared open its Jubilee Year, marking the one hundredth anniversary of its establishment. The year was filled with special prayers, parish suppers, concerts by the local choir, bulletin notices, and marathon committee meetings. A distinctive logo was created for the occasion by Fr. Rafael Nieto, OAR, in San Millan, Spain. In addition, various souvenir items were prepared and sold, attractive invitations printed and mailed, and a handsome commemorative journal written and published. Exactly one year later, on September 30, 2006, the same parish family closed the year with a Jubilee Mass celebrated by Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles. Punctually at 3:00 pm, as the church bells rang out in joyful peals, the Cardinal entered St. Benedict Church in a festive procession. He was joined by the parish priests, Frs. Joseph Gallardo, OAR, and James McGuire, OAR, representatives of the Benedictines (including former abbot and former parishioner Martin Lugo), Augustinian Recollects (including Fr. Provincial, Charles Huse), former pastors and assistants, and priests who had been ordained from St. Benedict Parish, as members of the congregation—some 1300 strong—filled the pews, lined the walls, steps, choir loft, and hallways. Parish Deacon David Estrada ably served as master of ceremonies. The local organist, directing the parish choir and a brass ensemble, provided the inspiring music for the entrance rite and the entire ceremony.
Upon arriving in the sanctuary, the Cardinal incensed the altar and then made his way to the baptismal font where he blessed the water to be used in the penitential rite. As the choir sang the Gloria, His Eminence walked down the main aisle of the church, blessing and sprinkling the assembled parishioners. At the same time Frs. Joseph Gallardo and James McGuire did the same in the two lateral aisles. Immediately after the opening prayer, the lectors proclaimed in Spanish the two readings of the day, the responsorial psalm being sung by the cantor. After Deacon Dillon proclaimed the Gospel, the Cardinal gave an insightful commentary on the day’s readings, tying them to the qualities that should be found in a parish community today. “We are called to develop a spirit of unity and harmony among us; we are called to be as inclusive as possible; all are welcome and equal in the house of God,” he said. He then segued seamlessly to speak of the day’s celebration. He recognized various religious groups who are now serving or who had previously served the parish (Benedictine monks, Augustinian Recollects, and Presentation Sisters). He also acknowledged the eight priests and religious sisters and brothers and three deacons who had their vocational call encouraged while growing up in the parish. The Cardinal moved on to praise those who have faithfully worshipped in the church from its earliest times. The assembly included—so the Cardinal ascertained by his questioning—one parishioner from the 1931 silver jubilee, about 50 who attended the 1956 anniversary and several hundred from 1981’s 75 th anniversary.
The Cardinal recalled how the founding Benedictine priests—who spoke Basque, Spanish, and French—built the original St. Benedict chapel that doubled as their cottage, and there celebrated the first parish Mass on September 30, 1906. Since then, that building has been replaced three times in several different locations. Each time, the church grew larger and more ornate to accommodate the growing influx of parishioners; the current church was constructed in 1959. When the present church was built, so the Cardinal noted, most churches constructed at the time had a long and narrow design. St. Benedict was among the first in the Archdiocese to be built wider, with more seating close to the altar, in a style that was a precursor to Vatican II. “This was an attempt to bring people together,” the Cardinal said of St. Benedict’s design. The Cardinal had words of lavish praise for the Jubilee’s commemorative journal. It is “one of the best that I have ever seen. The history is complete, very accurate, and most compelling. The committee was able to capture more than just facts and figures, but also they captured so well the spirit of the parish and its evolution over the one hundred years.” Flanked by his concelebrants, Cardinal Mahony continued the Mass, praying the canon for the Church on the Way to Unity.
