Interior view of Divine Saviour Catholic Church, looking toward the altar. A large wooden crucifix with a shelf below it graces the center wall of the altar; 40 smaller golden crosses are embedded in the background. At the base of the altar, four kneelers and four chairs have been placed, possibly in preparation for a wedding ceremony or other type of religious ceremony, and to the left, a small pulpit is visible. Divine Saviour Catholic Church, established in 1907, was erected primarily by and for Polish residents who worked for the railroad and lived alongside the Southern Pacific freight yards that bordered the Los Angeles River. Father J.W. Organisiak of the Society of the Divine Saviour had received permission from Bishop Thomas Conaty to open a mission for Polish-speaking Catholics. Land was purchased near the car barns for $13,000 and the first church building was completed in September 1907. By 1914 the small Polish mission was largely English speaking. In 1922 a new school was erected, followed by a new church building in 1924. In 1964 the old church was bulldozed and in 1966 the distinctive new building was dedicated. Divine Saviour was the 13th Catholic parish established in the city of Los Angeles. Photo dated: April 2007.
Divine Saviour Catholic Church (Los Angeles, Calif.) Catholic churches--California--Los Angeles Church buildings--California--Los Angeles Parishes--California--Los Angeles Pulpits--California--Los Angeles Altars--California--Los Angeles Los Angeles Photographers Collection photographs Jeff Allen Houses of Worship Collection photographs
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