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Chart of Gifts Needed to Reach our Minimum Goal of $1,900,000 |
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| Size of Gift | # | Total | Pledges Received |
| $200,000 or More | 1 | $200,000 |
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| $100,000 - $199,999 | 2 | $200,000 | |
| $50,000 - $99,999 | 4 | $200,000 | 1 |
| $25,000 - $49,999 | 8 | $200,000 | 5 |
| $10,000 - $24,999 | 20 | $200,000 | 7 |
| $5,000 - $9,999 | 40 | $200,000 | 29 |
| Less than $5,000 | 415 | $700,000 | 63 |
| TOTAL | 490 | $1,900,000 | 105 |
So, if you can, please be an angel. Consider an awe-inspiring, uplifting gift. There are a variety of ways that gifts can be made that may enable you to make a bigger and more beneficial gift than you ever thought possible. These "gift options" are further explained here. Your generosity will be richly blessed − with maybe a wing − definitely a prayer and God's abundant grace − and other earthly and heavenly rewards that await.
A special team of volunteers has recently been recruited and trained and is now out actively seeking critical advance gifts for our campaign. This phase of our effort has as its aim securing up to 80% of our overall goal from a select group and some of our most active and generous members.
What we need and are ultimately hoping for from this important initial phase are some significant, sacrificial and truly inspirational gifts - gifts that will help set the pace for the entire campaign effort and serve as a strong and motivating example for others to follow.
So if you are contacted during this important initial phase of our campaign, please say, "yes" to our request for a personal appointment. We've asked our volunteers to not request final gift commitments during these important initial visits. Rather, we've simply asked and want them to more fully explain the campaign, the different ways that gifts can be made and to answer people's questions. We've also asked them to work with you to determine appropriate follow-up steps and to arrange future follow-up visits, if needed, where they will gratefully accept your gift decision - whatever it is. Thank you and God bless you for your generous response in advance.
Friday, April 1 - Prayer Vigil
April 2nd and 3rd - Commitment Weekend
April 16th and 17th - Celebration Weekend
Needs for Classrooms and Meeting Space
Chief among our needs is the need for classroom and meeting space. We support six major areas of ministry here at St. Paul including:
Faith Formation Ministries
Social Ministries
Leadership Ministries - Pastoral and Finance Councils
Liturgical Ministries
Caregiving Ministries
Philanthropic MinistriesWe simply do not have enough meeting and classroom space for the myriad of activities we support. Additionally, the limited classroom and meeting space we have is uncomfortable and unsafe. Currently, we hold meetings in World War II buildings that were moved to this site many years ago. The current classrooms are old, dilapidated, leady, and uninviting. They are cold in the winter and hot in the summer, neither of which is conducive to the growing participation of our increasingly active parishioners, both young and old.
St. Paul should not be a 'stop by for Sunday Mass and we'll see you next week' church. We strive to be true to our faith, and we accomplish this through the sacraments, through community, and through our varied ministries. We support over 30 separate ministries, and all of these ministries, many of which are conducted in both English and Spanish, have meeting and classroom education needs.
Most importantly, we have close to 500 children in our CFF Program. The children in the classes are exuberant, eager, and enthusiastic to learn about their faith. And it is the duty of a parish to provide a physical building that supports the enhancement of their spiritual life. Yet our current classrooms impede the process rather than enhance it.
Consequently, fulfilling the first two of our stated parish goals; 1) to provide a physical plant and ecumenical atmosphere that will make St. Paul a center of religious education, and 2) to create an atmosphere encouraging members of the Body of Christ to have full participation in our parish, is almost impossible with the facilities we now have. And if we don't provide inviting areas and programs for these children, you can be sure that someone else will.
Need for Administrative Offices.
In our parish offices, one thin wall separates the conference room from our priests' bedrooms and living area. So obviously privacy is an issue within the existing space. Staff offices are housed in several former residences that were moved to our location and butted together. As such, it is a tremendous challenge to reconfigure bedrooms and living rooms into office space that is optimally functional and efficient.
Fathers Vic and Felipe are forced to share living space with work space. Our priests have any number of personal meetings with parishioners who have a whole range of challenges and needs including marriage preparation, personal counseling, private face-to-face reconciliation, substance a abuse counseling, funeral preparation, and grief counseling just to name a few.
All of these and many more demand comfortable, inviting, and appropriately private office and meeting space that simply does not now exist.
When the parish staff and volunteers are preparing an all-parish mailing, the conference room, hallways, and offices are littered with flyers, letters, labels, and envelopes, and volunteers are literally falling all over each other while trying to get these mailings out.
Lastly, our priests need their own private living space. Imagine having your own living area adjacent to your place of work where there are activities morning, noon and night, seven days a week.
Given the size and growth of our parish, the responsibility for us to provide appropriate meeting, education, and office spaces demand that we act now.
To address these critical needs, we have an exciting plan. It includes construction of a parish center including a religious education and meeting center with eight, interconnected classrooms and meeting areas, an administration center; and ultimately two additional multi-use classroom and meeting areas.
Phase I
Recognizing our 50th anniversary and assessing the needs of our parish, we have come up with an exciting plan to carry us forward into our next 50 years of service to our community.
