Monsignor Built 2 Churches and a School

Although he left Ireland 63 years ago, Msgr. Peter O’Sullivan still speaks with a thick Irish brogue.

Known for his sermons that consistently emphasize traditional values and for his organizational and fund-raising skills, O’Sullivan built two churches, a school and a rectory at St. John Baptist de la Salle in Granada Hills without incurring any debt on the property.

Born in Thurles in the Irish county of Tipperary on July 4, 1910, the tall, slender O’Sullivan was the fifth of six children and one of three to enter religious life. After his ordination in 1934, O’Sullivan came to Los Angeles and served for 17 years in a number of parishes in the archdiocese, then for three years as pastor of a Simi Valley church before being appointed pastor of St. John Baptist de la Salle in March 1954.

By the end of his first year in the then rural Catholic parish, a church had been built. When the congregation grew too large for the first church, O’Sullivan proposed building a bigger one, but the diocesan chancery at first rejected the proposal, worried that the parish could not pay for it. Persisting, O’Sullivan persuaded the archdiocese that the funds had been raised, and the new church was built in 1967.

O’Sullivan’s involvement in the community prompted the Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce to name him Citizen of the Year in 1976. He was elevated to monsignor by Pope Paul VI in 1978.

Included on his long list of friends are celebrities and City Council members who supported him during his fund-raising years.

Having retired from his role as pastor in 1986, O’Sullivan, now 86, remains active in church and community activities. He still resides on the parish grounds, is a golf enthusiast and travels regularly to Ireland to visit his family.

The parish he founded now numbers 3,200 registered families.