It is said that the first Mass with a Japanese homily celebrated in The population of Los Angeles at the time was 300,000 of which 10,000 were Japanese. Fr. Breton requested help from Japan and in 1915 eight women arrived from Nagasaki to assist in the mission. The beginnings of what eventually became the Maryknoll School occupied a lot at 133 South Hewitt Street, not far from the present Zenshu-ji Temple. As the work expanded, a house on Boyle Avenue was obtained and The lot at 226 South Hewitt Street was purchased for $5,000, and a two story concrete building was erected for $29,553. The Maryknoll School was dedicated in 1921. By 1922 there were 200 children enrolled. By 1930 a third floor was added to the school. The ground floor served as a classroom during the week and the Chapel on Sundays. The corner site of the present Chapel was purchased in 1930 for $10,000 and the Chapel, erected for $18,000 was dedicated in 1939. The rectory and auditorium were also added in the late 1930's. And Maryknoll flourished. The bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 seemed to spell In 1960 the Maryknoll school building had outlived its usefulness, During the 1970's and 1980's enrollment at the Maryknoll School gradually declined as Japanese American families moved out of the area and enrolled their children in neighborhood schools. Maryknoll School became a commuter school for children whose parents worked mainly in the Los Angeles Civic Center area. By 1994 there were only 3 parish families with children enrolled in the School. Maryknoll had become detached from the vision of our Issei forefathers who had seen it as a source of outreach to those who share in our ethnic heritage, language and culture. In an effort to rekindle the spirit of our founders the parish The Maryknoll Japanese Catholic Center was dedicated on Septemeber 24, 1995. The Fathers of the Maryknoll Order bade their |
California was said by Father Albert Breton on Christmas Day, 1912 in the Settlement Chapel of the Brownson House at the corner of Macy Street and Pleasant Avenue in Boyle Heights. Father Breton had been sent by Bishop Berlioz of Hakodate, Japan to minister to the spiritual needs of the Japanese Catholics in California. From this humble beginning the "first Catholic mission dedicated to the Japanese in America" was started.
converted into an orphanage for Japanese children and a convent for the Maryknoll Sisters who arrived in 1920. Father Breton returned to Japan in 1921 and the Maryknoll Fathers were asked to work with the Japanese in Los Angeles. Father George Staub was the first Maryknoll priest assigned to the mission in 1920. Father Hugh Lavery came to Los Angeles in 1927 and was made superior of the Japanese mission in 1935. He devoted 29 years of his priesthood to the Japanese of Los Angeles.
doom to all of the years of work and sacrifice at the mission. Hysteria ensued across America and the government herded thousands of Japanese from their homes into concentration camps in 1942. The Maryknoll priests, brothers, and sisters stood by their flock bringing comfort and consolation to the internment camps. It was feared that the work of Maryknoll on the west coast would come to a close following the removal of 110,000 Japanese but, when the war ended, the Japanese began to return, gradually at first then in greater and greater numbers and Father Hugh Lavery was there to welcome them.
unable to meet new safety codes. In November of 1963 ground was broken for the new school building and on May 5, 1964 four hundred thirteen students moved into the new Maryknoll school building.
leadership asked the Los Angeles Archdiocese to allow the establishment of Maryknoll Japanese Catholic Center with the goal of providing pastoral care to Japanese and English speaking Catholics and reaching out to the Nikkei community at large. The Archdiocese graciously granted the request, The Maryknoll School was closed and the building rededicated to this exciting new program of outreach and ministry.
final farewell in June of 1996 making way for Father Henry Mair and Father David Doerner of the Friars of the Atonement who arrived in August 1997. The old school building is now our Activities Center used by our 55+ groups, classes and clubs including our Adult Religious Eduaction gatherings and our Sunday School which is now 65+ strong! Maryknoll Japanese Catholic Center is flourishing.