by Fr. Armand Oliveri, SDB, associate pastor

With the celebration of its centennial this year, Corpus Christi parish in San Francisco, Calif., has reached its "full stature." Let us take a brief look back at the "developing" years.

Archbishop Patrick Riordan, concerned with the pastoral needs of the various ethnic groups in the city, entrusted the ministry to the Italians to the Salesians, giving them SS. Peter and Paul church in 1897. The Italians were concentrated in the North Beach area, but the Salesians soon realized that there were many Italians working the farms in the southern part of the city, Daly City and Colma. It was difficult for them to travel to North Beach for Sunday Mass, so they began to gather in private homes for their Sunday services. As their numbers grew, they gathered in St. Anthony's Church for a short time.

Understanding the needs of the Italians of this area, Archbishop Riordan established Corpus Christi parish in February 1898. A small church was hastily built at the corner of Croke (now Santa Rosa Avenue) and the Ocean Shore Railroad tracks (now Alemany Blvd.). Fr. Valentine Cassini, the first pastor, celebrated the first Mass on April 3, and Archbishop Riordan blessed the new church on June 19, 1898.

The earthquake and fire of 1906 and the First World War brought many changes to the city and to the young parish. Vegetable farms gave way to new housing developments. Different ethnic groups moved into what became known as the Excelsior district, with the Irish as the predominant group. To better serve the needs of the area, Corpus Christi became a territorial parish, comprising parts of St. John and Epiphany parishes and extending west into what later became St. Finn Barr parish.

The original church was now too small. Fr. Patrick Diamond enlarged the church and organized the vibrant new community to meet the needs of the expanding parish. New properties had to be acquired for the parish hall on Santa Rosa Ave. and for the new school at the corner of Alemany and Francis streets. The school opened its doors to the first three grades in the fall of 1928, thereafter adding a grade each year. The first graduation was held in 1931. Father Diamond organized the men of the parish, an enthusiastic group, into the Holy Name Society, which later expanded into a second organization, the Men's Club. The women also had their own groups: the Mama Margaret Guild, the Altar Society and the Mother's Club. The latter not only served the parish and the school but also became active in diocesan organizations. The parish became a vibrant community in the city.

The "War Years" (1940-1960: WW II, Korea and Vietnam) brought about many more changes. The military build-up required many families to move across the country or within communities. The church once again became too small, and the school inadequate. Fr. Thomas DeMattei made plans for a new church and convent. Fr. Joseph Della Torre began the new construction, and Fr. David Zunino completed the present church and convent (now the rectory). In the 1950s Fr. Zunino completed the new school, the adjacent convent and the parish hall.

The 1960s, '70s and '80s were marked by a traumatic social upheaval that brought to the Church worldwide, and to the parish, new demands for a spiritual renewal and consolidation of the parish family. Two new ethnic groups, the Latino and Filipino, became dominant in the parish, as families fleeing from the political turmoil and danger in Central America and the Philippines sought refuge in the United States. To meet this new need, Fr. George Salbeck, who had studied theology in Central America, introduced a Sunday Spanish Mass in 1970. The Filipinos also became active participants in the Sunday worship with their celebrated choir.

As the Irish-Italian membership takes on the venerable role of "grandparents," the new family of "young adults" and "children" must assume the role of responsibility for the parish family, set new goals and make new commitments.

Grateful for the achievements of the past 100 years, Corpus Christi Church looks forward to the challenges of the new century with dedication and enthusiasm in the spirit of St. John Bosco.