Dedicated in 1926 stands Saint Mary’s Catholic Church a beacon of faith in Boyle Heights. Saint Mary’s Church is more than just a building. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of a community. Its history is deeply intertwined with the story of Los Angeles itself. Saint Mary’s Catholic Church the fifth oldest parish in Los Angeles was the first to serve Boyle Heights. Its original boundaries were vast. They stretched to Sacred Heart parish in the north. They reached Our Lady Queen of the Angels Church and the old Cathedral of Saint Vibiana in the west. Saint Mary’s extended eastward to the Puente Hills and south to Wilmington parish.
Founded in 1896 Saint Mary’s parish began humbly. The first church building appeared in 1897 at Fourth and Chicago Streets. It accommodated 400 people. Architect R.B Young designed it in Romanesque style. John Hanlon built it and donated the altars.
By the 1920s Saint Mary’s growing congregation needed more space. The original church was demolished in 1923. A new grander structure rose in its place. Bishop John Joseph Cantwell dedicated this new Saint Mary’s in 1926. Thomas Franklin Power a prominent Los Angeles architect designed it. He chose a North Italian Byzantine style. Power incorporated elements from famous buildings. These included Sta Sofia in Constantinople and St. Mark’s in Venice. The statue of St. Joseph in the sanctuary is a survivor from the original 1896 church.
Saint Mary’s bell tower originally stood 136 feet tall. It featured a steeple and Roman cross. Renovations saw the removal of the steeple. The 1994 Northridge Earthquake caused damage leading to repairs.
The interior of Saint Mary’s received embellishments from Candelario Rivas a noted Eastside artist. A mural of the Annunciation of Mary by Theodore Brasch once graced the sanctuary. George Yepes a Chicano muralist donated a Resurrection mural in 1992. This mural is displayed during Easter Vigil services.
In 1936 Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli later Pope Pius XII visited Saint Mary’s. He toured the diocese with Archbishop Cantwell.
The Salesians of Don Bosco have administered Saint Mary’s since the 1960s. In the mid-1990s the Salesian Sisters began administering St. Mary’s Catholic School. The school closed in 2022 after 115 years. It was the third parochial school established in the Diocese of Los Angeles in 1907.
Earthquakes have tested Saint Mary’s resilience. The 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake caused major damage. Father Avelino Lorenzo led the repair efforts. He raised nearly $770000. The 1994 Northridge earthquake brought cosmetic damage. Again Father Lorenzo oversaw restoration of the plasterwork.
Saint Mary’s has appeared in movies like Blood In Blood Out and Shot. It stands as a landmark in Boyle Heights. Saint Mary’s a testament to faith art and community. It continues to serve as a spiritual home for many.