San
Joaquin County
Biographies
ST. PATRICK’S PARISH
In the spring of 1878 the little
church known as St. Patrick’s was built at Atlanta, seventeen miles southeast
from Stockton. The land for church and
cemetery was donated by the late John B. O’Malley, and soon the church, which
has become a landmark, was completed and dedicated by Joseph Sadoc Alemany, first archbishop
of San Francisco. Father W. B. O’Connor,
of Stockton, at that time pastor of all the Catholic churches in San Joaquin
and Stanislaus counties, was in charge.
Before 1878 the nearest church was in Stockton and occasionally the
pastor came and held services in the homes, but for the most part the sturdy
pioneers brought their families on Sunday to the parish church in
Stockton. In the early ‘80s a parish was
formed at Modesto with Atlanta as a part and Rev. P. Walsh became the
pastor. Upon the death of Father Walsh
in 1884, Rev. Father McGuire became pastor and remained so for several years,
when the well beloved Father O’Connor, under whose direction the church was
built, became the pastor. At this time a
new front was built and the interior of the church decorated. Father O’Connor passed away December 26,
1911, and was succeeded by Father W. E. McGough, and
during his administration more land was donated for cemetery purposes and
improvements. Also the beautiful stained
glass windows which adorn the church today were donated by Father McGough. They
previously belonged to St. Agnes Chapel in Stockton and are gifts of the
pioneers whose names they bear. Four
years ago a new parish including Manteca, Lathrop and Atlanta was formed with
Rev. John Marchisio as pastor. Recently the church has been thoroughly
renovated, newly painted and more furniture added, the work being done under
the direction of the pastor. It is
worthy of note that through all the vicissitudes of time from 1878 to the
present this church at Atlanta has remained free from debt and in good
standing, and no small credit for this is due to the pioneers, among them being
John O’Malley, Michael Carroll, Peter Vinet, Daniel
Brennan, Patrick Brennan, Thomas Brennan, Michael McCormack, Lawrence Hearty,
John Murphy, Cornelius Lamasney, John Gannan, Michael Donnelly and Vincent Brignolia.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
991. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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