Anthony Maraschi

Who was Anthony Maraschi?

The Reverend Anthony Maraschi, S.J. 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.