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St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic church and parish in the Los Angeles Archdiocese, Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region. The church faces Pico Boulevard at 1321 S. Mariposa Avenue in the Pico Union section of Los Angeles, California. The Mission Revival style church was built in 1904. ==Early history== In the Spring of 1903, Bishop Thomas James Conaty took over as the bishop of the diocese of Los Angeles. In his first months as bishop, Bishop Conaty outlined a plan for expansion of the church in Los Angeles. He quickly acquired land to build a cathedral and three new parish churches—St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Patrick and St. Agnes.〔 For St. Thomas, three lots were purchased in August 1903 at the southwest corner of Pico Boulevard and Hobston Street. The land acquired for St. Thomas was in a desirable and expanding residential section of the city then known as "Pico Heights" to the southwest of Downtown Los Angeles. The ''Los Angeles Times'' noted that the church would enhance property values in the area: "Property values in the vicinity will be greatly enhanced by the handsome structure. Situated in a choice residential section, it will be a landmark around which will cluster many stately homes."〔 The first mass for the new St. Thomas the Apostle parish was held on August 16, 1903 in the chapel of the Immacualte Heart Convent in Pico Heights.〔〔 An old Methodist church structure was purchased in late 1903 or early 1904 to serve as a temporary parish church until construction of a new church could be completed.〔 Father D.W.J. Murphy was assigned to the parish in its earliest days. The ''Los Angeles Times'' described Father Murphy as "a young and energetic man" who would "devote all his time to building up the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle." Within a few months of the formation of the parish, Father John J. Clifford was appointed as the first pastor, and Father Murphy became its deacon.〔 On June 12, 1904, the cornerstone for the new church was laid in a ceremony conducted by Bishop Conaty. The ''Los Angeles Times'' described the "pomp and reverence" with which the ceremony was conducted: "After the corner-stone was placed, a ceremony seldom witnessed in these prosaic days followed. Like the Israelites of old marching around the walls of the city, marched the retinue of priests clad in their vestments, chanting their songs of praise to God." The church structure was completed in December 1904 at a cost of $30,000, and was opened on Christmas Day 1904.〔 At the time of the first service, the interior had not been completed. The pews were installed one week earlier, and a temporary altar was used. The formal dedication ceremonies for the church occurred on February 19, 1905.〔 The ceremonies began with a procession of a "long train of acolytes" headed by a cross-bearer, followed by numerous priests from the region, then followed by Bishop Conaty and his attendants. After circling the entire building, the bishop sprinkled holy water on the corners and lintels. The procession then moved into the church where a high mass was led by Bishop Conaty. That evening, solemn vespers were sung in the church; the music consisted of Gregorian chants sung by a choir of 30 priests. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church (Los Angeles)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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