St. Malachy due for a face lift
St. Malachy due for a face lift
By: by Pat Gracey, Contributing writer
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Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments The present St. Malachy Catholic Church was a new and impressive building when it was dedicated on Nov. 5, 1967. A happy Father Harry Eggert, the pastor, was proud of his fine new building and through the years it has served the Catholics of the community well. Now, forty years later its age is beginning to show and plans are being made for extensive renovation. As one thing leads to another in the manner of renovation, a series of parish meetings are being held to decide the better plan for the actual construction.
The building, located at Mill and E Streets, is the third to bear the name of the twelfth century Irish Saint, Malachy. One hundred twenty years ago, in 1887, the first St. Malachy church was designated a parish by a Bishop whose last name is lost to posterity. The handsome white frame structure, located on F Street, was built in 1884, but travel in the nineteenth century was something to be planned and thought out carefully. Also, the Diocese was very large and included the Los Angeles-Monterey area. The Bishop finally found his way, showing up on June 13, 1887, to deem it an official parish. In earlier years Mass was celebrated in the home of early pioneer Anton Pauley, who hosted the visiting priests traveling through. Pauley Street is named after this family, and Mr. Pauley donated the land upon which the first building was erected.
Just 50 years later the sound of hammering revealed a new, larger structure arising on the site of the original church on F Street. The first Mass in the second church building was celebrated at midnight on Christmas Eve, 1936. Parishioner Murty McCarthy worked on the heating system until 11:30 p.m. that evening. The official dedication took place June 13, 1937, exactly 50 years after the first dedication.
Just 30 years later St. Malachy packed its bags and moved from the little F Street church, which now houses Bank of the Sierra, to a brand new church on the corner of Mill and E Streets. The land for this new edifice was a donation from the ever generous Monolith Portland Cement Company. A huge celebration began a 40 year tenure in the location, with Bishop Manning on hand for the dedication. A newly ordained Father Ronald Swett had traveled with the Bishop to the little church in the mountains where he would one day be Pastor (1981 - 1983).
Now it is time to begin a much-needed “face lift” for the historical church. Father Joel Davadilla says, “May the Lord, who is the source of everything good, bring to fruition the seeds of hope, love, joy, peace and compassion in His Church. ‘Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it.’” Psalm 127. May God bless this project.
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