A Tradition in East Sacramento since 1955
The story of St. Mary Church began in 1906 with 200 Italian and Portuguese families, a small building for worship, and the dream of a permanent church, parish hall, school, and rectory. These were the hopes of Fr. Mela, the first pastor of St. Mary Church in downtown Sacramento. Ten years later, the Portuguese-American families established St. Elizabeth’s Parish to celebrate their own culture, leaving the Italian-American families to continue the mission of the International Italian Church of St. Mary.
By 1940, the world was changed by World War II. In Sacramento, the return of service members brought growth and renewal to the Italian-American community, whose focus turned to rebuilding family life and community. With renewed energy, St. Mary parishioners generously offered their time, talent, and resources to support their pastor in constructing a new post-war church at 58th and M Streets in Sacramento, establishing a lasting home for their faith and community.
Parishioners came together to relocate and build a permanent church for the Italian-American families of St. Mary, bringing post-war skills to create a striking Lighthouse Bell Tower, a sanctuary for worship, and a community grounded in faith and family. With the completion of the “New Church,” St. Mary’s became a geographically based parish, honoring its Italian heritage while beginning to serve a broader ethnic community, fulfilling the hopes of Fr. Mela.
By 1950, a house was moved and remodeled to become the parish rectory, and plans soon turned to establishing a school. Fundraising for the school began in 1951, with a goal of $200,000, successfully leading to groundbreaking in 1953. Construction of the convent followed on March 3, 1954, later replaced by the Sister Cabrini Reardon Education Center in 2004. The school opened on September 18, 1955, with kindergarten through fourth grade, adding one grade each year until the first eighth-grade class graduated in 1960.
The first sisters to serve St. Mary School were the Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallotine Sisters) from 1955 to 1969. During a transition period, a lay staff operated the school while the Presentation Sisters obtained visas to enter the United States. Arriving in December 1969, they served until 1999. Today, the school is staffed by dedicated laity, with Mrs. Amy Hale serving as principal.
Through this rich history, St. Mary School has nurtured a strong, devoted community. Students not only grow academically but also form lifelong friendships. Many families feel a deep sense of “coming home” to St. Mary, with alumni celebrated in the Cabrini Center and a third generation of families continuing the tradition.
In the peace of Mary, we embrace a future filled with blessings, community, and the enduring spirit of our parish founders.