Our History

St. Benedicts Parish was founded on July 2, 1930. Its boundaries were to be between 73rd and 90th avenues, from MacArthur Boulevard to the Bay. Reverend Edward J. Kelly was appointed the first Pastor.  A vacant piece of land on the corner of 82nd avenue and Atherton was acquired. (Atherton Street used to run straight through to 82nd, and is now part of the church yard.) Until a church could be built on the property, a house was rented to serve as a temporary church. Located at 2044 – 85th avenue, St. Benedict’s first mass was celebrated in the living room on July 20, 1930. A bedroom off the living room served as a sacristy. It was supplied with begged, borrowed, and homemade altar cloths, vestments and religious vessels. The first St. Benedict baptism also took place in this house. On November 23rd of 1930 the first church was ready on the 82nd avenue property. It was a temporary church, designed to be converted into a hall when a more permanent church structure could be built. This building, constructed for around $10,000, was dedicated by Archbishop Edward Hanna on December 14, 1930, with a solemn high mass. St. Benedict people were able to celebrate their Christmas together in their new church. In just six short months, the embryo church on 85th avenue has become a true community on 82nd avenue. This was a remarkable feat; especially since the stock market crash of October, 1929, had triggered the Great Depression. St. Benedict was being built by the nickels and dimes, bazaars, barbeques, raffles, and hard work of many dedicated people. The present church building was finally completed in 1952. It was dedicated by Archbishop John J. Mitty on October 10 of that year. Monsignor John Connolly, the first priest to be ordained from St. Benedict parish, was the principal celebrant of the mass. The original church was converted into the parish hall, which it remains to this day. The rectory was built during the summer of 1931. It was remodeled and expanded in the late 1950’s.   The physical plant of St. Benedict neared completion in 1958 with the construction of St. Benedict School and Convent. The school was ready for the first four grades by September of 1959, with one grade added each year until all eight grades were in operation.   After a long search, the Kenosha, Wisconsin congregation of Dominican sisters agreed to staff the school. They continued to do so until the close of the school year, 1971. Because of staffing difficulties, the sisters gave notice that they would have to return to Wisconsin. After a lengthy feasibility study which looked at financial as well as staffing problems, the conclusion was reached reluctantly that St. Benedict School would have to be closed. However, during the summer of 1971, a spirited group of parents organized a school that would serve the St. Benedict community, and be funded in such a way that the school would no longer be financial drain on St. Benedict parish. Over the next 25 years, the school provided a quality, Catholic education for so many of our children in the parish and the neighborhood. Unfortunately, due to the decline in enrollment, the increased costs of education and the number of Catholic schools in our area vying for a dwindling population, St. Benedict School closed its doors on June 30, 1996. In 1934 St. Benedict was serving 350 families, with a total catholic population of 1,086. By the late 50’s there were nearly 1,500 adult parishioners. Each succeeding generation at St. Benedict has brought with it special values and different traditions of life and faith. The Church has been called to change and has been challenged by the people it has served over the years. We have seen difficult days of growth and struggle within the parish. We have seen the number of priests serving the parish diminish, and the emergence of Religious Sisters as pastoral associates. We have been served by sisters of the Holy Names, Presentation and Holy Family orders. In spite of the temporary decline in parish population in the late 60’s and early 70’s, the attendance at St. Benedict is beginning to grow once again. The Holy Spirit continues to animate and bless the people. By adhering to the idea of “Church as family”, St. Benedict people have struggled and learned to be a faith community. All through our 75 years we have been a unique community – one that nurtures peace and openness and the love of God. The “good works” of the past 75 years have changed in character – from the Holy Name Society, Ladies Sodality and the Theresians to the Youth Connection, CCD, Oliver Lanaux Youth Center Parish Council Knights and Ladies of Peter Claver, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society Stewardship. In all that we are and do, we continue to reflect the commitment of St. Benedict to Christian service and Catholic action to the entire East Oakland community.