Sacramento County
Biographies
REV.
M.J. CRAVERO, S.C.
Rev. M.J. Cravero, pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic
Church at Sacramento, was born in Torino, Italy, January 11, 1886, and having determined
to devote his life to the priesthood, he studied in a seminary at Torino, his
ordination taking place in Florence, Italy, in 1912. He was then sent to
Guadalajara, Mexico, the second largest city of the southern republic, and had
some thrilling experiences during his residence there. In 1915 he crossed the
border to the United States and for four years thereafter was in San Francisco,
acting as assistant pastor of the Corpus Christi Church on Santa Rosa avenue.
Later he went to Watsonville, California, where he organized a new parish and
erected a beautiful new church, called the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On leaving
that place he came to Sacramento, arriving here January 12, 1930, to assume his
duties as pastor of St. Mary’s Church, which was established twenty years ago.
This was originally an Italian parish, but is now Italian and English. Already
he is planning to erect a new church edifice here and he has been instrumental
in organizing the Holy Name Society and Altar Society.
Rev. Cravero is a fine linguist,
speaking many languages, and he is thus able to meet people of various
nationalities as well as to broaden his own knowledge by reading many works in
different tongues. He is doing excellent work in this parish, which was founded
by Father Mela, who passed away of influenza in 1918 and was succeeded by Rev.
James Schonne, who remained in charge until Father Cravero was called upon to
take up the work here. He is fast winning popularity among his people and is
accomplishing much good in both his spiritual and temporal ministrations.
Transcribed by Debbie Walke Gramlick.
Source: Wooldridge, J.W. Major History of the Sacramento Valley California, Vol. 2 pgs. 28-29. The Pioneer Historical Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2005 Debbie Walke Gramlick.