A Brief History of Our Parish
(Excerpts from the 1996 Centennial Yearboook)
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| St. Raphael's Parish began one hundred years
ago, but the history of the Catholic Church in Goleta Valley goes back
an additional 93 years to 1803, through two earlier Catholic Chapels in
the Valley. By 1896 the Church in the Valley was ready for its first church
and pastor, Fr. Polydore J. Stockman. |
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The first parish church was located
at Fairview and Hollister but was later moved to Mandarin Avenue.
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| Dedication of the second church, which was
located in the same vicinity, occurred in June 1942. |
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The present church was completed in early 1961.
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The Present
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The church building, the school buildings
and the grounds have been expanded and upgraded over the years. St.
Raphael's Parish Hall was completed in the early 1980's. The parish
hall serves as both a meeting place and a place of worship, for special
occasions.
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In the Fall of 2000, the "Parish Community Center" was
completed and dedicated. The new facility provides additional meeting
space, a school library, computer facilities, youth facilities and additional
parish offices. It fully complements the existing parish hall. |
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