St. Basil Catholic Church facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St. Basil Catholic Church
Location	3611 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90005
Country	United States
Denomination	Catholic (Roman Rite)
Website	www.stbasilchurch-la.org
History
Founded	26 November 1919
Dedicated	29 June 1969
Architecture
Architect(s)	A.C. Martin & Assoc.
Administration
Diocese	Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Division	Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region

St. Basil Catholic Church is a Catholic Church located in Los Angeles, California. It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The church is found at 3611 Wilshire Boulevard in the Wilshire district. Its unique building was constructed between 1967 and 1969.

The church was officially opened in 1969. Around that time, in 1969 and 1970, there were protests by Chicano Movement activists. They felt that too much money was spent on the new church building. They believed these funds should have been used to help people in need and support social justice programs instead.

History of St. Basil Parish

As Los Angeles grew westward along Wilshire Boulevard, a new church was needed. Bishop John Cantwell announced the creation of St. Basil parish. It was named after Basil of Caesarea, an important saint. The parish officially started on November 26, 1919. Father William McDermott Hughes became its first pastor.

The first church building for St. Basil was completed in 1920. It was located at 7th Street and South Catalina Street. In 1922, Father Edward Kirk became the second pastor. He served the parish for 27 years until his passing in 1949.

In June 1923, the parish boundaries changed. Bishop Cantwell created a new parish called Precious Blood. St. Basil then moved to a new location at Wilshire Boulevard and South Harvard Boulevard. The original church building was carefully moved in three pieces to this new site.

In October 1943, a fire caused significant damage to the church. However, it was quickly rebuilt. Monsignor Henry W. Gross became the third pastor in 1949. He led the parish for 20 years until his retirement in 1969.

Building the New Church

In August 1965, Monsignor Gross shared plans for a brand new church complex. This large building would be about 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m²). It was planned for the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Kingsley Drive. The A.C. Martin architectural firm designed the new church. This firm had also designed the first church building in 1920.

Construction of the new church took place from 1967 to 1969. The Pozzo Construction Company managed the building process. The new St. Basil Catholic Church was dedicated on June 29, 1969. Cardinal James Francis McIntyre and Archbishop Timothy Manning led the dedication ceremony.

After the new church opened, Monsignor Benjamin Hawkes became the fourth pastor in December 1969. He served for 16 years until his death in 1985. Father M. Francis Meskill then became the fifth pastor in 1985. He led the parish for 13 years until September 1998.

In 1998, Monsignor Charles Hill was appointed as the sixth pastor. He served for eight years until 2006, when he retired due to health reasons. He is still involved with the parish as pastor emeritus. In July 2006, Father Frank Hicks began serving St. Basil. He was officially appointed as the parish's seventh pastor in 2008.

Protests and Community Concerns (1969–1970)

St. Basil Catholic Church became a central point for protests during the Chicano Movement. These protests happened from its dedication in June 1969 through 1970. Protesters were concerned about the large amount of money spent on the church. They felt that nearly $3 million for land and construction was too much. They believed these funds should have been used to help the poor and support social justice.

At the dedication ceremony on June 29, 1969, over 30 people protested. They carried signs with messages like "$1,000,000 for glass and stone, but ? for the Poor." Other signs read "A Monument to Opulence" and "Where is the concern for the poor?".

Católicos Por La Raza

In the fall of 1969, a group called Católicos Por La Raza formed. This group was made up of Chicano Catholic school students. They protested both the church's spending and what they saw as a lack of social care from the archdiocese. They wanted the church to focus more on helping people in need. They also wanted the church to address discrimination against their Chicano identity.

The protests became more intense during the Christmas Midnight Mass on December 25, 1969. Accounts of that night vary. The Los Angeles Times described the protesters as a "mob" that broke into the church. According to the Times, about 200 demonstrators tried to enter the church. Some managed to get inside and open the doors for others. Disagreements occurred between the demonstrators and churchgoers, as well as off-duty sheriff deputies working as ushers.

The protests continued after Christmas. A spokesperson for La Raza told the Los Angeles Times that St. Basil was chosen because it was a new, expensive building. They felt it showed how money was being used incorrectly. They believed the funds should go to the poor and social justice.

Oscar Acosta, a Chicano leader, wrote about the event in his book, The Revolt of the Cockroach People. He described the scene on Christmas Eve 1969. He wrote about 300 Chicanos gathering outside St. Basil's. He mentioned the church's cost and its modern design.

