About Divine Mercy · Sacramento, California
Divine Mercy is a Roman Catholic parish in the North Natomas neighborhood of Sacramento, California, in the Diocese of Sacramento. Established in 2005 to serve one of Sacramento's fastest-growing communities, the parish worships at 2231 Club Center Drive and offers Mass in English, Spanish, Filipino, and Tongan. The parish was designed by Comstock Johnson Architects in a Mediterranean style with large slump-block walls, and the approximately 11,600-square-foot, 600-seat Phase-1 "First Church" (now functioning as the parish center and sized for a future high-school basketball court) was completed in October 2009, on a master-planned site that also envisions a K-8 school and a final 800-seat church. Divine Mercy runs a wide range of ministries — youth, young adult, Marian, Filipino, Hispanic, bereavement, and Eucharistic adoration — in a multicultural community whose mission statement is "to establish a faith-filled community bonded by love," proclaiming the good news and strengthening the family by witnessing the gospel values of love, mercy, justice, forgiveness, and service to all.
- Established
- 2005
- Patron
- Divine Mercy (the devotion to the Mercy of Jesus Christ revealed to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska)
- Rector
- Rev. Eric Flores (per the Diocese of Sacramento parish listing; the parish website and earlier bulletins have also named Rev. Soane Kaniseli as pastor)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sacramento (Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento; Sacramento County, City Deanery)
Why belong here
Divine Mercy is the Catholic parish built specifically for Sacramento's growing North Natomas community, so newcomers find a faith-filled, family-friendly home with Mass offered in English, Spanish, Filipino, and Tongan to match the neighborhood's diversity. The parish runs an unusually wide set of ministries — CIA youth ministry (ages 9–18), Beloved Young Adult Ministry for ages 18–39, the Knights of Columbus, Columbian Squires, Our Lady of Guadalupe Ministry, a Filipino community, a Grief Support and Bereavement Ministry, a Bereavement & Consolation Ministry, Marriage Enrichment, ACTS Bible studies, Rosary groups, and Eucharistic Adoration every Friday — so it is easy to plug in at any age or life stage. The parish mission statement commits it to 'proclaim the good news, foster personal encounters with the living Christ and strengthen the family by witnessing the gospel values of love, mercy, justice, forgiveness and service to all,' and the community visibly lives that out through care packages for the homeless, youth service projects, and a yearly Divine Mercy Sunday potluck celebration.
Mass times at Divine Mercy
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month: Exposition begins after the 8:30 AM Mass, with hourly adorers needed, and Benediction at 5:45 PM before the evening Mass
- Every Friday: Holy Hour from 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, silent prayer, and Benediction
- Thursday evenings 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (per Discover Mass listing)
About Divine Mercy Parish
Divine Mercy is a Roman Catholic parish in North Natomas, Sacramento, established in 2005 by the Diocese of Sacramento to serve one of the city's fastest-growing neighborhoods. The community worships on an eight-acre campus at 2231 Club Center Drive and offers Mass in English, Spanish, Filipino, and Tongan, reflecting the diverse families who call Natomas home. The parish mission is 'to establish a faith-filled community bonded by love... to proclaim the good news, foster personal encounters with the living Christ and strengthen the family by witnessing the gospel values of love, mercy, justice, forgiveness and service to all.'
- Founded 2005, Diocese of Sacramento, Sacramento County City Deanery
- Located at 2231 Club Center Drive, Sacramento, CA 95835
- Phone (916) 256-3134 — Fax (916) 265-1999
- Webmaster email: [email protected]
- Pastoral team: Pastor (Rev. Eric Flores per Diocese; Rev. Soane Kaniseli named on bulletins), Parochial Vicar Rev. Octavio Ventura, Deacons Rick Morales and James Ogbonna
History
Established in 2005 by the Diocese of Sacramento, Divine Mercy was created as the first permanent Catholic parish to serve Sacramento's rapidly expanding North Natomas community. The Diocese commissioned Comstock Johnson Architects to design a master plan for the campus — including a Parish Center, a K-8 school, and an 800-seat final church — and the Phase-1 'First Church' was completed in October 2009. From the beginning the parish has been multicultural, building up English, Spanish, Filipino, and Tongan communities around distinct weekly Masses, and its identity is rooted in the Divine Mercy devotion of St. Faustina, celebrated each year on Divine Mercy Sunday with a parish-wide potluck.
- 2005: Parish established by the Diocese of Sacramento (listed in the Official Catholic Directory, 1850–2006, as 'Divine Mercy, Natomas, 2005').
- October 2009: Phase-1 'First Church' completed — 11,600 sq ft, 600 seats — designed to be repurposed as the future Parish Center.
- Master plan also calls for a K-8 parish school and an 800-seat final church, connected to the existing building by a vehicle-free shared plaza.
