St. Joseph Catholic Church

A Brief History

Prior to the formation of our Placentia parish, Catholics had attended services at St. Boniface in Anaheim, at St. Mary's in Fullerton, or at an older St. Joseph "mission," a part of St. Mary's that was built on land donated by Samuel Kraemer in 1926. The property was located on the northeast corner of Murray and Ramona Streets.

Our parish was created in 1952 by Cardinal Francis McIntyre of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Designed by Gene Verge of Alhambra and built by Steed Brothers at a cost of $68,000, St. Joseph Catholic Church now sits on a five acre site on Bradford Avenue. Reverend Francis O'Brien, the parish administrator, celebrated the first Mass in the new St. Joseph Catholic Church on Sunday, November 1, 1953. Dedication ceremonies were held by Bishop McGucken of Los Angeles on Thanksgiving Day, 1953. Fr. O'Brien died January 20, 1964.

Building funds were raised by very successful Altar Guild Fashion Show luncheons and annual parish barbecues at the Union Oil picnic grounds. Both of these social events were profit-making activities that continued as St. Joseph traditions for many years.

In August of 1957 Fr. George W. Conboy was assigned as pastor. Under his direction our parish elementary school was built in 1958 starting with four classrooms. A library and twelve more classrooms were added later, along with a twelve bedroom convent for the Franciscan Sisters who staffed the school. This building now houses the Parish Meeting Center, Ministry Offices and the parish Youth Center.

In 1965 plans to enlarge the church seating from 580 to 985 people were submitted by Barker and Ott architects. General contractor Marcus P. Sourth and Associates enlarged the nave of the church, added two altars, increased the sanctuary and sacristy size, and added a storage room and baptistry area. This baptistry area is now the site of the St. Joseph shrine. The remodeling cost approximately $150,000. Father Conboy also guided the building of a new parish rectory with parish offices, kitchen and dining facilities on the first floor and housing for the priests on the second floor.

1970 marked the construction of the final building, a parish hall complete with storage rooms, a kitchen and a stage for entertainment and school use. With increasing numbers of spiritual and social activities over the years, the hall is continually in use.

Father Conboy retired in 1976 and was replaced by Father George M. Breslin. Father Conboy died in 1977. Father Breslin (1920-1994) led the parish as pastor until his transfer in 1987. At that time Father John E. Ruhl became pastor and served until his retirement in 1992. Fr. Fergus Clarke, at that time an associate in the parish, became the parish administrator and was made pastor in July, 1993. When, in 1997, Father Fergus decided to become a Franciscan Keeper of the Holy Land he was replaced by Father Timothy Ramaekers.

Succession of Pastors

Fr. Francis O'Brien 1953-1957	Fr. George Conboy 1957-1976	Fr. George Breslin 1976-1987
Fr. John Ruhl 1987-1992	Fr. Fergus Clarke 1993-1997	Fr. Tim Ramaekers 1997 -