Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Learn Our History

Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was established in March of 1952 to serve the growing Catholic population in northwest Stockton. Our first Masses were celebrated in the old Five-Mile House, on Pacific Avenue at Rivara Road. One of our early parishioners remembers the altar consisting of a board being supported by two barrels with a sheet over it.

It was not until March of the following year that we moved to our current location in what had been an alfalfa patch on Benjamin Holt Drive. It was completed at a cost of $130,000.

The first Mass in the church was celebrated on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 1953. The formal dedication of the church was on February 4, 1954 by the Most Reverend Hugh A. Donohoe, Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco. Rev. John F. Quinn, our founding Pastor, ensured that the foundation of our parish reflected the teachings and values of the Gospel. This foundation is present today and has lived every Sunday for the past 60 years. Facilities at the time included a convent, parish hall and rectory.

Pictured at left:

• Old church building
• Sr. Jameselle Keane (front/center), St. Joseph, Butte MT - Fall of 1954

Meet Our Patron

MARY: The mother of Jesus. Because she is the mother of Jesus--Son of God and second Person of the Blessed Trinity--according to the flesh, she is rightly called the Mother of God (Theotokos). Mary is also called "full of grace," and "Mother of the Church," and in Christian prayer and devotion, "Our Lady," the "Blessed Virgin Mary," and the "New Eve."

The feast of the presentation of Mary dates back to the 6th century in the East and the 15th century in the West. It is based on an ancient tradition that says Mary was taken to the temple in Jerusalem when she was 3-years-old and dedicated to God. What we celebrate on this day is the fact that God chose to dwell in Mary in a very special way. In response, Mary placed her whole self at the service of God. Every moment since your Baptism, God invites you to be open to his grace and dedicate yourself to him, as Mary did.

(The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Loyola Press, Catholic Resources, www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/saints/saints-stories-for-all-ages/presentation-of-mary/)