Continued Demonstrations

On the Sunday after the Christmas protest, Bishop Antulio Parrilla from Puerto Rico joined the Chicano protesters. More than 60 people from the Coalition of Concerned Catholics picketed outside. About 100 Chicano activists and supporters attended. Bishop Parrilla held a mass in a vacant lot across the street from St. Basil's. He was joined by Father Mark Day and Father William Davis. They used a simple wooden table as an altar. In his speech, Bishop Parrilla supported the Chicano cause.

Inside St. Basil's, the regular Sunday mass took place. A church spokesperson told the parishioners that the protesters were an "articulate, professionally organized minority." They were also called "militant revolutionaries."

In early January 1970, about 50 Chicano protesters began a fast outside St. Basil's. Ricardo Cruz, a protest leader, explained their actions. He said they wanted to show their beliefs to their community and other Catholics. He stated they would not let authorities stop their peaceful demonstrations. The fast ended after three days. Seventy-five Chicanos and supporters were welcomed to a mass inside St. Basil's parish.

In May 1970, 15 people involved in the Christmas protests went to trial. They faced various minor charges, and 11 were found guilty. In June 1970, Judge David Aisenson sentenced two protest leaders to jail. He stated that "government by blow horn and tantrum will not be tolerated."

Protests at St. Basil's continued into the fall of 1970. In September 1970, Chicano protesters held an outdoor religious service on the church steps. During this service, some participants burned their baptismal certificates. This act showed their frustration with church leaders regarding Mexican-American issues. The protest was peaceful and ended without violence.

After Cardinal McIntyre retired, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles began to address the Chicano community's concerns. Archbishop Timothy Manning started discussions with Católicos Por La Raza. Ricardo Cruz was their main representative. Manning and Cruz worked together to organize funds for educational and social programs in East Los Angeles. They also created a council of regular church members to represent the Chicano community. This progress in Los Angeles also helped Chicanos become bishops in other parts of the United States.

Church Architecture and Design

St. Basil Catholic Church was designed by the architectural firm A.C. Martin & Assoc.. Its unique design features 12 angular concrete towers. Each tower is about 80 feet (24 m) tall. These towers are separated by tall, irregular sections of stained glass. The concrete towers have different shapes. Some are wider at the top, others taper upwards, and some are straight. The church spire reaches 160 feet (49 m) high, with a cross adding another 20 feet (6.1 m) on top. This modern design helped bring a new look to Wilshire Boulevard. It uses a style called Brutalist architecture.

Albert C. Martin told the Los Angeles Times in 1967 that the "fortress-like" look of the towers was inspired by early Christian churches from the 3rd and 4th centuries. These early churches often served as places of safety. Martin's firm described the design as a mix of old and new. It aimed to feel like the past while also being modern.

Dan L. Thrapp, a religion editor for the Los Angeles Times, described the church in 1969. He said it was based on a 3rd-century Roman basilica. It has large concrete towers that seem randomly placed but are well-organized. The main worship area, called the sanctuary, is lit by colorful stained-glass windows. It can seat 900 people comfortably.

Building the church required over 9,000 cubic yards of concrete. The walls were treated to create a rough texture. This process exposed the natural color of the stone used in the concrete.

Interior Features and Art

The inside of the church can seat 900 people. A crucifix from the 13th century hangs above the altar. Modern sculptures and artwork also decorate the interior. Claire Falkenstein, a sculptor, created the stained-glass windows, doors, and gates. She made the windows by placing different geometric glass shapes into iron frames. Her stained-glass work was carefully planned to match the concrete walls. Many consider this project to be her best work.

The interior also features carvings of the Fourteen Stations of the Cross. These were created by Italian sculptor Franco Assetto. He called his art piece Via Crucis. Each station was carved into the church's concrete pillars using a technique called bas-relief. Sculptor Ralf Affleck also contributed art, creating sculptures of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

Architect Richard Dorman defended the church's design. He told the Los Angeles Times in November 1969 that churches sometimes need to make a strong architectural statement. He praised St. Basil's as such a statement. Dorman believed St. Basil's would be on any list of the 25 best buildings in Los Angeles.

In February 1973, St. Basil received an Award of Merit. This award came from the American Institute of Architects for its excellent design and construction. The church's architecture was also featured in the movie Knight of Cups by Terrence Malick. St. Basil Catholic Church is also recognized as a historical building in Los Angeles.

Mass Times

Masses at St. Basil are offered in three different languages. These languages are English, Korean, and Spanish.

See also

• Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region