| St. John of the Cross Catholic Church in Lemon Grove began in 1868 when 4,283 acres of land composed Lemon Grove, Encanto and La Mesa. The Sunday morning group of faithful who attended the chapel of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus on Lemon Avenue grew into the parish of St. John of the Cross that we know today. Reverend Joseph C. Mesny, the first pastor of Lemon Grove came from La Mesa to celebrate Sunday Mass in the chapel of St. Theresa. He was known for his concern for the needy. He would encourage some of his helpers to bring food and visit the poor. Fr. Mesny would even carry bedding and clothing in his own car to distribute to the indigent. As the population of Lemon Grove grew, so did the Catholic population. In 1939 the chapel of St. Theresa was replaced and dedicated by His Excellency, the Bishop of San Diego, on May 5, 1940 as St. John of the Cross Catholic Church with a seating capacity of 140. This building is presently the Knights’ of Columbus Hall on the corner of Columbus and Lemon Grove Way. |
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While Father O’Donoghue was pastor, he extended the church’s outreach to the surrounding community by initiating the “Annual Horse Show,
Barbecue and Fiesta” with invited dignitaries from throughout California.
With the overwhelming influx of San Diego postwar settlers and service families Lemon Grove grew rapidly proving that the church was far to small
to accommodate the increasing Catholics moving into the area. Father John McDonagh assumed the responsibility of enlarging the Church in
response to the fast developing parish. By January 27, 1952 the new St John of the Cross was dedicated with a church schedule of six Masses each
Sunday with six different congregations filling the Church at each Mass.
Meanwhile in 1948, St. John of the Cross School had been built and staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. The original school opened
with five classrooms and an auditorium in the basement of the original church. The initial enrollment was 187 pupils in September 1948. In 1950 the
auditorium was converted into three classrooms. Ground was broken for a new school and by 1954 the school had ten large classrooms and
spacious recreational areas across the street from the original church.
A comprehensive Catechetical Program was set underway for the youth of the Parish. A strikingly effective system of having groups of children
assemble in various home centers around the parish, enabled priest and people to extend themselves to those children who might otherwise be
prevented by distance or lack of transportation from attending instructions at the school. When the school moved into their new facility, the
catechetical program expanded into the basement of the Knights’ of Columbus Hall.
During the parish expansion, Monsignor McDonagh, continued to host the annual Fiesta and Rodeo-Barbecue drawing capacity crowds from both
Catholic and non-catholic of Lemon Grove.
In 1969 Monsignor Patrick J. Kearney became pastor and remained until 1977. The seventies brought much activity to the parish. The Prayer
Groups began in 1971 with The Hispanic Community and the Fil-Am Society. The St. Vincent de Paul Society was established, the Parish Council was
formed and the Women’s Club was organized in 1973.
The first Festival started in 1973, the Parish Hall was completed during this decade and the old rectory became the home of the Youth Group and
the Pre-School.
Monsignor Raymond Moore became pastor in July of 1977 and Deacons Peter Corrao, Ralph Robbins and John Stenbeck were ordained in 1978
and 1979.
The eighties brought Monsignor Raymond C. Kirk to St. John’s as pastor in 1986 and the Sisters of Mercy of the Blessed Sacrament to staff the
parish school.
Deacons Juan Frank Santoyo, Martin Villafana and Manuel Nunez were ordained in 1993 for St. John’s Parish. Immediately after ordination
Deacon Nunez was assigned by Bishop Brom to serve at St. Jude Shrine of the West in San Diego.
In keeping with the liturgical guidelines of Vatican II, St. John of the Cross Church was renovated in 1995.
Monsignor Edward Brockhaus became pastor in July of 1997. Under his leadership the parish began “Building Together”, St. John’s program of
developing the parish facilities to respond to the spiritual, educational and social needs of the parishioners. During this time, the parish built two
additional wings for the school, one for the preschool and one for the junior high students. The Prayer Garden, St. Therese’s Plaza and the Bible
Garden enriched the community with inviting areas to pray and gather.
Deacon James Stanley was ordained for the San Diego Diocese and St. John of the Cross Parish in June 2009. In the fall of this year a major
remodeling of the Youth Center was started in an attempt to make the original rectory of 1939 more conducive for youth gatherings and religious
education overflow classes.
Barbecue and Fiesta” with invited dignitaries from throughout California.
With the overwhelming influx of San Diego postwar settlers and service families Lemon Grove grew rapidly proving that the church was far to small
to accommodate the increasing Catholics moving into the area. Father John McDonagh assumed the responsibility of enlarging the Church in
response to the fast developing parish. By January 27, 1952 the new St John of the Cross was dedicated with a church schedule of six Masses each
Sunday with six different congregations filling the Church at each Mass.
Meanwhile in 1948, St. John of the Cross School had been built and staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. The original school opened
with five classrooms and an auditorium in the basement of the original church. The initial enrollment was 187 pupils in September 1948. In 1950 the
auditorium was converted into three classrooms. Ground was broken for a new school and by 1954 the school had ten large classrooms and
spacious recreational areas across the street from the original church.
A comprehensive Catechetical Program was set underway for the youth of the Parish. A strikingly effective system of having groups of children
assemble in various home centers around the parish, enabled priest and people to extend themselves to those children who might otherwise be
prevented by distance or lack of transportation from attending instructions at the school. When the school moved into their new facility, the
catechetical program expanded into the basement of the Knights’ of Columbus Hall.
During the parish expansion, Monsignor McDonagh, continued to host the annual Fiesta and Rodeo-Barbecue drawing capacity crowds from both
Catholic and non-catholic of Lemon Grove.
In 1969 Monsignor Patrick J. Kearney became pastor and remained until 1977. The seventies brought much activity to the parish. The Prayer
Groups began in 1971 with The Hispanic Community and the Fil-Am Society. The St. Vincent de Paul Society was established, the Parish Council was
formed and the Women’s Club was organized in 1973.
The first Festival started in 1973, the Parish Hall was completed during this decade and the old rectory became the home of the Youth Group and
the Pre-School.
Monsignor Raymond Moore became pastor in July of 1977 and Deacons Peter Corrao, Ralph Robbins and John Stenbeck were ordained in 1978
and 1979.
The eighties brought Monsignor Raymond C. Kirk to St. John’s as pastor in 1986 and the Sisters of Mercy of the Blessed Sacrament to staff the
parish school.
Deacons Juan Frank Santoyo, Martin Villafana and Manuel Nunez were ordained in 1993 for St. John’s Parish. Immediately after ordination
Deacon Nunez was assigned by Bishop Brom to serve at St. Jude Shrine of the West in San Diego.
In keeping with the liturgical guidelines of Vatican II, St. John of the Cross Church was renovated in 1995.
Monsignor Edward Brockhaus became pastor in July of 1997. Under his leadership the parish began “Building Together”, St. John’s program of
developing the parish facilities to respond to the spiritual, educational and social needs of the parishioners. During this time, the parish built two
additional wings for the school, one for the preschool and one for the junior high students. The Prayer Garden, St. Therese’s Plaza and the Bible
Garden enriched the community with inviting areas to pray and gather.
Deacon James Stanley was ordained for the San Diego Diocese and St. John of the Cross Parish in June 2009. In the fall of this year a major
remodeling of the Youth Center was started in an attempt to make the original rectory of 1939 more conducive for youth gatherings and religious
education overflow classes.
