Anthony Maraschi

Anthony Maraschi

The Reverend Anthony Maraschi, S.J. (1820 - 1897) was an Italian-born priest of the Society of Jesus. He was a founder of the University of San Francisco and Saint Ignatius College Preparatory as well as the first pastor of Saint Ignatius Church in San Francisco, California.

Born in Piedmont, Italy in 1820, Maraschi entered the Society of Jesus in Chieti. He began his scholastic career in Nice and was ordained a priest there in 1849. Maraschi left for the United States soon thereafter, and he completed a theology degree at Georgetown University before becoming a member of its faculty. Maraschi was also assigned to teach at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts and Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland.

In 1854, Maraschi left for San Francisco. Upon arrival, he served as an assistant pastor for both St. Francis of Assisi and St. Patrick's churches while planning the establishment of a Jesuit church and school in the City. With the approval of Archbishop Joseph Alemany and the assistance of fellow Jesuits Michael Accolti, S.J. and Joseph Bixio, S.J., Saint Ignatius Church and College were established in 1855.

Saint Ignatius College was recognized by the Society of Jesus in 1859 and chartered by the State of California that same year. During the early years, Father Maraschi not only served as the church's pastor but also the college's president and treasurer, as well as an instructor in Latin, Greek and Spanish. While he turned over the college's presidency to Nicholas Congiato, S.J. in 1862, Father Maraschi continued to supervise its financial affairs. He also continued to serve as Saint Ignatius Church's parish priest until a dispute with Archbishop Alemany in 1863 resulted in the church's parish status being rescinded.

Much later on, Saint Ignatius College would split into Saint Ignatius College and Saint Ignatius High School, with the former becoming the University of San Francisco and the latter becoming Saint Ignatius College Preparatory.

Anthony Maraschi died in San Francisco in 1897 and was buried in Mission Santa Clara's cemetery.