About Holy Spirit · San Diego, California
Holy Spirit Catholic Church is a trilingual Roman Catholic parish in the Oak Park neighborhood of San Diego, California, belonging to the Diocese of San Diego. Founded in 1952 by Bishop Charles Francis Buddy, the First Bishop of San Diego, it sits on five acres that Bishop Buddy envisioned as 'the last hill that overlooked the growing city.' Today, with more than 1,500 registered families, the parish celebrates Mass in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese every week, runs a year-round Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel, and is widely known for its warm, ethnically diverse 'one community' identity. Its current pastor, Fr. Dickens Remy, has shepherded the parish since March 2017, alongside associate pastor Fr. Phien Van Pham and a large lay staff.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- The Holy Spirit
- Rector
- Fr. Dickens Remy
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
Holy Spirit is a 1,500-family, trilingual parish where English, Spanish, and Vietnamese Catholics worship side by side — a true reflection of its Oak Park neighborhood. It offers daily and weekend Mass in three languages, year-round Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (7:30 AM to 10:00 PM, seven days a week), an active youth group, OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults, religious education in all three languages, and a deep bench of lay ministries for every age and stage of Catholic life. With its long history — seven pastors strong since 1952 — it offers both the rootedness of tradition and the warmth of a parish that calls itself 'a house of God, but also a home.'
Mass times at Holy Spirit
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 3:00 PM (Sacrament of Reconciliation)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Perpetual Chapel: 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM, seven days a week
History of Holy Spirit Parish
Holy Spirit Catholic Church was founded in 1952 in the Oak Park neighborhood of San Diego by Bishop Charles Francis Buddy, the first Bishop of San Diego. Bishop Buddy envisioned a five-acre campus of church, school, rectory, convent, and hall on what he called 'the last hill that overlooked the growing city.' Fr. Edward Johnson served as founding pastor, gathering the first community in a converted garage at 5204 Maple Street before moving Sunday Masses to the El Morocco Club. The parish has since been served by seven pastors and has grown from those humble beginnings into a 1,500-family, trilingual faith community.
- Founded 1952 by Bishop Charles Francis Buddy on five acres in Oak Park
- First oratory: converted garage at 5204 Maple Street
- First public Sunday Masses: El Morocco Club
- Church dedicated by Bishop Buddy on December 11, 1955
- Parish Hall (O'Leary Hall) dedicated December 12, 1963
- Perpetual Chapel of Adoration established in 1984
- Parish school closed in 1994; building now used by Nativity Prep Academy and Religious Education
Devotions & Prayer
Beyond Mass and Adoration, Holy Spirit offers several regular communal prayers. Morning Prayer from the Divine Office is prayed Monday through Friday at 7:10 AM, and the parish gathers for the Our Mother of Perpetual Help novena on Tuesdays immediately after the 7:30 AM daily Mass.
- Morning Prayer (Divine Office): Mon–Fri at 7:10 AM
- Our Mother of Perpetual Help Devotion: Tuesdays after 7:30 AM daily Mass
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Holy Spirit offers catechetical programs in all three of its parish languages. English, Spanish, and Vietnamese Religious Education programs are staffed by dedicated coordinators and prepare children for the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. The parish also runs an O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — formerly R.C.I.A.) process for adults seeking to become Catholic, with classroom meetings held in the Meeting Room between Mercy Hall and the church parking lot.
- Religious Education (English): [email protected], (619) 322-7332
- Religious Education (Spanish): [email protected], (619) 957-5937
- Religious Education (Vietnamese): [email protected], (619) 261-5556
- O.C.I.A. (RCIA) Coordinator: Steve Coram, [email protected], (619) 248-2820
Youth Group
The Holy Spirit Youth Group is led by its own alumni and aims to provide quality religious instruction for high school youth while preparing them for Confirmation and fostering a community of faith. Meetings are held in person on Sundays from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at O'Leary Hall.
- Meets Sundays 6:30–8:30 PM in O'Leary Hall
- Confirmation preparation and community formation
- Contact: Anita Branch, (619) 277-1256
- Social: facebook.com/groups/holyspiritYG, Instagram @hs.yg, Snapchat @yg.holyspirit
O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
O.C.I.A. — formerly known as R.C.I.A. — is the parish's formation process for adults discerning entry into full communion with the Catholic Church. Coordinator Steve Coram leads adult sessions in the Meeting Room between Mercy Hall and the church gate. Candidates are asked to bring a public birth certificate, Baptism certificate, and First Communion certificate to their first meeting.
