Brief History of St. John the Evangelist Church
University Heights was once part of St. Joseph’s Parish (Cathedral), which had been founded in 1874 with Fr. Anton Ubach as pastor.
In 1912, a group of local women appealed to Fr. Nunan, then pastor of St. Joseph’s, to establish a new parish in their neighborhood. He encouraged their efforts, but his successor, Fr. Heffernan, preferred that they remain within his parish boundaries. The women eventually brought their request to the new Archbishop of Los Angeles and San Diego, the Most Rev. John J. Cantwell. He agreed, and in late 1913 appointed Fr. Peter McNellis as pastor of the newly established parish in University Heights.
In 1914, pastor and parishioners worked diligently to purchase property and build a church. They acquired land at Lincoln and Normal. Fr. Loughlin Golden succeeded Fr. McNellis as pastor and, assisted by Fr. McCormick, oversaw the construction of the first church building in honor of St. John the Evangelist in 1915. This church served as the parish’s center of worship until the present church at Polk and Normal was dedicated by Bishop Buddy on May 30, 1952.
Pastors Who Served Our Parish
Pastors
Rev. Peter McNellis, 1913-14
Rev. L.P. Golden, 1914-18
Rev. Thos F. King, 1918-24
Rev. Paul de Munck, 1924-27
Rev. Martin C. Keating, 1927-30
Rev. Msgr. John B. Cotter, 1930-45
Rev. Msgr. M.C. O'Connor, 1945-69
Rev. Vincent Walters, 1969-70
Rev. Msgr. Andrew Hanley, 1970-1988
Rev. Msgr. Anthony Giesing, 1988-99
Rev. Phillip Sessions, 1999-2003
Rev. William Dillard, 2003-2016
Rev. Henry Rodriguez, 2016- Aug 2016
Rev. John Dolan, 2016 – 2017
Rev. Kevin Casey, SJ, 2017 – 2021
Rev. Charles Moat, SVD, 2021 – present
Associate Pastors
Rev. Daniel O’Donoghue- Asst., 1934-37
Rev. Charles Loftus-Asst., 1935
Rev. Dennis J. Barry-Asst., 1938-39
Rev. Thomas E. Byrnes-Asst., 1942-43
Rev. Michael R. O’Donohoe- Asst., 1942-43
Rev. Patrick O’Dowd- Asst., 1943-45
Rev. John S. Chester, SM, 1945
Rev. Conrad Marrama-Asst., 1945-46
Rev. James P. O’Donoghue, Asst., 1946-49
Rev. Gerard Arnold-Asst., 1947
Rev. Joseph S. McHattie-Asst., 1947
Rev. Stephen Koloszar-Curate, 1949
Rev. Owen P. Kirley-Curate, 1951
Rev. Clair C. Drummy-Asst., 1951-52
Rev. Edward A. Keller-Curate, 1953
Rev. Victor A. Dogimont-Asst., 1954
Rev. Edward R. Flynn-Asst., 1954-57
Associate Pastors cont.
Rev. Edward A. Keller-Asst., 1954-57
Rev. Patrick J. Kearney-Asst., 1957-64
Rev. Joseph Brennen, 1957-58
Rev. Michael V. Maron-Asst., 1962-63
Rev. William L. Brown-Asst., 1964
Rev. Eugene F. Lechowski-Asst., 1964-67
Rev. George A. Leszczynski-Asst., 1967-68
Rev. Anselmo Benzi-Asst., 1968
Rev. Gerald F. Palcheck-Asst., 1969-70
Rev. William T. Wilson, 1970-73
Rev. Francis P. Kelly, 1972-80
Rev. Joseph P. Nelligan, 1980
Rev. Michael C. Diehl, 1985-93
Rev. Eugene Sta. Ana, 2010-2015
Rev. Jacob Bertrand, 2015 – 2016
Rev. Anthony Yang, SVD, 2021 - 2026
