There are parishes and parishes. From the very beginning, and even before, it was clear that St. Robert's would be a people parish, of and for the parishioners who lived roundabout, hill-dwellers and flat landers, all drawn together in their love for a church visible in each other. Thus grew a caring community -- today headed by Father Vincent D. Ring as Pastor -- nourished by the Eucharist, shaped by the counsel and leadership of pastor, priests and nuns, inspired by the example of friends and neighbors who, quietly and generously, made sure that work got done, needs got met, and anyone in difficulty would get appropriate help.

The stuff of legend? Of course. In a minute, two examples. Now, back to the beginning.

San Bruno, 13 miles south of San Francisco, is called the Airport City for being cheek by jowl with San Francisco International Airport. Out of the Spanish/Mexican rancho era came flower and truck gardens and dairying. Refugees from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake holocaust settled here, doing much to define a town that has grown from a few hundred souls and acres to a city of 40,000 today covering 6.4 square miles. North-south it's bisected by El Camino Real, the storied road linking California's Spanish missions. Mission-style St. Bruno's Church, built in 1909 three years before the town incorporated, reflected San Bruno's strong Catholic heritage.

Longtime Pastor, Father Peter E. Doyle, aware during World War II that a postwar housing explosion loomed, had the foresight to purchase vacant lots along Oak Avenue where it meets City Park. There, as homes sprouted for blocks around and young families moved in, St. Bruno's School opened in 1949, four grades at first, later a full eight, under the tutelage of the black robed Sisters of St. Francis of Milwaukee. Along with lay volunteers, some of the school sisters continued the pioneering work of Hold Family Sisters from San Francisco, holding Confraternity of Christian Doctrine classes for children not in the parish school.

Among the nuns from Wisconsin was the redoubtable Sister Mary Theophane, whose first-grade classes are legend to this day. Grown men and women and their aging parents will, if prompted, relate stories of her no-nonsense approach. And swear her alumni grew up all the better for it.

"Kelly" -- favoring surnames for direct address -- she'd tell an older sibling, fixed with a steely stare, "numbers, numbers. She's your sister. Give her help with her numbers."

By the early fifties, city and parish had redoubled in size as the tract homes of Mills Park, Crestmoor, and Rollingwood climbed the hills, displacing crops and cows. Old St. Bruno's, built to hold 350 at Mass, had wall-bulging crowds out the door, plaster dust from the cracked ceiling dropping on those lucky to get inside. In 1955 an ailing Father Doyle welcomed the arrival of a new parish administrator, Irish-born Father Robert J. Hennessy, fresh from building a parish plant in Hayward. He promptly inaugurated Masses in the school auditorium to relieve the Sunday crunch at St. Bruno's. And, with enthusiastic backing from parishioners new and old, mounted fund-raisers toward construction of a new church.

You may hear old-timers, for instance, talk about the parish festival dinner of 1956. Although no word had come down from on high, it was pretty well understood that San Bruno's Catholic community had grown to the point of requiring a new parish for people west of El Camino.

In that spirit, male parishioners decided this would be one memorable meal. Led by the Schaukowitch brothers, John and Vic, they sawed, chopped and gathered oak firewood from the wilds of Crestmoor canyon. (So many came down with poison oak that it became legend, too.) They dug and stoked a fire pit across what's now the church parking lot, staying up half the night feeding the fire until coals half-filled the pit. Under direction from Johnny S., a butcher by trade, they deposited huge chunks of beef -- specially seasoned and covered in wet burlap -- on the glowing coals and then shoveled in excavated dirt. A few men stayed the night, making sure nothing went wrong.

It's said there never was an aroma so entrancing as when the fire pit was opened next day and the first chunks of beef were carefully lifted out. Those who sat down to the dinner swore the only thing better was the taste.

A year later, July 14, 1957, ground was broken for the new church at the corner of Oak and Crystal Springs, just down from the school. Architect Wilton Smith did the design, general contractors Jacks and Irvine completed construction in 11 months. On June 8, 1958, Father Hennessy celebrated the first Mass in what was called simply The Church, for it had no name as yet. The following Sunday, a Mass honoring Father Doyle on his 50 years as a priest packed the church, choir loft and all.

That Fall, on November 5 (one account says the 7th), Archbishop John J. Mitty announced formation of San Bruno's new parish, under the patronage of St. Robert of the House of God -- the only St. Robert's in the San Francisco Archdiocese and perhaps the only U.S. parish so-named. It was a fitting honor for the priest and pastor bearing that Christian name. Father Hennessy in his 28 priestly years had shown himself a builder of Catholic communities -- a favorite expression of his was, "Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I."

St. Robert de Turlande, born in the year 1000 in Aurillac, Auvergne, France, became a priest noted for service to the poor and for encouraging public worship of God. He is said to have restored 50 churches in his lifetime With disciples he founded a monastery under the Benedictine rule. It became a great abbey, Chaise Dieu -- or House of God -- and the burial place of Pope Clement VI. Though plundered in religious wars, the church and cloister remain. St. Robert died in 1067. His feast is observed on April 17.

With Father Hennessy's installation as Pastor -- November 30, 1958 -- came a change of name to St. Robert's School. Over the entrance, however, there's still a figure of St. Bruno, the austere and prayerful Cartusian monk for whom the city and mother parish are named. In retirement, Father Doyle continued in residence at St. Bruno's until his death on Christmas Eve 1959, a few years shy of seeing his drafty old church replaced by one that now ministers to devoted congregants from east San Bruno's diverse ethnic mix. The new church proudly displays the bell from the old.

