About Immaculate Heart of Mary · Ramona, California
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of San Diego serving the Catholic faithful of Ramona, California, in San Diego County's backcountry. Founded in 1947 and formally established as a parish with its own church building dedicated in 1950, IHM has grown from a small adobe chapel seating 156 to a 500-seat worship space dedicated in 1990. The parish celebrates Mass in English and Spanish, offers a robust Faith Formation program for children and youth, and sustains an extensive network of lay ministries — from the Knights of Columbus and Legion of Mary to a Fil-Am Group, Cursillo, and a Hispanic prayer movement called Unidos en la Fe.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- Immaculate Heart of Mary (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Ignatius Dibeashi
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
IHM is a bilingual, mission-driven Catholic community rooted in the backcountry of San Diego County. Parishioners can attend daily Mass, weekly Spanish Mass, monthly evening Spanish Mass, First Friday all-day Eucharistic Adoration, and Saturday confessions — and then put their faith into action through more than thirty lay ministries, including a vibrant Faith Formation program for K-12, a high-school youth ministry with Core Team, OCIA (formerly RCIA), the Knights of Columbus Council #9133, Legion of Mary, Cursillo, Feed the Hungry, Prayers & Squares, and Spanish-language movements like Unidos en la Fe and the Guadalupano group. The parish's mission statement — 'United in faith and hope, though diverse, we … pledge to listen attentively to God's word and then respond in loving service, with Mary as our model' — captures what daily life here looks like.
Mass times at Immaculate Heart of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30pm
- Or by appointment (call parish office)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month: 8:00am–8:00pm (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
About Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church (IHM) is the Catholic parish serving the community of Ramona, California, in the backcountry of San Diego County. The parish belongs to the Diocese of San Diego and gathers Catholics and their neighbors at 537 E Street. Its mission statement reads: 'United in faith and hope, though diverse, we — the Catholic faithful of Ramona — pledge to listen attentively to God's word and then respond in loving service, with Mary as our model.' IHM celebrates Mass in English and Spanish, offers daily and weekend worship, weekly Confession, First Friday all-day Adoration, and supports more than thirty active lay ministries and groups.
- Parish Mission: 'United in Faith and hope, though diverse, we – the Catholic faithful of Ramona – pledge to listen attentively to God's word and then respond in loving service, with Mary as our model.'
- Bilingual parish: English and Spanish Masses, ministries, and sacramental prep
- Diocese: Diocese of San Diego
- Address: 537 E Street, Ramona, CA 92065
Parish History
Catholic life in Ramona predates the parish by more than 150 years. Franciscan Fathers traveling with Spanish soldiers reached the Santa Maria Valley around 1795 and named it for the Virgin Mary because the surrounding hills resembled a woman in repose. For generations afterward, local Catholics met in private homes and other borrowed spaces — Mass was celebrated only when a priest could visit. A 1923 state brochure listed the Congregational and Friends churches as Ramona's only permanent houses of worship, with Catholics and Christian Scientists still gathering in temporary quarters. The modern parish was established in early 1947, with Father Andrew Hanley (later pastor emeritus of St. John the Evangelist in San Diego) as its founding pastor. San Diego architect Frank Hope Jr. designed the church; construction began in October 1949, with Catholics and non-Catholics working side by side. Bishop Charles Francis Buddy dedicated the original adobe building — seating 156 — on September 24, 1950. An expansion in 1983 raised capacity to 260. By the late 1980s the parish had outgrown the adobe, and on October 7, 1990, a much larger church (~500 seats) built across the street on donated land was dedicated. The 1950 adobe still stands and is used for Faith Formation classes and the parish's celebrated fundraising dinners — including an annual turkey dinner held every November for more than sixty years.
- 1795 — Franciscan Fathers arrive in Santa Maria (Pamo) Valley with Spanish soldiers
- 1947 — Parish formally established; Father Andrew Hanley named founding pastor
- 1949 — Construction of the original church begins
- 1950 — Original adobe church (architect: Frank Hope Jr.) dedicated by Bishop Charles Francis Buddy, September 24
- 1983 — Adobe expanded from 156 to 260 seats
- 1990 — New ~500-seat church dedicated, October 7
- Today — Original adobe in use as classrooms and parish hall
Pastoral & Office Staff
IHM is led by its pastor, supported by a small office team and a wide network of lay ministry leaders. Contact information for staff is published on the parish website.
- Fr. Ignatius Dibeashi — Pastor
- Wandaleen Kehler — Business Manager ([email protected])
- Anna Pastore — Bookkeeper
- Alvaro Ceballos — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Parish office: 760-789-0583 / [email protected]
Faith Formation & Religious Education
IHM runs a full Faith Formation program for children and youth, organized into elementary and high-school tracks. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist begins in the second grade; Confirmation preparation begins in high school. The parish also offers OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) for adults, and a separate RCIC track for older children. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis; parents must be registered parishioners and submit baptismal and First Communion certificates as required.