Religious Education & Meeting Center
Phase I of our ploan will see the construction of a new religious education and meeting center which will include eight multi-use class and meeting rooms. These class and meeting rooms will be designed to accommodate the various gatherings of our multiple, thriving and growing ministries here at St. Paul. All will have audio visual and state of the art technological capabilities. Some will have desks and some will have meeting tables. Collectively, the religious education and meeting center has been designed to maximize use of space and to create appropriate meeting and education areas for our growing St. Paul Community. The old, outdated and uncomfortable classroom structures will be used for storage, so there will be no waste.
This phase of our plan also includes all of the necessary infrastructure costs such as grading and engineering as well as the supplying of necessary utilities such as electrical, sewer, water, and gas.
Phase II
Administration Center
In Phase II of our plan, we will construct an administration center where ample and appropriate offices for our pastor, our parochial vicar, parish and volunteer support staff will create an inviting, efficient, and harmonious office environment for the many people who work so hard to coordinate the various activities that are the lifeblood of the St. Paul Parish community.
It has been said, 'You never get a second chance to make a first impression.' With our new administration center facility, prospective parishioners will enter an inviting, comfortable, and professional facility that will make a powerfully positive and persuasive first impression - a welcome change to our existing office facilities. In short, the chaos of the past - will be in the past.
With the construction of the new administration center, Father Vic's and Father Felipe's living quarters will then be separate. They will have a place they can call home rather than a home office that taxes their ability to relax and recharge. The new administration center will give our priests a needed retreat.
Entry Plaza
Finally, these new spaces will be finished and framed by a new and welcoming entry plaza which will combine attractive hardscape and green landscape making our facilities ever more welcoming and inviting.
Phase III
Additional Meeting/Classroom Space
In addition and as money allows, phase III calls for construction of two additional class and/or meeting room spaces bringing the total number of class and meeting rooms available to our various parish ministries to ten. These ten classrooms will efficiently serve our growing St. Paul community far into the future.
To address our needs and plans we are initiating an intensive fund raising effort titled the "Together We Dreamed - In Faith We Build' campaign. Our aim with this important effort is to raise the funds required to build an education and meeting center.
Our minimum goal is $1,900,000 which will enable us to build the parish center. A challenge goal of $2,600,000 has also been set which, if met, will enable us to also build the new administration center.
The campaign officially commenced with a 'campaign kickoff celebration' on Sunday, February 6th at 7 p.m. The campaign will culminate on April 2nd and 3rd a special day that we're calling 'commitment weekend', when campaign volunteers will be visiting with members after Masses, in their homes or by phone, to explain our efforts, answer questions, and invite your investments.
View campaign video here
In preparation for this important event, we ask that you do three important things.
First, please pray for our campaign's success. Our future depends on your prayers.
Second, please volunteer your time to the campaign effort. Over 200 volunteers will be needed to assure that the campaign runs as efficiently and effectively as possible and that the job of volunteering is a relatively easy and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Finally, please consider a generous financial contribution to the campaign. Long term subscriptions, or pledges, payable over three years, in addition to your annual stewardship offerings, are encouraged and essential to meeting our ongoing and special project needs.
Your support will assure our campaign's and church community's future success!
In order to reach our financial objectives, we will need both a substantial number of givers and a few, fairly substantial gifts as this chart of gifts illustrates.
Amount Given Total Amount $300,000 or more 1 $300,000 $150,000 - $299,999 2 $300,000
$75,000 - $149,999 4 $300,000
$50,000 - $74,999 6 $300,000
$25,000 - $49,999 12 $300,000
$10,000 - $24,999 30 $300,000
$5,000 - $9,999 60 $300,000
Less than $5,000 375 $500,000
TOTAL 490 $2,600,000
All members are asked to consider gifts above and beyond what they give in their regular offerings and other contributions. And there are a variety of ways that gifts can be made.
Pledges
Pledges payable over three years are easier for many, enable most to make larger gifts than they otherwise might outright and are therefore essential to meeting our goal. Gifts may be made in monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual installments at the donor's discretion. A 10% initial investment toward your total pledge is also encouraged.
Why Pledges?
Smaller regular gifts amount to substantial gifts over time. Take, for example, someone who commits to set aside just $2 a day over the course of the campaign. That's less than the cost of a bag of peanuts, yet it amounts to a total gift of $2,190 over a three year period of time for our campaign. That's not peanuts to our parish. It's a truly fantastic gift. Now, think about what you could do if you set aside and pledged to the church what you might normally spend for lunch or dinner each day. In short, you can make a truly spectacular gift for seemingly little! And it's these types of gifts that not only will assure - but are essential to our ultimate success.
Non-Cash Gifts
Non-cash gifts are an additional or alternative way you can support our cause. You may, for example, wish to consider gifts "in kind" such as labor and materials, gifts of securities such as stocks and bonds, gifts of real estate or even personal property such as artwork, automobiles, jewelry and antiques.
Real Estate
A great way to make a generous gift to our campaign and our church is to consider gifts of real estate. Real estate gifts can be a great way to support our cause while also taking advantage of tax and income benefits. Gifts of residences, vacation homes, rental properties, farms, ranches, commercial property and undeveloped or unimproved land could allow you:
An income tax charitable deduction for the full market value of the property.
The avoidance of capital gains tax.
A reduction of your taxable estate.
The reward of making a generous donation to our campaign.
Contact us to cover the details of the transaation.
