First Special Service Force, WWII
Founder and Pastor at St. Frances Cabrini Church, San Jose, California
Reverend Father Robert Essig grew up in Oakland, entered the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church, and studied at St. Joseph's Seminary in Mountain View and St. Patrick's in Menlo Park.
Father Robert Essig served as a chaplain for the First Special Service Force during WWII.
After being honorably discharged from the army as a full colonel, he served for a time as the chaplain for the Port of San Francisco and several other parishes in the Bay Area.
In 1955, he founded St. Frances Cabrini Church, San Jose, and with time, his parish became one of the areas largest, serving thousands of families. Father Essig served the community until his retirement in 1987, but even after his retirement, he remained involved in the church as he lived in a residence on the grounds which his parishioners had built for him.
Father Essig was chosen as a torch bearer for the 1996 Olympics; unfortunately, by the time he was to carry the torch, his esophageal cancer had taken its toll and he was not able to to carry the torch. He passed away a few months later in November, 1996.
He was well-loved and will be remembered for his many hats, wry sense of humor, and dedication. As Donald Crook, an active parishioner since 1958, remarked, "He was a priest first, always a servant of the people.''
~~~~~~
From the school's website
The Saint Frances Cabrini Parish established Saint Frances Cabrini Catholic School in the Cambrian area of San Jose, California. It opened its doors in 1960 with grades one and two. Father Robert Essig was the founding pastor and he brought the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose to staff the school. The original school building had eight classrooms, school offices, and a religious education office. In 1963, the new church was completed, and the old church was renovated to accommodate the increasing school enrollment. The first graduating class was in 1967.
Due to its academic success and community impact, the school continues to grow. Today it holds an approximate enrollment of 620 students. The school now includes an administrative wing, 22 classrooms, two science labs, three resource rooms, a full-size gymnasium, and an athletic field.
The Dominican Sisters withdrew in 1994. The school was thereafter staffed by a dedicated group of lay teachers who directed the spiritual and educational needs of students from preschool to the eighth grade.
Founder and Pastor at St. Frances Cabrini Church, San Jose, California
Reverend Father Robert Essig grew up in Oakland, entered the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church, and studied at St. Joseph's Seminary in Mountain View and St. Patrick's in Menlo Park.
Father Robert Essig served as a chaplain for the First Special Service Force during WWII.
After being honorably discharged from the army as a full colonel, he served for a time as the chaplain for the Port of San Francisco and several other parishes in the Bay Area.
In 1955, he founded St. Frances Cabrini Church, San Jose, and with time, his parish became one of the areas largest, serving thousands of families. Father Essig served the community until his retirement in 1987, but even after his retirement, he remained involved in the church as he lived in a residence on the grounds which his parishioners had built for him.
Father Essig was chosen as a torch bearer for the 1996 Olympics; unfortunately, by the time he was to carry the torch, his esophageal cancer had taken its toll and he was not able to to carry the torch. He passed away a few months later in November, 1996.
He was well-loved and will be remembered for his many hats, wry sense of humor, and dedication. As Donald Crook, an active parishioner since 1958, remarked, "He was a priest first, always a servant of the people.''
~~~~~~
From the school's website
The Saint Frances Cabrini Parish established Saint Frances Cabrini Catholic School in the Cambrian area of San Jose, California. It opened its doors in 1960 with grades one and two. Father Robert Essig was the founding pastor and he brought the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose to staff the school. The original school building had eight classrooms, school offices, and a religious education office. In 1963, the new church was completed, and the old church was renovated to accommodate the increasing school enrollment. The first graduating class was in 1967.
Due to its academic success and community impact, the school continues to grow. Today it holds an approximate enrollment of 620 students. The school now includes an administrative wing, 22 classrooms, two science labs, three resource rooms, a full-size gymnasium, and an athletic field.
The Dominican Sisters withdrew in 1994. The school was thereafter staffed by a dedicated group of lay teachers who directed the spiritual and educational needs of students from preschool to the eighth grade.
