About Holy Eucharist · Corralitos, California
Holy Eucharist Catholic Community is a bilingual (English/Spanish) parish serving the rural Corralitos area in the Pajaro Valley of Santa Cruz County, California. Founded in 1965 at the direction of Bishop Harry Clinch and formally established as Holy Eucharist Church in 1969, the parish today ministers to a multigenerational, faith-filled community that gathers around weekly Eucharist, faith formation for children and youth, and an active Spanish-language ministry. The parish belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey in California and operates from its single campus at 527 Corralitos Road under the pastoral leadership of Father Derek Hughes.
- Established
- 1969
- Patron
- Holy Eucharist (the Most Holy Eucharist)
- Rector
- Rev. Derek Hughes
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey in California
Why belong here
Holy Eucharist is a small, welcoming bilingual parish at the heart of rural Corralitos where families can be known by name. Mass is offered three times each Sunday — including a Sunday noon Mass in Spanish — together with a Saturday Vigil and weekday Masses on Thursday and Friday. The parish makes it easy to get involved through Faith Formation for children, a Confirmation and youth program, liturgical ministries such as lectors, greeters, and Eucharistic Ministers, a 'Feed the Hungry' outreach, Scrip gift-card fundraising, and active Hispanic ministry groups. It is a place where stewardship, sacramental life, and service to neighbors in the Pajaro Valley are taken seriously.
Mass times at Holy Eucharist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sacrament of Reconciliation: As announced, and always by appointment (per the Diocese of Monterey directory)
About Holy Eucharist Catholic Community
Holy Eucharist Catholic Community is a supportive, faith-filled parish that welcomes all people. Through its baptismal call to stewardship, the parish works to build up the Body of Christ by praying, worshiping, celebrating, and reaching out in service to others. The parish is bilingual: its Spanish-language welcome describes the community as 'a group of support and full of faith, that gives the welcome to all people.' The parish office is open weekdays and the building serves as a single hub for Mass, faith formation, music ministry, youth ministry and outreach in the Corralitos area.
- Stewardship-centered parish identity: 'a supportive, faith-filled community that welcomes all people.'
- Stated mission: pray, worship, celebrate and reach out in service to others.
- Single campus ministry served by a small staff at 527 Corralitos Road.
History of the Parish
Holy Eucharist's history begins in 1965, when Very Rev. Bishop Harry Clinch decided that an additional parish was needed in the Pajaro Valley and chose the Corralitos area. He appointed Rev. James Kelly as missionary administrator to begin the work. The parish was formally established in 1969 under its first resident pastor, Rev. Harry Freiermuth, and has been served continuously by priest-pastors ever since. The Diocese of Monterey directory preserves the complete list of pastors from 1969 onward.
- 1965: Bishop Harry Clinch selects Corralitos as the site for a new Pajaro Valley parish.
- 1965–c.1969: Rev. James Kelly serves as the founding missionary administrator.
- 1969: Parish formally erected; founding year cited by the Diocese of Monterey.
- 1969–2011: Seven priests succeed Fr. Freiermuth (O'Sullivan, Watt, Shirley, Griffin, Murphy, Grimaldi).
- 2011–present: Rev. Derek Hughes becomes the eighth pastor.
Sacraments
Holy Eucharist prepares and celebrates the seven sacraments in a small-community setting. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered 'as announced and always by appointment' according to the diocesan directory. Baptism is coordinated through a dedicated staff member, Confirmation preparation is handled through the youth ministry office, and weddings, anointing of the sick and other needs are arranged through the parish office.
- Baptism: coordinated by Pat Thwing (per diocesan directory).
- Confirmation: coordinated by Paz Padilla, Confirmation Liaison / Youth Director.
- Reconciliation (Confession): as announced and by appointment — call 831-722-5490.
- Marriage: contact the parish office to begin preparation.
- Anointing of the Sick: by appointment.
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Father Derek Hughes and supported by a small bilingual staff whose names and roles are published in both English and Spanish. Dcn. Camerino Padilla is listed in the 2019/2020 diocesan directories. The office staff is bilingual and ready to assist with registration, sacraments, and general inquiries.
