Amador County – The Amador Catholic community on Tuesday announced an upcoming service planned for Nov. 30 when three local parishes become one and the diocese will reveal the new church’s namesake.
Most Reverend Jaime Soto, bishop of Sacramento, will preside over a special liturgy including “Solemn Evening Prayer, Installation of the New Pastor, Father Larry Beck, and the announcement of the name of the patron saint of a new, single parish comprising all of the Catholic churches of Amador County,” said Jeannine Crew, secretary of the Amador Catholic Pastoral Council.
Crew said “dating as far back as 1852, Reverend Bobard of Saint Andrew Parish, San Andreas was recorded visiting Jackson, Volcano and Sutter Creek mission communities in the soon-to-be-formed Amador County. Two years later the first Catholic church, Saint Bridget, was erected in Volcano.”
Today, she said, “the Catholic Community of Amador County has grown to almost 1,500 families, with six unique and distinct church communities” of Buckhorn’s Our Lady of the Pines; Volcano’s Saint Bernard; Jackson’s Saint Patrick; Sutter Creek’s Immaculate Conception; Plymouth’s Saint Mary of the Mountains; and Ione’s Sacred Heart of Jesus.
“Formed into three separate parishes over the decades, the acquisition of the new Martell property and buildings, will allow the three parishes to become one,” Crew said. “Each church will remain fully operational conducting weekly services, as will the new church location in Martell, once renovations are complete.”
Organizers said the historic event will take place at the Amador Catholic Center, 11361 Prospect Drive in Martell. Formal services will commence at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30. A video presentation of the new patron Saint will be shown at 6:30 p.m. with a festive reception of light refreshments to follow.
Crew said Amador County residents of all faiths “are invited to share and celebrate this defining moment with the Amador Catholic Community and experience our new location.”
Penny Dominici, a board member and volunteer, said “being centrally located, this is going to be a real cultural center” for parishioners. The service area and altar, with seating for 700, will be located in the former mechanics’ bay of the building. At one end will be a basketball court, as she said with any church, you must cater to your youth.
The parish will be made up of Father Larry Beck, Father Roland Ramirez, Deacon Gary Evans, Deacon Jaime Garcia, and Deacon Ed Pogue. For information or directions, call (209) 223-2970.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
