Saint Francis de Sales Church

History of our parish with baddendum by Fr. Larkin, followed by biography of Fr. Larkin

The birth of St. Francis de Sales Parish is essentially a microcosm of the development of the San Fernando Valley, affectionately referred to as “America’s Most Famous Suburb.” By 1900 the population of Los Angeles had reached 100,000 residents and was projected to double within five years. This increase combined with a rapidly growing agricultural industry created a desperate need for a reliable water source; the Los Angeles River was simply inadequate. An Irishman named William Mulholland, engineer and chief of the Bureau of Water Works solved the problem by building a 233 mile-long aqueduct linking the Owens Valley River to the Los Angeles River. Meanwhile a colleague, General Moses Hazeltine Sherman was serving on the water commission board. Sherman belonged to several land development organizations and is believed to have used his inside information from the commission to convince his colleagues to “buy up the valley” before it would become prime irrigated land. In 1913 Sherman’s Los Angeles Suburban Homes Company purchased 47,500 acres, and in 1911 he created a subdivision filed as “Tract 1000” keeping these 1000 acres for himself. Water from Owens Valley flowed into the San Fernando Valley on November 5, 1913 and throughout the next decade agriculture such as citrus farming and wheat production grew. The 1920’s saw the development of a new type of crop: golf courses, driving ranges, and country clubs emerged from the lush green plots of land across the valley. Thousands of trees and species of plants were planted along what would become major thorough fares—the Valley was growing into its own Eden. In 1920 just over 21,000 people lived here and by 1926 the Cahuenga Pass had become one of the most traveled roads in Southern California and one of the most congested—a foreshadowing, perhaps of what was to come. In 1927 Sherman subdivided his share of tract 1000 and in his honor, what had once been called Cahuenga Park, evolved into Sherman Oaks.

      While land developers and farmers moved to the Valley for the fertile soil, others came for different reasons. Filmmakers found the mild weather conducive to filming and the terrain could be adapted to create almost any type of movie “location.” There were also plenty of real cowboys and ranch hands to cast as “extras.” Motion picture studios arrived and with them actors and actresses who preferred to make their home here in the relaxed, pastoral setting. In fact, the San Fernando Valley of the 1930’s and 40’s has been characterized as the “Playground for Celebrities” and it is during this same time that yet another Irishman named William—a priest named Father William McGinley—began holding Mass in a rented hall on Van Nuys Boulevard at Sherman Way. The first Mass of St. Francis de Sales Church was held on November 27, 1938 and was attended by forty people. The location was a club called the Live Oaks Café, whose owner was the famous auto racer, Barney Oldfield. The earliest correspondence is a letter written to Father McGinley, then residing at Van Nuys Blvd and Benefit Street. In this letter, Father Joseph McGucken, Chancellor for the Archdiocese writes on behalf of Archbishop John J. Cantwell urging Father McGinley to investigate several properties for sale as possible sites for a more permanent church. The location of the temporary church on Van Nuys Boulevard was causing confusion among local Catholics who were unsure if they should join the new church or remain at St. Elizabeth’s Church already established in Van Nuys since 1920. Bishop Cantwell writes, “It is not equitable that you should have a temporary church for any prolonged period on the boundary of another church. A prolongation of a religious center in your present location is a serious inconvenience to Father Keohan (pastor of St. Elizabeth’s church) who has never entered a word of complaint. It is now time you should rent a house of some kind in the center of your parish until you can get a lot and build a temporary church. Any priest will sympathize with you when there is evidence that a temporary one will not become a permanent one. I hope that you will immediately make arrangements to move elsewhere so your people will learn who their pastor is.”

      There is also some confusion about when the original church on Fulton Avenue was established. The 1988 Parish Directory indicates that building began in April 1939 with a Dedication Service on September 29. According to church records and Archdiocesan correspondence these dates appear to be off by one year. The original loan application to secure the land wasn’t applied for until May 15th, 1939 and became available through Security First National Bank on June 12. In a telegram sent to Father McGinley who was now residing at 14437 Greenleaf Avenue in Sherman Oaks, Father McGucken writes, “The Bishop does not want you to purchase property on Ventura Blvd but rather on lots back from Ventura.” A few weeks later, a second letter arrives from Father McGucken which states, “The Bishop has delegated Father Thomas O’Regan and Father James Morris to look into the matter of purchasing the property.” Property was eventually acquired at 4246 Fulton Street, lots 69 thru 72 in tract 7457. Bids from local contractors ranged from $8,590 to $10,970, with the lowest bid accepted from Mr. L.A. LeFevre, who resided at 4916 Ben Avenue in North Hollywood. Construction began in April 1940 with the Dedication Service held on Sunday, September 29 at 10:00 Mass. Bishop Cantwell, Father Timothy Manning the Secretary of the Archdiocese, and Father T. Englishas served as the Masters of Ceremonies. At this stage no provision had been made to build an elementary school as Bishop Cantwell believed that the neighboring parish schools would be able to accommodate children from St. Francis de Sales parish.

