About Holy Trinity · El Cajon, California
Holy Trinity Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego located at 405 Ballard Street in El Cajon, California. Tracing its origins to 1903, when pioneering Spanish priest Father Anthony Ubach first served El Cajon on horseback from Mission San Diego, it is the oldest Catholic parish in East County San Diego and the mother parish from which four other El Cajon parishes later spun off. The parish community lives by the motto "Believing, Belonging, Becoming," gathers for daily and Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, runs an attached K–8 school (Holy Trinity School) with an Early Childhood Development Center, and supports an active parish food bank, Knights of Columbus council, RCIA/RICA program, youth ministry, and bilingual liturgical choirs.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- Most Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
- Rector
- Rev. Reynaldo (Rey) Manahan
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
Holy Trinity offers a deeply rooted bilingual Catholic community where new arrivals, returning Catholics, and longtime parishioners worship side by side under the motto "Believing, Belonging, Becoming." Members can celebrate Mass in English or Spanish any day of the week, grow in faith through a robust Faith Formation program and bilingual RCIA/RICA process, send their children to the parish's own K–8 Catholic school with an Early Childhood Development Center, and put their faith into action through ministries like the weekly parish Food Bank, Knights of Columbus, Prayers & Squares quilt ministry, Guadalupana Association, and active youth ministry. As the mother parish of El Cajon — over 120 years old — it pairs historic stability with the warmth of a tight-knit, multi-generational family.
Mass times at Holy Trinity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Monday 7:00 am – 8:00 am (Eucharistic Adoration)
- Tuesday 7:00 am – 8:00 am (Eucharistic Adoration)
- Wednesday 7:00 am – 8:00 am (Eucharistic Adoration)
- Thursday 7:00 am – 8:00 am (Eucharistic Adoration)
- Friday 7:00 am – 8:00 am (Eucharistic Adoration)
About Holy Trinity Parish
Holy Trinity Catholic Church is a bilingual English/Spanish parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, located at 405 Ballard Street in El Cajon, California. The parish believes in and proclaims the Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity — One God in Three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit — and gathers as God's people to worship Him and to be renewed in faith, hope and love. Members come from a diversity of cultures, ages, states in life, ethnic heritage and backgrounds, yet all are united in One Body, the Church, through the celebration of the Eucharist. The parish lives by the motto "Believing, Belonging, Becoming" and invites anyone — Catholic, Christian of another tradition, seeker, or visitor — to share in the parish's life and mission.
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
- Motto: Believing, Belonging, Becoming
- Bilingual: English and Spanish
- Address: 405 Ballard Street, El Cajon, CA 92019
- Office: (619) 444-9425 — Monday–Friday 8:30 am–5:00 pm (closed for lunch 12:30–1:30), Sunday 8:30 am–12:00 pm (closed Wednesdays and Saturdays)
Parish History
Holy Trinity traces its origins to 1903, when Father Edmond Lapointe became pastor of the first Catholic parish in El Cajon, originally known as Mission Saint Mary's — which had been served on horseback by Father Anthony Ubach riding up from San Diego. A fire on Holy Saturday 1917 destroyed the original church and all pre-1917 sacramental records. The parish rebuilt on Magnolia Avenue, then moved to the present Ballard Street site in the 1950s under Father Edward Kokoszka, who famously erected an old Camp Callen barracks as a church while funds were raised for a permanent one. Monsignor Patrick Walsh completed the new church, dedicated May 24, 1959 by Bishop Richard Ackerman; each furnishing was paid for by a different parish family. From 1903 to 2016, 16 pastors and 46 associates served here, recording over 11,000 baptisms. Four daughter parishes were eventually founded: St. Louise de Marillac (1944), Our Lady of Grace (1955), St. Kieran (1958), and St. Luke (1985).
