St. Bartholomew Church - Then

With the announcement of the erection of St. Bartholomew Parish, Reverend Thomas Francis Kennedy immediately made plans for the purchase of a parish site, choosing the triangular block bounded by Broadway, Granada Ave., Livingston Drive, and Nieto Ave. The location is on the eastern end of the block allowing for a social hall on the west. When completed, the parish will have a handsome group of buildings. A garden with a grotto-shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes will fill the space between the church and the hall.

For the style of the church building, Fr. Kennedy preferred a modern treatment reminiscent of Irish churches, finished on the exterior with stucco and half timber work and on the interior with an open timber roof over plastrwd walls. The sanctuary has been set off horn the auditorium by a deep arch. The ceiling beyond is paneled in wood and follows the line of the arch. Centered over the altar is a triple-window crucifixion group in stained glass. Temporarily, the other windows will be glazed with cathedral glass giving way horn time to time to figured windows depicting the modern saints of the church. In the design of the interior and furnishings of this church, an effort has been made to produce an atmosphere of spiritual uplift. All elernents play their part in adding harmonious beauty. Father Kennedv's plans for his church materialized under the skilled direction of the architect, Thomas Franklin Power. The edifice was put under constructio and completed in 1939. The church seats three hundrrd people. It is 207' overall in length and has a frontage of 471/2' rising to a height of 36' to the top of the cross. (Some of the information obtained from The Tidings, June 17,1938)

St. Bartholomew Today

St. Bartholomew's Under Fr. Thomas Mc Govern: A young man walked up to the new pastor and registered a complaint, "Father, I travel almost twenty miles every Sunday to come here because This is one of th eonly churches that lets you kneel for communion. Now you're making us stand and receive communion by hand. Next thing you know you'll take out the communion rails!"

The wise priest thoguht about it a moment, then smiled and said, "Well, give me another week!"

In July 1984, Father Thomas McGovern was appointed the new pastor of St. Bartholomew's. Father McGovern was formely the pastor of Holy Family parish in South Pasadena, where he earned a reputation for friendliness and energy. His three years at St. Bartholomew's have not disproved this, as the parish received both his warmth and his penchant for activity with open arms.

St. Bartholomew's and the whole Archdiocese of Los Angeles are currently involved in a change of leadership. The new Archbishop Roger Mahoney has sought to inspire new involvement in the Church, and our parish has not been lax in getting into the act. Here are some of the things we have begun.

MUSIC: With our appreciation of music, we have a beautiful pipe organ fitted to the main body of the church. This together with a new Choir Director, Mr. Earl Hayes, a cantor, Ms Anne Nickerson, competent and dedicated choir, allow more traditional, polyphonic music to be sung at Sunday liturgies and special feast days.

SEDER SUPPER: In keeping with Judeo-Christian tradition, St Bartholomew's has begun a Seder Supper, celebrated near the end of Lent. This meal, hosted by the WOmen's Council and St Bartholomew's growing core of Liturgy planners, commemorates both the Jewish Passover and the Christian Las Supper. It has beocme a favorite Lenten event in the parish, rich in both symbol, ritual, and participation.

YOUNG ADULT COMMUNITY: Perhaps the most promising occurence in th elife of the parish is the emergence of a Young Audlt Community. The Belmont Shore area has long been attractive to young adults between the ages of 18-35. With Fr. McGovern's blessing, several new and old parishioners formed a group. The Young Adults perform community and parish service, put on retreats and spiritual development activities as well as host a few parties and social events.

THE BUILDING PROJECT: In keeping with the spirit of renewal and change sweeping the entire Archdiocese, even our tiny church has begun building. Plans for an additon to the church grounds were begun and the building was completed in 1987. The addition to the rear of the church hall provided needed space for the church programs.