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The first mass in Atascadero was
celebrated by Fr. P. C. Santy on a beautiful spring day on April 25,
1943 in the hall of the old
Moran Junior College (current site of the
Masonic building next to the National Guard Armory). Up to this time
families from the area were going to mass in Paso Robles or at the
Mission in Santa Margarita. Fr. Santy was the pastor of Holy
Angles in Santa Margarita. The Catholic population of Atascadero
grew during the war years to the point where a mission in Atascadero
became part of the Santa Margarita parish responsibilities under Bishop
Scher of the Monterey-Fresno Diocese. (The Moran College link above
will take you to the Frank Wykoff pages; an Olymic medalist who taught
at Moran College.) |
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The enthusiasm of the people indicated
that they wanted to build their own church in Atascadero. A building
fund was immediately started. In the mean time, the site of celebrating
mass was changed to the La Moda Theater on El Camino (later to become
the Atascadero Bowl) in July 1944. With several fund raising activities
and generous donations, enough money was available to purchase over an
acre of land on Santa Lucia which included most of the land owned by the
parish today. |
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Msgr. Anthony C. Stuhlman, who had
replaced the retired Fr. Santy on June 6, 1949, continued with the
building plans for the new parish which would become St. William's.
Since building supplies were scarce, the parish bid for one of the Army
Chapels at Camp San Luis (Chapel No. T-1802). The purchased chapel was
dismantled, piece by piece, and brought to Atascadero where it was
carefully reconstructed in its original form. The first mass was on July
17, 1949. In October of that same year, Msgr. Stuhlman moved into the
new rectory. (The picture to the left is of Msgr. Stuhlman after
the 1958 First Communion service.) |
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The official blessing of St. William's
occurred in 1950 dedicated to those who gave their lives in World Wars I
and II. The mortgage was paid in full the following year with a
mortgage-burning on January 30, 1951. (The picture to the left is of
the High Altar in the old church, now the Parish Hall. Later Alpha
and Omega symbols were added to either side of the cross.) |
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Parish life included parish missions, and
religion classes with volunteer teachers. The first Confirmation of 29
youths was held in Jan. of 1950 with Bishop A.J. Willinger officiating.
The rectory was also blessed by the Bishop during this visit. |
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In 1962, Fr. Declan Murphy became the new
pastor on Msgr. Stuhlman's retirement. He found a parish that was
already outgrowing the church. Plans were again started for the building
of a new church. The first church would become the parish hall.
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held in Sept. of 1968. The church was
opened and blessed on June 15, 1969 and on Dec. 7, 1969 Bishop Harry
Clinch, Bishop of the new Diocese of Monterey, formally dedicated the
new church. With the construction of the new church, the old
church began its transformation into the parish hall. (The picture
to the left is a current picture [2006] of the current church finished
in 1969.) |
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Fr. Harry Freiermuth became the pastor of
St. William's on Oct. 19, 1971. His tenure here saw the parish continue
to grow in faith. Fr. Harry began the adult religious education programs
and the prayer groups. He was also instrumental in encouraging
ecumenical growth with the townspeople and other churches. In 1977
he initiated Sam's Cupboard, named after San Leonard who first stocked a
rectory cupboard with food for the needy. In 1981, Fr. Freiermuth
was reassigned to the Nativity of Our Lady in San Luis Obispo. (The
picture to the left is of Fr. Freiermuth [right] and Fr. Hercek, the
current St. William's pastor, taken in January 1981. [photo by Peg
Healey]) |
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Rev. Joseph R. Hercek, came to
Atascadero on Jan. 9, 1981 after being transferred to the parish from
Madonna del Sasso in Salinas. Fr. Hercek began our Neighborhood Program
of St. William's Family Concerned. Under his pastorship our parish experienced tremendous growth with the parish serving more
than 800 families. Ministries under his direction encouraged a
strong prayer life, a commitment to parish families, a sacramental life
and an appreciation of each others' time and talents; as well as a deep
gratitude for those families who over the years have contributed to the
history and tradition of the parish. |
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Our current Pastor, Rev. George Batchelder,
came out parish on Oct. 21, 2006 after being transferred from Mission
San Juan Bautista and spending the prior twelve months at the Santa Rosa
parish in Cambria. |
Page created: January 2006
Paged last updated:
December 20, 2006
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