Saratoga
California
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Sacred Heart Parish
History:
In 1852, Martin McCarty registered a plot-plan and named it McCartyville. The name was changed in 1865 to Saratoga. Sacred Heart Parish has its roots in the community of Catholics who, in 1878, gathered in Hanna McCarty's parlor for a monthly Mass. Father Aloysius Masinata, S. J. came on horseback from Santa Clara College to celebrate this Mass on the first Monday of each month.
In the 1880's French, Swiss, and Italian families settled in the mountains above Saratoga where they established orchards and vineyards. They built a small chapel, named for St. John the Evangelist, at Longbridge, across from what is now the Saratoga Springs Resort.
The community quickly outgrew this chapel, and under the leadership of Father Dossala, S. J., purchased a site at Sixth and Big Basin Way where they built a mission church in 1885, named Sacred Heart. Fr. Joseph Riordan, SJ, President of Santa Clara preached at the dedication Mass.
In 1905, this community became a mission of St. Joseph Church (now St. Joseph Cathedral/Basilica). This same year, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur established their Novitiate in Saratoga. The Novices began teaching catechism classes, initiating a relationship with Sacred Heart that would last over ninety years.
In 1913, Saint Joseph of Cupertino Parish took over responsibility for the Saratoga community until the establishment of Sacred Heart Parish on January 12, 1951. At that time, Archbishop John J. Mitty appointed Fr. Gerald Geary the first pastor of the new parish.
One of Father Geary's first tasks was to build a rectory adjoining the church with a hall that would accommodate sixty people. Since it quickly became apparent that the original church would not serve the growing community, the parish purchased property on Saratoga Avenue in 1955.
Two years later, they began the construction of Sacred Heart School with a primary wing. The first four grades opened in 1957. Three classrooms were set aside for Sunday Mass. It was at this time that the City of Saratoga was incorporated.
In 1960, the parish hall (later named Geary Hall in honor of the parish's first pastor) was built. A chapel for daily Mass was attached to the side. On March 1, 1960, Ash Wednesday, the last Mass was celebrated in the old church on Big Basin Way. The celebration of Mass now took place in the hall and the school was able to occupy all the primary classrooms. At this time, the present rectory was built.
In 1964 the Junior High wing of the school was completed, to be followed three years later by the construction of the convent building. Then, in 1970, Archbishop Joseph T. McGucken dedicated the present church. Four years later, after having provided pastoral leadership to the new parish for twenty-three years and having overseen the construction of a complete parish campus, Fr. Geary died. Msgr. James Maher succeeded him as pastor.
In 1981, the Catholic church in Santa Clara County was separated from the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The Diocese of San Jose was established with Bishop Pierre DuMaine as its first bishop.
In 1986, Msgr. Maher retired and Bishop DuMaine appointed Father Thomas Ahern as pastor. Father Ahern served until 1996 when he retired and Father Alexander Larkin was appointed pastor. In the summer of 1996, the Sacred Heart Men's club planted the first section of our Sacred Heart Heritage Vineyard.
The following year, the addition to Geary Hall, begun by Father Ahern, was completed. This addition provided storage space for school and parish as well as a much needed meeting room. The bathrooms in Geary Hall were remodeled at this time, providing handicapped access. It was in this year the parish Men's Club began sponsoring an annual concert, beginning with. Joan Bondi, who was followed by "Nuns for Fun", the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Chanticleer, the Vienna Choir Boys, Judy Collins, and the Canadian Brass.
In 1998, for the first time since its opening, Sacred Heart School did not have any Sisters of Notre Dame on its staff. It was also this year, that, at the request of Bishop DuMaine, the Holy Father appointed Patrick J. McGrath as the Coadjutor Bishop of San Jose. Bishop McGrath took up residence at Sacred Heart Parish until he succeeded Bishop DuMaine at the end of the following year. At this time also, the parish, in conjunction with a diocesan wide effort, began a seismic upgrade to its school, hall and church. The goal was to protect the occupants in the case of a severe earthquake.
In 2000, at the request of Bishop McGrath, Pope John Paul II named Father Larkin a Prelate of Honor with the title of Monsignor. Several parishioners were also recognized with the Pro Ecclesia and Pontifice award for their outstanding service to church and community. In keeping with a diocesan policy to provide physical separation between work and residence and to better serve the evolving needs of the parish, the parish offices were relocated to the former convent building. The school educational program was expanded with the addition of a Montessori preschool class.
The parish began the year 2001 with a Mass celebrating its parish jubilee. In order to provide library services to the community while the neighboring facility was under construction, the parish leased part of its parking/play area to the City of Saratoga for a temporary library facility.
The following year saw the construction of an addition to the parish school. This project added new school office space and a preschool classroom, as well as renovations that provided a new catechetical office, school library and math classroom. In December of 2002, Msgr. James Maher, the second pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, died.
