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Our Lady of Grace, 75 Years, Events and Celebrations
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For Immediate release
9/5/22
Our Lady of Grace Church in Castro Valley
Celebrates 75 Years!
Our Lady of Grace Parish was established on September 19, 1947. Its first masses were held in a temporary hall on Baker Road and subsequently mass in its newly completed building on Anita Avenue was celebrated on Easter Sunday, 1948. By the early 1950’s , the rapid growth of the parish made it clear that a larger facility including a school was necessary. However, the church only had $8000 in the bank and the archbishop would not loan the additional $458000 needed to build a larger church and a school. Therefore, 400 parishioners under the leadership of then pastor Father Stack took on the task of a $450,000 capital campaign. Our Lady of Grace School on Anita was opened in September of 1955 and the TK-8 school is still a vibrant and integral part of the parish. The current church on Somerset opened in 1957 along with a new convent on Anita.
But the Church is more than just buildings. It is people and over the years, thousands have found Our Lady of Grace Church to be a place of faith, hope, love and community. As author and parishioner Mark Cotta Vaz writes in his new book about the parish (to be released later this year): “In a spiritual community, one’s life becomes a process of cultivating divine growth, allowing its good fruits to take root and blossom in the world. Like an athlete, we train to run the race, but in the mystery of one mystical body, our spiritual growth is not solely about transforming and disciplining ourselves alone, but in humbly realizing that we cannot prepare for and achieve something as mysterious as eternal life on our own.”
Celebration Events
Several events are planned to celebrate the 75th and all are welcome.. “We are proud to have been a part of Castro Valley for 75 years and we welcome the larger community to join us in celebrating” says 75th anniversary chair, Michael Gonzalez.. On September 17, there will be a ravioli dinner provided by Branch #343 of the Italian Catholic Federation and on September 18, there will be a Fiesta Mexicana lunch provided by the Hispanic Community of OLG following the 12:00 bilingual mass with the bishop. Tickets can be purchased by calling the parish office at 510-537-0806. On 9/24 there will be a small car show and a live concert featuring the Rev Tones and the Night Owls. Admission is free and food and drinks can be purchased on site. On 9/25, a Family Fun Day is planned from 10:00-3:00 with carnival games, food and fun. Food and drink and wristbands for the games can be purchased on site.
www.olgcv.org /75th-anniversary-events/