History of Holy Family Cathedral Church

The Catholic faith was first preached in what is now Orange County with the arrival of a Spanish expeditionary force under the leadership of Don Gaspar de Portola. Two missionaries accompanied this expedition, Frs. Juan Crespi and Francisco Gomez. On July 28, 1769, this expedition cut diagonally across the County, probably crossing the Santa Ana River north of what is now Chapman Avenue. Therefore, without a doubt, Mass was celebrated on the day before the march resumed. This would be the first Mass in what is now Holy family Parish.

Through the years that followed the number of Catholics in this portion of God's vineyard increased particularly in and around the city of Orange. To address this pastoral situation, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in October 1921, appointed Father Francis Burelbach as the first pastor of the newly established parish of the Holy Family. Property at the corner of East Chapman Avenue and Shaffer Street was acquired and on April 9, 1922, the first Mass was celebrated in the new church building.

Over the years since the founding of Holy Family Parish a succession of dedicated, gifted and holy pastors and associate pastors have shepherded this community of faith. Their names read like a litany of gratitude to the Lord in praise of faithful service: Frs. John Power, William Schulte, E.J. Riordan, Charles J. O'Carroll, Patrick Collins, Leo J. Lambrick, William T. O'Shea, Bernard Collins, Emmett Panner, Robert McEvoy, Robert Gara, Msgr. Donald Strange and Msgr. Brian Coghlan.

In 1949 land was acquired at the corner of La Veta Avenue and South Glassell for the relocation of the parish. The first order of business was the building of a Parochial School which opened its doors on September 12, 1949, and continues to this day. Under the able leadership of Fr. Robert McEvoy, the new Church was dedicated on January 8, 1961.

In June 1976, the County of Orange was separated from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and became the Diocese of Orange with its founding Bishop, the Most Reverend William R. Johnson. Holy Family Church was designated the Cathedral Church for the newly created Diocese. Msgr. Donald Strange was named the first rector of the Cathedral to be succeeded by Msgr. Brian Coghlan in 1978.

In 1987, Bishop Norman McFarland was appointed the second Bishop of Orange following the death of Bishop Johnson. On July 1, 1988, Bishop McFarland appointed the Very Reverend Arthur A. Holquin as the third Rector of Holy Family Cathedral.

On September 3, 1998, Bishop Tod David Brown was installed as the third Bishop of Orange, succeeding the retiring Bishop McFarland.

During the years since the founding of Holy Family parish in 1921, we mark with gratitude these years of grace and blessing in the life of this parish community and we look to the future with renewed hope as our parish family continues to grow in this new Millennium.