- 1903 – Father Edmond Lapointe becomes first pastor of Mission Saint Mary's
- 1917 – Holy Saturday fire destroys old church and pre-1917 records
- 1948–49 – All Western Days fundraisers at Gillespie Field (Bing Crosby, Andy Devine, Jimmy Durante, etc.) raise $100,000+
- 1951 – Holy Trinity School welcomes first students, staffed by Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters
- 1955 – Parish moves from Magnolia Avenue to present Ballard Street site
- May 24, 1959 – Bishop Richard H. Ackerman dedicates the new church
- February 1983 – Multi-purpose building with classrooms, kitchen and banquet hall dedicated
- July 1, 2019 – Father Reynaldo Manahan appointed pastor
Our Pastor — Fr. Reynaldo Manahan
Father Reynaldo (Rey) Manahan is the current pastor of Holy Trinity, appointed on July 1, 2019. He first joined the Diocese of San Diego in 2003, served as associate pastor at Mary, Star of the Sea in La Jolla for five years, and then spent eleven years as pastor of Mission San Antonio de Pala before coming to El Cajon. Arriving just before the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Father Rey — alongside associate pastor Fr. Rey Evangelista — became one of only a handful of local pastors to video Mass every weekend and upload it so parishioners could continue to celebrate "in their church," and later to celebrate outdoor Masses on the school grounds when indoor gathering resumed. He writes: "I believe that coming together as a Parish and continuing to actively live our faith through our actions is the key to a fully alive and vibrant church. I'm blessed to have been given this opportunity to serve our parish and school."
- Email: [email protected]
- Joined Diocese of San Diego: 2003
- Prior assignments: Mary Star of the Sea, La Jolla (associate); Mission San Antonio de Pala (pastor, 11 years)
- Appointed to Holy Trinity: July 1, 2019
Parish Staff
The parish is served by a full team of clergy and lay staff based out of the Ministry Center (formerly the rectory, converted under Father Stephen Dunn in 1986).
- Fr. Reynaldo Manahan — Pastor ([email protected])
- Carol Ballard — Religious Education & Liturgy Coordinator / Vice Principal ([email protected], 619-444-9402)
- Leticia Trent — Religious Education Coordinator, Spanish ([email protected], 619-444-5041)
- Glenn Meyer — RCIA Coordinator ([email protected], 619-992-6319)
- Manuel & Patty Jimenez — RICA Coordinator, Spanish (619-444-9425)
- Wendy Andersen — Choir Director, English ([email protected], 619-994-7203)
- Jorge Gonzalez — Choir Director, Spanish / Outreach Ministry Coordinator ([email protected], 619-260-5561; [email protected])
- Andrea Gutierrez — Youth Ministry ([email protected])
- Vicki Matt — Preschool Director ([email protected], 619-444-1052)
- Judy Piccone — Business Manager ([email protected], 619-444-9425)
- Rosio Anaya — Administrative Assistant ([email protected], 619-444-9425)
- Farrah Ferreira — Hall Manager ([email protected], 619-760-3698)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Holy Trinity has an outstanding Faith Formation program for First Grade through High School, with classes offered in both English and Spanish. Students come from many different elementary schools throughout the county. The program mission is to make disciples of the children and their parents through sacramental preparation and ongoing formation in the Catholic Faith.
- Grades 1–6 English: Wednesdays 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm on the school campus
- Grades 1–6 Spanish: Sundays 10:00 am – 11:30 am
- Middle School (English & Spanish): Sundays 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm in the Parish Hall
- High School (1st & 2nd year): Sundays 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm in the Parish Hall
- Contact: Carol Ballard (English), Leticia Trent (Spanish)
- Program fees (parishioner/non): 1 child $80/$120; 2 children $120/$160; 3 $160/$200; 4 $200/$240
RCIA / RICA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA / RICA in Spanish) is the parish's process for adults — the unbaptized, baptized Christians of other faith traditions, returning Catholics, and anyone curious about the faith — to explore, discover, and deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ and enter into Christian discipleship through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Classes are interactive, presented in both English and Spanish by experienced instructors, and meet Tuesday evenings from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm in the Parish Hall, beginning the Tuesday after Labor Day.
- RCIA (English) Coordinator: Glenn Meyer — [email protected]
- RICA (Spanish) Coordinator: Manuel & Patty Jimenez
- Class time: Tuesday 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm in the Parish Hall
- Open to unbaptized adults, Christians seeking full communion, and returning Catholics
Sacraments
Holy Trinity prepares children, teens, and adults for the full sacramental life of the Church, with age-appropriate programs for First Eucharist, Confirmation, Baptism, Marriage, and the Anointing of the Sick. Adults who have not yet received their sacraments do so through the RCIA / RICA process.
- First Eucharist / First Communion — preparation begins in 1st and 2nd grade (or via RCIA for adults)
- Confirmation — preparation begins around 9th grade (or via RCIA for adults)
- Baptism — preparation available through Faith Formation program
- Marriage — contact the Ministry Center at (619) 444-9425
- Anointing of the Sick and Funerals — available through the parish
Holy Trinity School & Early Childhood Development Center
Holy Trinity School continues as an outstanding Catholic school offering an Early Childhood Development Center (Preschool) and K–8th grade curriculum, providing children of East County with a Christ-centered, quality education and formation. The school strives toward academic excellence while maintaining a strong foundation rooted in the Catholic Christian faith. Father Stephen Dunn initiated the process of making the school financially independent of the parish and was instrumental in founding the ECDC preschool in the Convent facility.
