The Valley Catholic
COMMUNITY
August 27, 2013
23
St. Julie Billiart Parish renovates chapel, adds historic cross
St. Julie Parish, San Jose, recently remodeled its chapel and installed a new cross which has historic significance in the Santa Clara Valley. The cross was originally in the chapel of the former Alexian Brothers Hospital which had been built on property originally owned by the Overfelt Ranch family in east San Jose. According to an article published at St. Julie’s, in 1956, Mildred Overfelt had decided to dispose of a portion of the ranch which her pioneer parents had owned and someone suggested she contact the Alexian Brothers who accepted Overfelt’s invitation to build a hospital. The hospital opened in 1965. Its chapel had a birch wood cross with brass inlay which was suspended from the ceiling. It was a focal point in the chapel. I n 1998, A lex ia n Brothers Health System and Columbia/ HCA Healthcare Corp. signed an agreement to exchange properties thus ending the Catholic hospital in San Jose. The chapel closing Mass was held Sept. 30, 1998, and the new owners tore down the chapel. The cross was taken down and placed on the ground in front of the hospital with a “For Sale” sign. A nurse, Clara Reyes, bought it, noting that it should not be left on the ground. For many years she tried to find a suitable home for it. Larry Maggi, a parishioner at St Julie’s, happened to be at a garage sale at Clara’s home and was talking about woodworking equipment with her husband Ed. She asked if he wanted the cross. He told her that he attended St. Julie Church and would ask if the cross could be used there. After contacting St. Julie pastor, Father Saju Joseph, it was decided to place the cross in the newly remodeled chapel there. It was installed during Easter week this year. Father Peter Phan and the Vietnamese community of St. Julie’s spearheaded fundraising for the cross project.
Historic cross now hangs in renovated chapel at St. Julie Parish.
Ray Thomas, father of Saratoga pastor, dies in San Mateo
Ray E. Thomas, 85, father of Father Gary Thomas, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Saratoga, died suddenly May 24, 2013 at home in San Mateo. He was a native San Franciscan and attended and graduated from St. Teresa Catholic School in the Potrero Hill district where he and his family resided throughout his childhood. Ray was a graduate of Lick Wilmerding High School in San Francisco and a veteran of World War II while serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. He was a 67-year member of the Electrical Works Union Local 6 and worked in the electrical trade for 46 years. He was a former long-time member of All Souls Parish in South San Francisco and more recently a member of St. Matthew Parish in San Mateo. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Ann HX^K??[?X][?[? ???\??[ ?[?[?Y][? ??]\??\?N?]?Y?X\???[?X][?[???[??H\??????[?X][????\??[??[ ?[??^x?&\? ?? ?\?\??[??HX\?YH???[??Z[??YH[????\[?H?[X?[H??[??]?[N?[?\? ?????\??[?\??X\???X?]?[H[??]\??[??H?X\??[?H??H ?? ?\??Y\? \???X[ ?X?\??? ?X\?[?\?\?[??[??]?[H[? H NM? ?H?[?\?[X\?? ?\??[X??]Y]? ?X] ]?? \??[??[?X][?X^H ?H[??\?X[ ??? X?H]?]H?X]?[??[Y]\?H[???[ ??Y[[?X[?? ?X?][?? ? H[??\?[?X[[??[?[]?\?[??HZ[?\? ?H?\??Y[??H?]\??\?H\?H ?Y?\??Y ??[??][??????]\??\?H?X\? L??M??\?]??H]?K??\?]??K?HML
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