The Early Years
As early as the 1920′s, among strawberry fields and orange groves in a once rural area now known as Stanton, California, a small mission church (really a converted barn) was established at Flower Street in Stanton, mainly within boundaries that were formerly a part of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westminster. In 1959, a four-room school was established by the Columban Sisters as an extension of Blessed Sacrament School. Under the direction of Father Robert Ross, the school was built to its present rectangular layout by volunteer laborers.
Under the direction of Archbishop (later Cardinal) McIntyre of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Catholic parish officially known as Saint Polycarp was established in 1961 with its boundaries formed to take in land and housing from five other parishes (Saint Pius V, Blessed Sacrament, Saint Isodore Mission [Saint Hedwig], Saint Columban, and Saint Boniface). Reverend (later Monsignor) Daniel McLaughlin was appointed as its first pastor. A house on Orangewood Avenue was purchased as a rectory for the priests until the parish complex was complete. A church, adjacent rectory and school expansions would be built on five acres of farm land near the intersections of Chapman Avenue and Highway 39 (Beach Boulevard). The church building was opened in 1962 and the rectory was finished in December, 1964.
The Columban Sisters continued as teachers and administrators of the parish school until 1963. In May, 1962, the Apostolic Oblates arrived from Italy to assume administrative and teaching duties in the school. A convent was established in a two-story duplex on Fillmore Street. School classrooms held 50+ pupils in each grade and the school expanded to eight grades (grades 1-8; two classrooms each) by 1966. The peak attendance for the school was that same year with 649 students. The Oblates continued in the school until 1978. Further administration of the school has been taken on by lay leaders since that time. Because of declining enrollment, a kindergarten was added in 1979.
Under the direction of Archbishop (later Cardinal) McIntyre of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Catholic parish officially known as Saint Polycarp was established in 1961 with its boundaries formed to take in land and housing from five other parishes (Saint Pius V, Blessed Sacrament, Saint Isodore Mission [Saint Hedwig], Saint Columban, and Saint Boniface). Reverend (later Monsignor) Daniel McLaughlin was appointed as its first pastor. A house on Orangewood Avenue was purchased as a rectory for the priests until the parish complex was complete. A church, adjacent rectory and school expansions would be built on five acres of farm land near the intersections of Chapman Avenue and Highway 39 (Beach Boulevard). The church building was opened in 1962 and the rectory was finished in December, 1964.
The Columban Sisters continued as teachers and administrators of the parish school until 1963. In May, 1962, the Apostolic Oblates arrived from Italy to assume administrative and teaching duties in the school. A convent was established in a two-story duplex on Fillmore Street. School classrooms held 50+ pupils in each grade and the school expanded to eight grades (grades 1-8; two classrooms each) by 1966. The peak attendance for the school was that same year with 649 students. The Oblates continued in the school until 1978. Further administration of the school has been taken on by lay leaders since that time. Because of declining enrollment, a kindergarten was added in 1979.
Parish Leadership
In the 1970′s, dramatic administrative changes took place which had direct effects on St. Polycarp Parish. His Eminence, Cardinal James Francis McIntyre resigned in 1970 and was replaced by Archbishop (later Cardinal) Timothy Manning. In 1976, the Diocese of Orange was created with Most Reverend William Johnson as its first Bishop. At the parish level, Father McLaughlin retired in 1979 and Father Frank Buckman was appointed administrator, then later pastor of the parish.
It was during the 1970′s that the emerging Hispanic Community was recognized as a distinct and important part of the parish community. To respond to the needs of this viable part of the parish, by 1975 a Spanish language Mass replaced the Latin language Mass on Sunday mornings. Hispanic ministries have expanded and grown dramatically in the last 20 years.
During Father Buckman’s administration, the former rectory (house on Orangewood) and the convent (duplex on Fillmore) were sold and the funds used to pay off the parish debt. Permission was given by the Bishop for the building of a parish hall which was completed in 1979. The annual parish Fiesta, begun in the late 60′s, continued to be the main fund raiser and social event of the parish. Father Jaime Soto, an alumni of the school and parish (later a Monsignor and Vicar of the Hispanic Community) was ordained and celebrated his first Mass at St. Polycarp.