      In the early years, Father McGinley single-handedly attended to the spiritual needs of his rapidly growing parish, until he was joined by an assistant, Father Joseph Burbage on March 31, 1942. Our parish then, like now, was also comprised of many dedicated and enthusiastic laypeople who accomplished a great deal within a relatively short time. Organizations such as: The Altar Society, the Holy Name Society, Catholic Youth Federation, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, and the Boy Scout Troop #46 were established in those early years. As previously noted, this was a time when many celebrities moved to the Valley, and our church was a place of worship for many famous names in Hollywood. In fact, shortly after Father Burbage’s arrival, he found himself in the midst of a controversy when he baptized Louis Costello Jr., the seven week-old son of comedian and parishioner, Lou Costello. A photograph of Father Burbage baptizing the child was featured in the New York News on January 17, 1943 and in this photo, Father Burbage has his back to the camera, while Lou’s partner, Bud Abbott is making a funny face and pointing at Father Burbage and the child. The photograph was initially sent to the New York Archdiocese by an anonymous angry Catholic, and then forwarded to Bishop Cantwell who found the situation to be quite humorous, reassuring Father Burbage that “no harm had been done.” Given that our country was in the midst of a major world war, perhaps he recognized that such a situation paled in comparison.

      By the end of World War II, the Valley’s population was more than 175,000 and the Baby Boom had begun. In July 1945 Father McGinley was replaced by Father James O’Mahoney, former pastor and builder of Holy Trinity Church in the Atwater section of Los Angeles, who had the reputation as a “great builder.” The establishment of a parish elementary school was his immediate goal. On October 16, 1945 Mr. and Mrs. Walter Brennan sold the church lots 66, 67 and 68 adjacent to the church property on Fulton Avenue and although this additional land was a welcome acquisition, it would not be used to build a parish school. Father O’Mahoney conducted a door-to-door census reporting that he “visited and sat in the homes of 700+ Catholic families with 110 still to visit.” In a letter to the Bishop he writes, “There are 250 children of grammar school age and 270 others approaching that age: 45 of these children attend St. Charles School (North Hollywood), 42 attend St. Elizabeth’s (Van Nuys), 18 attend Good Shepherd (Beverly Hills), 9 attend Blessed Sacrament (Hollywood), and 6 are at St. Ambrose (Hollywood.) There is such overcrowding at other Catholic School so parents are not able to get them in. The public schools in the valley are running three sessions a day to keep up with the tremendous overcrowding.” In June 1945 Father O’Mahoney created a school building fund and 362 families pledged to pay $26,000 dollars before January 1, 1946. Although they came up short raising $16,747 they still went forward with plans to build. Five acres of land, on what was formerly a golf driving range, were purchased adjacent to the Los Angeles River. Laurence D. Viole whose office was located at 11450 Ventura Boulevard and who resided at 3220 Laurel Canyon Boulevard in North Hollywood was secured as the architect for the elementary school project. Mr. Viole had just finished restoring the Convent at Mission Santa Ines in Solvang. Manderbach Construction (1837 Victory Boulevard, Glendale) submitted the winning bid at $133,594 and the parish began accepting school registration from families after Sunday Mass from May until November of 1948. Sixty five students were registered for grades one through eight. There was a relatively small eighth grade, but more than seventy children registered for the first kindergarten class. Kindergarten was taught for only that initial year and then discontinued because of lack of space and the inability to find a teacher. Kindergarten was reinstated in the late 1970’s.

      Rapid growth continued during the post-war years and neighboring parishes were established such as Our Lady of Grace (1945) and St Cyril of Jerusalem (1949). Just like the developers who had subdivided the Valley almost half a century before, these new pastors wrestled with their own land issues. The initial parish boundaries for St. Francis de Sales were Laurel Canyon Boulevard on the east, Mulholland Drive on the south, Van Nuys Boulevard to Magnolia, east to Hazeltine, north to Sherman Way, and then east again to Laurel Canyon. In the spring of 1948 there was tension between Father O’Mahoney and the pastor of St. Jane Frances de Chantal, who felt that our parish boundary was too wide. He was concerned that our expanding parish was impacting his ability to develop a parish large enough to sustain itself. The boundaries of other parishes were also being questioned as some pastors began to form alliances—just as Sherman and Mulholland had done years before. A compromise was reached between St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane Frances with St. Jane Frances extending its boundary south to Chandler Boulevard.