Appreciated Securities
Gifts of appreciated securities include stocks, bonds and mutual funds and are a popular and advantageous way for members to make gifts. Using appreciated securities that have been held longer than a year to fund a gift to our campaign offers:
An income tax charitable deduction for the full market value of the security.
No capital gains tax on the appreciated portion of the gift.
The opportunity to make a generous gift to help ensure the success of our campaign.
Contact us when you are ready to transfer the securities to the church. If you sell the securities and then donate the money - you won't realize the same tax benefits.
Deferred Gifts
Deferred gifts are another option you may wish to consider. These are gifts that can be given or arranged for now, but will not be received until later, and include gifts through a person's will by bequest, gifts of life insurance policies or annuities, and gifts in trust.
Bequest Through Your Will
Many people find that gifts by bequest are not only simple, but are also a great way to make a wonderful impact on our church's future by making a significant contribution that may not be possible during a person's lifetime.
You can direct a percentage or a fixed amount of your estate to the church through your will. By including the church in your will, you can reduce your estate taxes by taking a deduction for your charitable gifts, while also making a significant contribution to our church upon your death.
Where there's a will, there's a way! Contact us to help arrange your bequest.
There are also several specific gift opportunities that exist and give donors of qualifying gift amounts the unique chance to designate their gift to a particular portion of the project and dedicate it in honor or memory of those they choose. These special gift opportunities include:
Building Gift Opportunities Religious education & meeting center $300,000 Administration center $200,000 Religious education & meeting center Class/meeting rooms (8) $50,000 each Administration center Lobby/Library $75,000 Water Feature $25,000 Pastor's office $25000 Conference room $25,000 Parochial vicar's office $20,000 Offices (8) $20,000 each Breezeway $15,000 Media area $10,000 File storage area $5,000 Other Entry Plaza $150,000
A number of people indicated their willingness to lend a hand to work on our Together We Dreamed - In Faith We Build campaign at recent services. We are most grateful to them and their commitment to our campaign and our churcdh. All will be contacted sometime soon to place them in an appropriate place within the organizational structure of our campaign. This type of volunteer willingness is critical to our campaign's success.
Many hands make for light work and it our goal to ultimately involve as many parishioners as possible in various ways in this essential effort for our church. With this type of volunteer support, everyone's job will be a joy, no one will have to do too much for too long, and we will foster a tremendous sense of unity, community and commitment that will serve us well not only in the campaign but beyond.
Here's a list of our growing group of volunteers!
Ernesto & Carlota Agard Segundo & Aida Azurin Tony & Nellie Basquez Rafaela Baxa John & Catherine Bernatchy Janet Blea Norma Bolante Paz Cajucom Joe & Gladys Carrasco Daniel & Carmen Carson Alfred & Ramona Cervantes Mary DeDonato Dacy & Pedro De Santiago Jimmy Dichoso Joe & Jeanine Doerflein Ronald & Michelle Eck Veronica Fierros Don & Denise Fisher Gerald & Mary Fong Natividad & Guily Fontillas Doris Gibson Charles & Haruko Gilliam Ronald & Dora Godfrey Arthur & Frances Gomes Robbie & Teresa Gonzales Maria Gonzalez Maria Consuelo Gutierrez Agustin & Concepcion Guzman Vi Hall David & Susan Hanner Lennie & Clara Heimericks Edgar & Elizabeth Hernandez Dan & Diane Herteg John & Peggy Hoien Romeo & Carmen Jarin David Jiminez Gregory & Rosemary Judd Jack & Jean Lai Evangelina Lovett Judy Maffei Rose Malone Florinio & Marilou Manela Kit Mapa Francisca Martinez Adelaida Masulit Judy McGuire Armando & Becky Mora Billy & Virgie Monteagudo Joe Monteagudo Hank & Patti Morrow Paul & Celia Munoz Ray & Imelda Nanca Kay NaRanong Theresa Nartey Susan Nguyen Judy Niedzwiedz Nancy Oide Zenaida Oriel Sister Armida Ortega Cynthia Paez Paul Pham Rigoberto Pineda Alicia Plasencia Iner Pugat Michael Rich Esther Riddlesperger Elizabeth Rodriguez Gustavo Rodriquez Juan San Miguel Ralph Sanchez David Santos Walter & Terry Schaub Hal Seyvertsen Milet Sison Dom & Jane Somera Rev. Vicente Teneza Francisco Tyquiengco Jesus & Elizabeth Velasco Dee Vendeiro Jack Vito Diane E. Welsh Mary K. Wolf Dale & Shirley Yamamoto David Zarka Laura & Francis Zawalick So, if you are willing to work on the campaign in any way, please call the campaign office at 916-376-7792 to say that you'll happily help.
Upcoming Volunteer Activities and Events Mar 26 Witness week Apr 1 Prayer vigil Apr 2 Commitment weekend Apr 11 Phone-a-thon Apr 16 Celebration week
Will All in Favor of a Better Church
PLEASE LEND US A HAND?
Lending a hand and volunteering to work on our capital campaign will be 'hands down' a great experience. You'll get the chance to meet and work with many great people. You'll also be helping to raise funds for a needed and worthy cause, and you'll be helping to build an even better church. It promises to be a good time without taking a lot of time - an effort that will be rewarding in many ways and is easier than you think.
So, please lend a hand and volunteer to help with our campaign. Many hands make for light work and by lending your hand, you'll be helping to assure both a successful campaign and an even better parish.
I understand that the first payment on my pledge will begin on May 1st. Is this correct?
