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The Early Years
The earliest record we have for the founding of St. Joseph Parish is the Baptismal Register which begins in 1939 with Fr. Dale Maginnis, S.J. being the priest whose name appears in the registry. Within a year or two the name of Fr. James Kelly, S.J. appears and within a year or two only his name remains. At that time all the Baptisms were either in Bridgeport or Lee Vining. Fr. Maginnis and Fr. Kelly loved the outdoors and would come up to Mono County to enjoy all that nature afforded in the high Eastern Sierra but both were also very committed to their priesthood and would say Mass for the visitors on weekends.
Photo at Right, Fr. Edward D. Maginnis, S.J.
Parish Founder, 1939 - 1949
Although the Parish was probably started by Fr. Maginnis, Fr. Kelly seems to have been the one who essentially formed the Parish. The exact date at which this area became a Parish is not known. The area was canonically under the auspices of the Sacramento Diocese. But when the Diocese of Stockton was formed in January 1962, Mono County became canonically part of the Stockton Diocese. It was also in this year that Fr. Jim Kelly retired as Pastor and Fr. Thomas Savage, S.J. replaced him.
Photo at Left, Fr. James D. Kelly, S.J.
Pastor, 1949 - 1962
Photo at Right, Fr. Thomas V. Savage, S.J.
Pastor, 1962 - 1983
In 1984, Fr. Dachauer asked the Bishop if the seat of the Parish could be assigned to Mammoth Lakes. Lee Vining, which had been an important town in the 30's, 40's and 50's because of its location at the foot of Tioga Pass, the Eastern Portal to Yosemite, had only a population of 375 people while Mammoth Lakes had a population of approximately 5000 people. It was simply a matter of the tail wagging the dog. Permission was granted and thus St. Joseph in Mammoth Lakes became the seat of the Parish. In the summer of 1987, Brother Daniel C. Corona, S.J. was assigned here by the Provincial to be Special Assistant to the Pastor.
Photo Above: Fr. Andrew C. Dachauer, S.J.
Pastor, 1983 - 2010
Photo at left: Brother Daniel C. Corona, S.J., and Usher
Special Assistant to the Pastor, 1987 - 2010
Photo Above: Fr. Paul Boudreau
Pastor, 2010 - 2013
In August 2010, Father Dachauer retired and Father Paul Boudreau took over as Pastor. Brother Corona retired in January 2011. In July 2013, Father Paul Boudreau retired and Father Jorge Román took over as Pastor.
The Saint Joseph Parish covers 3,030 square miles of which 94% is publicly owned. -
(Spanish) Historia de la ParroquiaEl historial más reciente que tenemos para la fundación de la Parroquia de San José es el Registro Bautismal que comienza en el año 1939 con Padre Dale McGinnins S.J. siendo el sacerdote cuyo nombre aparece en el registro. Entre un año o dos más tarde el nombre de Padre James Kelly, S.J. Aparece y entre uno o dos años más tarde solamente permanece su nombre. En ese tiempo todos los Bautizos se efectuaban en Bridgeport o Lee Vining. Padre McGinnis y Padre Kelly amaban la naturaleza y venían al Condado de Mono para disfrutar toda la naturaleza que se encontraba en la alta Sierra del Este, y los dos eran muy comprometidos al sacerdocio y celebraban misa para los visitantes en los fines de semanas.Aunque los comienzos de la la Parroquia fueron hechos por el Padre McGinnis, parece ser que fue el Padre Kelly quien formó esencialmente la parroquia. La fecha exacta en la que ésta área se convirtió en parroquia no se sabe. Esta área estaba canónicamente bajo los auspicios de la Diócesis de Sacramento, pero cuando la Diócesis de Stockton se formó en el año 1962 el Condado de Mono pasó a ser canónicamente parte de la Diócesis de Stockton. Fue también durante éste año cuando el Padre Jim Kelly se retiró como pastor y el Padre Thomas Savage, S.J. lo reemplazó.En el año 1984 el Padre Dachauer le preguntó al Obispo en ese tiempo Roger Mahony (ahora Cardenal y Arzobispo Emérito de Los Ángeles) si el asiento de Parroquia se le podría asignar a Mammoth Lakes. Lee Vining que había sido un pueblo importante en los años 30, 40 y 50 debido a su localización en la base del “Tioga Pass” la entrada a Yosemite por el Este, tenía una población de 375 personas mientras que Mammoth Lakes contaba con aproximadamente 5000 personas. En el Verano de 1897 el hermano Daniel C. Corona, S.J. fue asignado aquí por el Provincial para ser un asistente especial al Pastor.
En agosto de 2010, Padre Dachauer retiró y el Padre Paul Boudreau asumió como Pastor. Hermano Corona retiró en enero de 2011 y no ha sido reemplazado. En julio de 2013, Padre Paul Boudreau se retiró y el padre Jorge Román asumió como Pastor.La Parroquia de San José cubre 3.030 millas cuadradas de los cuales el 94% es de propiedad pública.
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The Pastor, Assistant and Staff
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The photo above was originally used as a postcard (date unknown). The back of the postcard read as follows:
St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Mammoth Lakes, California
A Jesuit Parish (all of Mono County)
Founded 1939 with three mission churches in Lee Vining, Bridgeport and Walker-Coleville
Fr. Andy Dachauer, S.J., Brother Dann Corona, S.J.
Bandyt the Malamute, Cassie the Austrailian Shepherd and Killer, the Siamese Cat. (The Raccoon is stuffed, the parish deadbeat!) -
Mountain Echoes
The Writings of Fr. Andy
Volume 1 Number 1 March 10, 1985
Volume 26 Number 51 December 19, 2010
For other issues, go to the Bulletins page.
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Rev. Andrew C. Dachauer, S.J.
Born: July 5, 1930
Entered the Society of Jesus: August 14, 1948
Ordained: June 5, 1964
Entered into the joy of the Lord: September 12, 2015A Prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace. That is enough for me. -
Susie Vargas, Age 6, Sings Agnus Dei at the Mass for Fr. Andy on Sept. 12, 2017
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Fr. Andy's car was easily recognized with the above license plate. -
Brother Dann Corona, S.J.
Lee Vining, CA, August 2016
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Monsignor Bill Leser
Fr. Bill has been visiting the Parish for over 50 years, assuming the pastoral duties when the regular Pastor is away. He is also a Chor Bishop in the Maronite Rite.
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Photo Albums
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