Here, a vibrant Roman Catholic community thrives. St. Bernardine of Siena Catholic Parish stands as a testament to faith and community in Woodland Hills.
Established in 1962, St. Bernardine of Siena began humbly. Families were settling into the Platt Ranch area. Cardinal James Francis McIntyre initiated the parish on August 4th. Father Richard Murray took charge. He purchased a house on Calvert Street for a temporary rectory.
Father Murray embarked on a mission. He needed to find parishioners. He made house calls in the evenings. He listened to their suggestions and desires. He established a Men’s Club and a Women’s Club. Neighborhood guilds were formed. Sacraments were celebrated. A school would soon follow.
A parish census revealed 1700 Catholic families. They would become St. Bernardine’s Parish. They would no longer attend other churches.
Without a church building, St. Bernardine’s worship moved around. The first Mass took place at Chaminade High School Library on August 26, 1962. As the parish grew, Masses moved to Canoga Park High School auditorium. A special trailer carried the altar and sacred items. Father Murray and other priests vested in the wings.
The final temporary location was Hale Junior High School Auditorium. Meanwhile, a Building Fund Campaign began. Parishioners pledged a percentage of their wages. The goal of $604,458 was met. Groundbreaking for the rectory, school, and parish hall occurred on March 1, 1964. In September 1964, the school opened with the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Grades 1 through 4 filled immediately. The nuns resided in a house across from the school. The parish continued to develop. The Catholic population grew. By 1966, a second school building opened. It housed offices for the CCD staff and classrooms. St. Bernardine’s School enrolled 650 students. Over 1300 attended CCD classes.
In October 1964, the Parish Hall became ready. It served as a temporary church. On October 16, 1966, Cardinal McIntyre dedicated the parish. He honored St. Bernardine of Siena. The saint was known for preaching the Gospels and extolling the Holy Name of Jesus.
The parish rectory finished in April 1968. Father Murray moved there. In 1968, the Sisters of Notre Dame replaced the Immaculate Heart Sisters.
In February 1989, Monsignor Paul Dotson became the second pastor. In 1991, an ambitious Parish Development Program launched. It resulted in the present parish center, bell tower, and vestibule additions.
In 1999, plans developed to build a new church. The design focused on bringing parishioners closer to the altar. The new church retained the bell tower. It reoriented the entrance to the north.
During construction, a large tent served as a temporary church. It had air conditioning, lights, and a sound system. The new church completed in July 2000. Cardinal Roger Mahoney dedicated it on July 23, 2000.
St. Bernardine of Siena continues to be a place where community worships, grows in faith, and serves others. It is a beacon of faith in Woodland Hills.