HISTORY OF ST. ANGELA MERICI CHURCH

 

In 1951, St. Mary’s Parish in Fullerton began as a mission to Catholics in Brea. The first mass was celebrated in the American Legion Hall by Rev. Augustine O’Gorman, Pastor of  St. Mary’s in Fullerton. In 1952, The Archdiocese of Los Angeles purchased land for a new parish in Brea and in 1955, Cardinal McIntyre approved construction of a temporary hall at the corner of Fir Street and Walnut Avenue. The new pastor of St. Mary’s in Fullerton, Rev. John Siebert, continued serving the mission in Brea. On January 29, 1956 ground was broken for the temporary hall and construction was completed within the same year; Cardinal McIntyre blessed the new structure on March 17, 1957. An altar society was begun in April. Five years later, Rev. Emmett B. McCarthy was appointed pastor when the Mission became a parish under the patronage of  St. Angela Merici.

In 1964, the Sisters of St. Clare arrived from Ireland to teach in the new year with four grades. By 1966, a convent was erected to house the ten sisters. In September the Archdiocese approved plans for a new parish structure which included the relocation of the temporary building for future use as a hall.

In 1968, Fr. McCarthy was honored with the title of Monsignor and in 1969 the new building was completed and opened for Easter services. In 1979, the Women’s Council Christmas Bell Ringer raised funds for the electric Carillon for the church building.

 In 1988, Fr. McCarthy retired as pastor and Fr. Gordon Pillon served temporarily as Administrator. In 1988, Msgr. Brian Coghlan was appointed as the second pastor of St. Angela Merici Parish. He served until 1993 and Fr. Ted Olson was appointed as the third pastor. Major Construction projects were overseen by Fr. Olson including a new parish center, a new hall and a new kindergarten classroom. In 2003, the founding pastor, Rev. Msgr. Emmett B. McCarthy, died, and in 2005 Fr. Olson was reassigned to St. Pius V Parish after his 12 year term at St. Angela’s. Fr. Michael-Dwight Galinada was appointed the fourth pastor of St. Angela’s Parish. He has overseen a number of renovation projects.