Merced County Biographies

REVEREND MANUEL CORDEIRO

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
        Active in the Roman Catholic Church circles in Merced County, whose 
interests he has zealously upheld for twenty years, is Rev. Manuel Cordeiro, 
pastor of St. Anthony's Church in Atwater; he also serves the church of the 
Immaculate Conception at Buhach. He was born in Fenaes da Luz, Azores Islands, 
on May 13, 1879, a son of Anthony and Mary da Encarnacao Mello. His father died 
when Manuel was but two years old but the mother still makes her home in Fenaes 
da Luz. Father Cordeiro was educated in the schools of the Azores and attended 
Angra Seminary, where he took his work in the classics, theology and philosophy. 
He was ordained to the priest�hood on December 23, 1905, and was called to the 
San Francisco diocese by Archbishop Riordan. He was assistant pastor at 
Centerville, Cal., for two years, then was called East and for over two years 
labored in St. Michael's and in Santo Christo churches, in Fall River; Our Lady 
of Lourdes, in Staunton; and St. John's, in New Bedford, all of the Fall River 
diocese in Massachusetts. Father Cordeiro then returned to California and for 
four years was assistant pastor at Santa Maria Parish. He was the first pastor 
of and served four years at Our Lady of Guadalupe, at Guadalupe, both in Santa 
Barbara County. During the late World War he served as chaplain at Balboa Park, 
San Diego, Cal., for eight months working among the Knights of Columbus. Then he 
was assistant pastor in Riverside and at the same time was chaplain at 
Marshfield Camp; also during this time he had charge of the Arlington Parish for 
seven months, during the illness of the priest in charge. After that he was 
appointed pastor at Elsinore, still retaining his position as chaplain. After 
these labors he was granted leave of absence and made a trip to his old home in 
the Azores Islands to visit his mother and remained there one year. Returning to 
California he was placed in charge of the school and church at Bakersfield; then 
his next appointment was pastor of Our Lady of Victory at Compton, Cal. In 1922 
he came to Atwater as pastor of St. Anthony's, and the Immaculate Conception at 
Buhach. This includes the towns of Livingston, Winton, Delhi, Hilmar, Amsterdam 
and Cressey. Thus he ministers to all the Portuguese of this part of Merced 
County.
        In this connection it will be well to give a little history of the 
Catholic Churches in this district. St. Anthony's Parish, as it is now known, 
was started as the Immaculate Conception Parish, Buhach, in the diocese of 
Monterey and Fresno. The parish is a memorial to Rt. Rev. Bishop Henry da Silva, 
who organized it in 1908, as he was passing through on a visit. The following 
year Rev. A. M. Souza was appointed pastor. He built the church and rectory at 
Buhach that same year, 1909. The first marriage solemnized in the church was on 
February 23, 1909, when Crespinus Stefani and Elizabeth Cordella were united. 
The first baptism was on February 14, 1909, Blancha Rossi, daughter of David and 
Blanche (Fleming) Rossi. Rev. Fr. Joseph Cunha succeeded Fr. Souza in 1911. The 
latter founded the church in Atwater and in 1913 the building was erected. In 
December, 1913, Rev. Henrique A. Ribeiro took charge, and remained until 
November 14, 1914, when Rev. Manuel C. Grillo came to Atwater. He was succeeded 
by Father John Power in July, 1917; and in 1918 Rev. Abel Costa took charge and 
remained until 1922, when Father Cordeiro assumed the work of the parish. He 
changed the name to St. Anthony's. In 1922 the rectory was erected. The church 
is in a healthy condition and rapidly taking its place in the community.
        In 1919 there was a movement started for a Catholic cemetery for St. 
Anthony's Church and the members of the church negotiated for five acres of land 
at Winton for that purpose. On February 3, 1920, the first burial was made when 
Maria Mattos was laid to rest. The cemetery is not yet officially recorded as a 
Catholic cemetery, although all of the conditions for which the property was 
purchased have been fulfilled. The committee in charge (in March, 1925) have not 
yet deeded the property to St. Anthony's parish.
        Father Cordeiro is a Republican in politics and fraternally is 
identified with the Knights of Columbus, Third Degree of the San Diego Council. 
He is accorded a high place as a citizen for his efforts to coordinate his 
charge and in giving his best efforts and most unselfish endeavors to advance 
the general welfare of the locality where he resides.
 
History of Merced County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 842-844