I pay the majority of my bills on line. Will I be able to make my pledge payment online?
I thought we had savings and pink envelope contributions. What happened to these funds?
If our goal for Phase I, $1,900,000 is not reached, will the building of Phase I be held up?
What is going to happen to the pink envelopes we have been using for the building fund?
I understand that the first payment on my pledge will begin on May 1st - is this correct?
I understand and support the need for the new parish center. I currently use my pink envelopes to contribute to the building fund. Why can't I just continue to do this for the parish center?
Thank you for supporting our parish. If you desire to not make a pledge but want to continue to support the parish center you may do so. However, the loan the Diocese will make to the parish is based on the amount that is pledged. To help ensure that we are able to construct the parish center is would help if you would pledge the amount you are currently giving to the building fund. This will not change your commitment, but will support the application for our loan.
I understand that the first payment on my pledge will begin on May 1st. Is this correct?
Yes, you are correct. Pledge payments are scheduled to begin on the first Sunday in May. If you are currently using the pink envelopes to contribute to the building fund you will be able to continue using them to make pledge payments. You will notice when you receive your May envelopes that the pink envelopes will change appearance. The logo for Our Field of Dreams will be replaced by our campaign logo, "Together We Dreamed - In Faith We Build". In addition, you will have a box to check to indicate that you are making a pledge payment. If you would like to begin making pledge payments sooner you can use the current pink envelopes, but you ust indicate on the envelope that it is a pledge payment.
My friends and I would like to name a classroom in honor of a mutual friend. Individually we cannot contribute the amount required to name a classroom. Can we combine our pledges to honor our mutual friend?
Yes you may. In order to do so you need to coordinate with the Campaign Office at 916-376-7792.
I pay the majority of my bills on line. Will I be able to make my pledge payment online?
Yes you may. To not only pay your pledge online but to also make your weekly offerings online go to the parish website at www.stpaul-florin.org and click on the "How do I Sign Up for Online Giving" link or Click Here.
A few of my friends have told me they have been asked to contribute to the campaign. I have not been contacted yet. When can I expect someone to contact me?
Every parishioner will be asked to contribute to the campaign. If you would rather not wait for someone to contact you, call the Campaign Office at 916-376-7792 to request a volunteer to contact you for an appointment.
I thought we had savings and pink envelope contributions. What happened to these funds?
You're correct. We currently have approximately $764,000 in our savings account. These funds are the base for our campaign. Our savings were the basis for the Diocese's approval of our proceeding to build our "Field of Dreams."
We were told in the bulletin who the contractors working for the parish are. How did we determine who would get our contracts?
To select contractors Father Vic and the Finance Council interviewed three firms interested in doing the parish's work. The contractors selected were considered to be the best to successfully help us to complete our dream for our parish center.
If our goal for Phase I, $1,900,000 is not reached, will the building of Phase I be held up?
If the pledge goal is not reached, yes, the building of the religious education center may be held up. Early responses to the campaign have been favorable and with continued parishioner support this goal will be met.
What is going to happen to the pink envelopes we have been using for the building fund?
We will continue to use the pink envelopes but they will change in appearance. The logo will change to our campaign logo. The pink envelopes may be used as one method to fulfill your campaign pledge.
I understand that the first payment on my pledge will begin on May 1st - is this correct?
Yes, you are correct. Pledge payments are scheduled to begin on the first Sunday in May. If you are currently using the pink envelopes to contribute to the Building Fund you will be able to continue using them to make pledge payments. The May pink envelopes will change appearance. The logo for Our Field of Dreams will be replaced by our campaign logo, "Together We Dreamed − In Faith We Build". In addition, you will have a box to check to indicate that you are making a pledge payment. If you would like to begin making pledge payments sooner you can use the current pink envelopes, but you must indicate on the envelope that it is a pledge payment.
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Remembering Saint Paul Parish Legacy
Excerpts from "A Short History of St. Paul Parish, Florin", prepared for the dedication of the new church on April 24, 1993.
Dedication
Laying Foundation - the first congregation
Remembering those before us who committed their resources to create a legacy at St. Paul, we gratefully seek to follow their example
Post War History
Completing the Structure - The First Resident Priest - Father Michael Hogan
The First Pastor - Father Richard Doheny
Purchase of the Old Florin School
The Second Church
Completing the Parish Facilities
The Second Pastor - Father John Hannan
Ordained Clergy for St. Paul Parish
The Third Pastor - Father Nicholas Duggan
The Third Church
The Growth in Parish Life
"From the adobé upon which man and beast trod, there has risen a beautiful church edifice which not only will bring appreciation and joy to numerous people for many years to come, but also will be the light and inspiration that will guide them to unending bliss."
These words spoken by Bishop Robert Armstrong at the dedication of the first St. Paul church, are appropriate not only for the creation of a church building, but also as a metaphor for the creation of a Christian community. For, if a Christian community is to be a 'holy temple of the Lord, a dwelling-place for God in the spirit' as is declared in The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, then the people of that community are the materials used by the Master Builder to construct the edifice designed by the Divine Architect.
Unfortunately, no dry recitation of facts and dates can adequately describe the building of a Christian community from its individual blocks to that 'beautiful church edifice' which becomes the instrument of human salvation. Although the human progress of a community is marked by its physical buildings, liturgical and social gatherings, marriages, birth and deaths, the mortar which binds together the individual blocks into Christ's church is that faith mixed by the Master Building in the innermost recesses of individual hearts and minds. No structure, from the humblest rural chapel to the grandest urban cathedral, can stand as a 'holy temple of the Lord' without this faith.
