Report on Our Lady of Angels Parish, Burlingame

Page 1

Capuchin Franciscan Fathers OUR LADY OF ANGELS 1345 CORTEZ AVENUE BURLINGAME, CALIFORNIA The Parish was cut off St. Catherines- Burlingame in the Month of November 1926, and was handed over to our care by Most Rev Archbishop E.J.Hanna. Its limits were defined as from Sanches Avenue South to a point in Millbrea Estate North, and from the Bay Shore East to an indefinite point West. Father Thomas was assigned as Pastor and Superior. His Assistant was Fr. Berchmans. A Capuchin Spanish Father assigned to the Mission of Guam remained with these two Fathers for the purpose of learning English and was of considerable help as he attended the Convent of Mercy which was assigned to us as a Chaplaincy. Our first duty was to secure a location, and we were fortunate to be able to procure a small structure that at one time was used as an Episcopalian Church and afterwards as a Guild Hall. We purchased it from the Protestant Bishop of San Francisco. It was in a short time totally inadequate for our needs, and at considerable cost had to added to. We lived for many months in a tiny cottage adjoining. Within twelve months we purchased a more spacious cottage and lot at the North side of the little Church. With the approval of the Archbishop we turned our former residence into a school, adding thereto some outbuildings to accommodate about eighty children. We shall always be indebted to Rev. Mother Bernard, Superior General of the Sisters of mercy who generously gave us four sisters to begin the attempt of establishing a Catholic school. It was the first attempt on the Peninsula from San Francisco to Redwood City. Even the Archbishop was very doubtful about the success, especially as we had no resources to build and equip a modern building. We guaged the Faith of the people rightly, for our small accommodation was taxed from the opening. Within two years placing our reliance on Divine Providence, we tore down our "Shacks" and erected our present spacious school, the auditorium of which has served as Church up to now. This necessitated acquiring considerable property for playgrounds for the children. Independent of the Father Isidore replaced Fr. Eugene the Spanish Father when he left for his Mission in Guam. Fathers Adrian and Terence replaced Fathers Berchmans and Isidore, and we had the assistance of Father Laurence who was sent here from Ireland for his health. Fathers Conleth and Fergus succeeded Frs. Adrian and Terence. Finances. Borrowed on note of Archbishop for buying requisite property, for erection of Church and School, and for acquisition of playgrounds for children - Amount of debt paid off ----- $115,000.00 Amount of present debt ----- $50,000.00 Amount paid since last Provincial Visitation made by Very Rev. Fr. Edwin July 19th 1933-- $65,000.00 There is every evidence that above debt will be speedily wiped out as the rate of interest which was 6% when the debt was high has within the past few months been reduced to 4%. ***** Missionary Work since last…