About Church of St Timothy · Escondido, California
St. Timothy Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of San Diego located at 2960 Canyon Road in southern Escondido, California. The parish serves the Via Rancho, San Paschal Valley, and Harmony Grove communities — everyone living east of Harmony Grove Road and south of Citracado Parkway. It offers daily and Sunday Mass in English, weekly Confession and Eucharistic Adoration, a full sacramental and faith-formation program for children and adults, a Knights of Columbus council, and a range of parish groups and outreach ministries serving the vulnerable in the local community.
- Established
- 1985
- Patron
- St. Timothy
- Rector
- Rev. Fernando Ramirez
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
St. Timothy is a welcoming English-language parish in southern Escondido with a clear sense of identity — it serves a defined geographic district of families in the San Paschal Valley, Via Rancho, and Harmony Grove neighborhoods. The parish combines the rhythm of daily and Sunday Mass with Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays and First Fridays, a long-standing Knights of Columbus council that hosts a free pancake breakfast after Sunday Masses, and active ministries for youth, young adults, families, the bereaved, the homebound, and a pro-life culture. For Catholics moving into the southern Escondido area, registering at St. Timothy connects you with a pastor who can know and care for your family and a community rooted in prayer, formation, and service.
Mass times at Church of St Timothy
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Holy Hour / Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament before the Tabernacle)
- 1st Fridays 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Holy Hour Adoration)
Parish Identity & District
St. Timothy Parish identifies itself geographically: it serves everyone who lives east of Harmony Grove Road, south of Citracado Parkway, covering the Via Rancho, San Paschal Valley, and Harmony Grove communities of southern Escondido. The parish frames registration as a way for the pastor to know and rely on his flock — and for parishioners to be known and supported in turn — and asks members to maintain Sunday worship at one parish.
- Parish district: east of Harmony Grove Road, south of Citracado Parkway
- Communities served: Via Rancho, San Paschal Valley, Harmony Grove
- Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
- Founded 1985 (per GCatholic)
Becoming Catholic & Sacraments
The parish runs a 'Becoming Catholic' process (RCIA) for adults exploring baptism, Christians seeking Confirmation and communion with the Church, and Catholics returning after time away. Sessions meet with the pastor after the 10:30 AM Mass on the First Sundays of the month, starting in October. The parish website describes the theology of Baptism as participation in Christ's death and resurrection, with transforming water — divine life, spiritual growth, cleansing from sin — and invites inquirers to speak with clergy after any Mass.
- Adult Baptism through RCIA
- Adult Confirmation / reception into full communion
- Infant Baptism — speak with clergy after any Mass
- Sunday School & First Sacraments for children
- Middle School / High School & Confirmation
- Marriage Preparation
- Funeral Arrangements and Last Rites for loved ones
Faith Formation for Children, Youth & Young Adults
Faith formation at St. Timothy is structured by life stage. Young children go through Sunday School and preparation for First Sacraments; middle-schoolers and high-schoolers continue in a 'formation of mind, body, and soul' that culminates in Confirmation. The parish's youth ministry — coordinated by Justin Mora ([email protected]) — runs a weekly 'Youth Life Night' on Sunday evenings at 6:00 PM and is a central gathering point for parish teens. A separate Young Adults ministry offers friendship, encouragement, and vocational discernment.
- Sunday School & First Sacraments ('learning by heart to love God more')
- Middle School / High School Faith Formation & Confirmation
- Youth Life Night — Sundays 6:00 PM
- Young Adults — friendship, encouragement, vocation
- Youth Ministry contact: [email protected]
Adult Faith, Prayer Groups & Bible Study
Adults at St. Timothy are invited into ongoing formation through Bible study, prayer groups, and small communities. The parish lists Bible Study, the Knights of Columbus, and various prayer groups as core adult offerings. Particular gatherings include the Faith Alive Prayer Group (Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM, every third Thursday), a Women's Book Study, and the Rosary Makers, who craft rosaries as a way of weaving prayer into daily life.
- Adult Bible Study
- Faith Alive Prayer Group (Thursdays, every 3rd Thursday, 7:00 PM)
- Women's Book Study (mornings, scheduled dates)
- Rosary Makers (9:00 AM, scheduled dates)
Parish Life, Fellowship & Knights of Columbus
Fellowship is built into the Sunday schedule: the parish Knights of Columbus council hosts a free pancake breakfast following both the 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM Sunday Masses, making the parish hall a natural gathering place for parishioners and visitors. The parish calendar also features periodic potluck-style events and meetings for ministry groups.
- Knights of Columbus Free Pancake Breakfast after 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM Mass
- Sunday Helpers — Readers, Servers, Ministers
- Periodic parish events (see parish calendar)
Family Outreach, Pro-Life & Pastoral Care
Outreach at St. Timothy is described under several overlapping headings: Family Outreach, 'Building a Pro-Life Culture,' Bereavement Help, and Homebound Visitors. The parish frames its work as serving the vulnerable in the local community, welcoming and protecting new life, accompanying families through the seasons of life, and extending the 'healing presence of Christ' to those who cannot easily come to Mass. The Bereavement ministry supports families through the death of a loved one, and the parish also coordinates funeral arrangements and Last Rites.
- Family Outreach — serving vulnerable local community members
- Building a Pro-Life Culture — welcoming, nurturing, protecting new life
- Bereavement Help — accompaniment through the seasons of life
- Homebound Visitors — extending the healing presence of Christ
- Funeral Arrangements and Last Rites for loved ones
Contact, Location & Getting Involved
The parish office is open at 2960 Canyon Road, Escondido, CA 92025, and is reachable at (760) 489-1200 and [email protected]. A dedicated prayer-request email ([email protected]) is provided for those who would like the parish to pray for them. Newcomers are invited to register as parishioners through the website.
- Parish address: 2960 Canyon Road, Escondido, CA 92025
- Phone: (760) 489-1200
- General email: [email protected]
- Prayer requests: [email protected]
- Youth Ministry: [email protected]
- Online parish registration available via the website