Japanese and Black parish work begins in California
In 1925, St. Francis Xavier Parish in San Francisco, CA, was transferred from the care of the Jesuits to the Society of the Divine Word. It was founded as a Japanese mission and Rev. Wilhelm Stöcke SVD, a German priest who formerly served as a missionary to Japan, was named pastor. In addition to the existing kindergarten, Father Stöcke helped to found a grade school and a summer camp.
Almost two decades of community engagement was in danger of being lost after the US entered World War II. Work at St. Francis Xavier Parish was suspended for over three years after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent internment of Japanese Americans. Fr. Stöcke, in an extraordinary gesture of dedication and support, followed his parishioners to the Topaz War Relocation Center in central Utah, where most were interned. For several years, he would walk a mile and a half every day to minister to them. After the war’s conclusion and the closing of the camp, the parishioners and Fr. Stöke returned to St. Francis Xavier Parish.
Fr. Stöcke retired in 1951, and while it was difficult for the parishioners to welcome a new priest, Rev. Josef Gützloe SVD was able to prove himself and was known for his house visits to parishioners living all around the Bay. Gützloe retired forty years later and Rev. Carl Seewald SVD became the head pastor. Unfortunately, by this time St. Francis Xavier Parish was experiencing financial difficulties and in 1994 was closed. The Japanese-style church was sold to the Archdiocese of San Francisco for use by the Deaf Community of St. Benedict.
A stone’s throw from St. Francis Xavier was St. Benedict the Moor Mission. Control of this parish was accepted by the SVDs in 1930 to continue their work with the Black apostolate. One of the largest projects taken on by the SVDs at St. Benedict was the construction of St. Benedict’s Youth Center in 1950. It was the first recreation center for Black youths in northern California. Rev. Bruno Drescher SVD served as pastor at St. Benedict from 1942 to 1957 and was also responsible for the creation of a cooperative housing project located near the mission. The SVDs left the mission in 1962, and the parish has since become a center of ministry for Deaf Catholics, a purpose it still serves to this day.
On May 9, 1929, when the Society of the Divine Word accepted charge of St. Patrick’s parish in Oakland, CA, their plan was to establish St. Patrick as a Black parish with Rev. Anthony Hullin SVD as its first Divine Word pastor. The buildings were in poor condition when he arrived, but over time he was able to make repairs and even improvements. In 1932 a parochial school was dedicated, and some 150 parishioners confirmed. The old wooden church continued to suffer structural issues as time wore on, and in 1946 a new mission-style church was constructed. On December 31, 1948, the Society found it could no longer staff St. Patrick’s and so returned it to the archdiocese.
Seven years later, the Society returned to St. Patrick upon request of the bishop. In 1964, Rev. Clarence Howard SVD was appointed pastor of the parish and instilled a larger sense of community by holding clothing and food drives. He also encouraged parishioner involvement in parish organizations, leading to the rejuvenation of the Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver. Through these organizations, money was raised to pay for much-needed building repairs. St. Patrick’s Terrace, low-rent housing for elderly community members, was also constructed during his time as pastor. The Society withdrew from the parish in 2000.