Saint Clare Parish is a parish in the

Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose in California Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...

. It is located in

Santa Clara, California Santa Clara ( ; Spanish language, Spanish for "Clare of Assisi, Saint Clare") is a city in Santa Clara County, California. The city's population was 127,647 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities and towns i ...

. The parish community of St. Clare originated from the

Mission Santa Clara de Asís Mission Santa Clara de Asís () is a Spanish mission in the city of Santa Clara, California. The mission, which was the eighth in California, was founded on January 12, 1777, by the Franciscans. Named for Saint Clare of Assisi, who founded th ...

and can trace its history to January 12, 1777, when Fathers Tomas de la Pena and Jose Antonio de Murguia celebrated Mass on the west bank of Santa Clara's Guadalupe River. St. Clare Parish was built to take over the parochial functions of the

after it burned in 1925. The parish was built later that same year one block west of the mission on Lexington Street. Archbishiop Edward Hanna constituted the mission for non-parochial services for college students and the parochial powers of the church pass to St. Clare's Church built by Father George Bulter. Father Bulter ordered a statue of the Blessed Mother from Rome. It was dedicated along with the church in a ceremony where parishioners gathered in front of the mission and carried the statue in a procession across the street to the new St Clare church on August 15, 1926 (four days after the feast day of St. Clare). The mission was rebuilt in 1928 and is now used as the chapel for the

Santa Clara University Santa Clara University is a private university, private Jesuit university in Santa Clara, California, United States. Established in 1851, Santa Clara University is the oldest operating institution of higher learning in California. The university' ...

. The parish also assumed control of the

Saint Clare School Saint Clare School is a Roman Catholic elementary school operated by Saint Clare Parish in Santa Clara, California, in the United States. Founded in 1856, it is the second oldest continuously operating elementary school in California and serve ...

located next door and founded in 1856. St. Clare's church celebrated its 200th anniversary on Sunday, April 17, 1977, with a 12:15 pm mass officiated by Archbishop Joseph McGucken and a reception dinner and dancing at Santa Clara's Benson Center. Santa Clara City Historical and Landmarks Commission plaque outside the steps of St. Clare Parish contains the following text: "Point of historical interest. St. Clare's Parish. St. Clare's Catholic Parish founded by the Franciscans under Father Tomas De La Pena, in 1777. Parish came under the guidance of the Jesuit Fathers in 1851. Plaque marks the sixth site of parish church. 1777-1977. Placed by the order of the Santa Clara City Council by the Historical and Landmarks Commission."

References

External links

Saint Clare Parish

Saint Clare School
oldest elementary school in Silicon Valley.
A history of the Catholic Church in America
{{coord, 37, 20, 54, N, 121, 56, 35, W, display=title Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose in California Roman Catholic parishes in the United States

See also

References

External links