Diamond Jubilee History
By M. M. Howard Miller, Originally published in the 75th Anniversary booklet in 1990
Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
In 1982 MonsignorJoseph Pollard served as pastor at St. Brendan's. His understanding and help for those particularly in need in time of severe health problems, was deeply appreciated. He became director of the Department of Communication and was frequently seen on television. Later he was appointed head of the Archdiocesan Theological Commission. In 1988, because of his teaching and scholarly abilities, he was assigned to the staff at St. lohn's Seminary in Camarillo.
In 1988 MonsignorJeremiah Murphy became our present pastor. A chorus of gratitude is constantly heard throughout the parish for this decisive, friendly, and dedicated priest!
St. Brendan's first church and school were designed and built in 1915 by Charles Murray and P.J. McNeil, who founded the McNeil Construction Company. Charles and Margaret Murray's daughter Mabel married George A.J. Howard. The Howards transferred their eldest son from Immaculate Conception to St. Brendan's when it opened. Their other four children followed, as did four grandchildren and now a great-grandson, is entering in September, 1989.
Sister Albertine of the Immaculate Heart Order came to
St. Brendan's School in 1918. She taught school from
9:00 A.M.
to 3:00 P.M., and music before and after school. She
played the organ at the first Mass at the new church
and probably
has the clearest and most detailed recollections of
early St. Brendan's. She is now 91 years old, and is living
in the Immaculate
Heart Community retirement home. She not only remembers
who was in her first class, but she remembers where
each
pupil
sat, and she can name most of the students in the 1922
photograph of the school.
Teaching in the building which faced on Western, had two relentless demands which stressed student and teacher resiliency. The yellow street car—a loud "S"—went by every few minutes, and at odd intervals, the fire engines housed two blocks away careened by with sirens, bells and horns blaring. Teaching and recitation always came to a halt!
The sisters lived at Immaculate Conception until Father Forde was able to rent a nearby house for them. The sisters rode the yellow cars, from 9th and Green Streets, transferring at Western Avenue. They wore the long habit, long mantle and black gloves and usually stood, trying to read their office on the swaying car.
Sister Albertine's father, Arthur Campbell, owned the Campbell Ironworks on Glendale and Beverly Boulevard. Her father, brother and four sisters were designers. The firm made the exquisite iron work in St. Brendan. Ninety percent of this work was forged by hand on an anvil (black-smithing). The metal was heated and hammered into the flowers, leaves, acorns, and garlands, that you see about the church.
The baptistry iron work, said to be some of the finest in the world, was created by this remarkable family.
Sister Albertine's brother-in-law, Charles Switzer, later made the book racks, the balustrade to the choir and other pieces.