- Coordinator: Steve Coram ([email protected])
- Adults only — child care should be arranged separately
- Class meets in the Meeting Room near Mercy Hall
- Downloadable O.C.I.A. Registration Form and Calendar on parish website
Sacraments & Special Rites
Holy Spirit celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments plus Quinceañera and Vocations support. Preparation for Marriage requires contacting the parish at least nine (9) months in advance. Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, the Rite of Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, and Funeral rites are coordinated through the parish office.
- Baptism (English & Spanish coordinator: (619) 850-6109)
- First Communion
- Confirmation
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Marriage — contact 9 months in advance: (619) 262-2435
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funerals
- Quinceañera
- Vocation discernment
Parish Staff
Holy Spirit is served by a pastor, associate pastor, business manager, and a multilingual team of religious education coordinators, youth ministers, and office staff. The Pastoral Center is located in Mercy Hall, the former convent, on the parish grounds.
- Fr. Dickens Remy — Pastor
- Fr. Phien Van Pham — Associate Pastor
- Linda Towne — Business Manager ([email protected], ext. 200)
- Accounting/Finance Office (ext. 201, [email protected])
- Miguel Briones — (parish staff)
- Tania Vidal — (parish staff)
- Victor Kim — Youth Group ([email protected], (619) 905-6158)
- Elodia Castillo — (parish staff)
- Le Do — Vietnamese Religious Education ([email protected], (619) 261-5556)
- Erica Manjarrez — Spanish Religious Education ([email protected], (619) 957-5937)
- Patti Sierra — Marriages ((619) 262-2435)
- Steve Coram — O.C.I.A. Instructor ((619) 248-2820)
- Maintenance: (619) 262-2435
- Media: [email protected], ext. 203
Visit, Register & Get Involved
Newcomers are warmly welcomed at Holy Spirit. Registration can be completed online via the parish website, by printing and returning a paper Registration Form (available in English and Spanish) to the Pastoral Office, or by visiting the office in person during open hours.
- Online registration form on the parish 'Join' page
- Parish Registration Form (English) — PDF download
- Parish Registration Form (Spanish) — PDF download
- In-person registration at the Pastoral Office in Mercy Hall
Contact, Hours & Location
Holy Spirit Catholic Church is located at 2725 55th Street, San Diego, CA 92105, in the Oak Park neighborhood. Parish offices are open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, closed for lunch from 12:00 to 1:00 PM. The office is closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Phone: (619) 262-2435; Fax: (619) 262-8718.
- Address: 2725 55th Street, San Diego, CA 92105
- Phone: (619) 262-2435
- Fax: (619) 262-8718
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed 12–1 PM); Fri/Sat/Sun closed
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Edward Johnson1952–1955
Founding pastor. Established oratory at 5204 Maple Street and Sunday Masses at the El Morocco Club; transferred to found a new parish in Kearney Mesa.
- Fr. Joseph P. O'Leary (later Msgr.)1955–1964
Second pastor. Built the church (dedicated Dec 11, 1955) and the Parish Hall (dedicated Dec 12, 1963); the hall was later named O'Leary Hall in his honor. Retired and returned to Ireland in 1964.
- Msgr. William A. Bergin1964–1988
Third pastor (24 years). Established the Perpetual Chapel of Adoration in 1984, the Renew Program, RCIA, lectors, and Eucharistic ministers; named the hall O'Leary Hall and added the Bungalow.
- Fr. Dennis Mikulanis (later Msgr.)1988–1992
Fourth pastor. Supported the parish school with Education Committee and Finance Council; removed communion rails and expanded lay liturgical ministry. Transferred July 1992.
- Msgr. Roger A. Lechner1992–~2015
Fifth pastor. Founded Pastoral Council of Ministries; launched the parish Passion Play (1993–2003); welcomed Vietnamese associate Fr. Doan Van Lai in 1993; led unification of English, Spanish, and Vietnamese communities.
- Fr. Joseph Freeman2015–2017
Sixth pastor. Revamped and restructured the church and renovated the sanctuary; Fr. Phien Pham assigned as associate pastor during his tenure.
- Fr. Dickens Remy2017–present
Seventh and current head pastor. Joined Holy Spirit in March 2017 with a vision of continuing the work of his predecessors as 'one community.'