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Parishioners of the Month

OCTOBER 1997

Liz & Al Bucci preparing for the interview by Allison Mistica and Ryan Bjorkquist.

Bucci Family Lives in the House of Original OLM Church

by Ryan Bjorkquist and Allison Mistica

   Mr. and Mrs. Bucci are members of our parish, Our Lady of Mercy. They have been happily married for 52 years. They have lived in their house, on North Mayfair, for 40 years! They celebrated 40 yrs. in their home on July 20, 1997. They are very devout Catholics and the patrons of our church. Mary, is very special to them.

   Mr. and Mrs. Bucci have a wonderful family! They are the proud parents of four children. Their two boys and two girls are all alumni of O.L.M. They went to Riordan and Mercy S.F for high school. After high school, their children went to college at USF, Cal, and San Mateo. They are also grandparents of 11 grandchildren! They have 6 granddaughters and 5 grandsons. Their grandchildren attend school in the East Bay. We could tell that Mr. and Mrs. Bucci love their family very much. They spoke so fondly of them. Mrs. Bucci was also President of the Westlake Catholic Women.

   On May 16, 1954, the First Mass was held in the house. For nine months, the Masses during the week were held in the house. But on weekends it was held in the medical building and the second floor of the school which is now the fifth and sixth grades. Then there were only two rooms instead of four.

  Downstairs in their home, between the stairs and the door, there was a board which was used by Father Power for Reconciliation, one of the seven sacraments. It was always open to the public, like the confessionals in the church are today. On the walls of the basement there were thirteen nails. You might say that these were very important nails. They held up the Stations of the Cross.

   December 8, 1956, was the first time they laid their eyes on this beautiful house. This day was also the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Father Power mentioned to them one day that he was going to sell the house, since the rectory had been built, and he didnšt need it anymore. Without a doubt they said yes and bought the house. It was March 23, 1957. It was nice and calm that day. Mr. Bucci was going to get the loan from the bank. Without notice there was a rumble. It felt like a stampede of elephants running down the street. It was an earthquake! He could not get the loan due to unforeseen circumstances. They finally bought the house in the same month and they moved in on the following July.

       "We had a lot of fun interviewing these two great and intriguing people and we hope to do more of this in the future." -from Allison and Ryan about their experience.