Sacramento County
REV.
CLEMENT BERBERICH, O.F.M.
Rev. Clement Berberich, rector of St. Francis
Roman Catholic Church in Sacramento, was born in San Francisco, California, on
the 13th of December, 1881. His father, a native of Germany, became
a California pioneer in 1865 and the family has since been identified with this
state.
When a youth of sixteen years Rev.
Berberich began studying for the priesthood and joined the Order of Franciscan
Missionaries at Santa Barbara. He was ordained there at the historic old Santa
Barbara Mission in 1909 and soon after was made assistant pastor in St.
Joseph’s parish of Los Angeles. Subsequently he was transferred to Washington,
and with headquarters in Cowlitz, did missionary work in two counties. His next
assignment was to pastoral duties in connection with St. George’s Church in
Seattle. While laboring there he built the parochial school and greatly
furthered the interests of his people in that locality. He was also active in
civic affairs, did social welfare work and was secretary of the Southwest
District Community Fund.
In July 1928 Rev. Berberich arrived
in Sacramento, where he took charge of the parochial school under the guidance
of the Sisters of St. Francis and maintained in connection with St. Francis
Church. This church was founded in 1894 by the Franciscan order of
Missionaries, the parent house being at Santa Barbara. There are now ten
hundred and fifty families in the parish and Rev. Berberich is aided in his
labors by two assistant pastors. The work of the church and its various
societies has been well organized and under his direction much constructive
activity is being maintained.
A native son of California, Rev.
Berberich is greatly interested in the history of the state, which is rich in
the color and romance of pioneer days and through the period of its later
development. He is thoroughly versed concerning the annals of the commonwealth
and converses most entertainingly upon matters relative to the upbuilding and
development as well as the pioneer era of the state.
Transcribed by Debbie Walke Gramlick.
Source: Wooldridge, J.W. Major History of the Sacramento Valley California, Vol. 2 pgs. 59-60. The Pioneer Historical Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2005 Debbie Walke Gramlick.