The first church building was built in 1897 on the corner of Fourth and Chicago Streets in the neighborhood of Boyle Heights. The building seated 400. The architect R.B Young built the church in a Romanesque style. John Hanlon constructed the building and donated the white and gold high altar and side altars.
1926 church
In 1923, the original church was demolished to accommodate growing membership, and a new facility was built in 1926. It was dedicated by Bishop John Joseph Cantwell. The prominent Los Angeles architect Thomas Franklin Power designed the church in a North Italian-Byzantine architectural style: "It seemed to me that the North Italian-Byzantine afforded the best medium of architectural expression; and the style developed has marked beauty." The church's interior and exterior columns feature architectural elements borrowed from prominent Byzantine and Romanesque architectural buildings. Power describes the interior design, saying: "Other motifs taken from the Sta. Sofia at Constantinople, from the Cathedral and St. Apollinaris at Ravenna and from St. Mark's at Venice furnished bits of detail for capitals and panels of various portions." The statue of St. Joseph in the sanctuary is one of the few elements of the original church building that is still in use today.
The original bell from St. Mary's 1896 church building is still in use. The bell tower at St. Mary's was originally 136 feet tall and included a steeple and roman cross. During renovations, the steeple was removed. The tower received damage following the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, resulting in repairs and the closure of the sidewalk.
Church embellishments
The 1926 St. Mary's Church building was embellished by noted Eastside artist Candelario Rivas. Many of the embellishments have been painted over during renovations and post-Vatican II changes to the sanctuary.
Annunciation sanctuary mural
The mural depicting the Annunciation of Mary in the church sanctuary was commissioned and painted by ecclesiastical German artist Theodore Brasch.
George Yepes resurrection mural (1992)
In 1992, renowned Chicano muralist George Yepes donated a large, three-panel canvas mural of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ painted with trompe l'oeil elements. The mural features a resurrected Christ where the Church's crucifix currently stands. The mural is painted on three large canvas panels and has a custom wooden, steel, and metal frame on which the canvas is stretched. The mural is occasionally displayed during Easter Vigil services.
In October 1936, while on a tour of the United States, Italian CardinalEugenio Pacelli accompanied Archbishop Cantwell on a tour of the then-diocese. Along the way, they made a brief stop at St. Mary's Church. Three years later in March 1939, Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli was elected as Pope and took on the name of Pope Pius XII. "St. Mary's could rightfully claim to have been visited by a Pope, even if it was a few years before his election."
Current church building
Few elements of the original 1896 Church remain. The statue of St. Joseph in the sanctuary of the Church is original to the 1896 Church. A statue of St. Patrick was donated to the Salesian parish in Watsonville, California, by Father Avelino Lorenzo, SDB, pastor of the Church at various times.
Original pipe organ
The original pipe organ by Kilgen of St. Louis is still in use and can be seen in the choir loft.
In 1987, the Church was devastated by the Whittier Narrows earthquake, which caused major structural damage and led to the current remodel. Fr. Avelino Lorenzo, SDB, then-pastor of the parish, led an effort to repair and reinforce the church building, raising nearly $770,000 in repair funds.
In 1994, the Church was once again closed due to the Northridge earthquake, which caused only cosmetic damage to the outside walls and inside artwork. Pastor Fr. Avelino Lorenzo, SDB, led the effort to restore much of the plaster-work of the Church. The work was completed by United Staff and Stone Co. of Los Angeles.
Church appearances in movies
Blood In Blood Out Shot''
Pastors that have served St. Mary's Catholic Church