Just before the final blessing of the Mass the pastor, Fr. Joseph Gallardo, spoke movingly and from his heart, expressing his personal gratitude and that of the whole parish to Cardinal Mahony for his fatherly and ever-present interest in St. Benedict Parish. The parish ratified his words with their enthusiastic applause. His Eminence then read a letter that he had received from Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio in Washington, D.C. Among other beautiful sentiments expressed in the name of Pope Benedict XVI, the letter stated: “. . . I have the honor of conveying to Your Eminence, to the Reverend Pastor, and to the entire parish the Holy Father’s warm greetings, heartfelt congratulations and spiritual closeness. . . . The Holy Father commends the pastor and parishioners to the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, and he cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of strength and peace in Christ Jesus.” The reading was greeted with warm and sustained applause. Immediately thereafter the Cardinal invited the pastor, Fr. Gallardo, to the presidential chair where he presented him with a beautifully-framed remembrance of the Mass of Thanksgiving which was celebrating “One Hundred Years of Pastoral Ministry to the Catholic Community.” It was dated September 30, 2006, and signed by Roger Cardinal Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles.
At that point, the Cardinal imparted his blessing and, led by the cross-bearer and acolytes carrying torches, together with his celebrants, exited the church to thunderous applause and the strains of the final hymn. Many streamed to the parish hall where a reception had been prepared. The Cardinal’s schedule, however, crowded as always with multiple commitments, did not allow him to attend the reception nor the later dinner at the Quiet Cannon Country Club. Nonetheless, soul of graciousness that he is, he remained at the church door for a half hour and greeted and blessed all who approached him. Returning to the rectory, he congratulated anew all the priests present and left to attend the 35 th anniversary dinner of Thomas Aquinas College. On October 4 he wrote to Fr. Gallardo, confreres, and centennial committee, assuring them that “everything was very beautifully planned and celebrated, and it was a joy to be present with all of you,” asking the Lord to bless all at St. Benedict “as the parish moves forward on its historical journey.”
At 6:00 pm groups of parishioners began to gather in Montebello’s Quiet Cannon Country Club where a centennial dinner had been prepared for 500. The festively-decorated dinning room was filled to capacity, and the guests freely mingled as they recalled stories of past times at St. Benedict. Fr. Gallardo opened the banquet by blessing the tables and effusively welcoming all those who were present. The masters of ceremonies were the parish deacons, David Estrada and Alfonso Castillo. Later in the program both of them and their wives spoke to the assembled dinners, “Reflecting on Life within the Parish.” Most Rev. Gabino Zavala, the regional bishop, returned early from a meeting in Salt Lake City so that he might be present at this part of the parish’s celebration. Bishop Gabino briefly addressed those present with words of congratulations and gratitude to God for the blessing that St. Benedict Parish is. Fr. Charles Huse, OAR, prior provincial of St. Augustine Province, spoke in both Spanish and English, highlighting the part that the Augustinian Recollects have played in the history of the parish. Former abbot, Martin Lugo, OSB, did the same for the much larger role of the Benedictines. Although not listed on the dinner program, Fr. McGuire was called upon to present to the guests the Apostolic Blessing of Pope Benedict XVI, and to read a telegram that the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, which expressed the Holy Father’s cordial good wishes to the pastor, the Augustinian Recollect community, and all the faithful of the parish. It read in part: “He prays that the anniversary celebrations will be an occasion of ever deeper union with Christ and more fruitful witness to God’s kingdom of holiness, justice and peace ... the Holy Father willingly imparts the requested Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of joy and strength in the lord.” Father McGuire then presented an artistically framed Papal Blessing that will hang in the main parish office. He made his presentation with his usual Irish wit and charm and graciously received the plaudits of all present. There followed a slide presentation on the parish’s history, which had been professionally and delightfully crafted by one of the parishioners. Its projection fascinated the rapt viewers who loudly expressed their appreciation at its conclusion. Bishop Zavala offered the closing prayer at 9:30 pm. The master of ceremonies announced that everyone was welcome to stay and visit until midnight, but the crowd, somewhat tired by now, opted to leave the hall and return home, taking with them indelible memories of the day’s ceremonies and festivities. Fr. James McGuire, OAR
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