This history summarizes those events in the public history of St. Paul Parish which are remembered by long-time members of the parish and recorded in diocesan and parish records. It is hoped that the Christian faith underlying these events is, in some small way, made visible to those who make up the current community of St. Paul Parish.
Laying Foundations − The First Congregation
In early 1945 while World War Two was raging in Europe and Asia, Father Michael McGoldrick, pastor of All Hallows parish, noted in the parish baptismal registry. First Mass said in Odd Fellow's Hall Florin, Sunday, February 4th, 1945. Present 47. Time 10:00 a.m.
A week later The Superior California Register (the predecessor of the Catholic Herald) announced that Florin was to have Mass every Sunday:
'To accommodate the people of his parish living in the Florin district, the Rev. Michael McGoldrick, pastor of All Hollows announced that Mass will be offered every Sunday morning at 10:00 o'clock in the Red Man's Hall in Florin. (sic: Masses were actually held in the Odd Fellow's Hall, located over the Reese Store), Father McGoldrick offered the first Mass on Sunday morning February 4th with a large congregation attending.
Prior to the institution of Sunday Mass in Florin, Catholics living in that area attended Mass at the most conveniently located church. This means long drives (frequently over unpaved roads) to St. Joseph's in Elk Grove (itself a mission of St. Christopher's in Galt), St. Rose's, or, after 1942, All Hallow's.
It is not recorded why Fr. McGoldrick decided to start celebrating Mass in Florin. One of the original parishioners does remember that Fr. McGoldrick, after being given the assignment to start the All Hollows parish in 1942, did spend considerable time visiting those members of his congregation living in the Florin area. It may be that during these visits parishioners requested a Sunday Mass in the Florin area, or that, as a result of these visits Fr. McGoldrick concluded that the Catholics in the Florin area could be served best through the establishment of a mission. Whatever the reason, less than three years after starting All Hallow's parish Fr. McGoldrick also started the Florin mission.
As the secular world measured success at the time, the future survival of this mission was probably not too promising. The area was off the main roads and was populated mostly by farmers who, in the words of a native Florin resident, were 'just getting by' because the soil was poor and the market for their crops (primarily grapes) had been devastated by the Prohibition and the Great Depression. In addition, by the 'polite' standards of the time, the population was with some notable exceptions, comprised mostly of an outlandish mix of immigrants from Croatia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Portugal and Slovenia.
The business and social center of Florin was also not doing well. This strip of commercial establishments, social halls (including one which had been a notorious roadhouse and speakeasy during Prohibition), and churches along Florin Road next to the Southern Pacific tracks had been negatively affected by the war-time internment of the Japanese who made up a large percentage of the local population.
Remembering those before us who committed their resources to create a legacy at St. Paul, we gratefully seek to follow their example.
In September 1945, the community started building the first Saint Paul Church on a two-acre site donated by John and Augusta Bacchini. According to the Bacchini family members, because of the close proximity of the church, John and Augusts looked forward to walking to Mass as they had done in Italy. A month later, an Altar Society was formed by Lillian Tudesko, Ann Walker, and Mrs. Theodore Dymek for the purpose of making and buying linens for the new church and for organizing and laundering of the linens and the cleaning of the church after its completion.
Even though the country was still affected by war-time shortages of material and labor, the generosity of the community allowed the building of the church to proceed rapidly and the church was ready for dedication and occupancy on January 6, 1946. Because other materials were not readily available, the church walls were constructed of adobe brick produced on the church site and then covered with stucco. Although the Register reported that Maurice Bambery as the contractor for the building, at least one parishioner remembers most of the construction work was actually done by carpenters from Mexico with some help from the congregation. Individual donations of the windows by the James Frasinetti family, the tile roof by the George Persic family, and an organ by Mrs. Lillian Tudesko forwarded the rapid completion of the building, as did a contribution of the altar and money by the Catholic Church Extension Society of Chicago. The building was to serve as the home of the St. Paul community for almost 20 years. It is still standing and currently serves as the Florin branch of the St. Patrick's Day Care Center. (The church building has recently been refurbished by the Daughters of the Holy Cross religious order and will continue as the "Busy Bee" day care center.)
With the end of the war, came the return of the Japanese internees and a slow but steady population growth as the land was gradually subdivided for residential use. The influx of new residence was accelerated somewhat by development of the Kara housing tract in the mid 1950s.
Although a one long-time member of the community recalls that several Florin families petitioned Bishop Armstrong to establish a local parish in the late 1940s, the Diocese apparently had insufficient resources to support another parish, and St. Paul remained without a resident priest for the next 12 years. Fr. McGoldrick continued serving the St. Paul mission church from All Hallows until he was succeeded by Father John Maguire as pastor in 1949. In 1955 with the establishment of St. Peter's parish, responsibility for the Florin mission was passed to Fr. Edward Christen, the new pastor of St. Peter Parish.
During these years, St. Paul continued community life with little fanfare. Masses continued to be said every Sunday at 10 a.m. and the many occasions and celebrations that occur in any community - births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and deaths - were solemnized by those rituals prescribed by Holy Mother Church. Children were taught their catechism and fund raising social events were held.