- Pastor: Rev. Derek Hughes
- Deacon: Dcn. Camerino Padilla (per Diocese of Monterey directory)
- Office Manager: Chris Rodriguez (Administradora de Oficina)
- Office Assistant: Letty Mejia (Asistente de Oficina)
- Director of Faith Formation: Maura Motta (Directora de Formación de Fe)
- Director of Music: Elizabeth Walsh (Directora de Música)
- Confirmation Liaison / Youth Director: Paz Padilla
- Custodian: Leticia Enriquez (Guardián)
- Maintenance: Jose Rufino (Mantenimiento)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation at Holy Eucharist serves both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking families under the direction of Maura Motta, who is also listed in the diocesan directory as the parish's Director of Spanish Ministry / Faith Formation. The program partners closely with the Confirmation liaison and youth director to walk children and teens through the sacraments.
- English- and Spanish-language faith formation classes for children.
- Confirmation preparation for teens, coordinated by Paz Padilla.
- Family-based sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation).
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners are invited to serve at Mass as Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors and Greeters — the three liturgical ministries with published sign-up schedules on the parish website. The music ministry, directed by Elizabeth Walsh, supports all weekend and weekday liturgies.
- Eucharistic Ministers — current/future schedule posted on parish website.
- Lectors — current/future schedule posted on parish website.
- Greeters — current/future schedule posted on parish website.
- Music Ministry — Director Elizabeth Walsh.
Hispanic / Spanish-Language Ministries
Holy Eucharist maintains a robust set of Hispanic ministries alongside its English ministries, reflecting the parish's bilingual identity. The Spanish Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 12:00 pm, and lectors, hospitality ministers (hospitalidad) and Eucharistic ministers (Ministros de Eucaristía) are scheduled for that liturgy.
- Spanish Sunday Mass at 12:00 pm.
- Lectores (Lectors for the Spanish Mass) — current/future schedule posted.
- Hospitalidad (Hospitality / Greeters for the Spanish Mass) — current/future schedule posted.
- Ministros de Eucaristía (Eucharistic Ministers for the Spanish Mass) — current/future schedule posted.
Outreach and Parish Life
Outreach is part of the parish's stewardship identity. The parish runs a 'Feed the Hungry' service ministry and a Scrip gift-card fundraising program, both of which appear on the official ministries page with current/future volunteer schedules. Holy Eucharist's pastor, Father Derek Hughes, also serves as the diocesan Respect Life director per the 2019/2020 diocesan directories, and the parish welcomes Respect Life involvement.
- Feed the Hungry — current/future volunteer schedule on website.
- Scrip — gift-card fundraising program, volunteer schedule posted.
- Respect Life — parish and diocesan involvement under Father Derek Hughes.
- Parish registration / family enrollment form available on the website.
Getting Involved and Parish Registration
New parishioners can register with the parish by downloading the Family Registration form published on the parish website. The completed form may be dropped at the parish office or placed in the collection basket. Volunteer opportunities are listed under each ministry on the website and are open to both English- and Spanish-speaking parishioners.
- Family Registration form — download, complete, and return to the office or the collection basket.
- Optional: weekly parish email newsletter sign-up on the registration form.
- Optional: weekly contribution envelopes can be requested.
- Contact [email protected] or 831-722-5490 for more information.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Kelly1965–
Missionary administrator appointed by Bishop Harry Clinch in 1965 to establish the new parish in the Corralitos area of the Pajaro Valley.
- Rev. Harry Freiermuth1969–1971
First resident pastor of the formally erected parish (1969).
- Rev. Michael G. O'Sullivan1971–1974
- Rev. Joseph Watt1974–1983
- Rev. Ron Shirley1983–1989
- Rev. John C. Griffin1989–2001
- Rev. Paul P. Murphy2001–2008
- Rev. Joe Grimaldi2008–2011
- Rev. Derek Hughes2011–present
Current pastor; also serves as diocesan Respect Life director per the 2019 directory.