About La Purisima Concepcion · Lompoc, California
La Purisima Concepcion is a bilingual Catholic parish in Lompoc, California, serving the Lompoc Valley community with Masses in both English and Spanish. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and shares its name and spiritual heritage with nearby Mission La Purísima Concepción, the eleventh of California's historic Spanish missions, founded on December 8, 1787. Today the parish operates La Purísima School, a religious education program that prepares children for First Communion, Confirmation, and Post-Communion, and a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference that provides food, clothing, rent, and utility assistance to local families in need.
- Established
- 1875
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (La Purísima Concepción) — also sharing spiritual heritage with Mission La Purísima Concepción (founded 1787)
- Rector
- Rev. Jose Maria Ortiz (AKA "Chepe")
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Why belong here
La Purisima Concepcion welcomes English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics of the Lompoc Valley into a parish whose roots reach back to California's mission era and whose current church was built in 1961 to seat 920. Families can have their children educated in the Catholic faith through the parish school and a full religious education program that includes First Communion, two-year Confirmation preparation, Post-Communion classes, and RCIA for children. The parish's Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference actively helps local families with food, clothing, rent, and utilities and runs a Christmas Toy Drive (H.O.P.E.) that served 97 families and over 250 children in a recent year, while bilingual daily and weekend Masses, First Friday Adoration, and a 3:00 p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet and Rosary make regular prayer accessible throughout the week.
Mass times at La Purisima Concepcion
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Confessions are offered at the parish (specific weekly times are not listed on the parish website's published schedule; contact the parish office at (805) 735-3068 for the current confession schedule).
Adoration times
- First Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament — 8:30 AM (as published on the parish calendar).
- Divine Mercy Chaplet and Rosary — 3:00 PM daily (as published on the parish calendar).
History of La Purisima Concepcion
La Purisima Concepcion traces its identity to Mission La Purísima Concepción, founded December 8, 1787 by Fr. Lasuen as the eleventh California mission. After the mission's 1812 destruction by earthquake, Catholic life in what is now Lompoc continued through Mission Santa Inés until 1875, when Fr. McNally built the Old Frame Church on Olive and I Streets. The parish grew steadily through the 20th century, building a second church (dedicated 1920) and finally the current 920-seat church completed in 1961 and dedicated that December by Cardinal McIntyre. The parish's published history admits a gap in written records from 1968 onward.
- Mission La Purísima Concepción founded Dec. 8, 1787 by Fr. Lasuen at 'Paraje de Alascupi'
- First baptism: Francisco de Concepcion (Matzzaguit), April 9, 1788
- Adobe church built 1802 under Fr. Gregorio Fernández
- Mission relocated to Los Berros after Dec. 12, 1812 earthquake
- Old Frame Church built 1875 at Olive & I Sts.; services began Dec. 12, 1875
- Fr. John Reynolds became first resident pastor, December 1910
- 'Old La Purísima' built by Fr. Thomas Morris; dedicated Dec. 8, 1920 by Bishop Cantwell
- Current church completed May 1961; dedicated December 1961 by Cardinal McIntyre
- Parish history page notes a gap in records from 1968 to the present
Clergy & Parish Staff
La Purisima is pastored by Rev. Jose Maria Ortiz (commonly known as 'Chepe'), who can be reached through the parish office. He is assisted by two deacons and their wives — Deacon Miguel & Senaida Marquez and Deacon Paul & Suzanne Nicastro. Lay staff include the parish secretary, religious education coordinator, receptionist, bookkeeper, webmaster, school principal and secretary, grounds manager, and the St. Vincent de Paul contact, all listed on the parish contact page.
- Rev. Jose Maria Ortiz (Pastor, 'Chepe') — (805) 292-2192; [email protected]
- Deacon Miguel & Senaida Marquez
- Deacon Paul & Suzanne Nicastro
- Norma Solis — Parish Secretary / Secretaria Parroquial
- Leticia Diaz — Religious Education Coordinator / Coordinadora de Educación Religiosa
- Elena Uribe — Bookkeeper / Contadora
- Christine Grelck — Webmaster
- Juan Carlos Solorio — (staff role listed on contact page)
- Montse Aldaz — (staff role listed on contact page)
- Felipe Anguiano — Grounds Manager
- Idaelia Preciado — School Principal
- Deysi Arias — Administrative Assistant / School Secretary
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a comprehensive religious education program serving children from First Communion through high school Confirmation, as well as unbaptized or non-Catholic children through the RCIA for Children process. Classes begin the week of September 10 each year, with room assignments posted on the Religious Education blackboard in the school courtyard after 5:00 PM.
