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In
the spring of 1955, Bishop Charles Buddy commissioned
Father James McGinley to form a new parish
in the growing south bay area of San Diego
County. The first Mass was celebrated on Ash
Wednesday of that year in a rented house.
Father McGinley dedicated the new church to
St. Pius X, and adopted words from that Holy
Father’s coat of arms for the motto
of the parish: “To restore all things
in Christ”. The first Mass in the new
church building was celebrated on Thanksgiving
Day 1955. The rectory, which also housed the
church office, and the parish hall were completed
in 1957. The parish school and the convent
followed in 1960. Father McGinley brought
the Sisters of St. Clare over from Ireland
to teach the children. Father McGinley instituted
the parish council and started the parish
picnic, an annual event that continues today.
Father McGinley, a native of Ireland, was
elevated to Monsignor in 1973, and retired
in 1975 due to failing health. He remained
in residence as Pastor Emeritus until his
death in 1985.
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| Father
Donald Kulleck became pastor
in 1975. He led the parish through
the transition years of Vatican
II. Recognizing the needs of the
Hispanic community, he provided
a Spanish language Mass. Father
Kulleck continued to serve the
needs of the growing parish population
by modernizing the church building
and, following the departure of
the sisters, utilizing the empty
convent building to house the
school’s library, computer
lab, and daycare center. Father
Kulleck was made Monsignor in
1985. Father Don retired in 1998
and remains in residence as Pastor
Emeritus. |
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| Father
Joseph Masar
succeeded Father Kulleck. No stranger to St.
Pius X, Father Masar grew up in the parish,
attended St. Pius X School, and sang in the
choir. With the new pastor’s arrival,
the sacramental preparation programs of the
parish were augmented as he met with couples
preparing for marriage and parents who brought
their children for baptism, as well as the
presentations for parents of children preparing
to receive the Sacraments of First Holy Communion
and Confirmation. |
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| Recognizing
the growth in the parish population due to
development to the east of the church, extra
Masses were added to the existing schedule
and the music ministry was expanded to cover
the additional Masses. The convent building
was modernized and reconfigured to provide
a central location for parishioners to conduct
business. The office building was named the
Mother Seton Center and dedicated to the Sisters
of St. Clare. The rectory was remodeled to
provide a comfortable and attractive home
for the three priests that live there. To
provide for the needs of the future, Father
Joe, along with parish council, building committee,
staff and the entire parish, embarked on a
building project to build a new parish hall
and enlarge the church building. $4 million
was raised for this project in just three
years. The annual parish bazaar grew to include
amusement rides, and some new traditions were
begun, such as the supper club, the annual
appreciation party to thank the many volunteers
of the parish, and the lovely Memorial Angel
Tree was added to the Christmas decor of the
church. |
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| Father
Masar had the opportunity to celebrate the
50th anniversary of St. Pius X with the parish
community. The yearlong celebration consisted
of various monthly events and ended with an
anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Brom
and a gala dinner in November 2005. The crowning
event of the year was the installation of
outdoor bronze Stations of the Cross at the
St. Vincent de Paul campground, donated in
honor of St. Pius X’s 50th Anniversary.
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| Father
James Rafferty was appointed pastor
in 2006. Fr. Rafferty came
from St. Timothy’s Catholic Church in
Escondido, where he was the founding pastor.
Fr. Jim worked with the Finance Council to
help ensure a stable financial future for
the parish. He actively supported the major
fundraisers of the parish, one of which was
the wine tasting event which premiered in
2007. After two years of service to the
people of Saint Pius X Church he was sent by
the bishop to serve the people of La Jolla
at the Mary, Star of the Sea. |
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| This
parish community has been fortunate to have
these talented pastors who have led,
and continue to lead, the parish in their
own unique way, meeting the needs of the people
while retaining the spirit of St. Pius X.
We look backwards with gratitude for all of
God’s past blessings on this parish
and look toward the future with hope and joy.
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