Sts. Simon & Jude Catholic Church was founded in 1912. Today the parish has over 4,512 registered families. The highlights of our story:
Click here for details on the 2008 - 2009 Church Remodel Project.
| 1905 | St. Mary’s Church, Huntington Beach (at that time called “Pacific City”), is established as a mission of St. Joseph’s Parish, Santa Ana. The first Mass is celebrated in Sunby’s department store on Main St. The priest travels down Pacific Coast Highway from St. Anthony’s, Long Beach, in an electric automobile. Huntington Beach population: 582. |
| 1908 | A Protestant Church (with house) was purchased by St. Mary’s at Tenth and Orange streets in Huntington Beach. The congregation sat on planks and boxes. They used the small house as a Parish Hall. |
| 1912 | The mission becomes St. Mary’s Parish and is officially established with appointment of the first pastor, Fr. Andrew Reynolds (by the Diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles, which at the time covered all of California south of San Jose). |
| 1921 | The name of the parish is changed to SS. Simon and Jude. |
| 1923 | The first Church was sold and moved off the property, and the new SS Simon and Jude Church (seating about 300) and rectory were constructed at Tenth and Orange (later St. Mary’s by the Sea) at a total cost of $21,000. |
| 1962-1965 | Vatican II takes place. |
| 1964 | The Franciscan Friars are asked to staff the parish by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The first Franciscan pastor is Fr. Colman Colloty, OFM. The Mass is in English for the first time. The population of Huntington Beach is 17,000. |
| 1965 | The northwest corner of the parish is cut off to form St. Bonaventure’s. |
| 1966 | Land is purchased at Magnolia (formerly Cannery) and Indianapolis, ground is broken for a new parish plant. The population is growing rapidly, and Sunday Mass is regularly celebrated at several sites, including Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley High Schools. Father John Gini, OFM gets the congregation singing at Sunday Mass. The first Fall Festival is held. |
| 1967 | The parish school, called St. Francis, opens. The area later occupied by the lower grades is used as a church; the upper grade area serves as a parish hall. |
| 1968 | Statue of St. Francis is installed in front of School/Church. The first “Guitar Mass” is held . |
| 1969 | Fr. Ronald Colloty, OFM becomes pastor. The use of Lectors at Sunday Mass is started. |
| 1970 | The Benedictine Sisters join the staff. |
| 1971 | People begin shaking hands at the Rite of Peace. Laymen are approved by the Archdiocese to help distribute Communion. |
| 1972 | The first phase of the parish offices is built. Ground is broken for a new church. The northeast corner of the parish is lopped off to become Holy Spirit. |
| 1973 | The parish school is renamed Ss. Simon & Jude. |
| 1974 | The parish church (total cost, $475,000) is dedicated in February. The temporary church area is converted to classrooms. |
| 1976 | The Diocese of Orange is established with the Most Rev. William Johnson as the first Bishop. |
| 1977 | The parish attains its present boundaries with the establishment of St. Mary’s by the Sea (a mission of Sts. Simon and Jude since 1967) and St. Vincent De Paul parishes. |
| 1978 | Colman Hall and the second phase of the parish offices are completed. |
| 1979 | Fr. Thomas Schneider, OFM is appointed Pastor. |
| 1982 | The Adult Center is added to Colman Hall. The parish debt is retired. Fr. Alexander Manville, OFM is appointed pastor. |
| 1987 | Sts. Simon & Jude celebrates its Diamond Jubilee! |
| 1990 | Fr. Christian Mondor, OFM is appointed parochial vicar. |
| 1992 | The StayCare Facility is added. |
| 1994 | Fr. Laurence Dolan, OFM is appointed pastor. |
| 1999 | Retrofitting of the church, school and parish is completed. An addition is made to the parish office. The church is re-dedicated. |
| 2001 | Fr. Michael Harvey, OFM is appointed pastor. |
| 2003 | The Liturgy Board, Youth & Young Adult Board, Communications Board, and Festival Board are established. Initial plans for church renovation begin. |
| 2004 | The Pastoral Council and Catechetical Board are formed. Fr. Dan Lackie, OFM is appointed parochial vicar. |
| 2005 | The 5-year Pastoral Plan is published. The Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation (JPIC), Hospitality and Prayer & Devotion Commissions are formed. Fr. Christian Mondor, OFM celebrates his 80th Birthday and 60 years as a friar. |
| 2008 | The renovation and construction project begin on the church. Move into pavilion while church is under construction. |
| 2009 | September 13, Most Reverend Tod D. Brown, D.D., Bishop Of Orange dedicates the church. |
