St. Barnabas Church
1427 Sixth Street Alameda CA 94501 Office: (510) 522-8933 , Ext. 10 Fax: (510) 522-8380 Email: [email protected] PARKING OPTIONS: - 2 private lots - behind the church (entrance by Palace Ct) - by the school (entrance by Taylor Ave) - Street parking Our Website: sbarnabas.weebly.com Facebook page: www.facebook.com/barnabasinalameda |
St. Barnabas Parish - 90 Years of Worship & Ministry
.[First 75 years excerpted from the Parish History written by Jeffrey Burns to mark our 75th Anniversary in 2000]
The beginnings
On July 1, 1925, the Archdiocese of San Francisco created St. Barnabas Parish to serve the west end of Alameda. Father Patrick McGrattan was appointed as the first pastor. The same day, St. Philip Neri Parish was established to serve the east end of Alameda. Both parishes were carved out of St. Joseph's Parish, which had served the entire island since 1885. St. Barnabas' original boundaries ran from Webster Street to the Alameda Pier.
The west end of Alameda was quite different in those days. Dominating the bayfront was an extraordinary recreational and amusement complex known as Neptune Beach, advertised as the "Coney Island of the West," and open from Palm Sunday through Labor Day. Historian Jerry Flamm writes, "Neptune boasted two swimming pools with filtered salt water pumped from the Bay, and the largest and gaudiest set of rides and concessions on the Pacific Coast. Free band concerts, death-defying stunts, bathing beauty contests. The Fireworks displays had spectators throughout the whole East Bay climbing the hills at night to watch. The park had huge picnic areas, a lavish dance hall with reflecting mirror chandeliers, a spacious dining room and cafeteria, and a movie theater." Besides Neptune Beach, the west end also featured Croll Gardens, several other "baths,"
11 swimming pools were called in those days, with summer bungalows and cottages along Fourth Street. The west end was not all fun and games however. Some industry was present such as the Borax Works north of Pacific Avenue. On the far west end many of the Italian families that formed the nucleus of the new St. Barnabas worked as truck farmers.
The first mass celebrated in St. Barnabas was held in a five-room cottage at 1446 Sixth Street that also served as the rectory for Father McGrattan.
The parish rented a vacant store on Webster Street to hold Sunday services and larger gatherings. The first Easter celebration took place in the garden of one of the parish's pioneer families, the Riches, at 1833 Fourth Street.
The parish quickly set about constructing a church and a rectory. They were designed by architect John J. Donovan and constructed by Barrett and Hilp, contractors. On August 15, 1926, the first mass was celebrated in the new church, though the pews had not yet been installed. On December 13, 1926, Archbishop Edward J. Hanna of San Francisco came to bless and dedicate the new church. The Alameda Times-Star reported, "The altar was brilliantly lighted and banked with calla lilies and other flowers from the gardens of parishioners. With a choir of twenty voices, under the direction of Miss Rebecca Rich, and with Joseph Hollings at the organ, St. Basil's Mass was sung, the soloists being Mary Cappa and Lucia Ferrero. "Archbishop Hanna preached in both English and Italian," The Monitor reports,
"Having been informed by Father McGrattan that there were several Italians in the congregation who did not understand English, His Grace delivered a sermon in Italian also. That it was pleasing to those to whom it was addressed was evidenced after the ceremonies, when in grateful appreciation they surrounded the Archbishop with glad acclaim." Following the High Mass, the sacrament of Confirmation was celebrated for the first time in the parish. Archbishop Hanna confirmed twenty-four boys and girls.
Tending the garden
The glad spirits of that sunny December day did not guarantee a rosy future for the young parish. Over the course of its first thirty years, St. Barnabas struggled mightily. Two problems confronted the parish in its early years the health of its pastors and the parish debt. Throughout his pastorate Father McGrattan was "plagued by ill-health." After several sick leaves, he retired in June 1931, returning to his native Ireland. (He died shortly thereafter on March 5, 1932.) McGrattan was succeeded by Father Edgar Boyle. Boyle, too, became ill after a few months. On November 26, 1931 Father Timothy Galvin arrived as the new pastor and some stability was finally brought to the parish.
The large debt incurred by the construction of the church and rectory was a heavy burden for a small parish. In 1927, there were about 200 families in the parish. Father McGrattan pushed to have the parish's boundaries expanded but he met stiff resistance from the pastor of St. Joseph's, who feared losing any more of his families and territory. Despite his protests, the parish boundaries were expanded in 1929 to include all of Alameda west of Ninth Street. Unfortunately for St. Barnabas, the expansion of the parish coincided with the nation's worst depression.
Things began to improve around 1940. In that year, while Neptune Beach closed and was torn down a victim of the Depression, the Alameda Naval Air Station (NAS) was nearing completion. The following year the United States entered World War II after the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. The parish Golden Jubilee history summarizes the effects of World War II on the parish. In 1941, "the construction of housing within the parish boundaries was being pushed feverishly to accommodate both service families and the thousands of civilian workers who came to work at the Naval Air Station and at the booming shipyards, where work went on around the clock. By the end of 1943, the Catholic population had jumped to 1,400 persons." The population increase and the economic prosperity brought on by the war soon resolved St. Barnabas' financial woes. The end of the war resulted in a large exodus from Alameda but the onset of the Cold War and the Korean War in 1950 insured that the NAS would remain active and that prosperity would continue for the west end.
Overseeing the transformation of the parish was Father Timothy Shanahan, who replaced Father Galvin in March, 1941. Shanahan developed a unique reputation among the parishioners. He was regarded as a prayerful, spiritual, ascetical man by some, while others diplomatically called him "frugal." Father Shanahan hated to spend money. He hired no housekeeper, and performed as little maintenance work as possible. In 1950, an archdiocesan visitation team painted a dire picture of the physical plant of the parish. The church and the rectory were "dirty and in need of repair" and Shanahan had made no effort to build a parish hall, much less a parish school. He was ordered to address these issues by the archbishop and in 1951 Shanahan did perform extensive repairs on the church and rectory, installing a "new liturgical altar" in the church. To his credit, even before this order, in 1948, he had new stained glass windows installed in the church.
The Missionaries of the Precious Blood arrive
On July 12, 1955, the fortunes of the parish improved when the Fathers of the Society of the Most Precious Blood were appointed to direct the parish.
One long-time parishioner noted that when the Precious Blood Fathers arrived "things really began happening." The first Precious Blood pastor, Father Raymond Guillozet, was installed on September 18, 1955. Poor health limited his tenure to less than one year. In August, 1956 Guillozet was replaced by Father Aloys Selhorst, who was installed August 26. Father Selhorst is remembered as the parish's great builder as under his direction a new school and hall would be built. But Selhorst also attempted to revitalize the spiritual and organizational life of the parish. He began two devotions that were immensely popular. Every night in October the rosary was prayed in the church. Each night a different parish society led the prayers. This practice was observed until the 1980s. Precious Blood devotions were also introduced. July was the month devoted to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. Each year on October 21, the feast day of the founder of the Society of the Precious Blood, St. Gaspar del Bufalo, was celebrated by the parish.
The parish builds a school and hall
Father Selhorst's greatest achievement was the construction of a school for the parish, though it is inaccurate to say he built the school alone - the school was the result of the hard work of many St. Barnabas parishioners. In 1956, land for the school was purchased. In 1957, a major pledge drive dubbed the "Fair Share Building Pledge Drive" was undertaken. The parish bulletin urged parishioners to stay at home on Sunday afternoon, February 17. On that afternoon, teams of parishioners went door to door to obtain pledges to cover the cost of building the new school. The drive was enormously successful, securing more than $145,000 in pledges.
The Sisters of the Precious Blood of Dayton, Ohio agreed to staff the school and in 1957, a house at 604 Taylor Avenue was purchased to serve as their convent. Ground was broken for the new school on February 9, 1958, followed by a Mass with Archdiocesan Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Monsignor John T. Foudy, presiding. From that point on, after each Mass in the parish "One Pater, Ave, and Gloria in honor of St. Joseph the Worker" were recited "for the success of the School Project." By August the school was nearing completion and an Open House and pot luck dinner was held on August 10 to show the parishioners the fruit of their labor.
On August 24, the Sisters of the Precious Blood were welcomed to the parish, and on September 3 St. Barnabas Elementary School officially opened with the celebration of Mass at 8:30 a.m. Sister M. Avila served as the first principal. The school began with grades one through three. An additional grade was added each year until the first eighth grade graduated in 1964. Though under the direction of the Sisters of the Precious Blood, St. Barnabas School always had a strong lay presence on the faculty. Tuition for the school in 1958 was $5.00 a month with an additional $8.50 for book rental and insurance. In September a Parent-Teacher Group was formed.