Throughout this period, however, there can be little doubt that the St. Paul community was developing those characteristics which distinguished the parish even today. The openness, friendliness and tolerance which allows a congregation of diverse ethnic and racial background to fuse into a community. Many of the newcomers to the Florin area and to the parish had their roots in the Philippines and Mexico. While there might have been some initial mutual uncertainty about their reception at St. Paul, all who were willing to join in helping the community through participation in fund-raising events, the Altar society, or maintenance of the church and grounds were quickly accepted.
Completing the Structure - The First Resident Priest - Father Michael Hogan
In 1958, a new chapter opened in the life of St. Paul with the appointment of its first resident priest, Father Michael Hogan. Father Hogan, a native of Ireland, had come to the Sacramento Diocese in 1911 and had spent many years laboring in some of the Diocese's remoter parishes including Yreka, Angels Camp and Sonora. At the time of his appointment, Fr. Hogan was already old, being then 74 years of age, and he suffered acutely from arthritis.
Despite his age and his infirmities, Father Hogan is remembered by his congregation and fellow priests as diligently fulfilling his pastoral duties; celebrating Mass every Sunday and holy day, performing baptisms, visiting and blessing the homes purchased or built by his newcomers, and until his arthritis prevented him from driving, bringing the Sisters of Mercy from St. Rose's to teach catechism. After Father Hogan was no longer able to drive, the community assisted him with his duties by providing transportation.
Because St. Paul had no rectory at the time of his appointment, Father Hogan stayed with the George Badella family and later, with some hardship, lived in the church sacristy. When the rectory next to the church was finally built, it was situated as close to the church as possible to minimize Father Hogan's discomfort when walking.
Father Hogan was destined to serve as resident priest for less than two and a half years. While his congregation waited for Mass to begin on the Easter Sunday morning of April 17, 1960, Father Hogan suffered a stroke in the rectory and died. Those who attended him at the last observed that, true to his vocation, his last act was to finish his daily reading of the Divine Office.
The First Pastor - Father Richard Doheny
Ten days after Father Hogan's death, the Catholic Herald announced Bishop Joseph T. McGucken's appointment of Father Richard Doheny as administrator of St. Paul's. Father Doheny had come to the diocese from his native Ireland in 1948 and had previously served in Angel's Camp, Marysville, and immediately before his appointment to St. Paul, as pastor in Quincy.
One young parishioner of the time remembers that one of Father Doheny's first act after arriving at St. Paul was to plant a small garden of tomatoes in the space between the church and the rectory. This small garden marked the beginning of Father Doheny's 16 year labor in the fields and vineyards of St. Paul.
Father Doheny's tenure at St. Paul was to be marked by a number of significant events: the establishment of St. Paul as an independent parish, rapid growth of the St. Paul community and rapid changes in the Catholic church itself.
The establishment of St. Paul as an independent parish occurre3d on November 7, 1960 and shortly thereafter the Catholic Herald announced Father Doheny as pastor. The parish boundaries, which are still current, extended from Stockton Boulevard on the west to Grantline Road on the east. On the north it was bounded by Elder Creek Road to its dead end on Excelsior Road and then by the length of Jackson Highway between Excelsior to Grantline Road. The southern boundary was Stevenson Avenue and its extension between Stockton Boulevard and Grantline Road. At the founding date of the parish, these expansive boundaries held a mere 200 Catholic families.
The size of the new parish quickly grew with the completion of the first major subdivision in the Florin area in 1961 and 1962: Larchmont and Larchmont Lindale. This development was followed by numerous others, large and small, until 1976 when the St. Paul community enfolded over 700 families.
The changes in the Catholic church and its liturgy were similarly as rapid and wide-ranging. In the 1960s, the priest still celebrated the Tridentine Latin Mass with his back to the congregation. Responses to the Latin prayers were generally said only by the altar boys, communion was received on the tongue while kneeling at the communion rail, and every Mass ended with prayers for the conversion of Russia. The changes to this liturgical form started in 1962 with the placement of the altar so that the priest faced the people. Subsequent changes followed quickly one upon the other until, by 1970, the form of the Mass was substantially in the liturgical form we celebrate today.
Through the guidance of Father Doheny and the openness and generosity of the parishioners, the rapid growth and changes became an opportunity to grow even more stronger as a Catholic community.
Purchase of the Old Florin School
When it became obvious that parish activities would be constrained without more facilities, Father Doheny quickly purchased the old Florin Elementary School building which had previously housed the first integrated school in Florin. This structure, since torn down, was located about 200 yards east of the church on the south side of Florin Road. With the assistance of parishioners Ed Walker, Jack Ring and others, the old school was rapidly made ready for a three-week summer school of religion starting in June which was taught by the Sisters of Mercy from St. Patrick's School at the neighboring St. Rose's Parish. Students at this summer school have fond memories of Father Doheny playing catch and softball with them during recess.
This building was also used for a number of parish social events and fund raisers sponsored by the Women's Guild and other parish organizations including dances, dinners, and Bingo.
Acquisition of the old school property was paid for with the proceeds from a series of spaghetti dinners which were organized and cooked by Rosie Badella. These annual events, which were held at the old hall in Elk Grove Park, are fondly remembered by the parishioners of that time as happy social events which engaged the interest and energy of the whole parish, young and old alike. As recollected by Father Doheny, each dinner contributed over $1,200 to parish revenues, a large sum for the time.
