Padre Serra Parish facts for kids
Padre Serra Parish is a large Catholic church located in Camarillo, California. It was started in 1988, shortly after Father Junípero Serra was recognized as "Blessed" by the church. For its first seven years, the church held its services at St. John's Seminary. In July 1995, a new, modern church building opened. This building was unique because it didn't have traditional pews or kneelers, and its main altar was in the center of the room. By 1995, the parish had over 5,000 members. In 2007, Padre Serra Church became known for having the first married Catholic priest in the Los Angeles Archdiocese.
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History of Padre Serra Parish
Before 1988, the people in Camarillo went to St. Mary Magdalen Church, which was founded in 1910. But as more people moved to the area, St. Mary Magdalen became too small. So, in 1988, about 2,500 church members from eastern Camarillo and the Santa Rosa Valley decided to form a new parish.
For the first seven years, Padre Serra Church held its Masses in the main chapel of St. John's Seminary. This seminary was right next to where the new church building is today. During this time, the community worked on planning and raising money for their own church. By 1995, the parish had grown to 5,000 members. Padre Serra Parish has had three main leaders, called pastors:
- Father Liam Kidney (1987–1999)
- Father Jarlath Dolan (1999–2010)
- Father Patrick Mullen (2010–present)
The Church Buildings and Design
A 12-acre piece of land on Upland Road, next to St. John's Seminary, was chosen for the new church. Father Kidney, the first pastor, felt the spot was perfect. He said it had great views of the sea, valleys, and mountains, like a place Father Serra himself would have picked. Father Kidney wanted the new church to be a place that showed "awesomeness, art, beauty, and life."
The new church opened in July 1995. Cardinal Mahony led the special dedication ceremony. The building cost $5 million and was designed by architect David Martin. His grandfather had designed Camarillo's first Catholic church, St. Mary Magdalen, back in 1910. The Los Angeles Times described the new church as looking like a "Mediterranean villa" with its bell tower, earth-toned walls, and red-tiled roof.
The Padre Serra Church has several unique features:
- Instead of traditional long pews, it has individual wooden seats. These seats can be moved, which allows the church to change its layout for different services.
- Most Catholic churches are rectangular with the altar at the front. Padre Serra Church is shaped like an octagon, with the altar in the middle of the room. The architect, David Martin, designed it this way to focus more on the people attending the service, rather than just the altar.
- The tabernacle, which holds the consecrated hosts, is not in the main church building. It is in a separate room called the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. The tabernacle sits on a large, six-ton granite rock in the center of this chapel.
- The church complex also includes connecting classrooms, offices, a chapel, and a courtyard. There is also a 75-foot bell tower.
- All parts of the building face a central courtyard. This courtyard has a fountain, California pepper trees, and other plants. It leads directly to the worship hall, which has tall, wooden ceilings.
- The high ceiling of the church has large, exposed wood beams. The designer, Ed Holakiewicz, said this design makes the space feel warm and gives the impression that everything is reaching towards heaven.
- While modern, the church also includes features of traditional California mission style, such as large wooden front doors, a bell tower, a courtyard, and a fountain.
David Martin, the architect, believed the church's unique design would appeal to a new generation of churchgoers. Ventura County Supervisor Maggie Kildee said the church's pink bell tower could be seen for miles, making it a landmark for people coming to Ventura County.
Not everyone loved the non-traditional design. One Catholic publication described it as "an oddly designed building; sort of a theatre in the round." However, in a 2000 reader's poll, Padre Serra was ranked as one of the top ten churches in the archdiocese for its architecture, praised for its "complete 'village' concept" and "integrity."
The First Married Priest
In 2007, Padre Serra Church received national attention because of Rev. Bill Lowe. Rev. Lowe was a retired Episcopal priest from Massachusetts. He had been married for 44 years and had three adult children and several grandchildren. After he retired and moved to Camarillo, he became a member of Padre Serra. Rev. Lowe then decided he wanted to become a Catholic priest.
There is a special rule that allows married clergy who have left the Episcopal Church to become Catholic priests. They can get a special permission to not follow the Catholic celibacy rule, which usually requires priests to be unmarried. In May 2007, Cardinal Mahony ordained Rev. Lowe at Padre Serra Church. This made him the first married priest in the Los Angeles Archdiocese.
Connection with Father Serra
In December 1987, Pope John Paul II announced that Father Serra would be "beatified." Father Serra was a very important figure who founded many of the California Missions. Beatification is a step before becoming a saint.
At that time, Cardinal Roger Mahony, the Archbishop of Los Angeles, asked Rome for special permission to name the new parish in Camarillo "Blessed Junipero Serra." Father Liam Kidney, the first pastor, remembered that Cardinal Mahony specifically asked him to name the new church after Father Serra.
However, the beatification of Father Serra and the decision to name churches after him caused some debate. Some California Indian leaders criticized the move. They said that Father Serra played a part in the destruction of their rich Native American cultures during the mission era.
Pastors
The priests who have led Padre Serra Parish are:
- Rev. Liam Kidney, 1987–1999
- Rev. Jarlath Dolan, 1999–2010
- Rev. Patrick Mullen, 2010-
See also
- Santa Barbara Pastoral Region
Images for kids
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Crucifix at Padre Serra Church
