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Where the sky is wide, the country open, the distance great, in Cochise County, in the southeastern corner of Arizona and west of the San Pedro River, lies a range of mountains called the Huachucas, meaning "Thunder Mountains" in the language of the Native Americans. On the northeast slope of these mountains, an Army post -- Fort Huachuca -- was established in 1877. Just outside the post’s main gate, the town site of Fry later began to grow. As settlers moved in and businesses developed, the area was incorporated as SIERRA VISTA in May 1956.
The initial Catholic "presence" in Cochise County was that of the Spanish explorer Coronado and his band of followers in 1540. Coronado was accompanied by five Franciscan missionaries in his search for the 'Seven Cities of Cibola'. No information has come to us concerning any evangelization of the local Native Americans by the Franciscans.
The first missionary to evangelize our area was the storied Jesuit missionary Eusebio Francisco Kino (1645-1711), called "The Apostle of the Pimeria Alta", who traversed this area establishing visitas (contact points) with the Native Americans living in the San Pedro River Valley. His travel diaries speak of traveling through this area in the late 1690's and early 1700's as he met with his great friend, Coro, Chief of the Sobaipuris at his village of Quiburi, on the San Pedro. Although Fr. Kino did not establish a visita in the Sierra Vista area he is remembered and loved throughout our Diocese.
The Catholics of this area were occasionally served when a Catholic Chaplain visited Fort Huachuca (a blessed relationship which continues to the present). With the establishment of a Parish, in the silver boom town of Tombstone, Sacred Heart(1880), the ranchers and settlers of the area were served by the Parish Priest in Tombstone. With the establishment of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Benson (1895), the resposibility for the spiritual care of Catholics in our area was divided between these two Parishes. The establishment of the Parish in Bisbee, St. Patricks (1902), also gave Catholics the benefit of spiritual assistance only 22 miles away by train!
A number of non-military Catholic families, however, who lived on Fort Huachuca or in town, attended religious services at the Fort Huachuca chapels until the late 1940s. When Fort Huachuca was deactivated after World War II, this area again became an active part of the "mission territory", occasionally served by the Parish priests of Benson, Tombstone, and Bisbee; consequently, any visiting priest was most welcome.
Mrs. Henry Jones, who lived in Fry, was the caretaker of “all the sacred things” (altar linens, vestments, candles, etc) used for the Catholic religious services. Occasionally, Mass was celebrated in her home. Father Francis O’Reilly, who was the pastor of Tombstone, came to the area to offer Mass and to encourage the Catholics to remain fatihful to their religion. Later on, however, Masses were offered here more frequently by Father John Cullinan, pastor of Benson (1953-1959), and Father Norman Whalen, pastor of Tombstone (1953-1959).
In February 1954, Fort Huachuca was reactivated. The Catholic townspeople again attended religious services on post.
In May 1956, the town of Sierra Vista was incorporated, surrounding the Fry townsite. Late in summer, Father Cullinan and Father Whalen made a door-to-door survey of the area to see if the number of Catholic families justified weekly religious services, the building of a church, and the establishment of a parish. The survey indicated that the nucleus of the proposed church and parish would consist of fifteen to twenty families. Many of the prominent citizens of Sierra Vista and Fry became enthusiastic supporters of the movement to build a Catholic church. |
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Inspired and encouraged by the interest of the priests, a group of local Catholic residents met to discuss building a church capable of seating 300 people. This group was named the Catholic Parish Planning Club. Its first priority was to locate an adequate site for the church complex and to raise the required money.
In early 1957, Mrs. Margaret Carmichael generously donated the ten acres of ground upon which the St. Andrew’s Church campus now stands. Groundbreaking for the new church occurred later that year and church construction was begun.
Shortly after receiving the most welcome property donation, the first officers of the Catholic Parish Planning Club were elected: President, Moises (Monty) Montoya; Vice-President, H.J. (Bill) Manning; Secretary, Marie Pfister; and Treasurer, Nicholas DePalma. Financial drive chairmen were appointed, and their first efforts began in April. The fund was called the St. Martha’s Church Building Fund Campaign. It was necessary to raise $40,000 for the building alone; the furnishings would be extra. Rummage sales, once-a-month food and bake sales, bingo (which was started in November and held every week in the El Rancho roller rink), and a big auction sale were held. The men solicited the merchants in the surrounding areas and Tucson for gifts and merchandise to be auctioned. They received more than $6000 in donations.
