Msgr. Timothy Crean – ABVM Founding Pastor

Msgr. Timothy Crean Founding Pastor
June 9,1908 – February 1,1999

Timothy Crean was born in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland (Fr. Gerard’s home town) and studied for the priesthood at All Hollows College in Dublin (as did Fr. Gerard). He was ordained in 1933, for the Diocese of Los Angeles. In 1950 he was named founding pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish.

He first said Mass at St. John the Baptist chapel on Foothill Blvd. and Kinneola Ave., which was known as the “little green church.” Soon the Beahm Nursery was purchased for the church, school and rectory complex. The first Mass was said in the new church (now Msgr. Moretti Auditorium) on Easter Sunday, 1952.

Msgr. Crean continued to live in the rectory after he retired. He returned to Tralee in 1997 and died on February 1, 1999.