(From a Souvenir Brochure: November 26, 1950)

In tracing the history of our parish, we must turn with a respectful glance of acknowledgment to the neighboring metropolis of Otay. It was this mission in the South Bay area that played an important part in the religious life of our people for a considerable period of time.

Indeed there are very few parishes in this country that can boast of having their church built four miles way and then having it settled as a regular parish church.

This is the beginning of the history of our parish and. it is the actual story of our present church which has served so well for 30 years.

The story goes like this, and those of us who first attended Mass said by Father Eugene La Pointe in Otay during the early part of this century can perhaps best understand it and realize what it means. They, in turn, can pass on to the rest of us an appreciation of the efforts and sacrifices it takes to organize and establish a parish.

Our parish church was "first established as such through the efforts of Monsignor

Henry Eumanelen, who succeeded in erecting a concrete church in the river bottom near the underpass in Otay during the first decade of the century. He was followed by Father La Pointe, whom some of the present parishioners can remember, since they were forced to travel on horseback or on foot, from Chula Vista to Otay to attend services.

As we have already noted in our Retrospect, Otay was at that time, and remained so until the flood of 1916, the trading center of this area. However, as the Border Trading Center at Otay moved north with the growing population, the trend seemed to center around what is now Chula Vista.

In 1916 the grand flood put a finish to Otay as a trading center, and, it also marked off the definite need of establishing a new parish here in Chula Vista. At that time the flood succeeded in destroying not only a goodly portion of Otay but also washing away the church as well. According to a current newspaper account, "The Catholic Church and the Otay dance hall were floating around in the bay together". As a matter of history, it might be recorded that two of the pews were recovered and stored in the Patterson barn in Palm City, and have since been used as the last two pews in the old church.

The parish was soon revived and Father La Pointe erected a frame church at a new location overlooking the valley at Nestor. Due to a shift in population, this site was abandoned and the building was again moved to its present location. With the moving of the church the present Chula Vista parish was organized by the Rev. Michael Egan of St. Anthony parish of National City. The Chula Vista Star re-
ported on March 2, 1921, "The Marriott property on Third Avenue across from the orange tract was sold by E. Melville to the Catholic people of Chula Vista,"
The moved church was renovated by L. C. Stelzer and finished in stucco and a pastoral residence was also erected.

At that time there were but eighteen Catholic families to work and pray for such an undertaking, but they were so grateful for the blessing of a daily Mass and the privilege of having a resident pastor that they labored earnestly, and gradually their labors bore fruit. Some of the family names of these early parishioners were: Adrian, Arnold, Boggs, Burns, Bannershoven, Bennett, Davies, Luzon, Meyers, Offerman, Poggy, Patterson, Peters, and Stelzer.

The pastors of St. Rose of Lima parish in chronological order are Fathers, Reynolds, Conneally, Eagan, Stack, Mullane, Butler, Lynch, Meeham, Schmidt, Kennedy; Connally, Ott, Woodcutter, Brown, Kimmons, O'Sullivan, Brown and our present pastor Father Kenny. During the early 1940's the entire frontage on Third avenue between Alvarado and H streets was purchased in order to provide space for a complete parish plant. On October 10, 1948, we dedicated our school and rectory thus completing the first unit of our new building program, .and fulfilling a long felt need due to the ever increasing Catholic population of our community.

With the dedication of our new church we mark off another milestone in the history of our parish and it is a day on which we can show just pride because of our accomplishment and especially because of our gratitude to Almighty God and to his Excellency the Most Rev. Charles F. Buddy, Bishop of San Diego.

Our future building plans call for a new convent, an addition to the school and a new auditorium.

Having recorded these few points of parish history we feel that we are justified in pausing here for a brief, wholesome reverie because this will supplement our account and give us a more interesting and intelligent understanding of the picture of the last four or five years. If the new comers to our parish will pardon this pause, they will find it interesting and enlightening; and certainly the old timers will agree because they will find it gratifying and encouraging.

The one person to aid us in this, and give us an interesting and invigorating series of reminiscences on the growth and development of the parish during this period is our pastor, Father Kenny. However, knowing Father as I do, I realize that he is entirely too humble and too modest to share in any such a word lest it might in some manner reflect deserving credit on himself. I also think that he is certainly too busy at this time to be distracted with anything of this nature, although, I do know that he, personally, is never too busy to be bothered with anything that will help the church, aid the people of his parish, advance his community, support his country, assist a friend and above all, encourage a worthwhile endeavor of a fellow priest. Because of all this and especially because of the last, I as a brother priest, am taking the liberty to lead you in this reverie, in the hope that it will do good for the parish and will be a help to the community. In this unapproved gesture I feel free to proceed because of Father Kenny's human understanding and generosity. Moreover, I feel confirmed in this move because I think that ever so many devoted and loyal parishioners will agree with me in thinking that such a word is worthwhile; and to omit it at such a time would actually .amount to a serious oversight.

Taking the privilege of aiding in this reverie, I will ask a guide to lead us around the parish buildings and point out and explain what might be of interest in the way of changes in the past and, also mention the possibilities and hopes for the future. Before beginning our imaginary tour let us go over to the old church which is now an historic mark in the development of our community.

'Standing in front of the old church, we are struck with an evidence of good taste which marks the entire - setting. Attracted by the little building next to the old church, we are prompted to ask about it. Having been informed that this is the convent we view it carefully, and realize that it is rather small to house the number of Sisters necessary to staff our parish school. As we turn to pass on, we cannot help thinking about our appreciation for what the Sisters are doing for our children and for us, and we offer a silent prayer that soon something may be done to better this situation. A stroll with our guide from here will provoke many interesting observations, without which it will be impossible to understand the fullness and charm of the entire setting.