At the request of the Catholic Parish Planning Club, a ladies’ group was formed in early 1957. They called themselves the Catholic Women’s Club and met each month in members’ homes. In early 1958, the ladies elected their first officers: President, Cecelia Wilhelm; Vice-President, Martha Manning; Secretary, Marie Pfister; and Treasurer, Martha O’Brien. By December, they numbered thirty-five members from Fry, Sierra Vista, Fort Huachuca, and Huachuca City. This was the nucleus of the St. Andrew’s Women’s Club (now known as the Ladies of St. Andrew’s).
As Fort Huachuca was also part of the Benson mission area, the Catholic post chaplain, Major John P. Jennings, provided strong support to the parish-founding efforts of the townspeople. One collection each month from Masses held at the three chapels on post was given to the building fund. Father Jennings also assisted Father Cullinan on many occasions in performing Baptisms, marriages, etc. He was the first Chaplain of the Bishop Salpointe Council # 4584 of the Knights of Columbus, chartered in March 1958. Father Jennings also helped establish the monthly Nocturnal Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament program with the Knights of Columbus members in attendance each hour of the night at the Blessed Sacrament altar.
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The early Catholic residents of Fry Township had a deep devotion to St. Martha whose intercession, they thought, was instrumental in the reactivation of Fort Huachuca – thus, bringing new life to the area. Therefore, they wanted to name the new parish in her honor. The Catholics who arrived in 1954 and after, however, did not share their special devotion to St. Martha and wanted the name of St. Gabriel the Archangel, the patron saint of the Signal Corps. Fort Huachuca had been reactivated as a Signal post. Bishop Daniel Gerke "settled" the question by placing the Parish under the Patronage of St. Andrew the Apostle! However, devotion to our two "secondary patrons" continues, and St. Martha and St. Gabriel the Archangel were later honored by statues placed in the niches of the church. These statues, the statues of the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph , and the corpus on the Crucifix are Oberammergau wood carvings obtained through the efforts of Father Jennings, Father Cullinan, and Father Whalen.
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One of the highlights of 1957 was the big fiesta held on the church grounds. Fun and food for all were enjoyed by the community. From the beginning, St. Andrew's has been a center for activities for the entire Fry/Sierra Vista community!
Throughout the year 1957, weekly Mass was celebrated by Father John F. Cullinan in the Carmichael Elementary School, just a block from where St. Andrew’s Church was to be located. To quote from one of the attendees, “There was a makeshift altar, folding chairs, and bruised knees from kneeling on the hard floor.” These spirited, enthusiastic, and zealous people were the foundation of the future parish. Father John F. Cullinan and Father Norman Whalen alternated in officiating at the Masses.
In March 1958, the first Mass was celebrated by Father Norman Whalen in St. Andrew’s Church even though the interior was not completed. The new St. Andrew’s Church was dedicated by Bishop Francis J. Green on April 20, 1958.
Also in March 1958 the Bishop Salpointe Council (#4584) of the Knights of Columbus was established -- the Knights have continued to render invaluable service to the Parish over the past 45+ years and our Council is one of the premier Councils in the state of Arizona. The Knights are truly the "strong right arm of the Church"!
The zeal and enthusiasm of the people extended beyond the building and furnishings of the church. It encompassed the liturgy, the sacraments, and religious education. Twice weekly, a parade of cars from Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca traveled to attend religious education classes given by the sisters of the Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart in Bisbee. After attending classes, these people were qualified to teach religious education. The first “Vacation Bible School” was given during the summer of 1958, and a first class of seven received communion in the spring of 1959.
