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 Hallows, 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 Hallows 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.
Post War History
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.