St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish will hold a Mass to honor the late Msgr. Michael Joseph Slattery on Wednesday, March 22, at 11 a.m. in Saugus, California. 

It was reported that Monsignor Slattery died peacefully in his sleep at 84 on Feb. 15 in Culver City. 

Remembering Msgr. Michael Joseph Slattery

Michael Joseph Slattery was born to John and Kathleen Slattery on Dec. 22, 1938, in Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland. 

He and his four sisters and two brothers raised a flock of sheep on the family farm throughout his childhood in Tallow.

SCVNews.com reported that due to his calling to religious service, he attended St. John's Seminary in Waterford, Ireland, where he gained a foundational education in the Latin languages, philosophy, and theology that would serve him well throughout his life.

He loved to sing, especially the "Salve Regina," and could recite a wide variety of prayers from memory right up until his death.

On the heels of his ordination on June 17, 1962, he moved to Los Angeles and began working at St. Rose of Lima, a Roman Catholic church in Simi Valley. Per the report, Slattery served various parishes across Los Angeles before he ended up in St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Saugus. 

Slattery was tasked with re-creating the St. John Baptist de la Salle church following the disastrous earthquake that hit the area in 1994. His background in construction was instrumental in the construction of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church, the second-largest parish in the Los Angeles archdiocese.

'Charismatic, Prolific Leader'

It was also reported that some of the parishioners of St. Kateri Tekakwitha considered Slattery a charismatic leader. He was also described as a prolific leader who enjoyed listening to music and poetry. 

Everyone is welcome to attend the Mass for Slattery, and there will be a reception at Slattery Hall in St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish after that.

About St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish is a family where everyone can find a place to belong. 

They come together as one Body in Christ, strengthened by the Sacraments and fed by the Word of God, in a Eucharistic people who joyfully celebrate their cultural differences. 

In their joint effort to follow Jesus Christ, they pledge to serve one another and the wider community.

The parish history dates back to when Valencia and Saugus families met in 1990 to discuss Catholic liturgical and formational concerns. 

Before, the Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Newhall and Saint Clare in Canyon Country were the only Santa Clarita Valley Catholic Parishes.

Per the church's history, Rev. Msgr. Edmond Renehan, Saint Clare's pastor, founded Saint Clare Mission to satisfy the community's rising needs. 

Parishioners occupied student seats at Santa Clarita Elementary School for the Mission's first Mass on Oct. 20, 1991.

As the Mission grew, it became evident that a Building Fund was needed to gather money for a larger facility. Families contributed $1.3 million to the $6 million target on Oct. 4, 1994.

Saint Clare Mission became Blessed Kateri Mission on March 28, 1995, honoring Kateri Tekakwitha, Lily of the Mohawks.

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