St. Didacus Catholic Church at 4772 Felton Street, San Diego, CA 92116 US - St. Didacus History 101

 

St. Didacus Catholic Church Established 1926

Since 1926 when the Bishop of the Los Angeles-San Diego diocese directed Fr. Thomas V. Murphy to establish a new church in San Diego, St. Didacus parish served and responded to the needs of its people.  Once formed, the initial enrgies of the paish were directed toward constructing the church and rectory.  Land was purchased on the cornder of Felton and Collier Street which contained a very small house.  Quarters were croweded and everything that first year was make-shift or borrowed.  Daily Mass was in the small bungalow rectory.  Charles Malenson, the first altar boy, wore a borrowed surplice and cassock which was shortened each day with a belt by Agnes Larkin, the housekeeper.  Sunday Mass was held in the nearby Oniera Clubhouse on Hawley Boulevard until the church was finished the next year. In 1927, the church and rectory were completed.  It cost $40,500 and had a frontage of 150' on Felton Street.  Many of the stained glass windows, statues, ciboriums, and other church furnishings were donated by individual parishioners.  The windows were designed by Fred Wieland and are considered priceless today.  Dedication of St. Didacus Church took place in October 1927. Shortly thereafter, Fr. Murphy was transferred to Santa Maria, California to establish another new parish.  On November 15, 1930, Fr. Luke Deignan became the new pastor of St. Didacus Parish.  Fr. Deignan's primary responsibilites, aside from the religious nurturing of the parishioners, was to arrange for the religious training of the parish children and organizing social life of the parish youth.  On May 2, 1937 the first Bishop of the newly formed San Diego diocese, the late Charles Francis Buddy, made his official visit to St. Didacus Church.  Finally, in 1939, Fr. Deignan's dream of a parish school was realized.  St. Didacus School was dedicated on September 17, 1939.  The first graduating exercises were held in St. Didacus Church on June 13, 1941, when twenty pupils recieved doploma's of graduation. On April 20, 1951, Fr. Deignan was elevated to Monsignor by Pope Pius XII.  This was a day for everyone.  This joy and enthusiam carried over in the coming years, many organizations were formed such as the Young Ladies Sodality, the Altar Society, Holy Name Society, the St. Didacus Catholic Club, the Mother's Club which is known as the Parent Teacher's Guild, Legion of Mary, the Parish High School of Religion, and the Parish Grade School of Religion.  However, December 19, 1968, was the day of mourning for St. Didacus Parish.  After thirty-eight years of dedicated devotion, Monsignor Luke Deignan died of a heart attack in the church rectory.  The new year brought still another sad note to the parish.  After thirty years of service to St. Didacus School, the Holy Cross Sisters were recalled to their Motherhouse at the end of the school year. A new era started in 1969 with the arrival of Fr. Charles P. Young as the Pastor.  With the school in danger of closing, Fr. Young was instrumental in bringing the Sisters of Mercy from Taum County, Ireland, to staff the school.  Fr. Young stressed the need for more adult education, the integration of policies of the Church which evolved from Vatican II, St. Didacus became a member of the San Diego County Ecumenical Conference, the parish welcoming committee was formed.  Fr. Young also complied with the Bishop's request that a Parish Council be created to assist with the administration of the Parish.  It has, to this day, been the coordination and unifying structure of the Parish. Monsignor Patrick O'Dowd became our next Pastor.  And under careful and loving direction, St. Didacus flourished and grew into a close knit community of concerned parishioners. The summer of 1984 began the term of Monsignor Michael Coughlan.  When Monsignor Coughlan arrived at our parish he immediately set out to upgrade the appearance and condition of the church and rectory.  And upon hearing of the dreams of the parish community to have a Parish Hall, set out to provide for one.  The dream came true on December 19, 1986 when Bishop Leo T. Maher blessed the brand new Parish Hall. Upon Monsignor Coughlan's retirement in 1990, due to health consensus, Father Al Ryan was appointed sixth pastor of St. Didacus.  Having served as an associate at St. Didacus, Fr. Ryan was most anxious to assume his new duties as Pastor to many old friends.  Health again was the cause of early reitrement for Fr. Ryan and as a result, Fr. Scott McColl assumed the pastorate in April 1991.  After 8 years of faithful service, Fr. Scott transferred to Ascension Parish and Fr. Michael Booth was named pastor in the summer of 1999.  February of the year 2000 brought Fr. Michael Robinson to St. Didacus.  Next in line was Fr. Michael Baumgardener.  Our current Pastor is Father Michael J. Sinor.