Nine years into his pastorate, Father Hennessy faced a crisis. The Sisters of St. Francis, after 20 years at St. Bruno's/St. Robert's School, were called back to Wisconsin. While he searched, and parishioners prayed, for replacements, a group of sisters from several orders agreed to fill in temporarily. On return from a 1970 trip to Ireland, Father Hennessy disclosed he had a commitment from the Irish Sisters of the Presentation to staff and direct our school. Their arrival, an answer to so many prayers, was met with great rejoicing. Nearly three decades later, two of the original number remain, though no longer at the school. Sister Ita Cleary is a pastoral associate for ministry to the sick and needy. Sister Mary O'Donnell, also a pastoral associate, now directs religious education for parish children from schools other than St. Robert's.

With Father Hennessy's retirement in February 1976, St. Robert's moved into decades of change reflecting currents affecting the global Church. Dedicated lay teachers now staff the school. Associate pastors have come and gone, a number of them now in pastorates of their own as the archdiocese has adjusted to dwindling vocations and priestly shrinkage from death and retirement.

Through the years, Priests who were Associate Pastors at St. Robert's helped in the spiritual life and growth of the Parish - names still often mentioned are those of Fathers Richard Fry, Paul Rossi, Donald D'Angelo, Michael Padazinski and Thomas Moran. Deacon Jack Bourne added much to Parish life until his death in 1993.

Among the graduates of St. Robert's School are two Priests: Father Francis Cilia of the Diocese of San Jose and Father James Schaukowitch of the Society of Jesus.

Father Hennessy and his three successors -- Fathers Daniel Lynch, Father Martin Greenlaw and Father Vincent Ring -- with the cooperation and generosity of the community, have made the parish church a place of beauty that leads one to prayer and worship. A towering window over the choir loft, a portrait of the Nativity in reds, blues, and other hues, illuminates the whole church and, lit from within, lifts eyes of passers-by at night. Stained-glass windows shed a full spectrum of warm light upon the nave, each window highlighting a major milestone in the life of Christ. In recent years, the sanctuary has been remodeled according to the norms of the Second Vatican Council with emphasis being placed upon the ambo and the altar. A new sound system and a new Rogers Organ have helped the congregation enter more fully into the celebration of the Liturgy.

Also, in recent years, St. Robert's School had had its heating and electrical systems, along with the roof, renewed. The classrooms and halls have been refurbished, with much of the work being done by parishioners. The convent chapel is used not only for small liturgies but also for meetings, tutoring and Bible study. Space below the convent has been transformed into the Father Lynch Library and school resource center, complete with computers. Over the years, the school has been active in boys' and girls' sports. Teams - called the Bears - are coached by parishioners and outfitted with funds raised by the Men's Club.

Father Lynch, a San Francisco native as are so many St. Robert's parishioners, became Pastor in 1976 on Father Hennessy's retirement. He had headed St. Denis' Parish in Menlo Park and St. John the Evangelist's hard by historic Bernal Cut in San Francisco's outer Mission district. During his seven years at the helm, our parish would change in other ways. Lay parishioners, as lectors, began reading from Scriptures at Masses. Lectors focus on the Epistles -- announcing the Good News of the Gospels remains the privilege of priests and ordained deacons. Soon joining the lectors were Eucharistic Ministers -- men only at first, later sisters and lay women -- as the number of communicants increased at Sunday and daily Masses. St. Robert's has had two permenent deacons. Deacon Rusty Duffey has served since his ordination in 1990.

People of St. Roberts, known for coming together in joy and celebration, mourned the death of their Pastor Emeritus, Father Hennessy, on December 10, 1979. It was a time to reflect on his leadership and achievements through 18 years -- Administrator, Pastor, warm friend and Exemplar, devoted Priest. San Francisco's new Archbishop John R. Quinn came to concelebrate the Mass of Christian Burial. Father Hennessy was short only six months of 50 years in the priesthood. Within a year, in his memory, Father Lynch equipped the church tower with a melodious, electronic carillon to make the hours of the church day.

Failing health forced Father Lynch's retirement in 1984. As Pastor Emeritus he remained in residence until his death on October 10, 1992, another sad moment for St. Robert's, especially for parishioners who had come to know a man of humor and deep faith. Successor Father Martin Greenlaw, in his six years as pastor, would cultivate and encourage a spirit of openness, sharing, and reaching out felt throughout the whole parish community. The Parish Council became more involved in pastoral decision-making and operation/maintenance of the physical plant. People were soon lingering after Sunday morning Masses for friendly conversation with each other and members of the pastoral team and joining together for soup suppers on the Fridays of Lent.

Father Vincent D. Ring became St. Robert's fourth Pastor in July of 1990. A San Francisco native, he grew up in the city's St. Anne's Parish and was ordained in 1964. Father Ring has placed emphasis on the continued involvement of the two thousand parish families in the liturgical, educational and social life of the Parish. He has tried to involve the young through new youth groups - Ben Baldonado provides the leadership there - and emphasis on the Confirmation program under the direction of Sister Mary O'Donnell. A Fil-Am club has been formed to welcome many people of Filipino heritage who have moved into the Parish. Long overdue repairs and needed improvements have been high on his priority list. However, the renovation of the sanctuary, the purchase of the new organ and the painting of Parish buildings symbolize the updating of Parish life.

Father Ring and the Pastoral Team have worked with the Parish Council, Finance Committee, School Board and Parish organizations and committees to continue the special Christian spirit of the Parish. Through the gifts of time, treasure and talent, parishioners help meet the new needs of the Parish as we move to the new Millennium. 

Authored by Jim Kelly and edited by Father Ring on December 30, 1997