Out story began in April 1955 when the Archdiocese of Los Angeles concluded that a new parish must be created due to the population growth in the area and officially established St. Martha on September 1, 1958.
The first mass for St. Martha's parish was held on September 1st at St. Joseph's Church in La Puente as construction of St. Martha's Church had not yet started. On October 24,1958, the Archdiocese authorized the construction of St. Martha Church and an eight-room school. Our official parish opening, however, did not take place until Palm Sunday, April 10, 1960.
Our second pastor, Fr. Juan Romero, came to the parish in 1981 and organized the parish's "Silver Jubille" and was responsible for remodeling the altar, ambo, and presider's chair, which are still used today. He also created the beautiful tapestry that now hangs over our Azusa entrance. Our third pastor, Fr. William Leser, served for eleven years until he became Monsignor in 1991. Fr. Leser was the driving force in replacing the magnificent stained glass windows and the dynamic baptismal fountain.
Fr. William T. Easterling was installed as the third pastor on June 19, 1996 by the Most Reverend Gabino Zavala, our former San Gabriel Regional Bishop. On September 28, 1996, His Eminence, Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles, solemnly blessed and re-dedicated our "new" church.
On Pentecost Sunday 1997, Fr. Bill's Advisory, Liturgy, and Financial Board established a permanent Pastoral Council with the four standing committee: Liturgy, Finance, Hispanic and Filipino Leadership. A year later, the Life Teen Department was begun and the RCIA was moved to the Liturgy Committee to establish a Liturgy and Adult formation, and lastly Religious Education and Family Life were formed to service children (from infancy through eight grade and their families). The Parish School has continued to serve the educational and spiritual development of our children. The 40th and 50th Anniversaries were celebrated with a mass, presided by Cardinal Roger Mahony and Bishop Gavino Zavala, and a dinner dance .
Fr. Mauricio T. Goloran III, was appointed Parish Administrator on July 1, 2008 and later was installed as the fourth pastor of St. Martha on September, 2010. He organized the parish life ministries into three areas: Liturgy(Ministry of Worship), Pastoral Care(Ministry of Service) and Formation(Ministry of Formation), assigning parish leaders to each Ministry, to better serve the needs of the parish.
Currently there are 5772 registered families and the populace is 55% Hispanic, 30% Filipino, 10% Anglo, and 5% other. It is a dynamic community committed to working together to be one family of God.
The first mass for St. Martha's parish was held on September 1st at St. Joseph's Church in La Puente as construction of St. Martha's Church had not yet started. On October 24,1958, the Archdiocese authorized the construction of St. Martha Church and an eight-room school. Our official parish opening, however, did not take place until Palm Sunday, April 10, 1960.
Our second pastor, Fr. Juan Romero, came to the parish in 1981 and organized the parish's "Silver Jubille" and was responsible for remodeling the altar, ambo, and presider's chair, which are still used today. He also created the beautiful tapestry that now hangs over our Azusa entrance. Our third pastor, Fr. William Leser, served for eleven years until he became Monsignor in 1991. Fr. Leser was the driving force in replacing the magnificent stained glass windows and the dynamic baptismal fountain.
Fr. William T. Easterling was installed as the third pastor on June 19, 1996 by the Most Reverend Gabino Zavala, our former San Gabriel Regional Bishop. On September 28, 1996, His Eminence, Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles, solemnly blessed and re-dedicated our "new" church.
On Pentecost Sunday 1997, Fr. Bill's Advisory, Liturgy, and Financial Board established a permanent Pastoral Council with the four standing committee: Liturgy, Finance, Hispanic and Filipino Leadership. A year later, the Life Teen Department was begun and the RCIA was moved to the Liturgy Committee to establish a Liturgy and Adult formation, and lastly Religious Education and Family Life were formed to service children (from infancy through eight grade and their families). The Parish School has continued to serve the educational and spiritual development of our children. The 40th and 50th Anniversaries were celebrated with a mass, presided by Cardinal Roger Mahony and Bishop Gavino Zavala, and a dinner dance .
Fr. Mauricio T. Goloran III, was appointed Parish Administrator on July 1, 2008 and later was installed as the fourth pastor of St. Martha on September, 2010. He organized the parish life ministries into three areas: Liturgy(Ministry of Worship), Pastoral Care(Ministry of Service) and Formation(Ministry of Formation), assigning parish leaders to each Ministry, to better serve the needs of the parish.
Currently there are 5772 registered families and the populace is 55% Hispanic, 30% Filipino, 10% Anglo, and 5% other. It is a dynamic community committed to working together to be one family of God.