HISTORY OF ST. VINCENT SCHOOL
Established 1911 - Los Angeles
Before we begin to look at our school’s history we must first briefly look at the person in which our school is named after, St. Vincent De Paul and at the orders of clergy and laity he founded.
St. Vincent De Paul
Vincent de Paul was born in the village of Pouy, France on April 24, 1581. As a boy he lived among the poor and experienced the conditions under which they lived. In 1600, he became a priest. For a time he sought to escape from the poverty of his origins, but with the help of spiritual directors he felt himself called to deeper holiness and, through the events of his life, was finally led by divine providence to a firm determination to dedicate himself to the salvation of the poor. He died in 1660 at the age of 80. Vincent was canonized in 1737.
The Vincentians reach America
Vincentian missionaries first reached the shores of the United States of America in 1816. With the appointment of Thaddeus Amat, C.M. as Bishop of Monterey-Los Angeles, they continued their journey to the west in 1855. Bishop Amat developed the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Ten years later, the Vincentians established St. Vincent’s College, Southern California’s first institution of higher learning. The college eventually developed into what is now Loyola Marymount University.
In the United States the Vincentian Fathers, the Daughters of charity, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and the ladies of Charity make up the “Vincentian Family”. There are currently five Vincentian provinces in the United States with over 600 priest, brothers, deacons, and seminarians.
The Beginning of our Parish
As you have read, the history of our parish reaches back before it’s actual founding. We trace our roots to the founding of the Diocese of Los Angeles and it’s first bishop, Thaddeus Amat, C.M., a Vincentian. Part of his vision for the small growing diocese was to bring the Vincentians to the West and to found a college.
St. Vincent College was founded in 1865, the first college in Los Angeles. It was briefly located on 7th and Broadway (what is now the St. Vincent Jewelry Mart) and then moved to the corner of Washington and Grand.
During this time people began to gather in the college chapel and worship, which led to the founding of our parish, by Rev. Aloysius J. Meyer, C.M. After La Placita Olvera and St. Vibiana’s Cathedral, we stand as the third parish founded in the city of Los Angeles.
This is when our parish family was born on the northwest corner of Washington and Grand in 1887. The people who had gathered to worship in the chapel of St. Vincent’s College now have their own parish church and their own pastor, the Vincentian Father Aloysius J. Meyer, with parishioners who come from within the original parish boundaries: from downtown Los Angeles west to Santa Monica and along the coast of San Pedro.
From the beginning, Fr. Meyer is sure that our young people will have a school. In 1889, he insists in his letter to Mother Agatha, Superior General of the Sisters of ST. Joseph of Carondelet: “We must also consider it a parish school, where all the girls of the parish can go, even as you kindly mention, the poor, for we must never neglect them. Otherwise, the Lord would not bless us. And besides, we must have room for the little boys. The building is so arranged that they have their separate yard and can go to their room without ever coming in contact with any girl.”
By 1907 the population of the city has so increased that several other parishes are formed within St. Vincent’s boundaries, and the Tidings article state that “the number of parishioners is the largest in St. Vincent’s history. It is certain that a new church will soon become a necessity.”
The Beginning of St. Vincent Elementary School.
The Vincentians, seeing that more institutions of higher learning were opening in Los Angeles, including USC in 1889, realizing that their parish children were being neglected. They urged the Sisters of ST. Joseph of Carondelet to help staff their parish school. Soon plans were in the works for their parish school.
Finally, after 22 years, since Fr. Meyers first wrote his letter to Sister Agatha urging for her help, his dreams of a parish school seemed to be materializing.
In 1911 the Vincentian Fathers discontinued St. Vincent College and the college buildings became the home for St. Vincent’s Parish School. Fr. Joseph Glass, C.M., later bishop of Salt Lake City, was pastor at the time and Sr. Victoria Kelly, C.S.J. was the first Principal of St. Vincent’s School. At the time, the school was located at Washington Boulevard and Grand Avenue.
When the Vincentians decided to close the college they sold their charter to the Jesuits, who in turn used the charter to open what is now Loyola Marymount University.
Plans for a New Church
Beginning in 1914 the plans for the new church were delayed
because
of World War I but the parishioners and their pastor, Fr. James McRoberts
C.M., spent the following years and much of their energy raising funds. The
parish was blessed when Mr. and Mrs. Edward Doheny stepped in to help
finance the project in 1922.
Mrs. Doheny was very religious and had a lot of influence on the design of the new church.
According to our records she and her husband gave one million dollars for the project on one condition, that the new church be modeled after the cathedrals in Mexico, which she so dearly loved. All parties agreed and St. Vincent Church went on to be the most splendid church in Los Angeles.
Our Second School Building
In 1923, at the same time ground breaking began for the church, a new school building opened. It was located on Flower and west Adams Street, one block east of what was to be the new church.
The school was a class “A” construction building. It was a two-story reinforced concrete structure, with brick facing. Build by Mr. McDonald, a parishioner, at a cost of sixty thousand dollars.
This structure had nine classrooms, an office and an auditorium. It had a large playground, which was enlarged twice in later years. It seems the contractor pleaded with the pastor to add a basement, but Father Hanley could not afford the expense, one thousand dollars.
Sr. Mary Clementine Slattery C.S.J. was in charge of the school at this time.