- Preschool (Early Childhood Development Center) — Director: Vicki Matt ([email protected], 619-444-1052)
- K–8th grade Catholic education
- Opened September 1951, originally staffed by the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters
- Vice Principal: Carol Ballard (619-444-7529)
Service Ministries & Outreach
The parish operates a number of service and outreach ministries that put faith into action, including a weekly Food Bank for community neighbors, the Knights of Columbus council, the interfaith Prayers & Squares quilt ministry, the Guadalupana Association, and the parish's signature community-building events such as the Parish Festival (celebrating the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity) and the Follow the Star Advent celebration.
- Parish Food Bank — Wednesdays 10:00 am – 12:00 noon at the main entrance of the Parish Hall; all-volunteer; serves homeless and families in need
- Knights of Columbus — meets 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Parish Hall; contact John Mountain (619-654-4113)
- Prayers & Squares — interfaith quilt ministry; meets 1st & 3rd Saturdays 10:00 am – 1:00 pm in the Parish Hall Conference Room; contact Lenore Wade (619-442-0202)
- Guadalupana Association
- Outreach Ministry Coordinator: Jorge Gonzalez ([email protected])
- Parish Festival (Feast of the Most Holy Trinity) and Follow the Star (Advent) celebrations
Liturgy, Music & Devotions
Liturgy and music are central to parish life at Holy Trinity, with separate English and Spanish choirs leading worship at the weekend Masses. The parish also maintains a rich devotional life including daily Eucharistic Adoration, the First Saturday Devotion, weekly Our Lady of Perpetual Help devotion, and the Prayers & Squares prayer-and-quilt ministry.
- English Choir Director: Wendy Andersen
- Spanish Choir Director: Jorge Gonzalez
- Eucharistic Adoration: Mon–Fri 7:00 am – 8:00 am
- First Saturday Devotion: 7:00 am on the 1st Saturday of each month
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Tuesdays 8:30 am – 9:00 am
- Prayers & Squares: 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Visit, Register & Contact
Whether you are a visitor, new to the area, or seeking to return to the practice of the faith, Holy Trinity invites you to become part of its Catholic Christian family. Online registration forms are available in both English and Spanish, and the Ministry Center staff can answer any questions about parish life, sacraments, and ministries.
- Address: 405 Ballard Street, El Cajon, CA 92019
- Phone (Ministry Center): (619) 444-9425
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 am–5:00 pm (closed 12:30–1:30 for lunch); Sun 8:30 am–12:00 pm; closed Wednesdays and Saturdays
- Online Parish Registration Form (English and Español) available on the website
- Newcomers welcome — "Bienvenido • Mabuhay • مرحبا"
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Anthony Ubachpre-1903
Pioneering Spanish priest who rode on horseback once a month from San Diego to serve the El Cajon valley.
- Father Edmond Lapointe1903–
Young French Canadian priest; became first pastor of Mission Saint Mary's (later Holy Trinity); poor health.
- Father Leo Davislate 1940s–early 1950s
Built the parish school; invited Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters to staff it; welcomed first students September 1951.
- Father Edward KokoszkaJuly 1952–
Expanded the four-room school, completed the convent, moved church to Ballard Street using a Camp Callen barracks, built the rectory.
- Bishop Richard Ackerman1956 (6 months)
San Diego Auxiliary Bishop; served briefly as pastor.
- Monsignor Patrick Gerald Walsh1957–1986
Longest-serving pastor; built and dedicated the new church on May 24, 1959; added the multi-purpose hall (Feb 1983).
- Father Stephen Dunn1986–
Scripture scholar and liturgist; converted rectory into Ministry Center; founded Holy Trinity Seniors and the ECDC preschool.
- Father Brian Hayes2006–2015
Pastor's term per parish history page.
- Father Eddie Ruiz2015–
Homecoming appointment; had previously been an associate under Father Corcoran, 2000–2004.
- Father Reynaldo ManahanJuly 1, 2019–present
Appointed July 1, 2019; previously associate pastor at Mary Star of the Sea La Jolla and pastor of Mission San Antonio de Pala for 11 years; led parish through COVID with online and outdoor Masses.