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St. Patrick Church in Merced St. Patrick parish, Merced, California is in the Diocese of Fresno. The parish serves the city of Merced and surrounding area. (Sacred Heart parish, X 13th St., also serves the city of Merced.) It is located at 671 E. Yosemite Ave. The current church was finished in 1994 and blessed in 1995. The parish also has Our Lady of Mercy church located at 499? W. 21st Street, Merced which was the original site of St. Patrick Church. The parish also operates Our Lady of Mercy School, preschool to grade 8, located at xxx E. 27th Street, Merced.

http://www.olmstpatrick.org/

1857 St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mariposa is founded. http://www.dioceseoffresno.org/index.cfm?load=org&org=90 1863 St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mariposa is dedicated. This is the oldest church building in the Diocese of Fresno. 1865 Approximate year of the first Mass celebrated in Merced. (See below for list of pastors by year.) 1867 The parish was a mission of St. Joseph Parish in Mariposa. 1871 Father McNamara presides over Mariposa and Merced. 1873 October 19; St. Patrick church is dedicated. The wood church was 35 by 54 ft and cost approximately $3,400 was located at 21st and Canal Streets. 1875 A rectory, barn and stable were built and cost approximately $4,000 1870s A cemetary is blessed. The land was donated by Edward and Ellen Sheehy. Their daughter, noted local educator Margaret Sheehy died July 2, 1965. The cemetary is now   known as Calvary Cemetary on B Street. It ceased to be owned by a Catholic organization in the 1960s. 1876 The parish fair nets over $1,000 1881 The parish is debt free. 1883 The stipend for a baptism is $2.50. 1916 Father McNamara, 35+ year pastor dies on March 23. The City of Merced offices close for the funeral. Father McNamara was initially buried at Calvary cemetary. At some point it is believed that Father McNamara was exhumed and buried at the site of the new Our Lady of Mercy Church. A metal plaque is on the west wall of OLM Church. 1917 The cornerstone of the new Our Lady of Mercy Church is placed on the site of the first church. 1924 The window dedicated to St. Cecilia is installed. 1925 May 1. A bell from the Meneley foundry, NY is donated by the St. Cecilia Club and installed. 1925 The Chamberlain home at 26th and L Streets is purchased for a convent. 1928 Parish debt paid off. 1938 Cemetary enlarged by two acres 1941-1942  Two former protestant churches were purchased in South Merced and Planada 1945 Nov. 15, The rectory burns. 1948 Debt of $21,700 is paid off for the new rectory. (The building is on the grounds adjacent to OLM Church.) 1949 Two classrooms and a meeting hall are completed at the parish school. The building still stands on Canal Street and 2X Street 1954 A tile floor is installed in the church 1955 A parish high school is launched. 1956 The convent is completed. 1956 OLM School classrooms opened 1958-1961 OLM classrooms and faculty facilities built 1960 Tithing program started. Offerings double. 1961 Twenty acres next to OLM School are purchaed. 1962 Groundbreaking for 17 bedroom convent adjacent to OLM School. $95,000 and furnishings of $20,000. unk. Air conditioning is installed at OLM Church unk. New organ installed at OLM Church 1960s 3 new altars, tabernacle, stations, roof and lights are installed at OLM church 1960s An addition to the rectory is completed. 1960s New flooring in OLM church 1960s OLM School business office completed 1965 Centennial Mass for the parish held at OLM School 1971 Bishop Donohoe initiated the patoral Team, combining the parishes of Sacred Heart and St. Patrick into one. The team ministry ended in 1989. 1994 The first Mass at tne new 1000+ seat St. Patrick Church at 671 E. Yosemite Ave. was held in December. 2000s Parish offices are moved to a renovated home and modular building adjacent to St. Patrick. 2002 The Parish Center is completed and includes a large divisible hall, classrooms and kitchen. An addition is made to the parish maintenance building.

History of Pastors:

1865-67 Rev. Patrick Scanlan 1867-69 Rev. Peter Birmingham 1669-70 Rev. Timothy Fitzgerald 1870-71 Rev. Michael Mcnaboe 1871-1916 Rev. Micahel McNamara 1916-18 Rev. Thomas J. Brennan 1918-20 Rev. Edward M. Looney 1920-22 Rev. Thomas J. Kennedy 1922-29 Rev. George D. Doyle 1929-34 Rev. Joseph B. Howard 1934-48 Rev. Michael J. Stack,  Rev. Frances J. Pointek served as administrator from January to April 1946 1946-47 Rev. Francis X. Singleton served as adminstrator 1948-50 Very Rev. Thomas J. Earley 1954-   Very Rev. Francis G. McKenna

199x-Y  Very Rev. John Harguindeguy 199X-Y Rev. David A. Brum 199X-200Y Rev. Jean-Michael Lastiri 200x-Y  Rev.   served as administrator 200x-14 Very Rev. Patrick J. Mc Cormick 2014-  Rev. John Fluetsch