At 3:00 in the afternoon on November 2, 1958, the school was formally blessed and dedicated by Bishop Merlin Guilfoyle, auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The ceremony featured a talk by the Very Reverend James Rohan, pastor of St. Jerome's in El Cerrito. He was the son of one of the outstanding pioneer families of the parish and the first clerical vocation from St. Barnabas.
The 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass was designated the school Mass and all students sat with their respective classes rather than with their families. The Holy Family Sisters continued to provide religious instruction for those children not in the parish school.
The parish next directed its attention to the construction of a parish hall. On Sunday, November 22, 1959, parishioners were once again encouraged to stay at home and once again teams of parishioners went door to door to obtain pledges for the new building. Prior to embarking on their journey the teams were given a rousing pep talk by Monsignor Thomas Scahill of St. Jarlath, then Benediction was celebrated. Spiritually prepared, the workers went forth to secure pledges. The hall was completed in 1961, and was blessed on November 19 of that year.
Parishioners spent much of 1959 going door to door. Prior to the drive for the hall, parishioners had conducted a parish census dubbed "Operation Doorbell." Teams went door to door to invite all Catholics living in the parish to greater participation in the church and parish. It was seen as a "spiritual crusade."
As St. Barnabas entered what proved to be the most turbulent decade of the 1960s, it now had a complete parish plant - church, rectory, school, convent, and hall.
The 1960s: Vatican II & the renewal of the liturgy
The event that affected the parish most dramatically in the 1960s was the Second Vatican Council, which mandated significant changes to many traditional practices.
Some liturgical changes had already been introduced prior to the Council, most notably the reduction of the Eucharistic fast to three hours in 1957; previously communicants had to fast from midnight before they received Communion. In 1963, St. Barnabas introduced an evening Mass on Sundays; the preconciliar attitude of the Church is captured in the parish bulletin's warning that this Mass was intended for doctors, nurses, firemen, military personnel, or others who had to work on Sunday.
Despite how people may remember it, the changes to the Liturgy were introduced over a several year period. The changes seemed so dramatic and rapid because the Church had long been perceived as "changeless." Now, though change was gradual,
it seemed to come fast and furious. The first real change to the Mass was introduced on May 10, 1964. On that Sunday, a brief response was added to the reception of the Eucharist. In presenting the Eucharist to the recipient the priest now said, "Corpus Christi" (Latin for "the Body of Christ"), to which the recipient responded simply, "Amen." The use of English in the Mass was introduced later.
In October 1964, the parish began preparing for the liturgical changes. In addition to sermons, a letter and pamphlet explaining the changes were sent to each household in the parish. The training of lay commentators began; these men would lead parishioners in the appropriate responses during the Mass. On November 29, 1964 some English was used in the Mass for the first time, though much of the Mass remained in Latin. The Eucharistic fast was reduced to one hour. Father Selhorst noted the following week: "The response to the New Liturgy was very fine... keep it up."
On March 7, 1965 the second phase of change began. To many, the most striking change was that the priest now celebrated Mass facing the congregation, rather than with his back to the people. Not everyone was enthusiastic about all the changes, but the bulletin counseled "It is something different from the old way, and it will take a while to get used to."
On May 16, 1965 Father Selhorst was transferred. Father Joseph Otte replaced him. The following year in July, 1966 Father Otte was replaced by Father John Hamme. Hamme was able to work well with the many military families in the parish as he had served as a military chaplain in World War II.
Liturgical change continued. On August 22, 1965 the Entrance Procession was initiated.
By March 27, 1966, all responses were in English. On October 22, 1967 the Canon of the Mass was prayed in English as well. The entire Mass was now in English and the bulletin counseled, "Put down your missals and listen." In June, 1969 a Folk Mass was begun at the 9 a.m. Mass. The same year a Saturday Vigil Mass was introduced. By 1970, all the changes to the Mass had been implemented.
In 1962, the Diocese of Oakland was split off from the Archdiocese of San Francisco with Bishop Floyd Begin appointed Oakland's first bishop.
The 1970s: more change and growth
In 1969, the Sisters of the Precious Blood announced that they were going to withdraw from the school as of June 1970. The parish sprang into action. On October 15, 1969 a Town Hall meeting was held. 365 parishioners attended and committed themselves to do whatever was necessary to keep the school open. In January, 1970, a Boosters Club was established to work toward paying off the debt on the hall and to support the school. Each Booster paid $1.00 a month dues. By the end of the year, $5,000 had been collected, and the following year, the debt on the hall was paid off. Now full attention could be directed to school finances.
In Fall, 1970 St. Barnabas School opened with an all lay faculty. The parish committed itself to support of the school. Tuition only covered two-thirds of the school's expenses. All the proceeds of the parish festival were allocated to the school. At the end of the 1970-71 school year, a Parish School Board was elected by the parish at large to direct the affairs of the school.
The St. Barnabas of the early 1970s remained a lively place. The rapid turnover of parishioners remained a fact of life with the presence of the NAS. Nonetheless, parishioners of the era describe St. Barnabas as a tightly knit community, where "everyone knew everybody else."
A major development during the 1970s was the emergence of the Apostolate to the Sick. A new understanding of the sacrament formerly known as Extreme Unction encouraged those suffering from illness to receive the Anointing of the Sick. In 1975, the Anointing of the Sick was offered in conjunction with the Mass at Prather Memorial Hospital. On August 2, it was offered at the 5:30 p.m. Mass at St. Barnabas and forty-three people received the sacrament. From that day on, the Anointing of the Sick became a familiar feature at St. Barnabas.
In February, 1976 a Medical Missionary Sister by the name of Sister Moira was appointed as a "lay distributor of Holy Communion to the sick and shut-in." Sister Moira visited the sick at Prather Memorial Hospital as well as the homebound. She served until June, 1979. In her final month she distributed 234 communions. In September 1979, Father John Bosch replaced Father John Hamme as pastor. Father Bosch had been at St. Barnabas previously from 1967-1970, and had worked as chaplain of the Apostleship of the Sea for the Port of Oakland.
In May 1980, Father Bosch introduced an aggressive Renovation and Renewal Program.
The program called for the remodeling and expansion of the church and the rectory, and for the repair of the school. In addition, the old convent had been deemed a fire hazard and needed to be removed. The whole project was to cost $300,000. As the parish had done in days of yore, a door to door appeal was made to obtain pledges for the new program. By 1983, the parish was still $130,000 short. Nonetheless the work was completed, and the debt was paid off over the course of the 1980s. The church was rededicated by Bishop John Cummins on February 7, 1982.
Rich in our diversity
During the 1980s the demographics of the area underwent considerable change. At the founding of the parish, the largest ethnic group was the Italians, with significant numbers of Austrians, Germans, and Irish. With the opening of the NAS in 1940 the diversity of the parish increased.
Throughout the 1960s the Italian population remained strong as evidenced by occasional parish missions preached in Italian, as well as the occasional opportunity to go to confession in Italian. In 1968, a parish branch of the Italian Catholic Federation was established, and ICF sponsored dinners became a regular feature of parish life.
In the 1980s, the number of Filipino parishioners increased dramatically. Beginning in February 1980, a special Filipino Mass was celebrated every third Saturday at the 5:30 p.m. Mass. (Later it was switched to every third Sunday at the 12:15 p.m. Mass). In September of 1980 the Filipino Catholic Federation was formed. In 1981, the parish began to celebrate Salubong, the meeting of the Sorrowful Mother with her Risen Son. In December, the Misa de Gallo was celebrated in preparation for Christmas. In 1984, Filipino parishioners established the Apostleship of Prayer in the parish. Other Filipino devotions such as Santo Niño and Mother of Perpetual Help have also been introduced. In many ways the Filipino presence has enriched the life of St. Barnabas.
Called and gifted: laity, clergy & religious collaborate
In 1984, Father Bosch gave way to Father James Sloan, who was installed as the new pastor on September 23. Father Sloan's administration was marked by an avid attempt to allow the laity to have some input into parish affairs. Shortly after his arrival, Sloan distributed a survey in which the people suggested programs they would like to see developed. Two major interests the survey revealed were the desire to have a prayer group and a bible study group. Soon two such groups were operating in the parish.