By Easter 1959, the construction of the rectory was completed, and after Holy Week that year, weekday Masses were celebrated on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
In August 1959, Father Charles B. Towner was appointed pastor of St. Andrew’s, and in September 1959, Bishop Green formally erected St. Andrew’s as a Parish of the Diocese of Tucson, with designated boundaries: all territory west of the San Pedro River, north of the Mexican border, south of the township line running east-west two miles north of the “Y” on the Fairbanks-Nogales highway, and east of the Santa Cruz County line. These boundaries included such historical sites as Fort Huachuca,Coronado National Monument, ruins of the 18th century Spanish presidio at Terranate, and excavations of prehistoric sites dating back 11,000 years. |
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In 1961 Fr. George M. Dyke was named pastor of St. Andrew's. It was during his pastorate that the changes mandated by the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) were instituted. A Catholic Kindergarten was begun in 1965 and a belltower erected between the present church and the rectory. Fr. Dyke left in October 1965.
In November 1965, Fr. Robert L. Graff was assigned as pastor of St. Andrew's. He appointed the first Parish Council, which became a model for the Diocese. The new Parish Center was built in 1968, replacing the old "St. Joseph's Hall"- a remodeled Army barracks building which served our Religious Education programs for a number of years, and the first Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Bernie Kuhl and Bob Hays, were instituted. In December 1970, Fr. Graff was transferred to St. Cyril's in Tucson.
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In January 1971 Fr. Richard A. Calmus was appointed pastor. Fr. Calmus had a particular interest in Adult Religious Education and fostered this area of ministry, which has continued to the present. Also during Fr. Calmus' pastorate, the St. Andrew the Apostle Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society was established (1972). Our Conference has grown to be one of the largest and most effective St. Vincent de Paul Society conferences in our Diocese and presently serves thousands of our needy brothers and sisters through their two stores, the Community Food Bank, and the Conference Client Services office. Fr. Calmus left in April 1973 to establish Holy Trinity Parish in Tucson.
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Father Thomas Millane was pastor from May 1973 to 1980 and during his pastorate the parish continued to grow. In 1979 mission work began in the south Sierra Vista/Hereford area, which eventually became Our Lady of the Mountains Parish. Fr. Millane began Saturday evening Masses at the Baptist Church in Huachuca City to serve the needs of the parishioners living in the Huachuca City/Whetstone area.The Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart came to St. Andrew's in 1975 to direct the CCD programs and provide other much-needed ministries. In June 1975, Fr. Michael Bucciarelli, a son of the Parish was ordained to the Priesthood at the Main Post Chapel at Fort Huachuca. In June 1978 Fr. Robert Gonzales, a son of the Parish, was ordained to the Priesthood. The Ordination took place at St. Andrew's and the following day Fr. Gonzales celebated his first Mass - outdoors, as the parish church could not hold the number attending - where the Guadalupe Shrine is now today.
In August 1978, Deacon Robert Sadorf was incardinated into the Diocese from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, where he had been ordained one of the very first Permanent Deacons, and assigned to St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, where he and his wife, Marilyn, gave leadership in a wide range of ministries. In 1995 Deacon Bob was re-assigned to Our Lady of the Mountains Parish, where he has continued to render invaluable service.
Fr. Millane left in January 1980 to establish St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Tucson.
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Fr. Richard Voigt was named pastor in March 1980 and Sr. Carole Ruland,mhsh,was the Director of Religious Education. Sr. Catharine (Katie) Dages,mhsh, served at Pastoral Assistant.Over 100 families resided in the mission area south of Sierra Vista and ground was broken for the new mission church (Our Lady of the Mountains) in August 1981, with Deacon Robert Sadorf assisting. During Fr. Voigt's pastorate the two mission churches - Our Lady of the Mountains and Good Shepherd, Whetstone, were firmly established to meet the expanding population of the area.
Our Lady of the Mountains was erected as a separate Parish in 1991, with Fr. Robert Bryerton as the first Pastor.
Fr. Richard Voigt was deployed to Honduras with the Army National Guard and Fr. William Parenteau served as Parish Administrator from 1990 to 1991.
Fr. Voigt was assigned to St. Ambrose Parish in Tucson, and Fr. Parenteau was assigned to Sacred Heart, Tombstone in 1991.
In July 1991, Fr. Harry Ledwith was assigned as pastor, with Fr. Gregory Adolf assigned as Associate.