- Multilingual identity grew early: Filipino Mass (3rd Sunday), Tongan Mass (4th Sunday), Spanish Mass (2nd Sunday).
Architecture & Campus
The Divine Mercy campus was designed by Comstock Johnson Architects as a long-term master plan on approximately eight acres in North Natomas. The buildings are Mediterranean in style, with large slump-block walls consistent with surrounding Natomas complexes, and high-efficiency package mechanical units tucked into roof wells above the front support spaces. The Phase-1 worship building is also deliberately oversized so it can serve as the Parish Center (sized for a high-school basketball court) once the final 800-seat church is built. Every building is oriented to a shared, connecting plaza so that parishioners can walk between church, school, and gym without crossing vehicle traffic.
- Architect: Comstock Johnson Architects
- Style: Mediterranean, with large slump-block walls
- Phase-1 'First Church': ~11,600 sq ft, 600 seats, completed October 2009
- Future build-out: K-8 school, 800-seat final church
- Site feature: shared connecting plaza separating pedestrians from vehicle traffic
Devotions & Prayer Life
Devotion to the Divine Mercy message of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska shapes the rhythm of parish prayer. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is prayed in the church right after every Mass, and the English Rosary is recited thirty minutes before every Mass. A Spanish-language Rosary meets in the church every Thursday at 7:00 PM. Wednesdays bring a Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, and Saturday evenings host the Lord's Flock Catholic Charismatic Group in the Narthex. Annual highlights include Divine Mercy Sunday (the Second Sunday of Easter), celebrated with a potluck after every Mass, and the Guadalupanas prayer meetings.
- Rosary (English): 30 minutes before every Mass
- Rosary (Spanish): Thursdays 7:00 PM in the Church
- Chaplet of Divine Mercy: immediately after every Mass
- Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help: Wednesdays 6:30 PM
- Lord's Flock Catholic Charismatic Group: Saturdays 7:00 PM, Narthex
- Guadalupanas Prayer Meeting: Thursday evenings
- Divine Mercy Sunday potluck after every Mass
Sacraments
Divine Mercy prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Baptisms are scheduled on the third Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM with a two-month preparation window; couples must contact the pastor six months before a wedding; Anointing of the Sick is available by calling the parish office; and First Communion, Confirmation (youth and adult), and the sacraments of initiation through RCIA are run by the parish's formation ministries.
- Baptism — 3rd Saturday, 10:00 AM (Pastor interview 2 months ahead)
- Confession — Saturdays 3:45–4:45 PM or by appointment
- Matrimony — Pastor meeting 6 months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment, (916) 256-3134
- First Communion, Confirmation (youth and adult), RCIA
Faith Formation — Children, Youth, and Adults
Faith formation at Divine Mercy spans the whole family. Children gather for Continuing Christian Formation (CFF) on Sundays, teens prepare for Confirmation through a two-year program with written interviews, and adults can complete the sacraments of initiation through the Adult Confirmation Program and RCIA. The Divine Mercy Catholic Church Facebook page routinely shares photos of the annual Rite of Welcoming and Acceptance of Catechumens and Candidates, showing the parish's ongoing call to adult conversion and baptism.
- Continuing Christian Formation (CFF) for children
- Confirmation program for teens (interviews with Fr. Soane and [email protected])
- Adult Confirmation Program (two-year formation)
- RCIA — Rite of Welcoming and Acceptance each year for catechumens and candidates
- ACTS Bible studies: 'The Bible Timeline,' 'Matthew,' and 'The Spread of the Kingdom' (a 20-week study on Thursdays 7:00 PM in the Narthex)
Youth Ministry — CIA (Catholics In Action)
CIA is Divine Mercy's umbrella youth ministry, with two age groups. CIA Junior covers ages 9–12 and forms 'saints-in-making' who begin serving as Ushers, Greeters, Altar Servers, and Youth Lectors while forming friendships and doing community service — meeting one to two Friday nights a month. CIA Teens covers ages 13–18 (high school), meeting twice a month on Sunday afternoons to study the YouCat (Youth catechism), video catechism, the Catholic Bible, and Catholic social teaching, and to attend diocesan youth events.
- CIA Junior Youth Ministry — ages 9–12, Friday evenings
- CIA Teens — ages 13–18, twice a month on Sundays
- Service projects: e.g., Holy Tuesday care packages for the homeless
- Social media: Facebook (DivineMercyCIA), Twitter @DivineMercyCIA, Instagram @dmccia
- Contact: Pete Hernandez, (916) 307-7576, [email protected]
Young Adult Ministry — 'Beloved'
Divine Mercy's Young Adult Ministry, called 'Beloved,' welcomes any single or married young adult between the ages of 18 and 39 (Catholic or otherwise). It meets for faith sharing, fellowship, service projects, and spiritual growth with no ongoing commitment required — participants can drop in to any event. The ministry describes its goal as encouraging young adults to 'explore their faith and develop their spirituality by catering to the needs of each individual.'