Early in 1985, Father Sloan began preparing Eucharistic Ministers to assist in distributing Holy Communion at the Masses. On March 3, 1985 a group, which included five women, were commissioned as Eucharistic ministers. In May, 1985 Sloan established a Finance Council for the parish, consisting of three laymen, John Benone, Tom Emig, and Buck Henderson, to advise him on financial matters. In January, 1986 Father Sloan invited Precious Blood Father Gregory Comella to direct a Lay Ministry Development Program. In February 1988 a special meeting of parish leaders was held to discuss the "Future Directions of the Parish." The Directions Committee continued to meet and in July they produced a Parish Mission Statement, which was circulated among all the parishioners and then voted on. In 1991, after seven years of laying the groundwork,
a Parish Council was established to provide a consultative body for the pastor and the parish.
By 1988, the parish still faced a huge debt left by the reconstruction of the early 1980s. Father Sloan began instructing the parish in "Sacrificial Giving" and the Sunday collections improved dramatically.
The vineyard of the Lord continues to yield
On June 15, 1994 Father Jeffrey Keyes was appointed to succeed Father Sloan, and was installed as pastor on August 24. Under Father Keyes' administration, the number of parish activities expanded dramatically. He said somewhat whimsically, "Nothing ever happens around this place." As the parish entered the year 2000, the following committees and organizations were operating as listed in the parish bulletin:
Altar Society, Apostleship of Prayer, Baptismal Couple to Couple Ministry, Booster Club, Building and Grounds Committee, Charismatic Prayer Group, Choir, Catholic Daughters and the Young Ladies Institute, Catholic Young Adults, Christian Initiation Committee, Environment, Eucharistic Ministers
and Lectors, Faith Formation, Floral Artist, Finance Committee, HIVIAIDS Ministry, Home Communion, Italian Catholic Federation, Justice and Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Library, Marriage Encounter, Media Communications, Music Ministry, Pastoral Council, Parent-Teacher Group, Perpetual Help Novena Ministry, Re-Membering Church, Respect Life, School Board, Sacristans, Servers, Stewardship, Ushers/Hospitality, Volunteer Ministry Coordinator and Youth Ministry.
Father Keyes followed Father Sloan's lead in collaborative ministry. The life of the parish is directed by the Pastoral Team, which consists of the pastor,
the Director of Faith Formation, the Director of Volunteers, the school principal, the administrative secretary, the Director of Music Ministry, and the Director of Justice and Outreach Ministries. The Team met weekly to discuss parish issues and to coordinate parish events and ministries. The team consults widely with the many parish committees and boards such as the Pastoral Council, the Finance Committee and the School Board. Special emphasis was placed on Music Ministry during Father Keyes' pastorate. St. Barnabas has a strong tradition of excellence in music. In the early days of the parish the St. Barnabas choir, under the direction of Miss Rebecca Rich, was reputed to be "one of the best choirs in the East Bay" according to a pioneer parishioner. In 1995, Jesse Manibusan, who had served St. Barnabas in various musical capacities for more than two decades, was hired as the first full-time music director. Katherine LaRose followed Jesse Manibusan as Music Director.
In 1997, the ministry of music was enhanced when the parish replaced its failing electronic organ with a pipe organ. The pipe organ was donated to the parish by the California Province of the Society of Jesus. Formerly used in their chapel in Los Altos, the organ was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. A group of parishioners moved the organ to San Francisco where it was restored by the Schoenstein Company who had built it in 1941. The newly restored organ was first featured at the 1997 Easter Vigil, and was formally dedicated at a concert in June. The total cost to parishioners was only $46,000, a modest sum for such an exquisite instrument. The commitment to the parish school has continued. In 1996, space in the parish hall was converted into a permanent kindergarten. The kindergarten had used temporary quarters" for about fourteen years! During the 1997-1998 school year, the fortieth anniversary of the school was celebrated. At the anniversary banquet, the parish hall was renamed Father Aloys Selhorst Hall, in honor of the school's founding pastor.
In 1997, the NAS was closed amidst fears that the parish would be adversely affected. Some feared the school would be forced to close. At that time, none of those fears materialized. The school enrollment increased as did the parish rolls, and both continued to flourish.
The parish has increasingly involved itself in social justice struggles in recent years. Shortly after Father Keyes became pastor in 1994, the voters of California were faced with the divisive so-called "Save Our State" Initiative, Proposition 187. The proposition sought to restrict public services to illegal immigrants and their children. In early September at Sunday Mass, Father Keyes felt compelled to speak out against the measure, stressing that the issue was a moral one, not a political one. The initiative "is not about keeping immigrants out of the state. It is about being mean to the ones who are here...The outreach of Jesus to society's outcasts is a clear indication that our attitudes and policies toward those on the edge of society should not be dictated solely by politics but by a keen understanding of justice and selfless compassion." During Father Keyes' homily, several parishioners stood up and walked out but at the end of the sermon the congregation gave him a standing ovation.
St. Barnabas also became actively involved in an interfaith coalition designed to get the City Council of Alameda to pass a resolution in opposition to the proposition. On October 18, parishioners participated in a candlelight march to City Hall to urge the Council to pass the resolution. Ultimately, the City Council approved the resolution, placing the City of Alameda publicly on record against Proposition 187. The victory at City Hall did not translate into victory at the polls. Proposition 187 was resoundingly passed statewide.
In 1998, the parish began addressing a major problem confronting the west end of Alameda - affordable housing. As housing prices in Alameda have skyrocketed, more and more middle and low income families are being driven from the city and from the parish. St. Barnabas has joined with the Renewed HOPE Housing Advocates to try to save 590 units of former Navy housing that the City has slated for demolition. As was the case with Proposition 187, the parish saw the housing crisis as a moral issue not merely a political one.
As St. Barnabas entered the next millennium, its commitment to the poor and support of Catholic social teachings ensured that it will continue to engage in the struggle for social justice. As the Parish Mission Statement asserted, "We are a community of disciples handing on the Catholic faith in the tradition of St. Barnabas, our patron, providing for the spiritual growth and development of our members, inviting all to Christian community as apostolic and missionary witness."
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THE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS OF WORSHIP & MINISTRY
[Co-written and co-edited by Fr. Dana P. Michaels and Jeffrey Burns.]
Naval Air Station Closed - 1997:
In the 75th anniversary parish history written in 2000, we read that “In 1997 the Naval Air Station (NAS) was closed amidst fears that the parish would be adversely affected. Some feared that the parish school would be forced to close. None of these fears materialized. The school enrollment increased as did the parish rolls and both continue to flourish”.
School Falls Victim to Closure – 2008:
Unfortunately, this assessment proved much too optimistic. The long-term effect of the base closure was more severe than anticipated. Parish attendance dropped and the school eventually closed in 2008. Indeed, close to 45% of the parish membership had been made up of base personnel or base-related personnel. But the source of the parish’s woes was far more complex than the simple NAS closure. Saint Barnabas suffered from the general malaise that paralyzed the larger church during the first decade of the 21st century. The nation was stunned by the devastating attack on 9/11, but as profound as that attack was, revelations of clergy abuse had an equally devastating affect upon the church. The sense of betrayal undermined church support as did the inadequate response of the United States bishops. Locally, Bishops John Cummins and Allen Vigneron sponsored thoughtful apology ceremonies to survivors of clergy abuse, but their efforts were not enough. The damage had been done.
Leadership Turnover - 2001-2009:
Equally as problematic was the rapid turnover of parish leadership. Between 2001 and 2009, the parish saw one pastor and three administrators come and go. The rapid turnover prevented the stable leadership that the parish needed in the midst of serious problems.
Fr. Ronald Wiecek's full schedule – 2001:
Problems began with the appointment of
Fr. Keyes’ successor, Fr. Ronald Wiecek, C.PP.S. in 2001. Father Wiecek was a talented man, but his gifts put him in great demand. At the same time that he became pastor, he was elected Provincial of the Precious Blood Fathers of the Pacific Province to replace former St Barnabas pastor Fr. James Sloan, C.PP.S., Fr. Sloan had to step down as Provincial due to health concerns. At a time when the parish needed vigorous pastoral leadership, Fr. Wiecek found his attention divided.
Due to his fluency in Spanish, Fr. Wiecek travelled twice a week to St. Edward Church in Newark to meet the needs of the growing Latino Community especially celebrating the Sacraments. Despite his best efforts, the St. Barnabas parish began to lose parishioners and collections declined.
Alameda was also changing. Gentrification arrived at St. Barnabas. Older neighborhoods were upgraded, or redeveloped, making them less affordable and less family friendly. The redevelopment of the Naval Air Station also engaged the community, but plans for redevelopment moved slowly. The changing make-up of the parish provided a significant challenge during a time of grave demands. Fr. Wiecek did the best he could. Of necessity he developed an excellent sense of delegation. He tapped into the many talents of lay men and women who provided important leadership.
