About Cathedral of the Annunciation · Stockton, California
The Cathedral of the Annunciation is the mother church and seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton, located at 400 West Rose Street in Stockton, California. Built in 1942 as St. Mary of the Annunciation to replace the aging original St. Mary's of the Assumption downtown, it was selected as the cathedral when the Diocese of Stockton was erected by Pope St. John XXIII on January 13, 1962. The modified-Gothic brick church, designed by San Francisco architect Henry A. Minton and built by Stockton contractors Shepherd and Green, seats about 750 and is celebrated for its stained-glass windows crafted over a five-year span. Today it functions both as a working parish with a school, preschool, and bilingual (English/Spanish) ministries and as the central liturgical church for the diocese.
- Established
- 1942
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title of the Annunciation)
- Rector
- Rev. Cesar Martinez
- Diocese
- Diocese of Stockton
Why belong here
The Cathedral of the Annunciation offers the rare combination of a downtown cathedral church with a fully active parish life — daily and Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, regular confessions, Eucharistic adoration, a parish school and preschool, and a broad range of ministries serving north Stockton. As the mother church of the Diocese of Stockton it hosts ordinations, confirmations, and other diocesan liturgies, so parishioners worship in a church that is the spiritual heart of the local Catholic Church. Bilingual ministries and an open, welcoming Hispanic community make it a natural fit for Spanish-speaking families, while its long tradition of beautiful liturgy and its landmark stained-glass windows draw visitors from across the region.
Mass times at Cathedral of the Annunciation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: ~8:30 to 9:30 AM (or by appointment)
- Wednesday: ~7:00 to 8:00 PM
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered; specific times posted in parish bulletins and on the website.
About the Cathedral of the Annunciation
The Cathedral of the Annunciation is the cathedral church and mother parish of the Diocese of Stockton, located at 400 West Rose Street in Stockton, California, with the Parish House at 425 West Magnolia Street. Its parish mission statement describes the community as 'a Community of Disciples called to WELCOME all to CELEBRATE God's love in Eucharist and Sacrament and to GROW in our faith and commitment in order to SERVE others in justice and love.' As both the diocesan cathedral and a working parish, it serves daily worshippers, sacramental needs, and major diocesan liturgies such as ordinations and confirmations.
History
Founded in 1941 by Monsignor William E. McGough and dedicated on December 12, 1942, the church was built to replace the aging original St. Mary's of the Assumption in downtown Stockton. Designed by San Francisco architect Henry A. Minton in modified-Gothic style and built by Stockton contractors Shepherd and Green at a final cost of $285,000, it was selected as the cathedral of the newly created Diocese of Stockton in 1962. It is especially known for its stained-glass windows whose theme was chosen by Monsignor McGough and installed over a five-year span beginning with the Old Testament Prophets window by Cummings Studio.
- March 5, 1941 — building permit issued
- December 12, 1942 — church dedicated as St. Mary of the Annunciation
- 1950 — death of founding pastor Msgr. William E. McGough
- January 13, 1962 — Diocese of Stockton erected by Pope St. John XXIII
- January 27, 1962 — Church of the Annunciation formally designated cathedral of new diocese
- 1962 — Bishop Hugh A. Donohoe installed as first Bishop of Stockton
- 1997–1998 — stained-glass windows restored by Frank Warthemann, European Art Glass, Watsonville
Architecture and Stained Glass
The cathedral is a modified-Gothic brick church designed by San Francisco architect Henry A. Minton and built by Stockton contractors J. Corbin Shepherd and Henry Green. With a seating capacity of about 750, its most celebrated artistic feature is the comprehensive stained-glass program. The iconographic theme was selected by Monsignor McGough, who — with Dominican Sisters Sister Peter and Sister Maurice — oversaw the windows' creation over about five years. Makers included Cummings Studio (Old Testament Prophets), Church Art of San Francisco (Saint Peter / Saint Paul), and Carl Huneke of Century Stained Glass for the rest of the windows.
- Architect: Henry A. Minton, San Francisco
- Contractors: J. Corbin Shepherd and Henry Green, Stockton
- Style: Modified Gothic / Gothic Revival
- Materials: Brick
- Capacity: ~750
- Stained-glass studios: Cummings Studio; Church Art, San Francisco; Carl Huneke / Century Stained Glass
- Restoration: 1997–1998 by Frank Warthemann, European Art Glass, Watsonville
Parish School and Preschool
The Cathedral of the Annunciation Parish operates both a parish school and a preschool on its campus. Annunciation School serves grades K–8 at 1110 N. Lincoln Street, Stockton (209-444-4000, fax 209-444-4013). The Annunciation Preschool is located at 440 W. Rose Street, adjacent to the church (209-465-2961, fax 209-463-0807). Together they are a key part of the parish's faith formation and evangelization mission to families in north Stockton.
- Annunciation School — 1110 N. Lincoln Street, Stockton, CA 95203 — 209-444-4000
- Annunciation Preschool — 440 W. Rose Street, Stockton, CA 95203 — 209-465-2961
Ministries and Faith Formation
The parish offers the sacraments and a range of formation programs, including preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick, as well as RCIA for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church. As a bilingual parish (English and Spanish), many ministries and liturgical roles are supported in both languages, allowing the parish to serve a culturally diverse Catholic community in north Stockton.
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation preparation
- Matrimony preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) liturgical and pastoral ministries
- Religious Education / Faith Formation for parish families
Clergy and Staff
The Cathedral Parish is currently served by Pastor Rev. Cesar Martinez and Parochial Vicar Rev. Joseph Nguyen, with three deacons — Deacon Armando Moreno (Pastoral Associate), Deacon Martin Baeza, and Deacon Mike Wofford — assisting in pastoral and liturgical life. The cathedral is under the pastoral care of the Bishop of Stockton, currently Most Rev. Myron Joseph Cotta, and continues its role as the seat of the Diocese of Stockton.
- Rev. Cesar Martinez — Pastor
- Rev. Joseph Nguyen — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Armando Moreno — Pastoral Associate
- Deacon Martin Baeza
- Deacon Mike Wofford
- Most Rev. Myron Joseph Cotta — Bishop of Stockton
Diocese of Stockton
The Cathedral of the Annunciation is the seat of the Diocese of Stockton, which was erected on January 13, 1962, by Pope St. John XXIII at the same time as the dioceses of Oakland and Santa Rosa. The diocese was carved primarily from the Archdiocese of San Francisco, taking in San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties, with Calaveras, Tuolumne, and Mono Counties from the Diocese of Sacramento and Alpine County added in 1966. Its first bishop was Hugh A. Donohoe, and the diocese is currently led by Bishop Myron Joseph Cotta. As the cathedral church, the Annunciation hosts ordinations, confirmations, and other central diocesan liturgical celebrations in addition to its parish life.
- Diocese of Stockton — established January 13, 1962
- First Bishop: Hugh A. Donohoe
- Current Bishop: Most Rev. Myron Joseph Cotta
- Diocese website: stocktondiocese.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor William E. McGough1941–1950
Founding pastor; oversaw construction of the church and its stained-glass windows; died in office in 1950.