Fr. Harry was reassigned to St. Pius X Parish in Tucson in 1992. During his one year pastorate, Fr. Harry oversaw the construction and dedication of Good Shepherd Mission Chapel in Whetstone to serve the northern end of the parish.
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In 1993 Fr. Gregory Adolf was named pastor. In a series of "town hall" meetings held in 1994-1995, the parishioners set priorities for St. Andrew the Apostle Parish for the new millenium. These priorities were: 1) the remodeling of the Parish Center (built in 1967) and the construction of a new Administration Building, as well as classroom additions. This was completed in 1997. 2)The construction or remodeling of the present Parish church to meet the rapidly increasing growth of the Parish. The construction of the new church - which will seat 1000 - is presently underway. 3) The opening of a Parish School.
The entrance of the present parish church was remodeled, new restrooms added, and the facade given its Spanish-colonial design in 1994. |
In July 2000, Fr. Bartolome Vasquez-Johnston became our Associate Pastor. Fr. Bart, as he is known, was born in Mexico, studied in Italy and was a member of the Olivetian Benedictines. Stationed at Holy Trinity Monastery in St. David, and then assigned as Associate Pastor of Sacred Heart in Nogales, Fr. Bart left the Benedictine Order to become a Diocesan Priest in 2003. Fr. Bart is truly the "Cura" (Pastor) to our growing Hispanic community. Thanks to his leadership, a strong Hispanic Council has been formed, a folklorico dance group for our young people and a Mariachi band have been established, and our rich Hispanic culture is being shared by more and more of our parishioners, as well as the larger community.
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The following Priests have served as Associates at St. Andrew the Apostle: Fr. Paul H. Hernandez, Fr. Thomas D. Rice, Fr. Robert A Gluch, Fr. Charles Rourke, Fr. William J. Parenteau, Fr. Miguel Mariano, Fr. Michael Martinez, Fr. Colman Nolan, s.t., and Fr. Bartolome Vasquez-Johnston. Fr. Abran Tadeo also served with us for a year as a seminarian. We have also been greatly blessed by the assistance of retired Priests, Fr. Carl A Kulo, U.S.A (retired), Fr. John Kastigar, U.S.A.F (retired), and Fr. Francisco Caballero.
Deacons George Gaun, Michael Milazzo, Fernando Mezquita and Joseph Kushner have been ordained to the Permanent Diaconate during the past decade and serve our Parish.
Three sons of the Parish, Fr. Christopher Orndorff, Fr. Dale Branson, and Fr. Anthony Corcoran, s.j. have also been ordained to the Priesthood during the past ten years. Fr. Anthony is a Jesuit missionary, serving on the Russian Mission. The Parish presently has one seminarian in formation, Richard Souza.
Three women from our Parish have entered Religious Life: Sr. David Marie Yorde, m.s.sp.; Sr. Corinne Fair, o.s.b; and Sr. Teresa Aromin, s.sp.s.a.p. Two young women are currently discerning vocations to Religious Life.
The Parish has a long history of strong lay-leadership, an exemplary Parish/Finance Council, under the chairmanship of William Polakowski, and a very large number of ministries and apostolates involving many of our parishioners.
We are a multi-cultural Parish - thanks to our proximity to Fort Huachuca - and have a large number of ethnic groups and cultural associations. Among the languages spoken at St. Andrew's are: Spanish, Tagalog, Korean, Vietnamese, Chamorro, Italian, German, and French. Our annual Parish Bazaar - for over 25 years always held on the first Saturday of November - is a wonderful example of our multi-ethnic talents, foods and cultures. Our Folklorico Group of young dancers of our Hispanic community, the Mariachi de San Andres, as well as our Filipino-American Dance Group are gaining area-wide recognition. The Micronesian community can always be counted on for spirited song and dance to enliven Parish gatherings.
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Bishop Francis J. Green, who consecrated our "new" church in 1958 used to describe St. Andrew the Apostle as "the Parish where every Sunday is Pentecost!" How right he was - not only in the wonderful multi-ethnicity, "every tribe, kindred, race and nation," but also in the very vibrant, enthusiastic sharing of spiritual gifts by a Parish community of 1800+ households alive in the Holy Spirit!
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