Our Founding
1923 – Original church building sold and a new church building, seating for 300, was constructed at 10th and Orange Sts.
1938 – Devastating flood resulted in damage to the SSJ church.
1953 – On December 23rd, 1954 the pastor of SSJ church, Fr. Austin Green, asked Rev. Monsignor Bernard J. Dolan to write a letter to the Archbishop of Los Angeles inquiring about an expansion plan at SSJ.
1955 – SSJ Parish purchased a new piece of land off of Newland St. as the future site of the church.
1961 – The Diocese purchased a 10-acre parcel at Newland St. directly across from the land that the SSJ purchased a few years before.
1964 – The Franciscan community signed the contract with the Diocese to assume responsibility for Sts. Simon and Jude Parish
Late 1960’s – First Men’s Club at SSJ was formed led by Lou Monville
New Buildings
1966 – Rev. Colman wrote a letter requesting that a new parish church be built on a new piece of property and be named St. Francis of Assisi and the current church stay as Sts. Simon and Jude.
1966 – A lot was purchased off of Bradbury St. for the building of a new rectory
1966 – August 21st the groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the new parish school.
1966 – First festival at SSJ was held at the Huntington Beach Senior Center
1966 – Christmas celebrations included 19 Masses being offered at the Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church
1967 – Fall of 1967, the school was officially opened and was run by the Sisters of St. Francis; Parish School was originally called St. Francis
1967 – In November, the Pastor Fr. Colman wrote a letter requesting permission to build a hall because of the Religious Ed Program
1968 – In the fall of 1968 the Church got approval, after a lengthy battle, to build a hall and temporary church.
1969 – In February, plans started to materialize for the building of a new church for the parish
1969 – The need for storage and a maintenance building were coming to fruition because the SSJ church was using a neighbors garage and a portion of the Holly Sugar Factory were currently being used.
1969 – The summer of 1969 resulted in a metal pre-fab maintenance shed being constructed that included basic electrical, plumbing, air ventilators at a total cost of $15,000. Sunday Masses were held in the school where there were 8 ft. ceilings as the new church was being constructed.
1972 – Ground breaking ceremonies for the new church building.
Sts. Simon and Jude Today
1973 – First Mass celebrated in the new church on December 24th
1973 – School name was changed from St. Francis to Saints Simon and Jude Catholic School.
1974 – Dedication of the new church; Parish Council voted at first to install kneelers. More discussions occurred and then the vote swayed to not having kneelers.
1987 – Celebration of 75th anniversary of Saints Simon and Jude Parish and 20th anniversary of the school.
1997 – Lenten Fish Fry’s began and were led by the Men’s Club.