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| ST. BRIDGET CATHOLIC CHINESE CENTER 1939 - Present |
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Historical Background
1939 Father John Cowhig, a Columban priest forced to leave China, is directed to seek support for a mission for the growing number of Chinese in Los Angeles.
1940 The Center is built at the north end of Chinatown. Its missionary services begin with a Chinese language school, church and recreational hall. Soon the Immaculate Heart sisters and other volunteer teachers gather the local children for weekend, summer and even primary school programs.
1954 The Center thrives under Columban Father Anthony O’Doherty, who is followed a decade later by Father Matthew Quinn. During this period, visits are made to the homes of local parishioners in an effort to strengthen their relationship with the Center as well as to distribute basic educational and social services needed by an increasing number of Chinese-speaking immigrants from all parts of Asia.
1980 Father Peter Tsang emigrates from Hong Kong to serve as the Center’s first bilingual pastor. He adds a separate Mass conducted in Chinese.
Early Efforts
Local American-born Chinese students come to the Center on Saturdays for drama and piano classes and in the evening for sports and social activities. These students perform dances and plays outside Chinatown in order to raise money for war bonds in World War II.
The sisters of Social Service help to establish the Altar Society and the Mens and Youth Clubs.
Annual Bazaars for the entire community are held to create a measure of self-sufficiency and to establish contact with the Chinatown merchants for soliciting for food, prizes and publicity.
The Sacred Heart Sisters introduce new songs and offer camp retreats or children and parents, while expanding CCD classes.
Special recognition programs such as “Mother of the Year” make the Center a more integral part of everyday life in the Chinatown community.
The Legion of Mary is formed and members visit the Chinese elderly in nursing homes and hospitals on a regular basis.
In 1984, the Center joins the entire city at large in a successful protest against the proposed closure of neighboring Cathedral High School.
Recent Activities
1991 The Salesian Fathers from Hong Kong take over the responsibility of administrating the Center. With the help of Fr. Francisco Lau and prominent Center leaders, the Chinese Catholic Association of Los Angeles is established to assist in fund raising and expansion. Under the direction of Father Francisco Lau and Brother Paul Li, the chapel is totally renovated and refurbished with a modern altar, new lighting and seating, a children's playroom, and office space.
1992 The Chinese Catholic Association of Los Angeles acquires property adjacent the church, practically doubling the Center’s physical facilities to provide parishioners with greatly improved programs and services, such as classrooms for teaching English to newly-arrived immigrants. In addition, there is now a home for the pastor, a large indoor meeting room, a well-built kitchen, a basketball court and space enough for bilingual Masses for the total congregation and outside guests.
1993 The reorganization of different sodalities is completed and a tremendous rejuvenation of spirit and cooperation among the parishioners is realized. A delegation of young people raises funds at the Center’s first Walkathon in order to attend the Pope’s “World Youth Day” in Denver.
Since 1994 to present
Father Joseph Cheng, S.D.B. became the administrator/pastor.
Community service, youth development and outreach become an integral part of our Center’s goals along with internal strengthening and evangelization. Committees and programs are established to meet the needs of the surrounding community.
An additional property across the street from our Center is acquired in the middle of the Jubilee year. It is our great hope that this property is just another step of many in the overall expansion and development plan for St. Bridget Chinese Catholic Center.
Community Outreach
Free English and Citizenship classes are offered to the community
An Immigration Service Committee is established to offer assistance to the new arrivals, providing referrals to social services along with basic help in assimilating into our society.
A scouting program is established, consisting of the Girl Scouts; Cub Scouts; and Boy Scouts. The Scouts actively recruit children from the Chinatown community. The Boy Scout Troop 168 has earned two 1st place awards and numerous distinction awards in the Scout Camporees since the troop was chartered a few years ago. It has also been selected as the official honor guard opening the Annual Chinatown Golden Dragon Parade during Chinese New Year.
An After School Program is established to provide needed tutorial services to children for whom English is second language.
An Annual Summer School is established to provide working parents with a safe environment where their children would be looked after. There, they would continue their learning and growth during the summer.
A basketball workshop is established for children to learn the game of basketball. The focus here centered on the concept of teamwork rather than on individual skill and achievement.
Spiritual Growth and Evangelization
"Friendship Mass" is offered to the extended community, where each parishioner is asked to bring a friend to Mass.
Numerous on-site retreats and special presentations by the church and invited guests are offered annually.
All sodalities are encouraged to hold Bible studies and sharing along with their meetings at least once a month.
Young people are encouraged to attend seminars and training.
Religious services are expanded to include Eucharistic ministers, lectors, and altar boys and girls.
“St. Bridget’s Chinese Together in Mission”, our 1st major Evangelization Rally is successfully held on October 1995 to renew our presence and evangelize the Chinese and surrounding community.
The first issue of “Warm Front”, a monthly bilingual magazine is published in April 1999. The magazine is a tool which we use to reach and maintain contact with parishioners and fellow Christians who do not come to our Center frequently for whatever reason. It was very well received. Current circulation has reached 1,100.
Through our community service programs, converts have been introduced to our CCD and RCIA programs.
The first radio broadcast by Sr. Felicitas M. Hong, as part of effort to evangelize Cantonese Chinese, was supported by the Center
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History 堂區歷史 