In 1852, Martin McCarty registered a plot-plan and named it McCartyville. The name was changed in 1865 to Saratoga. Sacred Heart Parish has its roots in the community of Catholics who, in 1878, gathered in Hanna McCarty's parlor for a monthly Mass. Father Aloysius Masinata, S. J. came on horseback from Santa Clara College to celebrate this Mass on the first Monday of each month.
In the 1880's French, Swiss, and Italian families settled in the mountains above Saratoga where they established orchards and vineyards. They built a small chapel, named for St. John the Evangelist, at Longbridge, across from what is now the Saratoga Springs Resort.
The community quickly outgrew this chapel, and under the leadership of Father Dossala, S. J., purchased a site at Sixth and Big Basin Way where they built a mission church in 1885, named Sacred Heart. Fr. Joseph Riordan, SJ, President of Santa Clara preached at the dedication Mass.
In 1905, this community became a mission of St. Joseph Church (now St. Joseph Cathedral/Basilica). This same year, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur established their Novitiate in Saratoga. The Novices began teaching catechism classes, initiating a relationship with Sacred Heart that would last over ninety years.
In 1913, Saint Joseph of Cupertino Parish took over responsibility for the Saratoga community until the establishment of Sacred Heart Parish on January 12, 1951. At that time, Archbishop John J. Mitty appointed Fr. Gerald Geary the first pastor of the new parish.
One of Father Geary's first tasks was to build a rectory adjoining the church with a hall that would accommodate sixty people. Since it quickly became apparent that the original church would not serve the growing community, the parish purchased property on Saratoga Avenue in 1955.
Two years later, they began the construction of Sacred Heart School with a primary wing. The first four grades opened in 1957. Three classrooms were set aside for Sunday Mass. It was at this time that the City of Saratoga was incorporated.
In 1960, the parish hall (later named Geary Hall in honor of the parish's first pastor) was built. A chapel for daily Mass was attached to the side. On March 1, 1960, Ash Wednesday, the last Mass was celebrated in the old church on Big Basin Way. The celebration of Mass now took place in the hall and the school was able to occupy all the primary classrooms. At this time, the present rectory was built.
In 1964 the Junior High wing of the school was completed, to be followed three years later by the construction of the convent building. Then, in 1970, Archbishop Joseph T. McGucken dedicated the present church. Four years later, after having provided pastoral leadership to the new parish for twenty-three years and having overseen the construction of a complete parish campus, Fr. Geary died. Msgr. James Maher succeeded him as pastor.
In 1981, the Catholic church in Santa Clara County was separated from the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The Diocese of San Jose was established with Bishop Pierre DuMaine as its first bishop.
In 1986, Msgr. Maher retired and Bishop DuMaine appointed Father Thomas Ahern as pastor. Father Ahern served until 1996 when he retired and Father Alexander Larkin was appointed pastor. In the summer of 1996, the Sacred Heart Men's club planted the first section of our Sacred Heart Heritage Vineyard.
The following year, the addition to Geary Hall, begun by Father Ahern, was completed. This addition provided storage space for school and parish as well as a much needed meeting room. The bathrooms in Geary Hall were remodeled at this time, providing handicapped access. It was in this year the parish Men's Club began sponsoring an annual concert, beginning with. Joan Bondi, who was followed by "Nuns for Fun", the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Chanticleer, the Vienna Choir Boys, Judy Collins, and the Canadian Brass.
In 1998, for the first time since its opening, Sacred Heart School did not have any Sisters of Notre Dame on its staff. It was also this year, that, at the request of Bishop DuMaine, the Holy Father appointed Patrick J. McGrath as the Coadjutor Bishop of San Jose. Bishop McGrath took up residence at Sacred Heart Parish until he succeeded Bishop DuMaine at the end of the following year. At this time also, the parish, in conjunction with a diocesan wide effort, began a seismic upgrade to its school, hall and church. The goal was to protect the occupants in the case of a severe earthquake.
In 2000, at the request of Bishop McGrath, Pope John Paul II named Father Larkin a Prelate of Honor with the title of Monsignor. Several parishioners were also recognized with the Pro Ecclesia and Pontifice award for their outstanding service to church and community. In keeping with a diocesan policy to provide physical separation between work and residence and to better serve the evolving needs of the parish, the parish offices were relocated to the former convent building. The school educational program was expanded with the addition of a Montessori preschool class.
The parish began the year 2001 with a Mass celebrating its parish jubilee. In order to provide library services to the community while the neighboring facility was under construction, the parish leased part of its parking/play area to the City of Saratoga for a temporary library facility.
The following year saw the construction of an addition to the parish school. This project added new school office space and a preschool classroom, as well as renovations that provided a new catechetical office, school library and math classroom. In December of 2002, Msgr. James Maher, the second pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, died.