| St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church | |
| Location | 11967 Sunset Blvd., Brentwood, Los Angeles, California |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | www.saintmartinoftours.com |
| History | |
| Founded | Parish founded in 1946 |
| Dedicated | Church building dedicated November 1947 |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Moorish |
| Groundbreaking | February 9, 1947 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Archdiocese of Los Angeles |
| Division | Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Roger M. Mahony |
| Bishop(s) | Edward W. Clark |
| Priest(s) | Fr. Ben Le (administrator) |
| Assistant priest | Fr. Donal Keohane |
| Pastor(s) | Msgr. Lawrence O'Leary (pastor emeritus) |
St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic church and parish in the Los Angeles Archdiocese, Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region. The church is located on Sunset Boulevard in the affluent Brentwood section of Los Angeles, California.
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The parish of St. Martin of Tours in Los Angeles was founded in 1946.[1] The land acquired for the construction of the church was formerly an orchard on the estate of actor Gary Cooper.[2] Ground was broken for the construction of the church on February 9, 1947, and the cost of the church was estimated at $150,000 with an additional $25,000 for furnishings.[3] The church was dedicated in November 1947.
The parish has been served by two pastors for most of its existence. Father Augustine C. Murray was the first pastor, serving in that capacity for 28 years from 1946-1974. Monsignor Lawrence O'Leary later served as pastor for 24 years from 1979-2003.[1]
In March 1949, the church was damaged in a fire set by an arsonist described by the Los Angeles Times as a "wild-eyed" and "crazed 25-year-old UCLA art student". After setting the church on fire in the early morning hours, the arsonist, dressed in a well-cut flannel suit, stood in the middle of the church parking lot screaming, "The church is afire. Let her burn. Let her burn." When the pastor and staff tried to extinguish the fire, the arsonist tried to block their passage, struck a staff member in the face, and threw a statue at the fire.[4] The fire caused $5,000 in damages, and the following day, Father Murray said mass in the church and urged forgiveness for the young man who had set the fire: "Let us pray for the poor boy who didn't know what he was doing. Let us pray that Almighty God may give him back his health."[5]
In 1983, the parish built at parish center that is used for education, social functions, meetings and entertainment. The church was renovated in 1989.[1]
As of 2009, the parish was served by Father Ben Le, administrator, Monsignor Lawrence O'Leary, pastor emeritus, and Father Donal Keohane.[6]
The church building is designed in the Moorish style.[7]
In 1954, St. Martin of Tours School was opened. It was operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondolet until 1979.[1]
In 1998, the school added a new wing, which included administration offices, a library, science lab and reading/math lab.[1]
The parish is located in an affluent section of Los Angeles that is the home of numerous celebrities and prominent business persons.
Movie and stage actor Frank Fay was one of the founding members of the parish, and mass was celebrated in the pool house of Fay's estate before the completion of the church building in 1947.[1]
The church was built on a site adjacent to the estate of movie actor Gary Cooper. In 1979, the parish purchased Cooper estate. The house was used as a convent, and the grounds were used as a playground for the students at St. Martin of Tours School and for church parking. The house was sold in 1980 after the Sisters of St. Joseph ceased operating the school.[1]
In 1948, parishioners Frank Fay and Joe E. Brown began the tradition of an annual social event that was originally known as "Murray's Follies" and later became known as the "Leprechaun Ball."[8] The Leprechaun Ball is an ongoing tradition at the parish. Celebrities and parishioners who have assisted with the event over the years include Edmond O'Brien, Maureen O'Hara, Donald O'Connor, Steve McQueen, Barron Hilton, Dennis Day, the Lennon Sisters, the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, and Pat O'Brien.[1][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]
Over the years, St. Martin has been the site of many celebrity weddings, baptisms and funerals, including the following:
Masses at St. Martin of Tours are in the English language. The regular weekend mass schedule is Saturdays at 8:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and Sundays at 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. Weekday masses are offered Monday through Friday at 7:00 a.m. and 8:15 a.m.[26]