- Elementary Faith Formation — Sacramental prep for First Reconciliation & First Eucharist (begins 2nd grade)
- High School Faith Formation — Confirmation preparation (must be at least in high school)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- RCIC adapted for older children (two-year process)
- First Communions 2025 / Confirmation 2026 cohorts currently registering
Youth Group
IHM's High School Youth Ministry welcomes teens in 9th through 12th grade into a Christ-centered community that grows together in faith through spiritual, social, and service opportunities. The group is open to teens preparing for Confirmation as well as those already confirmed. A volunteer 'Core Team' of teens and adults helps shape the spiritual life of the ministry and serve at major parish events.
- Open to all 9th–12th grade teens (parishioners and visitors)
- Spiritual, social, and service components
- Core Team of teen and adult leaders
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments, with preparation programs tailored to each age and stage. Baptism for infants under seven is arranged through the parish office; older children and adults go through OCIA (adults) or RCIC (children), a two-year process. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are prepared for in second grade; Confirmation in high school. Couples must contact the parish office to begin marriage preparation, and the Anointing of the Sick is available for any baptized person of reason-age who is in danger of death from sickness or old age.
- Baptism — infants under 7 (office); older children & adults via OCIA/RCIC (2-year process)
- Eucharist — First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion prep begins in 2nd grade
- Confirmation — prep begins in high school
- Reconciliation — Sat 3:30pm or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — for any baptized person of reason-age facing serious illness
- Marriage — contact parish office for preparation
- Holy Orders — discernment information available
Directory of Ministries (Lay Apostolates & Devotional Groups)
IHM publishes a detailed directory of ministries, each with a lay contact person and phone number. The directory is bilingual, with parallel Spanish-language ministries for the Hispanic community. Ministries span liturgical service (Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers, Sacristanes, Hospitality), faith formation (Bible Study, Centering Prayer, Legion of Mary, Cursillo, Family Life & Spirituality), outreach (Feed the Hungry, Homebound visits, Hospital visits, Giving Tree, Social Justice, Recycling Program), and community life (Fil-Am Group, Knights of Columbus Council #9133, Prayers & Squares, Parish Nurses, Retrouvaille).
- Liturgical: Altar Servers, Art & Environment, Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Sacristanes, Hospitality
- Devotional/Prayer: Adoration, Bible Study (Thu 9am), Centering Prayer, Divine Mercy (1st Tue after 8:45am Mass), Legion of Mary (Tue 4:30pm), Rosary for Peace (Wed after daily Mass), Cursillo
- Outreach/Charity: Feed the Hungry, Giving Tree, Homebound visits, Recycling Program, Social Justice, Hearing Impaired ministry, Parish Nurses
- Community Life: Knights of Columbus Council #9133 (2nd Wed), Fil-Am Group, Prayers & Squares (prayer quilts), Retrouvaille of SoCal
- Hispanic Ministries: Grupo de Oración por la mañana, Eucaristía, Proclamadores de la Palabra, Hospitalidad, Sacristanes, Homebound visits, Servidores del Altar, OCIA, Movimiento Unidos en la Fe, Grupo Guadalupano, Divina Misericordia
Facilities & Location
IHM sits at the corner of 6th and E Streets in Ramona, just east of the town's historic downtown. The campus includes the 1990 church (~500 seats) with adjacent parking on the donated parcel across the street, and the original 1950 adobe building (expanded in 1983) which today houses classrooms and the parish hall used for Faith Formation, parish dinners, and the annual turkey dinner fundraiser. The parish office is open during regular hours at the same address.
- Address: 537 E Street, Ramona, CA 92065
- Phone: (760) 789-0583
- Email: [email protected]
- Corner of 6th & E Streets
- 1990 worship church (~500 seats) with adjacent parking
- 1950 adobe building in continuous use as classrooms and parish hall
Getting Involved & Contact
Newcomers can begin by attending any Mass, registering as parishioners, and exploring the Directory of Ministries. The parish maintains separate Faith Formation tracks for elementary and high-school students, a youth ministry for teens, OCIA for adults seeking initiation, and dozens of lay groups that meet weekly or monthly. Online giving, a current bulletin, and a parish calendar are available on the website. Mass Intentions are open and may be scheduled by contacting the parish office.
- Newcomers page: https://www.ihmramona.org/im-new-here
- Bulletin page: https://www.ihmramona.org/bulletin
- Calendar: https://www.ihmramona.org/calendar
- Online Giving: https://www.ihmramona.org/give
- Mass Intentions: contact parish office
- Office phone: (760) 789-0583
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Andrew Hanley1947 (founding pastor)
First resident pastor assigned to Ramona; later pastor emeritus of St. John the Evangelist, San Diego.