Father O'Donoghue had recourse to other appealing means of spreading the sweet message of the Gospel.  The saints were noted for their light hearted spirits even in the midst of most cruel torments.  They had taken to heart one of the most vital messages of the Bible, "Serve the Lord in gladness."  It was Father O'Donoghue's intention to spread good wholesome Christian Joy when he initiated the Horse Show which became an annual feature in the life of the Mission Rancho de Maria.  Here is the spirit of the Fiesta of Mission Rancho; "Your cordial response to our appeal for sportsmanship through the attendance at our Annual Horse Show, Barbecue and Fiesta is deeply appreciated.

   Time was soon to prove within a brief space of ten years that the Church of the Mission Rancho was too small to serve the needs of the locality.  What was now needed was a "Mission de las Pampas," a Church to serve the wide open spaces-ranges  stretching about and beyond the confines of the township.  And so it was deemed necessary to enlarge the existing Church to accommodate 525 people.

    But by this time a new Pastor had been appointed to the Parish, Father John McDonagh.  He had in the past several years labored strenuously in the field of labor where problems were very similar to the ones he was about to assume, those of a new and fast developing parish.  It was under Father McDonagh that the enlargement of the Church was undertaken and the edifice was once again dedicated on January 27, 1952.  The church schedule had already reached the scale of six Masses each Sunday with six different congregations filling the Church at each Mass.

     Meanwhile in 1948, St. John of the Cross School had been built and the parish was extremely fortunate in obtaining the services of a distinguished Order, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, to staff the parochial school.  Here was a devoted group of Sisters, who could instill into their pupils a solid training in the fundamentals of scholastic and religious ideals with a sound regard for the civic virtues so necessary in a bourgeoning new community.

St. John of the Cross School originally opened with five classrooms and an auditorium. The initial enrollment was 187 pupils in September, 1948.  In 1950 the auditorium was converted into three classrooms.  Again in 1953 two additional classrooms were added. By 1954 the School had ten large classrooms and spacious recreational areas.

   Monsignor McDonagh, had throughout the years, set himself to carry on and increase the ideals and aims of his sturdy predecessors.  The annual Fiesta and Rodeo-Barbecue continue to drew capacity crowds from both Catholic and non-catholic of Lemon Grove.  His message of cordial welcome and deep appreciation was addressed to all the citizens of the community when he wrote: "We of St. John of the Cross Parish, Lemon Grove, California, are happy to have you come to our Church and its activities at any time."

1952

    Monsignor McDonagh took over the reins with energy and determination in driving ahead with the further development of the Parish is now confirmed by the sight of the glorious edifice erected on the curving sweep of Broadway. Whilst the Church is without doubt his most glorious achievement,  he has also undertaken and completed several notable improvements in the Rectory and School equipment, with a view to keeping abreast of the needs of the ever increasing congregation.  It is a credit to his wise planning and direction that he coped successfully with the overwhelming influx of California and San Diego postwar settlers and service families which augmented the parish responsibilities considerably.

    A comprehensive Catechetical Program was set underway for the youth of the Parish.  A strikingly effective system of having groups of children assemble in various home centers around the parish, has enabled Priest and people to extend themselves to those children who might otherwise be prevented by distance or lack of transportation from attending instructions at the School.  

    Under Monsignor McDonagh, too, the number of Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages, instructions and Sunday Masses had surpassed all previous records.