Butte County
Biographies
REV. PATRICK GUERIN
REV. PATRICK GUERIN.—A man of classical attainments and exceptional
executive ability, who has more than done his duty in the eminent profession of
which he is such a distinguished representative, is the Rev. Patrick Guerin,
who was born in County Kerry, Ireland, and early chose the work of the sacred
ministry. He passed his classical examinations at St. Michael’s Seminary, Lastowell, County Kerry, and then entered All Hallow’s College, where he was graduated on
June 24, 1888, and ordained for the Sacramento diocese by the Right
Rev. Dr. Moore, Bishop of Ballarat.
Arriving in Sacramento in October, 1888,
Father Guerin became assistant to Father McGrath at
Yreka, Siskiyou County; and on August 1, 1889, he came to Sonora, Tuolumne
County, as pastor of St. Patrick’s Church, where he was destined to serve
during a period of over twenty-three years. Amid all the responsibilities of
this long and busy period, Father Guerin rebuilt and refurnished the church and
established a new cemetery, personally superintending the disinterring of all
bodies in the old cemetery and the re-interring in the new. His pastorate
included both Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties, where he had nine churches,
necessitating his riding horseback through the lowlands and over the mountain
trails; and long and tedious trips he was often required to make, sleeping out
and carrying a little food to tide over from day to day.
After a very serious operation for
appendicitis, however, the Reverend Father’s health became so impaired that he
could not continue the long, hard rides; and on November 6, 1912, he
was transferred to Chico as pastor of St. John the Baptist’s Church, where the
congregation had been attended by priests from Marysville. The first pastor of
this parish, appointed July 19, 1878, was the
Rev. J. J. Hynes. In March, 1889, Father M. Gualco became pastor, serving until his death in March,
1912, soon after which Father Guerin was appointed to take charge. The first
church was a small wooden structure, and did service until 1899, when the
present church was started. Finding this in an unfinished condition, with no
main entrance or steps and no furnishings, Father Guerin finished the edifice,
making the necessary improvements. As a concrete building, well-designed and
well-furnished, it is the finest church edifice in the county. A hospital and a
parsonage had been attached; but Father Guerin sold the buildings, cleaned up
the lot, and made a beautiful lawn. About one hundred fifty families worship
under the kindly supervision and leadership of this faithful shepherd. Father
Guerin individually purchased and owns a commodious and beautiful residence,
one of the finest homes in Chico.
As a feature of the spiritual and
intellectual life of the parish, there is a local council of the Knights of
Columbus, which was instituted on July 1, 1906, by James O’Gara,
district deputy. It began with a membership of forty-five, and the vigorous
organization has now ninety-three members.
From Chico, Father Guerin was transferred
to Marysville as pastor of St. Joseph’s Church, succeeding the late Reverend
M. Coleman. He assumed the pastoral duties of his new charge on
September 1, 1917.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
19 August 2009.
Source:
"History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages
1239-1240, Historic
Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2009 Marie Hassard.
Golden Nugget Library's
Butte County Biographies