By Cathy Yee,
St. Pius Communications Director
The pews of St. Pius Church in Redwood City were filled with a congregation spanning generations and two counties. The occasion was a special Mass presided by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone marking the 75th anniversary of the parish and the installation of Father Andrew Ginter as its sixth pastor.
Parishioners whose families have been part of St. Pius Parish since its earliest days sat alongside parish newcomers. A contingent of the faithful from Marin County where Father Ginter was born and raised and served his first pastoral assignments after being ordained in 2016 also made the journey south.
The day marked not only the beginning of a new chapter in parish leadership with Father Ginter’s first pastorate, but also an opportunity for the parish to celebrate roots that began with eight acres of hay fields and one priest’s remarkable vision.
Hay fields to holy ground
In 1951, there was no church on the corner where St. Pius now stands. There were simply eight acres of open hay fields.
Father Michael Fitzsimon, the parish’s founding pastor who later became Msgr. Fitzsimon, saw in that unassuming piece of land the seeds of a community of faith.
In his homily, the archbishop described the growth of St. Pius as a “collaborative act of faith,” one that required both the vision of a founder, and a congregation willing to invest time, talent, and treasure in something that did not yet exist.
Msgr. Fitzsimon’s vision was built over 75 years with steady hands and faithful hearts. A permanent church rose from the same ground where hay once grew.
The Holy Cross Sisters helped establish the parish school. Spanish-language Masses were introduced as the community changed and grew. In more recent years, livestreaming extended the parish’s liturgies beyond its walls and into homes near and far.
Each chapter, Archbishop Cordileone noted, was shaped by a “succession of dedicated, visionary pastors.” It was also shaped by generations of ordinary parishioners who kept showing up, praying, volunteering, and giving.
The legacies of St. Pius’ first two pastors, Msgr. Fitzsimon and Msgr. Peter Armstrong, were clearly visible in the pews. Three former pastors, Father Jim MacDonald, Father Paul Rossi, and Father Tom Martin, were present for the installation. Together, they represented a living timeline of St. Pius’s pastoral history. Father Edgardo Rodriguez, who had served as administrator and helped guide the parish before Father Ginter’s arrival, was also in attendance.
Struggle and faithfulness
Archbishop Cordileone’s homily was firmly rooted in the day’s Scripture readings. Drawing from the prophet Jeremiah’s lament, he spoke candidly about the challenges of ministry and the cost of remaining faithful to “a message the world does not always want to hear.”
It was an honest message for an installation Mass. Shepherding a parish is about far more than ceremony, titles, or celebration. It requires perseverance, courage, and a willingness to remain faithful even when the path is difficult.
The archbishop was careful not to make the occasion solely about one priest. He pointed to the Church’s foundation in the Apostles, with Peter’s ministry continuing today through the Pope and the College of Bishops. He then turned his attention to the people gathered before him.
Drawing on the 120 disciples present at Pentecost, he reminded the congregation that proclaiming the Gospel and building God’s kingdom is not “a task reserved for the ordained.” It belongs to the entire parish family.
The message was particularly fitting for a community celebrating 75 years. St. Pius was not built by one pastor, one generation, or one group of people. It was built by people who understood that the life of a parish is something they create and sustain together.
Following his homily in English, the archbishop offered a summary in Spanish for the many bilingual families who are an integral part of the St. Pius community.
First pastorate for Father Ginter
If the Archbishop’s homily looked back at 75 years of collective effort, Father Ginter offered a more personal glimpse into the priest and shepherd who is beginning a new chapter in his first pastorate.
Before Mass, Father Ginter welcomed Archbishop Cordileone, who had ordained him, along with his family and the three pastors who preceded him. He offered special thanks to the parishioners and friends who had traveled from Marin County, and expressed gratitude to the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, for their support during his time as chaplain of Marin Catholic High School. He also thanked the St. Pius parish staff, faculty, and volunteers who had spent months preparing the anniversary celebration.
Then, in a moment that quickly won over the younger members of the congregation, Father Ginter announced his first official act as pastor: students would receive a free-dress day for attending the Mass.
Beneath the warmth and humor were two simple but direct appeals to his new parish family for “generosity and prayer.” Generosity is needed to sustain the parish’s mission and its ongoing rebuilding efforts, he said. Prayer, centered on Christ, is essential to “guiding St. Pius into the future.”
At the close of Mass, Father Ginter offered a personal window into his priesthood. He framed his reflection around three images: a table, Jesus Christ, and identity.
The first was a table, quite literally. The kitchen table from his childhood home has traveled with him through every stage of his priesthood, he explained as a tangible reminder of where he came from, but also of the importance of people gathering together around a table. For a priest, that gathering ultimately leads to the Eucharistic table.
The second was Jesus Christ and a ministry rooted in obedience, humility, and charity. Father Ginter pointed to a favorite passage of Scripture as a guide for his own priesthood. It serves as a reminder that his calling is not to make himself greater, but to allow Christ to become greater through him.
The third was identity. Father Ginter spoke of his conviction that every person in the church, and every person St. Pius will encounter in the years ahead, is a beloved child of God.
He closed with the words of Pope Benedict XVI from his inaugural homily:
“Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed. Each of us is loved. Each of us is necessary.”
Msgr. Fitzsimon Center Celebration
After Mass, the celebration continued in the Msgr. Fitzsimon Center, where guests and parishioners from every facet of St. Pius parish life gathered in joyful fellowship.
The reception was a vibrant reflection of the multigenerational and multicultural community that defines St. Pius today. From the youngest schoolchildren to the parish’s beloved 104-year-old parishioner, generations came together under one roof, sharing stories, laughter, memories, gratitude, and so much hope for the future,
It was the perfect picture of 75 years of faith, service, and community.
Apostolic Blessing
Before the evening came to a close, two special presentations added even greater meaning to the celebration.
First came an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Leo XIV to Father Ginter and all the faithful of St. Pius Church. Father Clement Okeke, Parochial Vicar, presented the blessing.
Then came a City Proclamation from Redwood City Mayor Elmer Martinez Saballos, a St. Pius School alumnus from the Class of 2010, recognizing the parish’s contributions to the broader community.
Through the proclamation, the City of Redwood City extended its congratulations and gratitude to the St. Pius Community for 75 years of faithful witness and service. The city also expressed its hope for the parish’s continued contributions to the spiritual, civic, and community life of Redwood City for generations to come.
History of countless acts of faith
For a parish that began on eight acres of hay fields, the arithmetic of 75 years is really a story of countless small acts of faithfulness.
It is the story of a founding pastor with a vision.
It is the story of sisters who helped build a school.
It is the story of families who filled the pews and kept the collection baskets full.
It is the story of a Spanish-language Mass introduced to welcome a changing community.
It is the story of volunteers who gave their time and talents year after year.
It is the story of a livestream camera pointed toward an altar that has witnessed generations of prayers, baptisms, weddings, funerals, celebrations, and quiet moments with God.
Now, it is the story of a new shepherd of the parish, Father Andrew Ginter, as he begins his first pastorate and leads the people of St. Pius into the future.
He inherits not simply a parish, but a legacy. He also accepts the responsibility of carrying its history forward while helping write whatever comes next.
Edited by Catholic San Francisco