As the growth of the Florin area continued, it became increasingly clear that the old church would no longer suffice for the parish. Not only was it becoming too small to accommodate the large congregation, but some parts of the facility were wearing out. As one example, parishioners of the time remember the school girl organist energetically working the organ's foot pumps after the electrically powered blower ceased functioning.
Although the Diocese thought the old school property might be adequate for building a larger church, Father Doheny judged that the creek on the property limited its potential as a future parish site. Consequently, he convinced the Bishop to lend the parish a down-payment for 15 acres on the corner of Florin Road and Gardner Avenue, the site of St. Paul parish today.
After the purchase the parish initiated a series of fund drives to raise money for the rest of the land payment and for a new church building. Construction of the new church and its parking lot began in early 1965, and the community celebrated the first Mass in the building on November 1, 1965, All Saints Day.
While the church was being built, Father Doheny and the parishioners looked for every means to stretch the available funds. One result of this vigilance was the "Great Pew Coup." From a fellow priest, Father Doheny learned that the Catholic parish in Gilroy was building a new church and would sell its old pews and some other items for $500, provided the buyer picked them up. When informed of the terms, Jim Noss, a parishioner who operated a trucking company, volunteered a rig to pick up the pews. Several parishioners, among them Ben Arellano, Francis Conrad, Felix Leier, Mike Scardello, and Joe Zentner, volunteered to help load the pews on the truck in Gilroy and unload them once they arrived at the new church site.
Other thrifty moves included the bargain purchase of the altar from Holy Spirit Parish in Sacramento and the continued use of the statues and Stations of the Cross from the old church. Then, as now, the statues of Mary and Joseph, which had adorned the first St. Paul parish, were repainted and moved to the new church. In addition, the small, bas-relief Stations of the Cross in the old church were repainted by members of the Villapando family and then reframed so that the scale was appropriate for the new, larger church.
Parishioners also helped with the finish work on the church. Clifford Lyons did the tile work, and several men from the parish mounted the large crucifix and corpus on the sanctuary wall.
Although this new church was designed to accommodate a greatly expanded congregation and, in fact, served as the home for the St. Paul community for over 25 years, it was originally intended as an interim structure which would eventually become a church hall.
The need to pay off the debt for the new church and property spawned a series of fund-raising social events, one of which is still held today. In August 1966, St. Paul Parish held the first Florin Fun Festival at the site of the new church, the precursor of today's St. Paul Festival. The coordinating committee for the event was headed by Margaret McKeknie and Mrs. Frank Calcagno, and many members of the St. Paul community pitched in to make the event a success. Another popular event was a fashion show which was originally organized by Mary Scardello. Those events were held for several years, with the last occurring in 1971.
Completing the Parish Facilities
After the construction of the church, Father Doheny, with the assistance of the parishioners, assembled the rest of the parish facilities. As with the church, economy was the watch word. For example, the current church hall was purchased in the late 1960's from Sacramento State college (now CSUS) for two dollars plus the cost of moving. Much of the labor and materials for converting it to a hall were contributed by parishioners. Similarly, the CCD classrooms and CYO Hall were relocated from other sites and then refurbished with the help of parishioners.
The final addition occurred around 1973 when the current rectory was moved to the parish site from a location new El Camino Boulevard in Carmichael, an event which made the local newspapers and television news. With the addition of the rectory, Father Doheny was finally able to move from the old church site and convey it to St. Patrick's for a day care center.
In the midst of the construction of parish facilities, social events and regular liturgical services, St. Paul's during this period also had organizations and events, which focused primarily on the community's spiritual life. The Legion of Mary met weekly for prayer and recitation of the rosary, missions and retreats were held by visiting Passionist priests, and the Virgin Mary was hoored by the annual May crowning. Saturday catechism classes continued under the direction of various parishioners and with the assistance of the Sisters of Mercy from St. Patrick's. And others, including Kay Corcoran continued to train the altar boys to assist at Mass.
In 1976, Father Doheny's tenure as pastor of St. Paul's ended when he accepted the appointment as pastor of St. Mel's parish in Fair Oaks. As one of his last duties, Father Doehny saw to it that St. Paul parish was on a firm financial bases. On the day they came to help with the packing for his move to Fair Oaks, Father Doheny asked Mrs.
Lucretia Balovich and Mrs. Benedict DeLeon to mail two envelopes. Only after they had returned from the post office did Father Doheny inform them that the envelopes contained the last payment on all outstanding parish debts.
The Second Pastor - Father John Hannan
On September 23, 1976, the Catholic Herald announced the appointment of Father John Hannan as new pastor of St. Paul Parish. Father Hannan, a native of Ireland, had served previously as a pastor in Susanville and Alturas.
In contrast to the preceding years, Father Hannan's stay at St. Paul was maarked by a slow-down in the growth of the parish, the improvements of existing parish facilities, and the greater involvement and participation of the laity in the governance of the parish and the planning of liturgical services.
The slower parish growth was primarily attributed to a lull in the construction of major subdivisions within the boundaries of the parish as developers moved to other areas; Greenhaven, the Pocket, Natomas, and Elk Grove. In addition, a slowdown in the economy and high interest rates also affected new home sales.
