Holy Spirit Church History and Our Legacy
Holy Spirit Church is a historical landmark located in the center of Fremont. It has brought worshippers together for the sacraments since 1886. The priests and staff continue to provide liturgical, sacramental, and educational services to a large multi-cultural and changing community in the Fremont and surrounding community. The parish was established and dedicated on Pentecost Sunday in 1886, as Holy Ghost Church in the community of Centerville. Parishioners, at the time, were primarily Portuguese, and the area consisted mostly of farms and orchards. Later, the church was renamed Holy Spirit Church and five surrounding districts were combined and named Fremont.In 1919, the wooden church burnt to the ground, when a candle fell over that was left burning after a funeral. Over the next 6 years, parishioners donated monies, hauled sand and gravel from the local quarries, and gave their labors to erect a new stucco church building. From an aerial view, the building was the shape of a cross.
Two very large stained glass windows (6'x12') were installed over the two side entrances. (The Assumption of Mary and the Ascension of the Lord). Eight large size stained glass windows (4'x8') were installed on the sides of the church, four on each side. Ten smaller stained glass windows were installed on both sides of the vaulted ceiling area. These German style windows were created by Edward Laputka, Church Art Glass, San Francisco, California.
As the population in Fremont grew, so did the needs of Holy Spirit Church. In 1965, a large extension (the North nave) was built that extended behind the altar area of the old church. The new sanctuary area, in the middle, was redesigned to serve the two naves. A new marble altar was donated and placed in the sanctuary between what is now commonly called the old side and the new side of the Church. Within the walls, close to nine hundred people can be seated.At the back of the new side is a huge stained glass window of the Baptism of Christ
Holy Spirit Church is unique in design. It may be the only church in the world that has a large rectangular marble altar that can be turned 90 degrees. For Sunday masses, the altar is turned length-wise between the old and new sides. For daily mass, weddings and funerals, the altar is turned 90 degrees. This way, the presider celebrates mass while facing directly toward the assembly.
The Main Altar and matching Altar of Repose are made from Carrara Marble, imported from Avenza, Italy. The design is a copy of an altar in Montserrat Chapel, in Barcelona, Spain.Behind the Altar of Repose is a 15 foot wide mosaic mural of people young and old offering gifts to Christ. The mosaic was designed and installed by Isabel and Edith Piscek.
We also have a unique pulpit that can be raised and lowered by the push of a button. The pulpit sits on top of a hydraulic piston, like the hydraulic car-lifts used in gas stations.
The pipe organ was rebuilt about 1960 by Schoenstein & Sons and uses 868 pipes and two manuals.
Located in the South bell tower, is a large bell forged in Portugal. It survived the 1919 fire and was reinstalled in the new church bell tower. Located in the North bell tower is a large speaker that tolls the angelus and other electronic and taped music. The electronic bell system is a Schulmerish Carillon Company installed in 1978.
Please click on the Photo Gallery or the link on the left to take a 360 degree virtual tour of the interior of our church. Today, we are proud to claim that Holy Spirit Church has the largest Sunday Mass attendance, in the Diocese of Oakland. According to the 2001 Diocesan census report, there are over 4,000 people attending our Saturday and Sunday Masses each weekend. Presently, we have over 5,200 registered families in our membership census, and the count continues to grow by 15 to 20 families each month.
Parishioners enjoy worshipping at Holy Spirit, because of the interior environment, our friendly hospitality, the excellent homilies, our music, ample parking spaces, the many ministries available to join, and the sacraments and services that the priests, deacons and staff members provide. Come, pray with us!