      After an exceptionally cold start to the new year in 1949—it snowed in Sherman Oaks on January 10—St. Francis de Sales School opened for classes in September. The School Dedication Ceremony was held the following spring on April 30, 1950. James Francis McIntyre was Archbishop of Los Angeles at this time, and Mother Eugene, of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) was our first principal. She was followed by Mother Regis in 1951 and there were eight others who served as Principal: Mother de Sales, Sr. Madeline, Sr. Wilfred, Mother Adrienne, Sr. Joan Mary Moore, Sr. Greta Stewart (who had served previously as Sr. Wilfred), Sr. Kathleen Daly, and Sr. Ellen Marie McGovern. The RSHM sisters have remained a steady and nurturing presence in our school through the present day. It is with sadness that we face the impending farewell of Sr. Ellen Marie McGovern who retires this year after more than twenty-five years of service to our parish. In those early years, the many RSHM sisters who taught in our school resided in the convent at Our Lady of Corvallis High School at 3921 Laurel Canyon in Studio City. Corvallis closed in the mid 1980’s and although many of the original buildings are still in use, the campus now belongs to Osaka University of Los Angeles. In addition to the RSHM sisters and many Diocesan priests, numerous laypeople have also served in our school. A student of the very first, first grade class, Joan Pierson, would return years later to teach—first grade of course! She dedicated more than thirty years of service to our parish. In fact a number of alumni have since returned to St. Francis de Sales serving as teachers, coaches, and staff members. Many have taught the children of their former classmates, and some are now teaching the second generation of families—the children of their very first students.

      In the five years following World War II the population of the Valley climbed to 402,538 residents—the once pastoral San Fernando Valley had suddenly mushroomed into the ninth busiest urban area in the nation. Our little church on Fulton Avenue was straining to accommodate all of the parishioners attending Sunday Mass, and it wouldn’t be long before we would need additional classroom space. Father O’Mahoney’s priority at this time was a new church, and he asked Bishop McIntyre to allow parishioner Daniel Anthony Elliott to serve as the architect. Mr. Elliott had no previous ecclesiastical experience and that was of great concern to those at the Archdiocese. His initial plans were submitted on July 17, 1956 but it took almost two full years for them to be approved because of these concerns. In fact, during the past fifty years there has been speculation surrounding the plans for our church. Some have suggested that the traditional design of neighboring St. Charles Borromeo Church (established in 1959) was actually intended for St. Francis de Sales. Indeed, if you look at the cramped corner location of St. Charles at Moorpark Street and Lankershim Boulevard, and compare it to our location where three streets converge in a large open area (Dixie Canyon, Valleyheart Drive, and Moorpark Street), it does appear that St. Charles would rest more appropriately here in Sherman Oaks. Nevertheless, on May 2, 1958, The Tidings featured an article which described the architectural design of our new church. Hailed as being “conservatively contemporary in architectural style” it was to rise on the wave of the impending Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican which Pope John XXIII had called for only a few months prior.

      Vatican II marked a fundamental shift toward the modern Church, and ours was, indeed, going to be modern. The church was built with reinforced concrete with extensive use of brick and stone. The bell tower would rise 100 feet into the sky and be crowned with a sixteen foot cross. The bell, cast in Loughborough England is 78% copper and 22% tin and weighs 6545 pounds. At the time it was installed on March 1, 1960 it was the second largest bell on the west coast, measuring 5’2” in diameter and 4’9” high. It would take a thirty-five ton crane to hoist it into the tower. The nave and two side chapels would seat 850 people and one of the chapels was to be designed explicitly as a children’s chapel with sliding glass doors to insulate against noise and yet still allow families with children to participate in the Mass. The choir balcony would accommodate 56 members and would be equipped for a pipe organ. The most modern feature would be a freestanding main altar which would allow the priest to face his people and allow the laity to be more active participants in the liturgy—a particularly import tenet of Vatican II. Other features included cove lighting, built in planters to frame the reredos, and triangular outdoor patios to be built on either side of the nave. T.S. Construction broke ground for the new church on June 5, 1958 and for the rectory in December, at an estimated cost of $485,000, but the total cost including both church and rectory would be in excess of $600,000 by the project’s completion. The 14,000 square foot church required eighteen subcontractors for details such as the terrazzo marble floor, heating and air conditioning, furniture and religious art. The church pews arrived a year later, having been delayed because of a union strike. They had to be built by non-union men, which was somewhat controversial at the time.