Father Joseph Brown – 2003:
In 2003, Fr. Wiecek moved on and was replaced by Fr. Joseph Brown, C.PP.S.. Fr. Brown had been a teaching brother and served in two high schools while also serving as a principal in Manteca. Toward the end of his teaching career, Fr. Joe decided to become a Precious Blood priest. He was ordained and came to St. Barnabas to replace Fr. Wiecek. Though Fr. Brown was known for his kind but reserved personality, and his characteristic straw hat, his tenure was to involve heavy crosses to bear. Besides the difficulties of the declining number of parishioners and a cash-strapped school, he also confronted personal illness. Like so many of the early St. Barnabas pastors, Fr. Brown suffered from poor health, most significantly, an auto-immune deficiency that slowed him down considerably. Because of this and other problems, Fr. Brown left St. Barnabas Church before the end of October 2004.
Father Tom Lester – 2004:
Fr. Tom Lester graciously stepped in to lead the parish until a new pastor or parochial administrator could be appointed.
Father Anthony Herrera – 2004:
Though Fr. Anthony Herrera was named Parochial Administrator in the latter part of 2004, he did not arrive in the parish until early 2005. Nevertheless, this marked the beginning of a new era for the parish. On January 2005, the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, Fr. Anthony Herrera became the new Parochial Administrator and the first Diocesan priest in almost fifty years.
The Society of the Precious Blood withdrew from the parish they had served since 1955. St Barnabas had been one of the first Precious Blood parishes in the Western United States. On May 22, 2005, Bishop Allen Vigneron celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving for the Precious Blood Fathers. Their withdrawal from St Barnabas was followed rather quickly by the collapse of the Order's Pacific Province, which was canonically reduced on July 1, 2005. Nonetheless, the Precious Blood Fathers provided magnificent service in the parish for 49 years and replacing them was not easy.
Fr. Herrera’s arrival was well-received by the parish. He was well-known for his love of cooking and his gregarious style of preaching and presiding at Eucharist. This promised good times for the struggling parish. But the decline proved difficult to reverse.
Part of the parish decline was the school's difficulties that necessitated its closing. In the midst of his health challenges, the closing of the school became a reality. Amidst much sorrow (and some anger), the school was closed in June 2008. Until the end, St. Barnabas School maintained a dedicated faculty that kept the school going during hard times. Their efforts could not make up for the ongoing financial hardship confronting West Alameda and school families. Because of health issues, Father Herrera returned to the parish for his farewell Mass and left at the end of September 2008.
Interim Priests:
Toward the latter part of 2008, Fathers Ray Breton, Tom Lester and Robert Herbst, OFM, took care of the parish.
Father Herman Leong – 2008:
In mid-October 2008, Father Herman Leong took charge of the parish. It was understood that Fr. Leong was to be an interim administrator. He found himself in the midst of a parish beset by upheaval and confusion. In the aftermath of the school’s closure and Fr. Herrera’s abrupt departure, the parish was tense with uncertainty in this transitional period. Fr. Leong proved equal to the challenge. In his brief nine month period, he brought a good degree of administrative order out of chaos.
Father Dana Michaels – 2009:
The appointment of Fr. Dana P. Michaels as the new Parochial Administrator in June 2009 brought long needed leadership and stability to the parish. Fr. Herman remained in the parish and helped Fr. Michaels during this transitional period until his departure in June 2010.
It cannot be overstated that St. Barnabas was a remnant of what it once was. The number of parishioners had decreased dramatically as had weekly collections. But under the leadership and guidance of Fr. Michaels the parish had at last stabilized. In October 2010 the number of parishioners at mass bottomed out at 522 parishioners. However, in 2014 the mass count tallied 550 persons. Not a major increase, but the decline had ceased.
Fr. Michaels is the first parochial administrator to serve more than two years and enjoyed good health and provided some degree of stability. Fr. Michaels is a hard and dedicated worker who is always looking to find solutions to problems. Parishioners regard him as a genuinely good and humble human being. Most of all, they see a priest dedicated wholeheartedly to St. Barnabas.
Fr. Michaels has placed a high priority on improving the parish's financial situation and has worked tirelessly with the Parish Council and Finance Council in this regard. In 2011, Fr. Michaels, in conjunction with the Pastoral Council and parishioner meetings, formulated “The St. Barnabas Church Strategic Plan for Renewal and Regrowth”.
Though the past fifteen years has been marked by serious challenges and apparent decline, several features continue to shine through at St. Barnabas Church.
First, is the incredible work of the St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Conference in service to the poor of the parish. Despite Alameda’s seeming affluence, the West End of the island has had the greatest economic need. With the Base closure in 1997, and the recession of 2008, an increased number of marginalized Alamedans live from paycheck to paycheck. In addition, the parish has many senior citizens who live on low fixed incomes. In response to these needs, the parish SVdP Conference provides food and other forms of assistance. In classic SVdP form, its volunteers visit the homes of the poor to engage each person face to face and assess their needs so that an adequate response can be made in each situation. The devotion of our SVDP volunteers is impressive. They truly live out Christ’s words; “When you do this to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do it to me”. Equally as impressive is the generosity of our parish which supports the SVdP Conference through four annual collections, regular food drives and the annual Advent Giving Tree.
The St. Barnabas SVdP Conference was founded in 1946 and flourished during the 1990s under the leadership of parishioners John and Peggy Doherty, then later by Vince Murray. With their departures, the Society briefly struggled until it was revived by Fr. Tony Herrera, who entrusted the revival to Cath Sullivan in 2005. Since that time, the SVdP Conference has prospered and provided exemplary service to the poor of the parish.
Second, in addition to the outreach of St. Vincent de Paul, the parish has offered its facilities for the following good works: Red Cross blood drives,
a regular voting center, Head Start program, federal census training, neighborhood watch program and The Child Unique Montessori School
Third, the parish’s devotional life has also flourished. Dependent to a large extent on the sizeable Filipino community, the parish sponsors regular devotions: Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Wednesdays, Divine Mercy on Tuesdays, an active Apostleship of Prayer, Simbang Gabi during Advent, an active branch of the Knights of Columbus and the recent institution of the Human Rosary was established by parishioner Norma de la Cruz. The parish also sponsors a Holy Hour each First Friday along with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Annual celebrations are held on the Feast of the Sacred Heart in June, Santo Niño in January, and San Lorenzo Ruiz in September. Beyond the special devotions and celebrations, there is the regular celebration of the sacraments carefully prepared and carried out: anointing of the sick at least twice a year, the Island-wide Adult Confirmation/RCIA program and much more. While numbers and finances may have diminished, the fervor and devotion of the parish has not.
Fourth, through the vigorous efforts of our Social Club, and the Knights of Columbus, parishioners have sufficient opportunities through social gatherings such as potluck diners, picnics and other food sales to gather together and establish close friendships in the true Spirit of brothers and sisters in Christ.
Fifth, one of the achievements of Fr. Michaels’ administration has been parish maintenance and upkeep. St. Barnabas has had considerable deferred maintenance. Once the school was closed, it became necessary to upgrade the facility to make it possible to rent the building out and create a new source of income. A great deal of the time, money and effort by skilled parishioner volunteers was put into rehabilitating the Parish Hall while other facilities have been repaired and upgraded. Much of this was funded through the generosity of parishioners contributing to the Rebuilding the Church (RBC) Fund. Parishioners have also demonstrated their generosity with their time on such special occasions as Parish Clean-up Days and Paint Your Parish Day. Despite the precarious financial situation of St. Barnabas, the parish plant has been kept up, demonstrating the love, loyalty and pride of the parishioners and the hard work of Fr. Michaels.
A Final Note:
The past fifteen years have been difficult ones for the parish and parishioners of St. Barnabas, but the parish has endured. Despite its reduced size, the parish is known for its generous giving, loving and prayerful parishioners. A good spirit continues to emanate from the parish. Essential to the general well-being of the parish has been a group of our dedicated volunteers. Without them, the parish would not have survived. Their passion has enabled the parish to maintain its close-knit spirit. After 90 years, the parish remains poised for growth as the West End of Alameda promises to expand. Hopefully the new retail developments along with new housing will lead to economic growth, with parish growth right behind. In any case, the parish anticipates the future with a quiet hope.