With this slower growth, the need to expand our parish facilities, including the church, became le3ss pressing. Instead, the emphasis turned to the improvement and remodeling of existing facilities. As a safety measure Gardner Avenue was widened, and culverts, sidewalks, and curbs put in. The church was remodeled with the addition of the vestibule, choir loft, and reconciliation rooms. And, in 1980, the rectory was extensively remodeled after the unfortunate occurrence of a fire.
The most lasting legacy of Father Hannan's tenure, however, was the greater inclusion of the laity in parish governance and liturgical preparation. Growing out of the Second Vatican Council, reemphasis on the church members as "the people of God" and suggested innovations in the operations of church and parish organizations this trend was furthered by the unfortunate reality of the increasing shortage of priests and religious who had formally guided many of these organizations.
As with the faltering steps of any new venture, some of the steps were successful and others were not. The attempt to form a parish council, for example, was unsuccessful. An unwieldy number of subcommittees and differences among council members led to its disbandment after two years.
Other innovations, however, were more successful and became an integral part of parish life. It was during Father Hannan's time that a small group of interested parishioners began meeting periodically - in the early days, as often as every two weeks - to be trained in and to implement liturgy planning. Father Hannan also added the liturgy coordinator to the St. Paul staff.
These two events led to the formation of a liturgy committee. The success of this venture can be seen in the continuation of this commttee today. While its membership has changed, it continues to meet each month to plan the liturgical celebrations of the parish and to coordinate the assignment and training of servers and lay ministers of music, hospitality, the liturgical environment, the Eucharist, and the Word.
This period also saw the greater participation of girls and women in the formal ministries with the inclusion in service at the altar, distribution of the Eucharist, and lectoring.
Ordained Clergy for St. Paul Parish
In 1980, and again in 1983, St. Paul parish experienced the joy and blessing of having members of the community become ordained ministers of the church.
In March, 1980, Benedict DeLeon, Jr., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Benedict DeLeon, Sr., was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Francis Quinn at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Among the diocesan priests who in the ancient, apostolic tradition, prayed over and imposed hands on the head of the newly ordained were Father Doheny (who had been mentor and role model for Father DeLeon), Father Hannan, Father Nicholas Duggan, and Monsignor Edward Kavanaugh (who had baptized Father DeLeon a quarter of a century before). The following day Father DeLeon celebrated his First Mass of Thanksgiving at the altar of St. Paul parish where he had served as an altar boy. Since his first assignment as associate pastor at St. Catherine's in Vallejo, Father DeLeon served as the Diocesan vocation director, Chaplin at Christian Brothers High School, Pastor of St. John parish in Dunsmuir, and administrator of St. Joeseph parish in McCloud. In 1992, Father. DeLeon was made pastor of the new St. Clare's parish in the Antelope area east of Sacramento.
In 1983, Bishop Quinn ordained Charles Morrison as a permanent deacon for St. Paul parish. He continues to contribute greatly to the community through his performance of baptisms, preaching and the teaching of the Catholic update class.
In 1986, Father Hannan ended his stay at St. Paul parish when he was appointed pastor of Corpus Christi parish in Tahoe City.
The Third Pastor - Father Nicholas Duggan
On March 31, 1986, the Catholic Herald announced the appointment of Father Nicholas Duggan as the new pastor of St. Paul Parish. Father Duggan, a native of Ireland, came to the parish from St. Anne's, Sacramento where he had been pastor for 12 years. Previously, he had served in a variety of parishes including St. Thomas More in Paradise.
Father Duggan's arrival coincided with another explosion of building within the boundaries of St. Paul parish. In early 1986, rapid development began in the area south of Gerber Road. Land which had been used for grazing cattle and keeping horses quickly became subdivisions of homes. This growth had the inevitable effect of increasing the size of St. Paul parish community to the current 1,500 families.
With this growth, it became quickly apparent that the current church would no longer be adequate to serve the congregation. With this in mind, Father Duggan and members of the community organized a series of fund drives. The first of these served to put the parish on a firmer financial basis for its ongoing operations. The following fund drives raised funds specifically for the building of the new church which began in 1992. Although slowed by one of the wettest winters in decades, the building was essentially completed for its dedication on April 23, 1993.
The growth in the St. Paul parish community, however, has not been limited only to its growth in numbers. Besides those activities, such as catechism, which has always been integral to the community, parish life continued to grow under Father Duggan with the addition of liturgical, spiritual and social events which enhance the life of a viable Christian community. Liturgical events include communal penance services and special liturgies for the ill and lay ministers. The spiritual life of the community has been enriched with the bible study, Catholic update, and prayer groups. Comfort and help has been extended through the formation of the Bereavement Committee and the carrying of the Eucharist to the sick. And the social life has been active with the institut8ioin of Sunday breakfasts sponsored and organized by the CYO and Friendship Club. The Knights of Columbus have also been very active in sponsoring dinners, dances and other events and in providing St. Paul parish with much needed equipment.
The growth of St. Paul parish has also moved beyond the geographical boundaries of the parish. In keeping with the Christian message of the Social Gospel, the St. Paul community has extended its helping hand to the less fortunate in the larger community of which St. Paul is a part. Groups of parishioners now volunteer regularly at the Loaves and Fishes dining room. Recently, others have begun helping the California Emergency Food Link. By these actions, the parish follows the prayer of St. Paul that "faith will give rise to a sense of fellowship that will show ... all the good things that we are able to do for Christ."
This page last updated on Thursday, February 09, 2012