Best Convent Inglewood Near Me

4worldlovers: "Since we tread along the same way, let us lend a hand to one another."

We are the only school in Los Angeles and Southern California sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM).

Always forward thinking and globally minded, the SNJM community is committed to empowering all people to unlock their God-given gifts.

Our commitment to preparing students for life through a challenging college prep program, a faith-filled environment, and a robust social justice and service program is fueled by the Sisters' vibrant mission and active presence in our school and on our Board of Trustees.

4worldlovers: At the beginning of the century the area south of Los Angeles was a portion of the Rancho San Pedro originally given to Juan Jose Dominguez in recognition of his long service to the King of Spain.There was nothing much here beyond barely fields,wild plants and open ranch country.

Jared Sidney Torrance, a lumberman, realty operator, and banker from New York, saw the possibilities of commerce and development in all these empty fields.The Dominguez Estate company sold him a parcel of 2800 acres for $980,000.The Union Tool Company purchased 25 acres.Then the Pacific Electric Company moved its general repair shops to the area.The Llewellen Iron Works built a new plant.

By 1912 workmen were busy digging foundations, laying pipe lines, putting up homes. In May 1921 the new City of Torrance was incorporated.

A small group of Catholics began to meet around the Eucharist in various places: the library on Cabrillo, a movie theater on El Prado, two homes on Gramercy Street.

Some of the names of these first members are familiar: Mr. and Mrs. John Carson, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gould, Mr. and Mrs. Barney Gannon, Mrs. Joe Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Smith, Mrs. George Probert.

The priests who served them came from St. Michael’s in Los Angeles: Msgr. Raphael Fuhr, Fr. James Morris.

In 1918 Torrance became a mission of St. James, Redondo Beach. Msgr. Nicholas Conneally and after him Fr. James Deenihan were the priests who cared for the Catholics here.

The little community that would later become Nativity Parish began to take shape and form. In 1921 the first church was built on a site given by Mrs. J. S. Torrance on what is now the parking lot. Fr. Deenihan celebrated the first Mass.

The souvenir booklet published to commemorate the dedication of the school in 1948, writing of this early period said:“...There were only a few Catholic families then but they were generous and self-sacrificing and the new church was in good part due to the untiring effort of a committee made up of the following: Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Anderson, Mr. and mrs. Otto Batsch, Mr. and Mrs.Thomas A. Bray, Mrs. E.W. Burnett, Mr. and Mrs. James Carlin, Mr. Orville Chicoine, Mr. Robert Fyfe, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Gannon, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Gramling, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Jessome, Mr. William Malin, Mr. and Mrs. John McIntier, Mr. Jerry McLean, Mr. and Mrs.T. Dominick McNeill, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Nullin, Mr. and Mrs. John V. Murray, Mr. and Mrs. James A. Obole, Mrs. George Smith,Mr.and Mrs.Louis C.Smith,Mrs.AnnaVonderahe,and Mr.and Mrs.Theo L.Wertz.

The frame building served as a church for 18 years. After that it was used as Nativity Parish Hall. In 1923,Torrance was transferred from the jurisdiction of St. James in Redondo Beach to St. Anthony in Gardena. Fathers Bradley, Stack and Harnett served here at that time.

Nativity received its first resident pastor, Father Edward Riordan, in December 1924. He built the present rectory in 1926. It was described in the literature of its days as an imposing building. It still stands today.

Fr. Panner served here for brief period at the time and likewise Fr. Sheely. In 1928 Fr. Daniel Hurley was made pastor. He lived here until 1932. Fr. Thomas Kennedy succeeded him and was pastor for almost five years. Fr. Joseph Fitzgerald was appointed pastor in 1937, and before his death in 1940, he had the joy and satisfaction of seeing the new church completed.The first Mass was offered on March 5,1939 at 9:00 AM. Archbishop Cantwell officiated at its solemn dedication on June 18, 1939.

Father Joe Bauer arrived in 1940. He must have been a very able administrator, or the effects of the Depression may have been less severe or probably both; the records show that in four years he paid off the parish debt of $17,000 left from the building of the church. He also had the interior of the church decorated. New stained glass windows were installed and the grounds were landscaped in a manner that still is the admiration of all.