St. Dominic's parish was established in 1854 by the Dominican Monks in Benicia, California. This parish was vital to the Berryessas of Contra Costa, Napa, and Solano counties, as there were not very many parishes near them at the time. As time went on, new parishes were being established, and as a result, the Berryessas would make the closer parish their family parish. About 1865, in Suisun City, St. Alphonsus was established, and in 1877, St. Peter's in Dixon. In Contra Costa, St. Catherine's about mid 1850's; and in Napa, St. John the Baptist in 1858. St. Dominic's served the Berryessas for about 20 years, then after - and before - you will most likely find them in the parish closest to them.
St. Dominic;s still serves the spiritual community of Benicia, and St. Dominic's Cemetery is located within a few miles of the church. Most burials are that of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine's Convent, the most notable being that of Maria de la Concepcion Marcela Argüello, whose sad romance story is a well known early California story.
Bellow are the Berryessas found in the registers of St. Dominic's. More than likely there are more, but more research will be needed to find the.
This page belongs to The Berreyesa Researcher
