In September, 1950, the Rev. Anthony Gerace was appointed pastor of St. Cecilia Parish, at that time a congregation of 225 families.

Father Gerace was no stranger to the area. He was graduated from high school at St. Mary's Boys' Home in 1929. Ordained May 22, 1937, he was appointed temporarily as an assistant at St. Mary's. In September, he was sent to St. Mary's Parish in Eugene as assistant pastor where he remained until 1942 when he returned to the boys' home as superintendent. He also served as pastor of St. Edward Parish in North Plains and of St. Mary's Mission at Vernonia.

Work was continuing on the church and in the next year several projects were completed. These included anchoring of the pews, installation of paneling, finishing of the sacristy, and furnishing the choir room at the north side of the sanctuary.

Sidewalks and paved streets in the vicinity of the church came into existence in 1951. The old church property at Canyon Road and Hall Boulevard was sold and construction of the present school was started. During the Christmas holidays of 1951, the students moved into the first four classrooms.

The entire school was completed in time for classes in September, 1953. Total cost of the school and church was estimated to be $400,000.

However, the parish was growing rapidly and there were other needs - there still was no rectory nor was there a convent. Father Gerace used the nurse's room in the school as his office and living quarters until the house on Tucker and 5th Sts. was built and presented to him by his mother to be used as a rectory.

The sisters commuted daily from the motherhouse of Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon on 145th Avenue.

By 1957, there were 217 students in Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (catechism) classes, 323 pupils in St. Cecilia School, and 720 families registered in the parish.

The parish indebtedness was about $65,000. This year a fund appeal was started with a goal of construction of a convent, a church in Aloha, and a school in the Cedar Hills area.

Since the first school of St. Cecilia Parish opened in 1913, about 70 sisters of St. Mary of Oregon have taught in the parish. The staff also has included about 20 lay teachers. Among these were Mr. L. White, a nine-year veteran who became principal of St. Anthony's School in Tigard in 1976, and Mrs. Virginia Whitford who recently resigned after 13 years with the school.

The sisters continued to commute daily to St. Cecilia's until 1959 when the convent on Franklin Street was completed. Open house was held in May with the sisters serving as hostesses. These included Sisters M. Constance who was Mother Superior, Mary Aurelia, M. Francisca, M. Ernestine, M. Rose lmelda, Margaret Mary, and M. Stephen.

In 1960, repair of the heating pipes became a major project when the entire concrete floor of the church had to be removed in order to effect repairs. A new organ also was installed that year.

Along with Washington County, the parish was experiencing a rapid growth and the church, despite an annex added in 1957, was seeing standees at Sunday Masses. The congregation now numbered slightly more than 1,000 families and the school was turning away first grade applicants for lack of space.

Despite the creation of St. Pius X Parish and the dedication of its church in the Cedar Mill area in 1954, the population pressure continued and another church was needed. A budget appeal was started and plans for a new parish were made.

Ground was broken in the spring of 1962 for Holy Trinity School. The parish hall in the school was to be used for a chapel until a church could be built. The first Mass was said on Palm Sunday of 1963.

It was shortly after this that some rather startling changes came to the parish.

The Vatican Council convened in Rome on Oct. II, 1962, was dedicated to re-examination and change. On Dec. 4, 1963, it issued its decree on liturgy.

It was shortly after that time that Latin was dropped gradually from the Mass and the altar was turned so the priest faced the congregation.

These changes brought with them others such as the dropping of the old familiar chants and hymns in Latin, the introduction of new hymns, congregational singing, song leaders, and readers.

In 1965, a rectory was built just south of the church building, completing the parish installation.

A year later, Archbishop Edward D. Howard, who had watched St. Cecilia's grow out of a combination church-school into a large, well-appointed parish, stepped down and Archbishop Robert J. Dwyer was named to head the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon.

Archbishop Dwyer served eight years and then retired for health reasons, handing over the post to Archbishop Cornelius M. Power in 1974.

In 1975, Father Gerace noted his 25th year as pastor of St. Cecilia Parish. The parish delayed celebrating his anniversary until the following year, where it was held in conjunction with a special presentation of 100 years of Catholic history in this area.

At that time, in 1976, St. Cecilia School had an average enrollment of 250 pupils and was staffed by five Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon and lay teachers: four full time, one part time, and two physical education instructors.

The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine program, coordinated by Father Dale Waddill and Mrs. Frank Dever, had about 450 students attending. There were 25 teachers, including three Sisters, Father Waddill, Mrs. Dever, and Father Gerace.

< need info for 1976-1979, when Pastor Gerace left >

1979-Present