      The first Sunday Mass was celebrated on September 13, 1959 but sadly, Father O’Mahoney lived just long enough to see the fruits of his labor—he passed away in his sleep on January 17, 1960. On February 13 Monsignor Patrick Dignan, former Archdiocesan Superintendent of Schools, arrived as interim pastor. A month later on March 14, 1960 he sold the old church property on Fulton Avenue, lots 66-72 in tract 7457 to Mr. Stanley Kibrick of the Triangle Development Company for $125,000, with realtor Robert Regan at 13535 Ventura Boulevard handling the transaction. During Monsignor Dignan’s short tenure, he helped secure Archdiocesan approval for the school’s brick building. As of 1960, our parish was running two busses daily over the hill to St. Victor’s School because there wasn’t enough room to accommodate all of our parish children in our school. Some 130 parish children were attending neighboring parochial schools, and Monsignor Dignan wrote to the Archdiocese that he was “requesting eight more classrooms because in the hilly section towards Mulholland the child population is growing!”

      Father James Nevin replaced Monsignor Dignan in November 1960, and one month later Encino Construction broke ground for the red brick structure that had also been designed by Daniel Elliot, and would cost $201,570 upon its completion. Under Monsignor Nevin’s tutelage the convent was built in 1965 to accommodate the fourteen RSHM sisters then working in our school. William Brown was the architect, and the project would cost approximately $106, 000 for 6,980 square feet. (The convent was subsequently converted into a multipurpose parish center in 1992 as the number of religious sisters serving in our school had dwindled to less than a handful. All day-to-day parish operations were moved from the rectory to this center.) Monsignor Nevin also installed a magnificent pipe organ in 1969. The Walcker pipe organ with twenty-four stops and pipes ranging in size from a few inches to several feet cost $40,000 and was crafted in Germany and shipped to our church from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Monsignor Nevin wanted to improve the acoustics, and he also sought to create a sense of warmth in the large concrete church so in the 1970’s he had wood veneer paneling installed in a natural finish along the wainscoting in the church nave.

      Our fifth and present pastor, Father Kevin Larkin, was appointed in 1981. During the eighties and nineties, he quickly saw to the restoration and redecoration of the church, former convent building, and parish grounds. If Father O’Mahoney was “the great builder” then Father Larkin should be known as “the great renovator.” It was under his tenure that we experienced the 6.7 magnitude Northridge earthquake on the morning of January 17, 1994 which caused substantial damage to the church. The church bell broke free of its yoke and fell through the tower damaging a significant portion of it. Statuary and ancillary equipment were lost and much of our pipe organ was destroyed. However, the sixteen inch steel reinforced concrete walls probably saved our church from complete destruction, unlike so many of the apartment buildings along Moorpark Street that collapsed and were subsequently deemed uninhabitable. Father Larkin immediately created a Parish Development Plan to raise church restoration funds. One of the most significant changes is that our three ton bell no longer resides in the tower, but rather rests in the newly formed Memorial Garden in the courtyard on the south side of the church. The names of four Sherman Oaks residents, all neighbors of our parish who lost their lives in the earthquake, are listed on a plaque near the bell. The bell has been replaced by a series of recorded chimes located in the tower which can be programmed to play as needed. The tower has been heavily retrofitted, and some of the organ pipes have been relocated behind the main altar.
As we continue to improve our church and school and strengthen our parish community, we are reminded of what Saint Francis de Sales wrote in the early seventeenth century, “When you encounter difficulties and contradictions, do not try to break them, but bend them with gentleness and time.” This wisdom is as applicable for us today as it was for the likes of Father McGinley and Father O’Mahoney struggling to establish a community of worshippers in this new Eden called the San Fernando Valley. May God continue to bless our St. Francis de Sales community, and may the spirit of those who have paved our way, religious and laity alike, inspire us as we approach our parish Septuagennial in 2008.    written by Alice Cotti

Addendum by Father Kevin Larkin
Regarding the 1994 Earthquake

      The January 17th, 1994 Northridge Earthquake caused considerable damage to St. Francis de Sales Church and Rectory. Cost for repairs was $1.5 million, of which insurance covered half the amount. The remaining $750,000. was donated by members of the Parish.

      Five people were killed in Sherman Oaks, one of whom died a hero’s death. Kevin Maher, an electrician, attempted to take a live fallen electric overhead wire that had fallen on a car whose occupants were a mother and her baby. He saved the trapped pair, but lost his own life in the process. His funeral took place at San Fernando Mission Chapel since St. Francis de Sales Church was red-tagged too dangerous to occupy. Two Priests from Ireland, who were visiting the parish: Fr. Barry Larkin and Canon Sean Kileen assisted the Pastor, Fr. Kevin Larkin in celebrating the funeral. Within two weeks, the Church was okayed for services, thanks to the Trojan work of Miss Maryann Donaldson who was the Parish Manager and whose wedding to Mr. Kyle Kemp took place two weeks after the earthquake.