In 2014 the Catholic Church universally received a much needed boost with the papacy of Pope Francis. His humility, holiness and common sense brought back a sense of joy and hope throughout the world. That sense of joy and hope is reflected in the faithful parishioners of St. Barnabas who strive to live out their parish mission and to proclaim the “Joy of the Gospel”. May their efforts bear fruit. What the parish lacks in size, the parishioners make up in commitment and service.
Thanks Be To God! St. Barnabas, Pray For Us!
The beginnings
On July 1, 1925, the Archdiocese of San Francisco created St. Barnabas Parish to serve the west end of Alameda. Father Patrick McGrattan was appointed as the first pastor. The same day, St. Philip Neri Parish was established to serve the east end of Alameda. Both parishes were carved out of St. Joseph's Parish, which had served the entire island since 1885. St. Barnabas' original boundaries ran from Webster Street to the Alameda Pier.
The west end of Alameda was quite different in those days. Dominating the bayfront was an extraordinary recreational and amusement complex known as Neptune Beach, advertised as the "Coney Island of the West," and open from Palm Sunday through Labor Day. Historian Jerry Flamm writes, "Neptune boasted two swimming pools with filtered salt water pumped from the Bay, and the largest and gaudiest set of rides and concessions on the Pacific Coast. Free band concerts, death-defying stunts, bathing beauty contests. The Fireworks displays had spectators throughout the whole East Bay climbing the hills at night to watch. The park had huge picnic areas, a lavish dance hall with reflecting mirror chandeliers, a spacious dining room and cafeteria, and a movie theater." Besides Neptune Beach, the west end also featured Croll Gardens, several other "baths,"
11 swimming pools were called in those days, with summer bungalows and cottages along Fourth Street. The west end was not all fun and games however. Some industry was present such as the Borax Works north of Pacific Avenue. On the far west end many of the Italian families that formed the nucleus of the new St. Barnabas worked as truck farmers.
The first mass celebrated in St. Barnabas was held in a five-room cottage at 1446 Sixth Street that also served as the rectory for Father McGrattan.
The parish rented a vacant store on Webster Street to hold Sunday services and larger gatherings. The first Easter celebration took place in the garden of one of the parish's pioneer families, the Riches, at 1833 Fourth Street.
The parish quickly set about constructing a church and a rectory. They were designed by architect John J. Donovan and constructed by Barrett and Hilp, contractors. On August 15, 1926, the first mass was celebrated in the new church, though the pews had not yet been installed. On December 13, 1926, Archbishop Edward J. Hanna of San Francisco came to bless and dedicate the new church. The Alameda Times-Star reported, "The altar was brilliantly lighted and banked with calla lilies and other flowers from the gardens of parishioners. With a choir of twenty voices, under the direction of Miss Rebecca Rich, and with Joseph Hollings at the organ, St. Basil's Mass was sung, the soloists being Mary Cappa and Lucia Ferrero. "Archbishop Hanna preached in both English and Italian," The Monitor reports,
"Having been informed by Father McGrattan that there were several Italians in the congregation who did not understand English, His Grace delivered a sermon in Italian also. That it was pleasing to those to whom it was addressed was evidenced after the ceremonies, when in grateful appreciation they surrounded the Archbishop with glad acclaim." Following the High Mass, the sacrament of Confirmation was celebrated for the first time in the parish. Archbishop Hanna confirmed twenty-four boys and girls.
Tending the garden
The glad spirits of that sunny December day did not guarantee a rosy future for the young parish. Over the course of its first thirty years, St. Barnabas struggled mightily. Two problems confronted the parish in its early years the health of its pastors and the parish debt. Throughout his pastorate Father McGrattan was "plagued by ill-health." After several sick leaves, he retired in June 1931, returning to his native Ireland. (He died shortly thereafter on March 5, 1932.) McGrattan was succeeded by Father Edgar Boyle. Boyle, too, became ill after a few months. On November 26, 1931 Father Timothy Galvin arrived as the new pastor and some stability was finally brought to the parish.
The large debt incurred by the construction of the church and rectory was a heavy burden for a small parish. In 1927, there were about 200 families in the parish. Father McGrattan pushed to have the parish's boundaries expanded but he met stiff resistance from the pastor of St. Joseph's, who feared losing any more of his families and territory. Despite his protests, the parish boundaries were expanded in 1929 to include all of Alameda west of Ninth Street. Unfortunately for St. Barnabas, the expansion of the parish coincided with the nation's worst depression.
Things began to improve around 1940. In that year, while Neptune Beach closed and was torn down a victim of the Depression, the Alameda Naval Air Station (NAS) was nearing completion. The following year the United States entered World War II after the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. The parish Golden Jubilee history summarizes the effects of World War II on the parish. In 1941, "the construction of housing within the parish boundaries was being pushed feverishly to accommodate both service families and the thousands of civilian workers who came to work at the Naval Air Station and at the booming shipyards, where work went on around the clock. By the end of 1943, the Catholic population had jumped to 1,400 persons." The population increase and the economic prosperity brought on by the war soon resolved St. Barnabas' financial woes. The end of the war resulted in a large exodus from Alameda but the onset of the Cold War and the Korean War in 1950 insured that the NAS would remain active and that prosperity would continue for the west end.
Overseeing the transformation of the parish was Father Timothy Shanahan, who replaced Father Galvin in March, 1941. Shanahan developed a unique reputation among the parishioners. He was regarded as a prayerful, spiritual, ascetical man by some, while others diplomatically called him "frugal." Father Shanahan hated to spend money. He hired no housekeeper, and performed as little maintenance work as possible. In 1950, an archdiocesan visitation team painted a dire picture of the physical plant of the parish. The church and the rectory were "dirty and in need of repair" and Shanahan had made no effort to build a parish hall, much less a parish school. He was ordered to address these issues by the archbishop and in 1951 Shanahan did perform extensive repairs on the church and rectory, installing a "new liturgical altar" in the church. To his credit, even before this order, in 1948, he had new stained glass windows installed in the church.
The Missionaries of the Precious Blood arrive
On July 12, 1955, the fortunes of the parish improved when the Fathers of the Society of the Most Precious Blood were appointed to direct the parish.
One long-time parishioner noted that when the Precious Blood Fathers arrived "things really began happening." The first Precious Blood pastor, Father Raymond Guillozet, was installed on September 18, 1955. Poor health limited his tenure to less than one year. In August, 1956 Guillozet was replaced by Father Aloys Selhorst, who was installed August 26. Father Selhorst is remembered as the parish's great builder as under his direction a new school and hall would be built. But Selhorst also attempted to revitalize the spiritual and organizational life of the parish. He began two devotions that were immensely popular. Every night in October the rosary was prayed in the church. Each night a different parish society led the prayers. This practice was observed until the 1980s. Precious Blood devotions were also introduced. July was the month devoted to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. Each year on October 21, the feast day of the founder of the Society of the Precious Blood, St. Gaspar del Bufalo, was celebrated by the parish.
The parish builds a school and hall
Father Selhorst's greatest achievement was the construction of a school for the parish, though it is inaccurate to say he built the school alone - the school was the result of the hard work of many St. Barnabas parishioners. In 1956, land for the school was purchased. In 1957, a major pledge drive dubbed the "Fair Share Building Pledge Drive" was undertaken. The parish bulletin urged parishioners to stay at home on Sunday afternoon, February 17. On that afternoon, teams of parishioners went door to door to obtain pledges to cover the cost of building the new school. The drive was enormously successful, securing more than $145,000 in pledges.
The Sisters of the Precious Blood of Dayton, Ohio agreed to staff the school and in 1957, a house at 604 Taylor Avenue was purchased to serve as their convent. Ground was broken for the new school on February 9, 1958, followed by a Mass with Archdiocesan Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Monsignor John T. Foudy, presiding. From that point on, after each Mass in the parish "One Pater, Ave, and Gloria in honor of St. Joseph the Worker" were recited "for the success of the School Project." By August the school was nearing completion and an Open House and pot luck dinner was held on August 10 to show the parishioners the fruit of their labor.
On August 24, the Sisters of the Precious Blood were welcomed to the parish, and on September 3 St. Barnabas Elementary School officially opened with the celebration of Mass at 8:30 a.m. Sister M. Avila served as the first principal. The school began with grades one through three. An additional grade was added each year until the first eighth grade graduated in 1964. Though under the direction of the Sisters of the Precious Blood, St. Barnabas School always had a strong lay presence on the faculty. Tuition for the school in 1958 was $5.00 a month with an additional $8.50 for book rental and insurance. In September a Parent-Teacher Group was formed.
