The history of St.
John Vianney Parish begins in 1946, when Fr. Joseph Gamm, C.M.F. began
celebrating Mass in the auditorium of Avondale School No. 1 (presently
Michael Anderson Elementary School on Western Avenue). Fr. Gamm was
succeeded several years later by Fr. Francis J. Murphy. Regarded as the
founding pastor of St. John Vianney Parish, Fr. Murphy began serving the
Catholic population of this area in 1954, also celebrating Mass at the
Avondale school auditorium. On April 28, 1956, Bishop Daniel J. Gercke of
the Diocese of Tucson, formally established St. John Vianney Parish.
Construction on what is currently known as the "Grand Hall" was begun in
1958, and completed the following year. It served as the first church
building on this property. The building immediately west of the Grand
Hall, which now serves as the parish office, was constructed in 1962, and
originally intended as a convent. Indeed, it was here that the Franciscan
Sisters of Rock Island, Illinois, resided, serving the parish from 1962 -
1974.
The Catholic community of St. John Vianney Parish was originally served by
priests of the Diocese of Tucson, and later by priests of the Diocese of
Phoenix (established by Pope Paul VI in 1969). In 1981, pastoral
responsibility for St. John Vianney Parish was entrusted to the Indiana
Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross – a religious community of
priests and brothers from the University of Notre Dame. The first Holy
Cross pastor to serve St. John Vianney Parish was Fr. Thomas K. Zurcher,
C.S.C. Under his leadership, the parish completed construction on the
current church building, which was dedicated on November 4, 1990, exactly
one year after construction began (see pamphlet entitled, "A Place to Call
Home," for more information on the church).
The parish school was founded by Holy Cross priest, Fr. Joseph V. Corpora,
in 1992. The school, which currently serves nearly 400 children from
preschool to eighth grade, is the fruit of Fr. Joe’s dream to provide
Catholic education to the children of this area, especially to the
underprivileged and to this community’s immigrant population (see pamphlet
entitled, "God’s Work and Design," for more information on the school).
Since their arrival here in 1995, St. John Vianney Parish has also been
blessed to be served by a community of Salesian women religious – the
Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, founded by St. John Bosco and St.
Mary Mazzarello. In keeping with their community’s charism, the Sisters’
ministry at St. John Vianney has focused on serving the poor and youth.
While past ministry has included outreach to the underprivileged at the
nearby dairy farms and at a local prison, the Sisters’ main ministry, at
present, is in service to the children and families of St. John Vianney
Parish and School. The St. John Bosco Center in Las Ligas, established in
1996, is a thriving example of this effort.
In sum, the history of St. John Vianney Parish has been marked by
loving devotion and self-sacrifice for the greater glory of God and
for the spiritual welfare of the faithful. All that is here is a
monument of the faith of our parishioners and their love of God. May
this spirit continue to mark our story into the future!
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