page_title: Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, San Pedro, California
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, San Pedro, California / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Front Entrance, Mary Star of the Sea, San Pedro
context_page_description: Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located in San Pedro, California, dedicated to Our Lady, Star of the Sea. Located on a hill overlooking the Port of Los Angeles, Mary Star of the Sea has sometimes been known as the "Fishermen’s Parish" because of its close ties with the fishing and cannery community in San Pedro. Established in 1889, the parish is one of the oldest in the Los Angeles Archdiocese. The present church, built in 1958, is the third church to serve the parish.
  Mary Star of the Sea serves approximately 5,500 registered families. For many decades, the parish community was made up largely of Croatian and Italian fishermen, ethnic groups that remain large presences in the parish, along with more recently arrived groups from Latin America and Asia, especially the Philippines.
context_section_description: San Pedro was incorporated as a city in 1888, and Mary Star of the Sea parish was formed one year later in 1889.  The original church, built in the 1890s, was a small wooden structure on West Ninth Street.  In 1905, a larger church was built on Vinegar Hill (NW corner 9th St and Centre St).  An elementary school opened in 1914, under the direction of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
  Father Maximus Benso, a native of Italy, purchased the land in 1919 that eventually accommodated the church and school.  Father Benso died in 1981 at age 96, having served the church for more than 70 years.
  Father James McLaughlin, the parish's eighth pastor and a native of Ireland, established the "Apostleship of the Sea," a Catholic organization for the merchant marine.
  For nearly 30 years from 1946 to 1975, Msgr. George M. Scott was the pastor.  When Msgr. Scott arrived, the parish community included 10,000 Croatians and 5,000 Italians, mostly fishermen, cannery workers, and their families.   Msgr. Scott oversaw the construction of the current church in 1958, as well as a new convent, an elementary school and high school.  In September, 1951, Mary Star of the Sea High School opened with classes initially being held in the elementary school. Msgr. Scott also served as the national president of the Apostleship of the Sea.  
  When Msgr. Scott retired in 1975, Msgr. Thomas Kiefer became the pastor and also served as Port Chaplain until 1984.
  Msgr. Patrick Gallagher served as the pastor from 1984 until his death in April 2008.  Seven months before his death, Msgr. Gallagher celebrated the opening of the new Mary Star of the Sea High School after overseeing the development and construction for 13 years.  When the new high school was dedicated, Msgr. Gallagher said: "[T]here were lots of challenges. We just faced them and went on. I never, never doubted the high school would be built. That's not my personality to give up."  Msgr. Gallagher also directed the establishment of the Perpetual Adoration Chapel located at the front of the church.  Interviewed in 2003, Msgr. Gallager said, "This parish is the center of my life, really. I am happy serving here.  I find great fulfillment here and I find great support with the people. I really love these people."
caption: Front entrance, Mary Star of the Sea
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