On October 3, San Secondo d`Asti parish in Guasti commemorated its 100th Anniversary with a special Centennial Concert followed by Adoration and an anniversary Mass celebrated by Father Ifeanyi Njoku, Administrator, and Father Cristobal Subosa, Vicar Forane of the West End Vicariate.
“For 100 years, our parish has stood as a witness to the Catholic faith, preserving the sacred liturgy and passing on the rich traditions of our Church to generations of the faithful,” the parish wrote in a social media post.
The centennial anniversary continued on Oct. 10 and 11 during the parish’s fall festival, which included a kids play zone and games, live music and dancing, food booths, raffles, faith, fellowship and community.
A Pontifical Mass was celebrated by Bishop Alberto Rojas on Oct. 10. The Mass was also concelebrated by several other diocesan priests.
“May the Lord continue to bless San Secondo d’Asti for generations to come, and may our parish remain steadfast in faith, reverent in worship, and faithful to the traditions entrusted to us,” the parish wrote in a social media post.
History
In 1900, Secondo Guasti, an Italian immigrant moved to California and pioneered grape growing in the semi-desert of what is now Rancho Cucamonga. He convinced a group of fellow Italian-Americans to invest in the Italian Vineyard Company. He bought 1,500 acres of land with $16,000 and planted a hundred varieties of grapes. The vines grew and the company prospered. A complete company town named “Guasti” was built, including a school, firehouse, post office and a charming country church.
Mr. and Mrs. Guasti built this church to resemble the 17th century structure from his village in Asti, Italy. The Guasti family brought woodworkers and stonemasons from Mexico and Italy to build the church. It was dedicated on October 3, 1926, by Bishop John J. Cantwell of Los Angeles.
In 1935 the Guasti family, through the Italian Vineyard Company, donated the church to the Diocese of Los Angeles-San Diego. Since 1978, it has been in the Diocese of San Bernardino.