“All are welcome at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.” These words encapsulate the spirit of this house of worship. Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church is a smaller, neighborhood parish. It sits in Atwater Village, Los Angeles.
Holy Trinity’s story began in 1925. Archbishop John Cantwell established the parish on February 15. It was in an area then known as Atwater Park. Reverend M Francis Murphy became the first pastor.
Before the church was built, services were held elsewhere. A rented house on Atwater Avenue served as the church. It also served as the rectory. Later, mass was said in a vacant store on Glendale Boulevard. The Knights of Columbus from Glendale supplied chairs. Parishioners built a small portable altar.
Father Murphy bought two lots on Boyce Avenue. One lot had a small house. It served as the rectory until 1957. The first mass at the new church was on October 4, 1925. The first confirmation at Holy Trinity was on October 27, 1927. The church was formally dedicated in 1936.
Disaster struck in 1948. A fire started in the sanctuary carpet. The sanctuary floor, altar step, and wall were damaged. They were behind the Sacred Heart statue and the statue of the Blessed Mother. Smoke damage meant the whole church interior needed redoing.
Holy Trinity School opened on September 12, 1949. Seventy-four students were in the first four grades. The school was in the parish hall. It had been divided into four classrooms. The original location was near the church. It is where the basketball court is now. The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart ran the school.
Rev Daniel Gallagher became pastor in 1951. New flooring was installed throughout the church. New carpeting was laid in the sanctuary. New pews and a new altar railing were added. The confessionals were remodeled. A new rectory opened in 1957. Father Gallagher bought property behind the church. It became a convent for the Immaculate Heart sisters.
Father Gallagher wanted to construct a larger school. He died in 1964 before seeing it completed. Rev. Michael Hanlan became administrator in 1962. He oversaw the construction of the new school. He also remodeled the walkways along the church. He installed a ramp for one of the entrances. Cardinal James Francis McIntyre dedicated the new school on January 31, 1965. The new two-story structure replaced the smaller building. The new school had eight classrooms, a small library, and an office. The Felician Sisters began working at the school in 1968.
Rev James Dessert became administrator in 1966. He became pastor in 1968. He installed the church heating system and lighting upgrades. He also remodeled the convent.
Rev. James E McElroy became pastor in 1978. The sanctuary was remodeled. A new main altar, side altars, and a shelf for the tabernacle were installed. He installed a new pulpit and lectern. New carpet was laid. The exterior of the church and rectory were repainted. A patio was formed in front of the church. On September 18, 1979, Cardinal Timothy Manning designated Holy Trinity as a center for Koreans. The Korean Center later moved to San Fernando Road in 2005.
In 1984, under Fr. John Daly, air conditioning was installed. The confessionals were remodeled. The church pews were also replaced. The current pews are replicas of the originals.
In 2001, under Fr. Thomas Peacha, the school pavilion was built. The church’s sound system was replaced.
In 2006, under Fr. Maurice Harrigan, the church plaza was redone. A grotto was added. The church was repainted. The Holy Trinity stained glass window was installed. The old carpeting was replaced with tiles. A digitalized bell system was installed. In 2008, the altar was redone. The pipe organ was also replaced that year.
In 2016, under Fr. Ricky Viveros, Holy Trinity began live streaming events. The website was overhauled. In 2017, the school was renovated with new technology.
In 2020, Holy Trinity closed due to Covid-19. Livestreamed masses began. The church reopened to the public on the Feast of the Holy Trinity.
Some things at Holy Trinity have not changed since 1925. The hanging lamp lights and windows are original. The statues are in the same locations.
Holy Trinity continues to serve its community. It offers daily mass. It operates a parish school. It involves parishioners in ministries. As Holy Trinity approaches its centennial, its legacy shines brightly. It is a beacon of faith in Atwater Village.