At 3:00 in the afternoon on November 2, 1958, the school was formally blessed and dedicated by Bishop Merlin Guilfoyle, auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The ceremony featured a talk by the Very Reverend James Rohan, pastor of St. Jerome's in El Cerrito. He was the son of one of the outstanding pioneer families of the parish and the first clerical vocation from St. Barnabas.
The 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass was designated the school Mass and all students sat with their respective classes rather than with their families. The Holy Family Sisters continued to provide religious instruction for those children not in the parish school.
The parish next directed its attention to the construction of a parish hall. On Sunday, November 22, 1959, parishioners were once again encouraged to stay at home and once again teams of parishioners went door to door to obtain pledges for the new building. Prior to embarking on their journey the teams were given a rousing pep talk by Monsignor Thomas Scahill of St. Jarlath, then Benediction was celebrated. Spiritually prepared, the workers went forth to secure pledges. The hall was completed in 1961, and was blessed on November 19 of that year.
Parishioners spent much of 1959 going door to door. Prior to the drive for the hall, parishioners had conducted a parish census dubbed "Operation Doorbell." Teams went door to door to invite all Catholics living in the parish to greater participation in the church and parish. It was seen as a "spiritual crusade."
As St. Barnabas entered what proved to be the most turbulent decade of the 1960s, it now had a complete parish plant - church, rectory, school, convent, and hall.
The 1960s: Vatican II & the renewal of the liturgy
The event that affected the parish most dramatically in the 1960s was the Second Vatican Council, which mandated significant changes to many traditional practices.
Some liturgical changes had already been introduced prior to the Council, most notably the reduction of the Eucharistic fast to three hours in 1957; previously communicants had to fast from midnight before they received Communion. In 1963, St. Barnabas introduced an evening Mass on Sundays; the preconciliar attitude of the Church is captured in the parish bulletin's warning that this Mass was intended for doctors, nurses, firemen, military personnel, or others who had to work on Sunday.
Despite how people may remember it, the changes to the Liturgy were introduced over a several year period. The changes seemed so dramatic and rapid because the Church had long been perceived as "changeless." Now, though change was gradual,
it seemed to come fast and furious. The first real change to the Mass was introduced on May 10, 1964. On that Sunday, a brief response was added to the reception of the Eucharist. In presenting the Eucharist to the recipient the priest now said, "Corpus Christi" (Latin for "the Body of Christ"), to which the recipient responded simply, "Amen." The use of English in the Mass was introduced later.
In October 1964, the parish began preparing for the liturgical changes. In addition to sermons, a letter and pamphlet explaining the changes were sent to each household in the parish. The training of lay commentators began; these men would lead parishioners in the appropriate responses during the Mass. On November 29, 1964 some English was used in the Mass for the first time, though much of the Mass remained in Latin. The Eucharistic fast was reduced to one hour. Father Selhorst noted the following week: "The response to the New Liturgy was very fine... keep it up."
On March 7, 1965 the second phase of change began. To many, the most striking change was that the priest now celebrated Mass facing the congregation, rather than with his back to the people. Not everyone was enthusiastic about all the changes, but the bulletin counseled "It is something different from the old way, and it will take a while to get used to."
On May 16, 1965 Father Selhorst was transferred. Father Joseph Otte replaced him. The following year in July, 1966 Father Otte was replaced by Father John Hamme. Hamme was able to work well with the many military families in the parish as he had served as a military chaplain in World War II.
Liturgical change continued. On August 22, 1965 the Entrance Procession was initiated.
By March 27, 1966, all responses were in English. On October 22, 1967 the Canon of the Mass was prayed in English as well. The entire Mass was now in English and the bulletin counseled, "Put down your missals and listen." In June, 1969 a Folk Mass was begun at the 9 a.m. Mass. The same year a Saturday Vigil Mass was introduced. By 1970, all the changes to the Mass had been implemented.
In 1962, the Diocese of Oakland was split off from the Archdiocese of San Francisco with Bishop Floyd Begin appointed Oakland's first bishop.
The 1970s: more change and growth
In 1969, the Sisters of the Precious Blood announced that they were going to withdraw from the school as of June 1970. The parish sprang into action. On October 15, 1969 a Town Hall meeting was held. 365 parishioners attended and committed themselves to do whatever was necessary to keep the school open. In January, 1970, a Boosters Club was established to work toward paying off the debt on the hall and to support the school. Each Booster paid $1.00 a month dues. By the end of the year, $5,000 had been collected, and the following year, the debt on the hall was paid off. Now full attention could be directed to school finances.
In Fall, 1970 St. Barnabas School opened with an all lay faculty. The parish committed itself to support of the school. Tuition only covered two-thirds of the school's expenses. All the proceeds of the parish festival were allocated to the school. At the end of the 1970-71 school year, a Parish School Board was elected by the parish at large to direct the affairs of the school.
The St. Barnabas of the early 1970s remained a lively place. The rapid turnover of parishioners remained a fact of life with the presence of the NAS. Nonetheless, parishioners of the era describe St. Barnabas as a tightly knit community, where "everyone knew everybody else."
A major development during the 1970s was the emergence of the Apostolate to the Sick. A new understanding of the sacrament formerly known as Extreme Unction encouraged those suffering from illness to receive the Anointing of the Sick. In 1975, the Anointing of the Sick was offered in conjunction with the Mass at Prather Memorial Hospital. On August 2, it was offered at the 5:30 p.m. Mass at St. Barnabas and forty-three people received the sacrament. From that day on, the Anointing of the Sick became a familiar feature at St. Barnabas.
In February, 1976 a Medical Missionary Sister by the name of Sister Moira was appointed as a "lay distributor of Holy Communion to the sick and shut-in." Sister Moira visited the sick at Prather Memorial Hospital as well as the homebound. She served until June, 1979. In her final month she distributed 234 communions. In September 1979, Father John Bosch replaced Father John Hamme as pastor. Father Bosch had been at St. Barnabas previously from 1967-1970, and had worked as chaplain of the Apostleship of the Sea for the Port of Oakland.
In May 1980, Father Bosch introduced an aggressive Renovation and Renewal Program.
The program called for the remodeling and expansion of the church and the rectory, and for the repair of the school. In addition, the old convent had been deemed a fire hazard and needed to be removed. The whole project was to cost $300,000. As the parish had done in days of yore, a door to door appeal was made to obtain pledges for the new program. By 1983, the parish was still $130,000 short. Nonetheless the work was completed, and the debt was paid off over the course of the 1980s. The church was rededicated by Bishop John Cummins on February 7, 1982.
Rich in our diversity
During the 1980s the demographics of the area underwent considerable change. At the founding of the parish, the largest ethnic group was the Italians, with significant numbers of Austrians, Germans, and Irish. With the opening of the NAS in 1940 the diversity of the parish increased.
Throughout the 1960s the Italian population remained strong as evidenced by occasional parish missions preached in Italian, as well as the occasional opportunity to go to confession in Italian. In 1968, a parish branch of the Italian Catholic Federation was established, and ICF sponsored dinners became a regular feature of parish life.
In the 1980s, the number of Filipino parishioners increased dramatically. Beginning in February 1980, a special Filipino Mass was celebrated every third Saturday at the 5:30 p.m. Mass. (Later it was switched to every third Sunday at the 12:15 p.m. Mass). In September of 1980 the Filipino Catholic Federation was formed. In 1981, the parish began to celebrate Salubong, the meeting of the Sorrowful Mother with her Risen Son. In December, the Misa de Gallo was celebrated in preparation for Christmas. In 1984, Filipino parishioners established the Apostleship of Prayer in the parish. Other Filipino devotions such as Santo Niño and Mother of Perpetual Help have also been introduced. In many ways the Filipino presence has enriched the life of St. Barnabas.
Called and gifted: laity, clergy & religious collaborate
In 1984, Father Bosch gave way to Father James Sloan, who was installed as the new pastor on September 23. Father Sloan's administration was marked by an avid attempt to allow the laity to have some input into parish affairs. Shortly after his arrival, Sloan distributed a survey in which the people suggested programs they would like to see developed. Two major interests the survey revealed were the desire to have a prayer group and a bible study group. Soon two such groups were operating in the parish.
Early in 1985, Father Sloan began preparing Eucharistic Ministers to assist in distributing Holy Communion at the Masses. On March 3, 1985 a group, which included five women, were commissioned as Eucharistic ministers. In May, 1985 Sloan established a Finance Council for the parish, consisting of three laymen, John Benone, Tom Emig, and Buck Henderson, to advise him on financial matters. In January, 1986 Father Sloan invited Precious Blood Father Gregory Comella to direct a Lay Ministry Development Program. In February 1988 a special meeting of parish leaders was held to discuss the "Future Directions of the Parish." The Directions Committee continued to meet and in July they produced a Parish Mission Statement, which was circulated among all the parishioners and then voted on. In 1991, after seven years of laying the groundwork,
a Parish Council was established to provide a consultative body for the pastor and the parish.