In 1984, Father (later Monsignor) Lawrence J. Baird was appointed pastor for the parish. Under his administration, the role of lay ministers and paid parish staff continued to expand and be redefined. The 25th anniversary of the parish was the largest social event enrollment. During the 1987 papal visit to Los Angeles, a large group of parishioners from St. Polycarp made and displayed one hundred yellow and white flags to fly over the Los Angeles Coliseum during the Mass celebrated by John Paul II. After the death of Bishop Johnson, Most Reverend Norman F. McFarland because the second Bishop of the Diocese of Orange in 1987 until his retirement in 1999. Tod Brown was the third Bishop of Orange. And currently Most Reverend Bishop Kevin Vann in the fourth Bishop of Orange.
It was during the 1970′s that the emerging Hispanic Community was recognized as a distinct and important part of the parish community. To respond to the needs of this viable part of the parish, by 1975 a Spanish language Mass replaced the Latin language Mass on Sunday mornings. Hispanic ministries have expanded and grown dramatically in the last 20 years.
During Father Buckman’s administration, the former rectory (house on Orangewood) and the convent (duplex on Fillmore) were sold and the funds used to pay off the parish debt. Permission was given by the Bishop for the building of a parish hall which was completed in 1979. The annual parish Fiesta, begun in the late 60′s, continued to be the main fund raiser and social event of the parish. Father Jaime Soto, an alumni of the school and parish (later a Monsignor and Vicar of the Hispanic Community) was ordained and celebrated his first Mass at St. Polycarp.
In 1984, Father (later Monsignor) Lawrence J. Baird was appointed pastor for the parish. Under his administration, the role of lay ministers and paid parish staff continued to expand and be redefined. The 25th anniversary of the parish was the largest social event enrollment. During the 1987 papal visit to Los Angeles, a large group of parishioners from St. Polycarp made and displayed one hundred yellow and white flags to fly over the Los Angeles Coliseum during the Mass celebrated by John Paul II. After the death of Bishop Johnson, Most Reverend Norman F. McFarland because the second Bishop of the Diocese of Orange in 1987 until his retirement in 1999. Tod Brown was the third Bishop of Orange. And currently Most Reverend Bishop Kevin Vann in the fourth Bishop of Orange.
Recent Years
Beginning his duties as pastor in 1989, Father Thomas P. Pado faced administrating a parish in the 1990′s that continued to grow to over 3,100 registered families and to change rather dramatically in many areas in recent years. No longer is the parish an agricultural area made up of mostly single-family dwellings. This portion of the Orange Diocese, serving the cities of Anaheim, Cypress, Garden Grove, Stanton, and unincorporated county areas, has become one with its population at high density levels and is mainly suburban in nature. In the last three decades the population demographics have changed from an almost exclusively English-speaking, middle class group to a predominately blue-collar/immigrant work force, with a large portion of the residents with Hispanic background. Within the last five years, St. Polycarp Parish has shown a dramatic growth in the Asian/Pacific Islander groups, most notably with ties to Vietnam, the Philippines, and Korea.
These ethnic, economic, and demographic changes have greatly impacted the parish as a whole. While embracing the richness of its cultural diversity, these shifts have impacted enrollment in the parish school, the celebration and scheduling of our liturgies, and the staffing of all ministries of the parish. The pastor, parish staff, and other ministers rely on recruiting more lay people to serve in the various ministries and programs, as well as to serve as program/organization directors, coordinators, and advisory board members. This is especially true within the various ethnic groups because of their specific language and cultural needs.
These ethnic, economic, and demographic changes have greatly impacted the parish as a whole. While embracing the richness of its cultural diversity, these shifts have impacted enrollment in the parish school, the celebration and scheduling of our liturgies, and the staffing of all ministries of the parish. The pastor, parish staff, and other ministers rely on recruiting more lay people to serve in the various ministries and programs, as well as to serve as program/organization directors, coordinators, and advisory board members. This is especially true within the various ethnic groups because of their specific language and cultural needs.