- First Holy Communion — two-year preparation, typically beginning 1st or 2nd grade; retreat required in year two; Reconciliation prior to Communion
- Confirmation — two-year process for ages 14–17; $100/year plus retreat/Youth Day fees
- Post-Communion classes — continued formation after First Communion; $40/year
- RCIA for Children (ages 8+) — unbaptized children prepare for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil
- Parental faith enrichment classes (two per month) required for Confirmation and RCIA families
- Weekly Sunday or Saturday Mass attendance required of all enrolled children
La Purisima School
The parish school, La Purisima School, was founded in 1957 with the help of two Sisters of Nazareth who traveled from Paris, France, arriving December 8, 1956. The school opened with six classrooms and 152 students on September 10, 1957, and has served the Lompoc Valley's Catholic families continuously since. The school operates under the parish and Archdiocese of Los Angeles and is staffed by a principal, an administrative assistant/school secretary, and parish catechists.
- Founded 1957; Sisters of Nazareth arrived from Paris, December 8, 1956
- Opened with 6 classrooms and 152 students on September 10, 1957
- Principal: Idaelia Preciado
- Administrative Assistant / School Secretary: Deysi Arias
- Office: 805-399-9564; [email protected]; [email protected]
Outreach: Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The parish hosts a Society of St. Vincent de Paul (Sociedad de San Vicente de Paúl) conference that assists Lompoc Valley families in need. The conference provides clothing, food, rent, and utility assistance and runs the H.O.P.E. (Helping Others Provide Enough) Christmas Toy Drive, which in a recent year served 97 families and over 250 children with three gifts each. A second collection for St. Vincent de Paul is taken up every fifth weekend of the month.
- Second collection every 5th weekend (English and Spanish announcement)
- H.O.P.E. Christmas Toy Drive — 3 gifts per child at no cost
- In 2015, the conference assisted nearly 300 people with $30,541 in aid
- Contact: (805) 735-3068; [email protected]
Sacraments
La Purisima celebrates all the usual sacraments of initiation, healing, and vocation, with bilingual preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage. RCIA is offered for children, while adult sacramental preparation is also supported through parish programs. Reconciliation must be received before First Communion, and the parish requires six months of preparation for a wedding.
- Baptism — English (10:30 AM) and Spanish (9:30 AM) dates on the parish calendar
- First Holy Communion — two-year preparation, Reconciliation required first
- Confirmation — two-year process, ages 14–17
- RCIA for Children — ages 8+
- Marriage — 6 months of preparation; out-of-diocese couples must begin with their local priest
- Penance / Reconciliation — see parish website
Safeguard the Children
The parish maintains an active Safeguard the Children Committee in accord with the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The committee is chaired by a parishioner and includes the pastor, director of religious education, school principal, office manager, secretary, VIRTUS facilitators, and parish volunteers. All adult volunteers who work with minors must complete VIRTUS 'Protecting God's Children' training, sign the Archdiocese guidelines, and complete a LiveScan background check.
- Quarterly committee meetings
- VIRTUS 'Protecting God's Children' adult awareness training required
- LiveScan background check through the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
- Annual 'Teaching Touching Safety' or approved safe-environment education for students
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach La Purisima at 213 W. Olive Ave., Lompoc, CA 93436, by phone at (805) 735-3068, or by email through [email protected]. The parish office is staffed by Norma Solis (secretary), Leticia Diaz (religious education), Elena Uribe (bookkeeper), and others listed on the contact page. Pastor Rev. Jose Maria Ortiz can be reached at (805) 292-2192 or [email protected].
- Address: 213 W. Olive Ave., Lompoc, CA 93436
- Parish office phone: (805) 735-3068
- Pastor's direct line: (805) 292-2192
- Email: [email protected]
- Mass times, confession, adoration, and school links on the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Vicente Fuster1787–
First pastor of Mission La Purísima Concepción, appointed by Fr. Lasuen; first baptism April 9, 1788.
- Fr. José Arroita1787–
Assistant to Fr. Fuster; performed the first baptism recorded at the mission.
- Fr. Gregorio Fernández1802–
Built the first adobe church dedicated December 8, 1802.
- Fr. Mariano Payaros (Payeros)c. 1810–
Completed a large catechism in the native language; led the relocation of the mission to Los Berros after the 1812 earthquake.
- Fr. McNally1875–
Rector of Mission Santa Inés who spearheaded the building of the Old Frame Church in Lompoc, dedicated December 12, 1875.
- Fr. John ReynoldsDecember 1910–
First resident pastor of the new La Purísima parish.
- Fr. Raley
Succeeded Fr. Reynolds; erected the concrete illuminated cross near the old mission site and built the rectory.
- Fr. Woodcutter
Enlarged the rectory built by Fr. Raley.
- Fr. Thomas MorrisJune 1918–
Built the 'old La Purísima' church at a cost of $26,000 within two years; dedicated by Bishop Cantwell on December 8, 1920.
- Rev. Andrew McGrathFebruary 1955 – December 31, 1986
Long-tenured pastor; oversaw explosive parish growth (333% by 1968), founded La Purísima School (opened 1957 with the Sisters of Nazareth), and built the current 920-seat church completed 1961.