60th Anniversary of Guardian Angels Parish

60th Anniversary Celebratory Events

GUARDIAN ANGELS CATHOLIC CHURCH

60 YEARS OF HISTORY (1962-2022)

DIAMOND JUBILEE YEAR!

Before Guardian Angels was built, Santee Catholics had to go to Lakeside or Allied Gardens for Mass. Mass in Santee was first held in a Quonset hut on Cuyamaca St. by a visiting priest from St Therese in Allied Gardens.

In 1959, Fr Earl Smith was assigned by Bishop Charles Buddy to start a parish in Santee. Services were held in a laundromat on Mission Gorge Rd on Sundays, when the store was closed. In 1960, the parish moved to a private home at 9312 E. Heaney Cir. A covered patio was constructed that could accommodate 250 people. The home also served as the rectory and classrooms, and for the next 3 years Mass and all the Sacraments were conducted there.

In 1961, Fr Smith asked for and received permission to build a church in Santee and named it Guardian Angels, after seeing all the children in Santee. He chose Matthew 18:10 for the mosaic above the church doors.

On April 10, 1962 Fr Smith was officially appointed pastor and Guardian Angels was established. The church, Social Hall and rectory construction began April 22, 1963. On October 28, 1963 the first Masses were held in the church. Bishop Francis Furey, Bishop of San Diego, dedicated the church, rectory and classrooms on April 14, 1964.

The Cunnane Parish Center was built in 1994 and dedicated on September 25, 1994 by Bishop Robert Brom. The metal building previously used as classrooms and meeting rooms was moved to its present location and in 1998 opened as the Guardian Angels Preschool.

The Blessed Carlo Acutis Youth and Young Adult Hall is currently under construction, with opening planned for Summer 2022. Under construction by TDT Construction, the building will be predominately used as a meeting space for the Jr. High, high school and young adults of the parish and community, offering a safe space to gather, worship, do homework, and have fun.

With this year being the 60th Jubilee, the church had the following events to commemorate the parish and its service to its parishioners and greater Santee community.

Guardian Angels Sixtieth Anniversary Gala

Saturday, June 18, 2022
Cathedral Catholic High School Theater