At the laying of the cornerstone of the new school, many Clergy, Sisters and city officials were present. His Excellency, Archbishop John J. Cantwell presided at this memorable event. The Hon. Isidore Dockweiler was the principal speaker.
It is not clear why a new building had to be built. Some have speculated that the college building was in the pathway of what was soon to be the busiest highway in the U.S., Interstate 10, the Santa Monica Freeway. It is clear that the college building was sold, but to who?
New St. Vincent Church
The cornerstone was set on July 18, 1924. On March 29, the last Eucharist is celebrated in “Old St. Vincent’s Church.” On April 5, 1925 the first Eucharist is celebrated in “New St. Vincent Church,” on the corner of Adams and Figueroa. Fr. Martin Hanley, C.M. is pastor at this time.
In 1945, our small chapel of Santo Nino, on the corner of 23rd and Trinity begins celebrating Sunday Liturgies.
Plans for a new school building
In 1951 the state Highway Department proposed building the harbor freeway through the school area. At first it was to run west of Chester Place and through USC fraternity row; through politics, this was dropped. Finally the Chancery Office approved the plan to condemn our convent, school, and playground.
In the summer of 1951 the Chancery Office purchase
d
property at 2325-2345 South Figueroa St., paying the sum of one hundred and
thirty-nine thousand dollars. The parish had the sum of seventy thousand
dollars to its credit at the Chancery Office. Permission was granted by the
Chancery Office and later, on July 22, 1951 by Father Stakelum to borrow the
sum of sixty-nine thousand to complete this deal.
Until the construction of the new building was begun, this property was leased by a used-car salesman at the rate of seven hundred, which took care of the interest, etc.
The Chancery Office gave approval to engaging Montgomery and Mullans as architects and J.A. McNeil Company as contractors for the new building, on March 6, 1953.
The new school is finally built
After two years (1953) of hesitation the State Highway Department offered the Chancery Office four hundred and sixty thousand dollars for the property, which was finally accepted by the Cardinal.
The Cardinal assured the Highway Department people they could have the old grounds by the middle of November, and in turn asked the contractors if they could help him keep his assurance. The school was built in four and a half months, establishing an all-time record for such a type of building. It was blessed in the late spring of 1954 by Cardinal McIntyre.
The old school and convent are torn down and the “freeway orphans” move into the new school. Sr. Daniel Joseph, C.S.J., walks the children from one side of the freeway to the other. Parish and school life grows with the changing sites and changing times.
Occupied since the spring of 1954, the present school consists of nine classrooms, a library, two office areas, a kitchen and cafeteria, and an auditorium.
In the 70’s the government passes the Title 1 bill, which gave aid to private schools by giving them a public school teacher. This public school teacher would only supplement what is being taught in the classroom. St. Vincent received this aid in the late 70’s and the government built a bungalow in the yard. This bungalow belongs to the Los Angeles Unified School District.
In the spring of 1987, a new room was added to the school to house a computer lab. There was no space to build a new room so a computer lab was built in the cafeteria area to house the IBM Writing To Read program.
St. Vincent had more plans to expand, by building a new building on the school grounds. This would cut our yard shorter. The plans were to build the St. Vincent Center. Construction was delayed by controversy downtown. St. Vincent Parish went to court to fight and won. Finally, a preschool was added to the school property in the fall of 1995 and opened in the spring of 1996. The preschool is housed in the lower level of the St. Vincent Center which is also home to the “Esperanza Community Housing Corporation” on the 2nd floor.
In the winter of 1997 our school was the first in the archdiocese of Los Angeles to adopt the computer program “FutureKids”. This program is currently being housed in the library.
Principals of St. Vincent School
*CSJ – Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet *
Victoria Kelly, CSJ
Aurelia Mary, CSJ
Generosa, CSJ
Pancratius, CSJ
Clementine Joseph, CSJ
M. Florentine, CSJ
Laurentine, CSJ
St. John, CSJ
M. Williams, CSJ
Killian, CSJ
Joseph Marie, CSJ
Clarissa, CSJ
Mary Joan (Katherine), CSJ
Daniel Joseph (Jean), CSJ
Eileen Mary, CSJ
Regina Mary, CSJ
Teresa Ann, CSJ
Regina Catherine, CSJ
Eileen Patrice, CSJ
Barbara Ann, CSJ
Eleanor Marie, CSJ
Loraine, CSJ
* Laity *
Carol Stech
Roy De La Torre
Mary Arvey
Lelana Moran
* DC – Daughters of Charity *
Sr. Cabrini Thomas, D.C.
Our school continues to evolve in the
new millennium. A “Middle School” teaching concept has been implemented
for grades 6, 7 and 8. These grades are departmentalized. Further technology
enhancements include a school-wide computer network and a school web site.
St. Vincent School has also completed the necessary requirements, and is
currently seeking accreditation for, for Western Association of School
Creditation (WASC)
Our school’s continued development is aimed at preparing our students for
success, from early childhood through secondary education and beyond,
encouraging them to assume leadership roles, and helping them become
competent in making Christian, moral decisions in a secular society.
85th Anniversary
In the fall of 1996, St. Vincent celebrated its 75th anniversary with a
beautiful liturgy and party, which filled the school. Five hundred people
attended this event.
90th Anniversary
St. Vincent School marked its 90th anniversary in the spring of
2002. Festivities began at noon, with a mass and continued with a homecoming
at the school.
St. Vincent School treasures the heritage and traditions that have brought us to the present years.