By 1988, the parish still faced a huge debt left by the reconstruction of the early 1980s. Father Sloan began instructing the parish in "Sacrificial Giving" and the Sunday collections improved dramatically.
The vineyard of the Lord continues to yield
On June 15, 1994 Father Jeffrey Keyes was appointed to succeed Father Sloan, and was installed as pastor on August 24. Under Father Keyes' administration, the number of parish activities expanded dramatically. He said somewhat whimsically, "Nothing ever happens around this place." As the parish entered the year 2000, the following committees and organizations were operating as listed in the parish bulletin:
Altar Society, Apostleship of Prayer, Baptismal Couple to Couple Ministry, Booster Club, Building and Grounds Committee, Charismatic Prayer Group, Choir, Catholic Daughters and the Young Ladies Institute, Catholic Young Adults, Christian Initiation Committee, Environment, Eucharistic Ministers
and Lectors, Faith Formation, Floral Artist, Finance Committee, HIVIAIDS Ministry, Home Communion, Italian Catholic Federation, Justice and Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Library, Marriage Encounter, Media Communications, Music Ministry, Pastoral Council, Parent-Teacher Group, Perpetual Help Novena Ministry, Re-Membering Church, Respect Life, School Board, Sacristans, Servers, Stewardship, Ushers/Hospitality, Volunteer Ministry Coordinator and Youth Ministry.
Father Keyes followed Father Sloan's lead in collaborative ministry. The life of the parish is directed by the Pastoral Team, which consists of the pastor,
the Director of Faith Formation, the Director of Volunteers, the school principal, the administrative secretary, the Director of Music Ministry, and the Director of Justice and Outreach Ministries. The Team met weekly to discuss parish issues and to coordinate parish events and ministries. The team consults widely with the many parish committees and boards such as the Pastoral Council, the Finance Committee and the School Board. Special emphasis was placed on Music Ministry during Father Keyes' pastorate. St. Barnabas has a strong tradition of excellence in music. In the early days of the parish the St. Barnabas choir, under the direction of Miss Rebecca Rich, was reputed to be "one of the best choirs in the East Bay" according to a pioneer parishioner. In 1995, Jesse Manibusan, who had served St. Barnabas in various musical capacities for more than two decades, was hired as the first full-time music director. Katherine LaRose followed Jesse Manibusan as Music Director.
In 1997, the ministry of music was enhanced when the parish replaced its failing electronic organ with a pipe organ. The pipe organ was donated to the parish by the California Province of the Society of Jesus. Formerly used in their chapel in Los Altos, the organ was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. A group of parishioners moved the organ to San Francisco where it was restored by the Schoenstein Company who had built it in 1941. The newly restored organ was first featured at the 1997 Easter Vigil, and was formally dedicated at a concert in June. The total cost to parishioners was only $46,000, a modest sum for such an exquisite instrument. The commitment to the parish school has continued. In 1996, space in the parish hall was converted into a permanent kindergarten. The kindergarten had used temporary quarters" for about fourteen years! During the 1997-1998 school year, the fortieth anniversary of the school was celebrated. At the anniversary banquet, the parish hall was renamed Father Aloys Selhorst Hall, in honor of the school's founding pastor.
In 1997, the NAS was closed amidst fears that the parish would be adversely affected. Some feared the school would be forced to close. At that time, none of those fears materialized. The school enrollment increased as did the parish rolls, and both continued to flourish.
The parish has increasingly involved itself in social justice struggles in recent years. Shortly after Father Keyes became pastor in 1994, the voters of California were faced with the divisive so-called "Save Our State" Initiative, Proposition 187. The proposition sought to restrict public services to illegal immigrants and their children. In early September at Sunday Mass, Father Keyes felt compelled to speak out against the measure, stressing that the issue was a moral one, not a political one. The initiative "is not about keeping immigrants out of the state. It is about being mean to the ones who are here...The outreach of Jesus to society's outcasts is a clear indication that our attitudes and policies toward those on the edge of society should not be dictated solely by politics but by a keen understanding of justice and selfless compassion." During Father Keyes' homily, several parishioners stood up and walked out but at the end of the sermon the congregation gave him a standing ovation.
St. Barnabas also became actively involved in an interfaith coalition designed to get the City Council of Alameda to pass a resolution in opposition to the proposition. On October 18, parishioners participated in a candlelight march to City Hall to urge the Council to pass the resolution. Ultimately, the City Council approved the resolution, placing the City of Alameda publicly on record against Proposition 187. The victory at City Hall did not translate into victory at the polls. Proposition 187 was resoundingly passed statewide.
In 1998, the parish began addressing a major problem confronting the west end of Alameda - affordable housing. As housing prices in Alameda have skyrocketed, more and more middle and low income families are being driven from the city and from the parish. St. Barnabas has joined with the Renewed HOPE Housing Advocates to try to save 590 units of former Navy housing that the City has slated for demolition. As was the case with Proposition 187, the parish saw the housing crisis as a moral issue not merely a political one.
As St. Barnabas entered the next millennium, its commitment to the poor and support of Catholic social teachings ensured that it will continue to engage in the struggle for social justice. As the Parish Mission Statement asserted, "We are a community of disciples handing on the Catholic faith in the tradition of St. Barnabas, our patron, providing for the spiritual growth and development of our members, inviting all to Christian community as apostolic and missionary witness."
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THE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS OF WORSHIP & MINISTRY
[Co-written and co-edited by Fr. Dana P. Michaels and Jeffrey Burns.]
Naval Air Station Closed - 1997:
In the 75th anniversary parish history written in 2000, we read that “In 1997 the Naval Air Station (NAS) was closed amidst fears that the parish would be adversely affected. Some feared that the parish school would be forced to close. None of these fears materialized. The school enrollment increased as did the parish rolls and both continue to flourish”.
School Falls Victim to Closure – 2008:
Unfortunately, this assessment proved much too optimistic. The long-term effect of the base closure was more severe than anticipated. Parish attendance dropped and the school eventually closed in 2008. Indeed, close to 45% of the parish membership had been made up of base personnel or base-related personnel. But the source of the parish’s woes was far more complex than the simple NAS closure. Saint Barnabas suffered from the general malaise that paralyzed the larger church during the first decade of the 21st century. The nation was stunned by the devastating attack on 9/11, but as profound as that attack was, revelations of clergy abuse had an equally devastating affect upon the church. The sense of betrayal undermined church support as did the inadequate response of the United States bishops. Locally, Bishops John Cummins and Allen Vigneron sponsored thoughtful apology ceremonies to survivors of clergy abuse, but their efforts were not enough. The damage had been done.
Leadership Turnover - 2001-2009:
Equally as problematic was the rapid turnover of parish leadership. Between 2001 and 2009, the parish saw one pastor and three administrators come and go. The rapid turnover prevented the stable leadership that the parish needed in the midst of serious problems.
Fr. Ronald Wiecek's full schedule – 2001:
Problems began with the appointment of
Fr. Keyes’ successor, Fr. Ronald Wiecek, C.PP.S. in 2001. Father Wiecek was a talented man, but his gifts put him in great demand. At the same time that he became pastor, he was elected Provincial of the Precious Blood Fathers of the Pacific Province to replace former St Barnabas pastor Fr. James Sloan, C.PP.S., Fr. Sloan had to step down as Provincial due to health concerns. At a time when the parish needed vigorous pastoral leadership, Fr. Wiecek found his attention divided.
Due to his fluency in Spanish, Fr. Wiecek travelled twice a week to St. Edward Church in Newark to meet the needs of the growing Latino Community especially celebrating the Sacraments. Despite his best efforts, the St. Barnabas parish began to lose parishioners and collections declined.
Alameda was also changing. Gentrification arrived at St. Barnabas. Older neighborhoods were upgraded, or redeveloped, making them less affordable and less family friendly. The redevelopment of the Naval Air Station also engaged the community, but plans for redevelopment moved slowly. The changing make-up of the parish provided a significant challenge during a time of grave demands. Fr. Wiecek did the best he could. Of necessity he developed an excellent sense of delegation. He tapped into the many talents of lay men and women who provided important leadership.