- Open to ages 18–39, single or married
- Welcomes non-Catholics; no commitment required
- Contact: Gladys Resuello, [email protected]
- Facebook group: Beloved Young Adult Ministry
Community & Cultural Ministries
A defining mark of Divine Mercy is its network of culturally-rooted communities that each have their own prayer, fellowship, and outreach. The Our Lady of Guadalupe Ministry runs a weekly Spanish Rosary, plans the Cinco de Mayo parish celebration, and gathers Guadalupanas for prayer. The Filipino community gathers for the 3rd-Sunday Mass and other events; the Tongan community gathers for the 4th-Sunday Mass and choir practice; and the Knights of Columbus and Columbian Squires provide service, fellowship, and formation for Catholic men and boys.
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Ministry — Spanish Rosary, Guadalupanas prayer, Cinco de Mayo fiesta (Spanish contact: José Rodriguez, (916) 921-0763)
- Filipino Catholic community — Filipino Mass, 3rd Sunday 5:00 PM
- Tongan Catholic community — Tongan Mass, 4th Sunday 2:30 PM
- Knights of Columbus and Columbian Squires (ages 10–18) — Squires advisor Dave Leahy ([email protected])
- Music Ministry — Elvis Molina, Bill Carlos
Outreach, Bereavement & Family Life
Divine Mercy understands service as a gospel value and puts it into practice through targeted ministries. The Bereavement & Consolation Ministry and the Divine Mercy Grief Support Group walk with families through grief, meeting monthly on the fourth Saturday morning and welcoming anyone in the parish or beyond. Marriage Enrichment offers a DVD-based series after the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass for couples wanting to strengthen their vocation. During Holy Week, the parish's youth and young-adult ministries take their faith on the road, distributing more than sixty care packages to homeless men and women at Cesar Chavez Park and downtown Sacramento.
- Divine Mercy Grief Support Group — 4th Saturday of the month, 9:30–11:00 AM
- Bereavement & Consolation Ministry — Tess Mostajo (916) 285-6351, Ron & Susan Wright (916) 419-4321
- Marriage Enrichment — DVD series after 9:30 AM Sunday Mass; hospitality for CFF parents
- Holy Week outreach at Cesar Chavez Park with care packages and prayer cards
- Annual parish-wide 'Cup of Sacrifice' Lenten fundraiser
Parish Staff & Pastoral Team
Divine Mercy's parish office is staffed by Julie Aninzo, Linda Casarino, Michelle Ignacio (also Bulletin Coordinator, [email protected]), and Fids Reina as Bookkeeper. Facilities are maintained by Ed Pagala (Supervisor), Edgar Espino, and Renato Perez. The Capital Campaign is coordinated by Lourdes Ramirez ([email protected]), Music Ministry is led by Elvis Molina and Bill Carlos, and the clergy are supported on the ground by a committed network of deacons, extraordinary ministers, lectors, and ministry-group volunteers.
- Pastoral: Pastor (Rev. Eric Flores / Rev. Soane Kaniseli), Parochial Vicar Rev. Octavio Ventura
- Deacons: Rick Morales, James Ogbonna
- Office: Julie Aninzo, Linda Casarino, Michelle Ignacio, Fids Reina (Bookkeeper)
- Facilities: Ed Pagala (Supervisor), Edgar Espino, Renato Perez
- Capital Campaign: Lourdes Ramirez
- Music Ministry: Elvis Molina, Bill Carlos
Connect & Get Involved
The parish keeps in touch online through its main website, the Divine Mercy Facebook page, and separate social channels for its youth and young-adult ministries, and welcomes visitors and newcomers at every Mass. Bulletin PDFs (going back to 2012) are archived on the parish website, making it easy to follow ongoing ministries and events. Whether you are looking for a Spanish, Filipino, or Tongan-speaking Catholic community in Natomas, faith formation for your child, a youth group for your teenager, support through grief, or simply a Sunday morning home, Divine Mercy offers a specific, named ministry or Mass to walk in with.
- Main Facebook: facebook.com/DivineMercyNatomas
- CIA Youth: facebook.com/DivineMercyCIA, @dmccia on Instagram
- WYD delegation: @divinemercywyd on Instagram
- Archived bulletins at divinemercynatomas.com/files/
- Email the office at [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Soane Kaniselilisted as pastor on 2012–2015 bulletins and an older joinmychurch profile
Named on parish bulletins alongside Parochial Vicar Rev. Octavio Ventura and Deacons Rick Morales and James Ogbonna.