First Special Service Force, WWII
Founder and Pastor at St. Frances Cabrini Church, San Jose, California
Reverend Father Robert Essig grew up in Oakland, entered the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church, and studied at St. Joseph's Seminary in Mountain View and St. Patrick's in Menlo Park.
Father Robert Essig served as a chaplain for the First Special Service Force during WWII.
After being honorably discharged from the army as a full colonel, he served for a time as the chaplain for the Port of San Francisco and several other parishes in the Bay Area.
In 1955, he founded St. Frances Cabrini Church, San Jose, and with time, his parish became one of the areas largest, serving thousands of families. Father Essig served the community until his retirement in 1987, but even after his retirement, he remained involved in the church as he lived in a residence on the grounds which his parishioners had built for him.
Father Essig was chosen as a torch bearer for the 1996 Olympics; unfortunately, by the time he was to carry the torch, his esophageal cancer had taken its toll and he was not able to to carry the torch. He passed away a few months later in November, 1996.
He was well-loved and will be remembered for his many hats, wry sense of humor, and dedication. As Donald Crook, an active parishioner since 1958, remarked, "He was a priest first, always a servant of the people.''
~~~~~~
From the school's website
The Saint Frances Cabrini Parish established Saint Frances Cabrini Catholic School in the Cambrian area of San Jose, California. It opened its doors in 1960 with grades one and two. Father Robert Essig was the founding pastor and he brought the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose to staff the school. The original school building had eight classrooms, school offices, and a religious education office. In 1963, the new church was completed, and the old church was renovated to accommodate the increasing school enrollment. The first graduating class was in 1967.
Due to its academic success and community impact, the school continues to grow. Today it holds an approximate enrollment of 620 students. The school now includes an administrative wing, 22 classrooms, two science labs, three resource rooms, a full-size gymnasium, and an athletic field.
The Dominican Sisters withdrew in 1994. The school was thereafter staffed by a dedicated group of lay teachers who directed the spiritual and educational needs of students from preschool to the eighth grade.
Founder and Pastor at St. Frances Cabrini Church, San Jose, California
Reverend Father Robert Essig grew up in Oakland, entered the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church, and studied at St. Joseph's Seminary in Mountain View and St. Patrick's in Menlo Park.
Father Robert Essig served as a chaplain for the First Special Service Force during WWII.
After being honorably discharged from the army as a full colonel, he served for a time as the chaplain for the Port of San Francisco and several other parishes in the Bay Area.
In 1955, he founded St. Frances Cabrini Church, San Jose, and with time, his parish became one of the areas largest, serving thousands of families. Father Essig served the community until his retirement in 1987, but even after his retirement, he remained involved in the church as he lived in a residence on the grounds which his parishioners had built for him.
Father Essig was chosen as a torch bearer for the 1996 Olympics; unfortunately, by the time he was to carry the torch, his esophageal cancer had taken its toll and he was not able to to carry the torch. He passed away a few months later in November, 1996.
He was well-loved and will be remembered for his many hats, wry sense of humor, and dedication. As Donald Crook, an active parishioner since 1958, remarked, "He was a priest first, always a servant of the people.''
~~~~~~
From the school's website
The Saint Frances Cabrini Parish established Saint Frances Cabrini Catholic School in the Cambrian area of San Jose, California. It opened its doors in 1960 with grades one and two. Father Robert Essig was the founding pastor and he brought the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose to staff the school. The original school building had eight classrooms, school offices, and a religious education office. In 1963, the new church was completed, and the old church was renovated to accommodate the increasing school enrollment. The first graduating class was in 1967.
Due to its academic success and community impact, the school continues to grow. Today it holds an approximate enrollment of 620 students. The school now includes an administrative wing, 22 classrooms, two science labs, three resource rooms, a full-size gymnasium, and an athletic field.
The Dominican Sisters withdrew in 1994. The school was thereafter staffed by a dedicated group of lay teachers who directed the spiritual and educational needs of students from preschool to the eighth grade.
Inscription
✞
REV ROBERT G. ESSIG
U.S. ARMY
JUNE 14, 1912 | NOV 20, 1996
FOUNDER AND PASTOR OF
ST FRANCES CABRINI CHURCH
SAN JOSE CA | 1955
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