      The Church organ was almost totally destroyed but was replaced by a specially designed organ from The Roger Organ Company of Portland, Oregon. The new organ cost $395, 000. At the dedication of the new organ, Mr. Fred Swan, from the Garden Grove Crystal Cathedral, played the organ for the first time before an invited congregation of donors to the Church Restoration Fund and a select representation from the Archdiocese headed by Regional Bishop Armando X. Ochoa (now Ordinary of El Paso, Texas). The organ designers and builders came from Portland, Oregon as well as our Church organists, headed by Mr. Steve Park. Musicians from Southern California, especially Church organists were also present at the organ dedication.

      Fr. Kevin Larkin wants to pass along a note (of caution) to his successor. There are many hair-line cracks in the Church building and also in the tower. You will have to have the building painted every ten years with waterproof paint. The next painting should be in 2014. There is no danger to the Church structure as the larger cracks were apocrified and the building is, in fact, stronger and more secure than before the earthquake. The bell tower, all 100 ft. of it, was close to being eliminated by the restoration engineers but this stubborn Irishman would not hear of it. The tower was then reinforced by steel girders from ground level right up to the top. It may still be standing proud at the corner of Dixie Canyon and Moorpark right up to the last day.

The Convent was converted to a Parish Center in 1993 at the cost of $350,000. Thanks to the donations by the late Dewey Oster and Irene Weigfand, the conversion was financially covered without having to raise money from the other parishioners. May they rest in peace. Pozzo Construction Company did the conversion work headed by Mr. Vic Pozzo, parishioner and then President of the Company.

FATHER KEVIN LARKIN - pastor 1981 - 2009

       Father Larkin was born in County Cork, Ireland on December 27, 1934 to Daniel & Molly Larkin and grew up in a family with two brothers, Denis and Barry and two sisters, Ann and Joan.

       Fr. Larkin attended grade schools in Tullamore, Dublin and Portlaoise and high school at the Christian Brothers in Portlaoise and then on to St. Mary’s College Knockbeg, Carlow. He entered St. Patrick’s Seminary in Carlow, Ireland and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in June of 1959. The first 22 years of his priesthood he served the parishes in Los Angeles and Orange Counties including the parishes of Holy Family, Glendale; St. Philip Neri, Lynwood; St. Genevieve, Panorama City; St. Julie Billart, Newbury Park; St. Joseph, Long Beach; and Our Lady of Lourdes, Tujunga.

       On Easter of 1981, Fr. Larkin became the pastor of Saint Francis de Sales Parish which was in need of much renovation. He set about renewing the parish and its physical plant. Shortly after his arrival, he initiated a renewal of the school with the arrival of Sr. Kathleen Daly and then Sr. Ellen Marie McGovern.

       After completing the plant renovation in 1993, the Parish was struck by the devastating 1994 earthquake which destroyed the bell tower, church organ and resulted in numerous structural fractures. More than a year was spent on a million dollar fundraising campaign. The campaign funds along with insurance restored the church structure, bell tower and the church organ and upgraded our church. His recruitment and support of a renowned choir leader and an outstanding church organist positioned our Parish with one of the finest choirs, music programs for the parish and school and church organist programs in the Valley with the best acoustical church in the Valley.

       Under the school leadership of Sr. Kathleen Daly, Sr. Ellen Marie McGovern, Mr. Kevin Kenny and Mr. Anthony Galla and Fr. Larkin, the SFDS School program was renewed and elicited and fostered outstanding parent participation and involvement. As a result, the SFDS School is one of the finest parochial schools in the Valley offering an outstanding Catholic education to its community with a mission that no child of an active parishioner is denied a Catholic education due to finances. Pre-school, after school, computer labs, science labs, Spanish classes, eight teachers with a masters degree and a teacher’s aide for each class are but a few of the accomplishments and programs added during Fr. Larkin’s tenure.

       The School leadership and the Parent Teacher Organization provide a strong base for today and tomorrow’s continued school excellence. Equally impressive are the SFDS Catholic Religious Education (CRE) and RCIA programs along with their leadership which Fr. Larkin has managed to establish.

       As was recently noted by our esteemed Bishop Gerald Wilkerson, the SFDS community is truly able to lead itself. As Fr. Larkin celebrates his Golden Ordination Jubilee and his retirement, he can truly take great pride and satisfaction in the community which he has built and served for 28 years. Well done, true and faithful servant!