Continuing down Third avenue we view the new school erected in 1948 and we cannot help but be attracted by the well painted and well kept buildings, and we are particularly impressed by the care and attention that is evident in even the smallest detail. At the corner of the school, and on the invitation of our guide, we wend our way toward the rectory, between the school and the new church, and turn left on the school patio, whereupon we are shown the school classrooms. These we view with interest, and thinking of our own school days, we must admit that we are rather envious of these little ones, but our feelings are mingled with a real sense of satisfaction. Here, indeed, we have something worthwhile and something in which we can take just pride, for these classrooms denote the quality of the instruction and training which our children are receiving; in each room we can see the mark of the teacher, and this training, all of which is so full of purpose, so positive, so' orderly, so cleanly, so noble and so admirably well done.

When coming to the end of the patio we seem to face what is a kitchen, and in answer to our question we are assured that it is a kitchen and next to it was the parish hall. This is now, and has been since last September, another classroom, and incidentally it is the place where the parish drive for the new church was inaugurated. More questions about our school bring us the information about the increased enrollment this year, and we are surprised to learn of the many up-to-date methods used to insure the advancement of the individual child. In connection with this, we are very much encouraged to learn of the Parents Club, which is meant for the mothers of our school children, the purpose of which is to cultivate a more Christian-like and enlightened spirit among mothers themselves
and establish a direct, personal contact between the parent and teacher in the hope that they all might arrange for some intelligent understanding among themselves for a practical and intelligent development of the child.

If we have been here before we will certainly notice a magnificent change in the past five years, and if this is our first visit we cannot help but remark that someone with a keen and experienced eye spent much time and took real interest in planning this present set-up.
As our guide directs us on our way across the school yard, he explains that there are also many other parish organizations for men and women. Without enumerating these just now, he points out that we are more or less limited at present, as far as such organizations go because of the lack of space or the lack of a meeting room. "Nevertheless,'' he explains, "there is a keen and wholehearted interest in all parish organizations especially those for our youth." "As an example of this" he says, pointing to the quonset hut in the center of the yard, "this is the Scout headquarters where several active troops of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts hold their regular weekly meetings". The mention of these points brings to mind the fact that there is much organization work connected with any growing parish and ordinarily this makes the daily life of any parish priest a continuous round of activity which brings him in contact with all classes of people and includes many different kinds of work.

Thus each minute of the day is easily accounted for by the many absorbing details of parish work. If his attention is not engaged in the preparation or performance of some immediate duty, he is, as a rule, preoccupied by some problem for the spiritual or the material advancement of his people. The success of parish organization demands plans and arrangements which necessarily mean study and thought. His interest in young and old is not confined merely to the faithful members of his flock, but must also include the lost, the wayward and the in different, as well as others outside his fold who might request the favor of his services. These and other duties including the administration of the Sacraments and instructions in the faith give some idea of the silent and unseen work that is a part of the life of every parish priest. His intercession before the throne of Almighty God is evidenced throughout the day beginning with the holy sacrifice of the Mass in the morning and continuing on until late at night, as is sometimes seen in the recitation of the Divine Office, in which he pleads not merely for himself but, for his people and for the people of the whole world. As the representative of Christ on earth, his good judgment is sought even outside the confessional, by the troubled, who bring him problems of a private or public nature. Moreover, his consideration and kindness must be ever open to the appeals of the poor and needy who come either to seek his help or to ask his intercession for some relief of their suffering.

Such a varied and extensive program offers many opportunities for the talents of every parish Driest. But for the pastor it is a question of more binding duty and that wide field of activity only makes clear the greatness of his responsibility toward the people of his parish. The fulfillment of that duty requires a sincere interest in, and an untiring zeal for his people founded on a personal love for Jesus Christ. As our guide points out the mention of this explains the reticence of the one who is best capable of taking us on this tour, and it also acknowledges the fact that most of our people already know that he is not lacking in such qualifications. "Moreover," he adds, "they can now see that their pastor has spared nothing in an effort to add to their security, advancement and convenience and, at the same time encourage an attractive .and elevating atmosphere."

With a graceful gesture our companion and guide now directs our attention to the rectory which as we know was dedicated in October 1948. As we inspect this building, we cannot help but ponder that this is the house which we must call someday if ever sickness or accident might strike. And, as we proceed outside and stand viewing this building we interrupt our guide to ask whether or not we might have at least some statement from our pastor. Just then Father Kenny approaches on his way to the garage and we are encouraged by the sincere and enthusiastic wave of his hand but rather bewildered by such a silent greeting. Once again our guide takes care of the situation and puts us at ease by explaining that "Father is evidently on his way to a sick call or otherwise he would have stopped and spoken with us."

Our guide gives us further assurance that he can take the liberty to answer our request and give a statement in Father Kenny's name. That statement, he points out will be an expression of Father Kenny's attitude and even if Father gave it in person, I think it could not better express his humility, zeal and self-effacement. And our guide says if Father were to be asked for an explanation of, all this progress and advancement, I feel sure it would amount to this: "The honest efforts of my years in this parish merely effected a culmination, or rather another step in the work begun thirty years ago by my predecessors. Step by step the people have advanced both spiritually and materially by an adherence to the intelligent, energetic and constructive policies outlined for stability and success, which today places them in the ranks of a first class parish. Such progress is a comfort .and encouragement to me as their pastor but the credit goes chiefly to those whose whole hearted interest and self-sacrificing devotion mark them as loyal and faithful followers of Christ."

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