Published: Friday, March 14, 2003

With arms outstretched

By Sister Nancy Munro, CSJ
Among parishes in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Mary Star of the Sea Church in San Pedro has a unique position: set on a hill near the Pacific, its beautiful symbol - a 10-foot bronze statue of Mary - atop its bell tower, her arms outstretched toward the Port of Los Angeles.

This visible symbol - the Blessed Mother Mary welcoming both the seaman returning to his home port and visitors from near and far - captures well the welcoming, "reaching out" spirit of Mary Star of the Sea parish.

Its veteran pastor, Msgr. Patrick Gallagher, loves this 5,500-family parish, and is especially delighted at how his parishioners reach out to those in need, often and generously. Each year Msgr. Gallagher celebrates a special Mass of Thanksgiving and dinner for the many volunteers of the parish, who number about 600. He sets the tone for a spirit of giving.

"This parish is the center of my life, really. I am happy serving here," says Msgr. Gallagher, pastor since 1984. "I find great fulfillment here and I find great support with the people. I really love these people."

Mary Star of the Sea is also the center of many parishioners' lives. Many of them participate in more than one ministry. Some serve an hour at Perpetual Adoration, then walk to the parish kitchen to help as Christian Care Volunteers, preparing lunches and grocery bags for the homeless and needy of the parish. Others go to the garages and sort clothing collected for needy families or help out in the parish offices.

There are close to 90 ministries within the parish, in addition to the elementary and high school (a new, state-of-the-art campus is under construction). Nine Sunday Masses are celebrated in Croatian, Italian, Spanish and English.

"We get more out of it than we give," says Kay Blumetti, a Christian Care Volunteer for 15 years, of her work preparing clothing for the needy. "We treat the people who come with respect and dignity." If any of the volunteers notice that a pregnant mother asks for clothing, they tell her she can also return later to pick up layettes and other things needed for a new baby. And when a mother comes with a small child, each one receives a toy.

Self-described veterans of the Christian Care Volunteers, Vito Giacalone and his wife Mary, have been members of the group since it was formed 16 years ago. Vito is especially proud that the group is able to feed about 40 families a week with the groceries he collects from local businesses with the Christian Care van. Each day more than 100 homeless and poor are fed from the parish kitchen as well.

"These are wonderful people - absolutely wonderful, very united and very committed to their faith, to God and caring for each other," affirms Msgr. Gallagher. "The fact that they represent different cultural and ethnic groups make it even more wonderful."

 

Mary Star of the Sea Church: A history

 

By Hermine Lees

Courtesy: The Tidings

Founded: 1889
Location: 870 West Eighth Street, San Pedro
San Pedro Region: Deanery 19

 

The history of San Pedro area is rich in stories of legend and lore.

Just 50 years after Columbus discovered America, Portuguese navigator Juan Cabrillo, sailing for Spain, entered the present harbor of San Pedro and called it the "Bay of the Smokes." On Nov. 26, 1602, the Spaniard, Jose Vizcaíno, led three vessels into the same harbor and called it San Andres, believing it was that saint's day.

Actually it was the feast day of St. Peter, Bishop of Alexandria, and a famous mapmaker corrected the name, possibly in 1734. By 1769 Blessed Junípero Serra had established the first of the California Missions at San Diego, and California continued to flourish through the age of the rancheros and great immigration. Almost 50 years after a hierarchy was established in the state, the city of San Pedro was officially incorporated in 1888.

Just a year later, Bishop Francis Mora, who headed the Diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles, blessed St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, then a small wooden structure on West Ninth Street. Father Charles Tanquerey, who had been serving the Catholic community in nearby Wilmington, was the first regular pastor. A larger church was dedicated Jan. 1, 1905 on Vinegar Hill at a cost of $15,000; the new pastor, Father Michael Conneally, helped in the fundraising. Seven years later Father Patrick McGrath was named pastor and started a temporary school staffed by Immaculate Heart Sisters.

In 1919 the next pastor, Father Maximus Benso, a native of Italy, campaigned for a new school and purchased a block of land that eventually accommodated the whole parish group. He died in 1981 at age 96, having served the church for more than 70 years. Father Anthony Jacobs headed the parish from 1930 to 1934, during which time the church structure survived the 1933 Long Beach earthquake with only minor damage.

The eighth pastor at Mary Star was Father James McLaughlin, a native of Ireland, who managed to eliminate a huge parish debt during the throes of the Depression, established the "Apostleship of the Sea" and assisted many chaplains during World War II who used the rectory as their headquarters on route to action in the Pacific. By the end of his ministry in 1946 the harbor church was recognized as one of the most unique parishes on the West Coast, noted for its diverse ethnic population. The city boasted the largest commercial fishing port in the U.S. and many of Mary Star parishioners earned their living from the fishing industry.

Taking the helm of this thriving parish in 1946 was Msgr. George M. Scott, son of the famous lawyer Joseph Scott. During his 29 years at Mary Star of the Sea he built the parish's third church (in 1958). A distinguishing feature was a 10-foot bronze statue of Our Lady that faces the ocean and is illuminated at night, situated atop a 100-foot bell tower. He also provided a new convent in 1948, a new school and auditorium in 1950, a new rectory in 1952 and the high school in 1953. He died in 1986 at age 83 having served 61 years as a priest.

Succeeding him in 1975 was Msgr. Thomas Kiefer who had been an associate at the parish (1947-55). He served the thriving parish and was also Port Chaplain until 1984 when he was named pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church in North Hollywood.

The present pastor, Msgr. Patrick Gallagher, a native of Ireland, has now served the parish for 19 years, also serves as chaplain for the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and was named "Harbor Area Citizen of the Year" in 1993.

Although the fishing industry has changed dramatically through the years, Mary, Star of the Sea, remains a beacon of faith and trust. The title of "Stella Maris" as a sign of hope has existed since the fifth century in liturgical literature, and in the 12th century St. Bernard offered this prayer: "If the winds of temptation arise…look to the star. If you are tossed upon the waves…look to the star; call on Mary."