St. Francis de Paula pays tribute to Dominican priests

Father James Farfaglia, pastor of St. Francis de Paula Catholic Church

in San Diego, blesses a monument to the Dominican priests unveiled

on Sunday, June 7, after the 11:30 a. m. Mass.

Photos by Mike Garcia.

While the venerable Father Claude Jaillet, Padre Claudio, is considered El Fundador of St. Francis de Paula in San Diego, and Father John Peter Bard, Padre Pedro, El Misionero, built the faith and physical foundations of the parish, it was the arrival of Father Juan Zabala, El Constructor, and the priests of the Dominican Order that completed making St. Francis de Paula the incredible place of worship it is today.

On Sunday, June 7, after the 11:30 a.m. Mass, the St. Francis de Paula community came together to honor these venerable men of the church. Some 85 parishioners stayed to participate in the unveiling of a marker honoring the lineage of legendary Dominican pastors who walked San Diego’s streets, visited the sick, and shaped their lives over the decades.

Father Juan Zabala, OP, laid the groundwork during his first tenure from 1932 to 1946 and returned to lead the parish again from 1958 to 1960. Father Angel Alvarez, OP, succeeded Father Zabala as pastor from 1947–1950, and Father Álvaro L. Rodríguez, OP (1951 and 1955) and Father Juan Blázquez, OP (1952–1954 and 1956–1957) rounded out the pastors who served during Father Zabala’s absence, while he was serving in Mexico. 

Father Antonio Argüelles, OP, was in charge at St. Francis between 1961 and 1963. Father Epifanio Rodríguez, OP, a much-beloved pastor, poured out his heart to parishioners at St. Francis for two terms, 1965–1967 and 1971–1986. Moreover, he remained in retirement at San Diego until the Dominicans were called back home to Spain in 2013. 

Father Luis Cipriano Diaz, OP, served as pastor from 1968–1970 between Father Epi’s two terms. Father Juan Suarez, OP, took charge of St. Francis in 1987 and served until 1992, when he passed away. One of Father Suárez’s two surviving sisters said he should remain in South Texas, where he had served for a quarter century. “He often spoke of San Diego and South Texas in very warm tones,” she said. In keeping with her wishes, Father Suárez was laid to rest at the San Diego Cemetery.

After Father Suarez’s passing, Father Benito Retortillo, OP, took over as pastor and faithfully anchored our community for twenty years from 1993 to 2013, when he and Father Epi were called back to Spain. One could say they returned “home” to Spain. It would probably be more accurate to say they considered San Diego as much their home as they did their native Spain.

The list of the Dominicans’ achievements is long indeed. In his history of St. Francis de Paula, Parishioner José Noé Martínez highlighted numerous achievements by Father Zabala, including the enlargement and remodeling of the sanctuary and the building of a Parochial Hall behind the church. Father Zabala, who seemed to be in perpetual motion, asked parishioners for additional funds to build a Catholic school in San Diego. 

Deacon Abelardo Garza
shared memories with
parishioners in attendance.

Father Zabala organized many organizations to help those in need in the community, which comprised the overwhelming majority of St. Francis de Paula’s parishioners. He saw many needs, especially the need to cover burial expenses for the poor. To support this charitable initiative, he founded the Sociedad Católica Mutualista. This group expanded from San Diego to several surrounding parishes and remains active. In 1938, a Knight of Columbus Council was organized with Father Zabala as its first Chaplain, and Dr. Armando Duran was elected as its first Grand Knight. This organization brought more men from the community into the church’s activities, Martinez wrote in his history. 

The Dominicans did not limit their efforts to St. Francis de Paula. Father Zabala established churches in Alice (Our Lady of Guadalupe), Ben Bolt, and Freer and built new chapels in several other communities. The story of the Dominican contributions is long and rich. 

The Dominicans not only shape the faith of St. Francis de Paula parishioners, but they also had an enormous role in ministering to Catholics in Alice, Ben Bolt, Palito Blanco, Premont, Falfurrias, Freer, Benavides, La Rosita, Los Reyes, San Jose, Rios, Mendieta, Guajillo, and other rancherias. For over 80 years, the Dominicans gave uninterrupted service to the Brush Country communities.

Orlando Martinez uncovers a monument containing the names of contributors.