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HISTORY OF SAINT BASIL'S
In 1919, the year after the Great War (now called World War I 1914-1918), there was a "push" for a new parish among Catholics west of Hoover Street, and in the church such initiative, when pressed, gains not only espiscopal attention, but action. Thus Bishop John Cantwell, then Bishop of Monterey-Los Angeles created our parish, on November 26, 1919. The Bishop named Father William McDermott Hughes as the pastor.
Now at the time, Father Hughes was in residence at St. Patrick's church in Watsonville. He had only recently returned from Europe where he served as an army chaplain during the war. America entered that war in 1917, vowing in the words of that popular Irish-American composer Goerge M. Cohan not "to come back till t'was over, overthere." Well when it was over, Father Hughes returned and as a "civilian" priest was waiting orders to move to a new assignment. Willingly he received the word that he had been appointed the first pastor of the new parish of St. Basil's in Los Angeles.
The Church structure is truly magnificent, winning an award from the American Institute of Architects and special commendation from the New York Times. It is a work of art which has added beauty and dignity to Wilshire Boulevard.
The Church was built as twelve towers, (a clustered kind of Stonehenge which is situated on the Wilshire plains of Southern England), here are huddled on Wilshire Boulevard in Southern California. The twelve towers are symbolic of the twelve apostles and the twelve tribes Israel. The towers are laced together by modern stain glass windows, the artistic creation of Claire Falkenstein.
They are a beautiful interplay of multicolored panes juxtaposed in such a way as to create a marvelous display of glowing light, which glows warmer as, you move towards the altar from the Wilshire entrance. Indeed the windows capture, in a symbolic way, our parish as it is today, many people of different nationalities, different cultures, different backgrounds from scores of countries, so divergent so disparate yet finding a harmony, a convergence within the church through the expression of their one faith. For more history go to About
Now at the time, Father Hughes was in residence at St. Patrick's church in Watsonville. He had only recently returned from Europe where he served as an army chaplain during the war. America entered that war in 1917, vowing in the words of that popular Irish-American composer Goerge M. Cohan not "to come back till t'was over, overthere." Well when it was over, Father Hughes returned and as a "civilian" priest was waiting orders to move to a new assignment. Willingly he received the word that he had been appointed the first pastor of the new parish of St. Basil's in Los Angeles.
The Church structure is truly magnificent, winning an award from the American Institute of Architects and special commendation from the New York Times. It is a work of art which has added beauty and dignity to Wilshire Boulevard.
The Church was built as twelve towers, (a clustered kind of Stonehenge which is situated on the Wilshire plains of Southern England), here are huddled on Wilshire Boulevard in Southern California. The twelve towers are symbolic of the twelve apostles and the twelve tribes Israel. The towers are laced together by modern stain glass windows, the artistic creation of Claire Falkenstein.
They are a beautiful interplay of multicolored panes juxtaposed in such a way as to create a marvelous display of glowing light, which glows warmer as, you move towards the altar from the Wilshire entrance. Indeed the windows capture, in a symbolic way, our parish as it is today, many people of different nationalities, different cultures, different backgrounds from scores of countries, so divergent so disparate yet finding a harmony, a convergence within the church through the expression of their one faith. For more history go to About
announcements
SPECIAL PROJECTSThere will be a second collection taken up today for special projects around the church. Please give generously to this collection.
LENTEN SEASONDuring Lenten Season we will have Stations of the Cross will be observed after the 8:00 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. Masses Monday to Friday. Please note that there will be no flowers allowed on or around the altar during the Lenten Season.
INCOME TAX PREPARATIONWe would like to thank you for your donations throughout the year. Your generous support has kept St. Basil’s to maintain its doors open during these hard times. Your donations are tax deductible, and you may request a copy of your donation statement in the Rectory office. You can receive them by mail or by picking them up at the office. TOGETHER IN MISSIONToday we celebrate your long-timed commitment to support the poor and underserved in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for 30 years during the 30th Anniversary of Together in Mission. As one Catholic community of faith, let’s be rooted in prayer and reflect how we can continue to help our struggling parishes and schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles well into the future. Let’s make a difference and gather as one Catholic family for our schools and parishes for next week’s Commitment Weekend.
LENTEN SEASONDuring Lenten Season we will have Stations of the Cross will be observed after the 8:00 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. Masses Monday to Friday. Please note that there will be no flowers allowed on or around the altar during the Lenten Season.
INCOME TAX PREPARATIONWe would like to thank you for your donations throughout the year. Your generous support has kept St. Basil’s to maintain its doors open during these hard times. Your donations are tax deductible, and you may request a copy of your donation statement in the Rectory office. You can receive them by mail or by picking them up at the office. TOGETHER IN MISSIONToday we celebrate your long-timed commitment to support the poor and underserved in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for 30 years during the 30th Anniversary of Together in Mission. As one Catholic community of faith, let’s be rooted in prayer and reflect how we can continue to help our struggling parishes and schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles well into the future. Let’s make a difference and gather as one Catholic family for our schools and parishes for next week’s Commitment Weekend.