Father Joseph Brown – 2003:
In 2003, Fr. Wiecek moved on and was replaced by Fr. Joseph Brown, C.PP.S.. Fr. Brown had been a teaching brother and served in two high schools while also serving as a principal in Manteca. Toward the end of his teaching career, Fr. Joe decided to become a Precious Blood priest. He was ordained and came to St. Barnabas to replace Fr. Wiecek. Though Fr. Brown was known for his kind but reserved personality, and his characteristic straw hat, his tenure was to involve heavy crosses to bear. Besides the difficulties of the declining number of parishioners and a cash-strapped school, he also confronted personal illness. Like so many of the early St. Barnabas pastors, Fr. Brown suffered from poor health, most significantly, an auto-immune deficiency that slowed him down considerably. Because of this and other problems, Fr. Brown left St. Barnabas Church before the end of October 2004.
Father Tom Lester – 2004:
Fr. Tom Lester graciously stepped in to lead the parish until a new pastor or parochial administrator could be appointed.
Father Anthony Herrera – 2004:
Though Fr. Anthony Herrera was named Parochial Administrator in the latter part of 2004, he did not arrive in the parish until early 2005. Nevertheless, this marked the beginning of a new era for the parish. On January 2005, the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, Fr. Anthony Herrera became the new Parochial Administrator and the first Diocesan priest in almost fifty years.
The Society of the Precious Blood withdrew from the parish they had served since 1955. St Barnabas had been one of the first Precious Blood parishes in the Western United States. On May 22, 2005, Bishop Allen Vigneron celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving for the Precious Blood Fathers. Their withdrawal from St Barnabas was followed rather quickly by the collapse of the Order's Pacific Province, which was canonically reduced on July 1, 2005. Nonetheless, the Precious Blood Fathers provided magnificent service in the parish for 49 years and replacing them was not easy.
Fr. Herrera’s arrival was well-received by the parish. He was well-known for his love of cooking and his gregarious style of preaching and presiding at Eucharist. This promised good times for the struggling parish. But the decline proved difficult to reverse.
Part of the parish decline was the school's difficulties that necessitated its closing. In the midst of his health challenges, the closing of the school became a reality. Amidst much sorrow (and some anger), the school was closed in June 2008. Until the end, St. Barnabas School maintained a dedicated faculty that kept the school going during hard times. Their efforts could not make up for the ongoing financial hardship confronting West Alameda and school families. Because of health issues, Father Herrera returned to the parish for his farewell Mass and left at the end of September 2008.
Interim Priests:
Toward the latter part of 2008, Fathers Ray Breton, Tom Lester and Robert Herbst, OFM, took care of the parish.
Father Herman Leong – 2008:
In mid-October 2008, Father Herman Leong took charge of the parish. It was understood that Fr. Leong was to be an interim administrator. He found himself in the midst of a parish beset by upheaval and confusion. In the aftermath of the school’s closure and Fr. Herrera’s abrupt departure, the parish was tense with uncertainty in this transitional period. Fr. Leong proved equal to the challenge. In his brief nine month period, he brought a good degree of administrative order out of chaos.
Father Dana Michaels – 2009:
The appointment of Fr. Dana P. Michaels as the new Parochial Administrator in June 2009 brought long needed leadership and stability to the parish. Fr. Herman remained in the parish and helped Fr. Michaels during this transitional period until his departure in June 2010.
It cannot be overstated that St. Barnabas was a remnant of what it once was. The number of parishioners had decreased dramatically as had weekly collections. But under the leadership and guidance of Fr. Michaels the parish had at last stabilized. In October 2010 the number of parishioners at mass bottomed out at 522 parishioners. However, in 2014 the mass count tallied 550 persons. Not a major increase, but the decline had ceased.
Fr. Michaels is the first parochial administrator to serve more than two years and enjoyed good health and provided some degree of stability. Fr. Michaels is a hard and dedicated worker who is always looking to find solutions to problems. Parishioners regard him as a genuinely good and humble human being. Most of all, they see a priest dedicated wholeheartedly to St. Barnabas.
Fr. Michaels has placed a high priority on improving the parish's financial situation and has worked tirelessly with the Parish Council and Finance Council in this regard. In 2011, Fr. Michaels, in conjunction with the Pastoral Council and parishioner meetings, formulated “The St. Barnabas Church Strategic Plan for Renewal and Regrowth”.
Though the past fifteen years has been marked by serious challenges and apparent decline, several features continue to shine through at St. Barnabas Church.
First, is the incredible work of the St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Conference in service to the poor of the parish. Despite Alameda’s seeming affluence, the West End of the island has had the greatest economic need. With the Base closure in 1997, and the recession of 2008, an increased number of marginalized Alamedans live from paycheck to paycheck. In addition, the parish has many senior citizens who live on low fixed incomes. In response to these needs, the parish SVdP Conference provides food and other forms of assistance. In classic SVdP form, its volunteers visit the homes of the poor to engage each person face to face and assess their needs so that an adequate response can be made in each situation. The devotion of our SVDP volunteers is impressive. They truly live out Christ’s words; “When you do this to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do it to me”. Equally as impressive is the generosity of our parish which supports the SVdP Conference through four annual collections, regular food drives and the annual Advent Giving Tree.
The St. Barnabas SVdP Conference was founded in 1946 and flourished during the 1990s under the leadership of parishioners John and Peggy Doherty, then later by Vince Murray. With their departures, the Society briefly struggled until it was revived by Fr. Tony Herrera, who entrusted the revival to Cath Sullivan in 2005. Since that time, the SVdP Conference has prospered and provided exemplary service to the poor of the parish.
Second, in addition to the outreach of St. Vincent de Paul, the parish has offered its facilities for the following good works: Red Cross blood drives,
a regular voting center, Head Start program, federal census training, neighborhood watch program and The Child Unique Montessori School
Third, the parish’s devotional life has also flourished. Dependent to a large extent on the sizeable Filipino community, the parish sponsors regular devotions: Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Wednesdays, Divine Mercy on Tuesdays, an active Apostleship of Prayer, Simbang Gabi during Advent, an active branch of the Knights of Columbus and the recent institution of the Human Rosary was established by parishioner Norma de la Cruz. The parish also sponsors a Holy Hour each First Friday along with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Annual celebrations are held on the Feast of the Sacred Heart in June, Santo Niño in January, and San Lorenzo Ruiz in September. Beyond the special devotions and celebrations, there is the regular celebration of the sacraments carefully prepared and carried out: anointing of the sick at least twice a year, the Island-wide Adult Confirmation/RCIA program and much more. While numbers and finances may have diminished, the fervor and devotion of the parish has not.
Fourth, through the vigorous efforts of our Social Club, and the Knights of Columbus, parishioners have sufficient opportunities through social gatherings such as potluck diners, picnics and other food sales to gather together and establish close friendships in the true Spirit of brothers and sisters in Christ.
Fifth, one of the achievements of Fr. Michaels’ administration has been parish maintenance and upkeep. St. Barnabas has had considerable deferred maintenance. Once the school was closed, it became necessary to upgrade the facility to make it possible to rent the building out and create a new source of income. A great deal of the time, money and effort by skilled parishioner volunteers was put into rehabilitating the Parish Hall while other facilities have been repaired and upgraded. Much of this was funded through the generosity of parishioners contributing to the Rebuilding the Church (RBC) Fund. Parishioners have also demonstrated their generosity with their time on such special occasions as Parish Clean-up Days and Paint Your Parish Day. Despite the precarious financial situation of St. Barnabas, the parish plant has been kept up, demonstrating the love, loyalty and pride of the parishioners and the hard work of Fr. Michaels.
A Final Note:
The past fifteen years have been difficult ones for the parish and parishioners of St. Barnabas, but the parish has endured. Despite its reduced size, the parish is known for its generous giving, loving and prayerful parishioners. A good spirit continues to emanate from the parish. Essential to the general well-being of the parish has been a group of our dedicated volunteers. Without them, the parish would not have survived. Their passion has enabled the parish to maintain its close-knit spirit. After 90 years, the parish remains poised for growth as the West End of Alameda promises to expand. Hopefully the new retail developments along with new housing will lead to economic growth, with parish growth right behind. In any case, the parish anticipates the future with a quiet hope.
In 2014 the Catholic Church universally received a much needed boost with the papacy of Pope Francis. His humility, holiness and common sense brought back a sense of joy and hope throughout the world. That sense of joy and hope is reflected in the faithful parishioners of St. Barnabas who strive to live out their parish mission and to proclaim the “Joy of the Gospel”. May their efforts bear fruit. What the parish lacks in size, the parishioners make up in commitment and service.
Thanks Be To God! St. Barnabas, Pray For Us!