About Mary Help of Christians Center · Stockton, California
Mary Help of Christians Center (often abbreviated MHOCC) is a Vietnamese Catholic mission in Stockton, California, operated under St. Luke Church in the Diocese of Stockton. It serves as the gathering place for the Vietnamese Catholic community of the greater Stockton area, celebrating Mass in Vietnamese on Sundays, weekdays, and Saturdays, and running an extensive Saturday catechism program that forms young Catholics in both the Catholic faith and Vietnamese language, culture, and identity. The center also hosts Don Bosco Youth, an active youth ministry connected to the Salesian family.
- Patron
- Mary Help of Christians (Our Lady of the Christians)
- Rector
- Administered under St. Luke Church, Stockton (pastor of St. Luke's parish serves the Vietnamese mission)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Stockton
Why belong here
Mary Help of Christians Center is the spiritual home for Vietnamese Catholics in Stockton and the surrounding San Joaquin County, offering the Mass in Vietnamese every day of the week plus a Saturday Vigil Mass. Families who want their children formed in both the Catholic faith and Vietnamese language and culture will find a structured eight-year Saturday catechism program, with Confession in year three and Confirmation in year eight, plus an active youth group (Don Bosco Youth / MHOCC) that gathers with other Salesian young people for fellowship and vocation formation. Visitors are warmly welcomed into a community that blends Catholic liturgical life with Vietnamese traditions and celebrations.
Mass times at Mary Help of Christians Center
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (before the 6:00 PM Vigil Mass)
- Saturday — also by appointment at St. Luke Church (209) 948-3450
About Mary Help of Christians Center
Mary Help of Christians Center (MHOCC) is the Vietnamese Catholic mission of Stockton, California, situated within the Diocese of Stockton and administered under Saint Luke Catholic Church. The mission exists to bring the Sacraments and Catholic formation to the Vietnamese-speaking faithful of San Joaquin County in their own language and culture. Its patroness is Mary Help of Christians (Our Lady of the Christians), honored liturgically on May 24.
Vietnamese Catholic Identity and Community Life
From its founding, the center has been a Vietnamese-language faith community under the pastoral umbrella of St. Luke's. Mass is celebrated in Vietnamese every day of the week. Vietnamese culture and traditions are celebrated alongside the Catholic liturgical year — including holy days and priestly anniversaries — making the center a place where immigrant and American-born Vietnamese Catholics can find continuity between their faith and their heritage.
- All Masses celebrated in Vietnamese
- Vietnamese cultural traditions integrated with the liturgical year
- Recognized by the Federation of Vietnamese Catholics in the USA
Saturday Catechetical School (Faith Formation in Vietnamese)
The center runs a structured religious-education program that meets on Saturdays during the academic school year. Over the course of eight or more years, students are taught Catholic doctrine in Vietnamese alongside formation in Vietnamese identity, language, and culture. Uniforms are required for staff, students, and youth-group members, and games during break are part of the regular school day. The program dovetails the reception of the Sacraments with grade levels: students in their third year receive the Sacrament of Confession, and students in their eighth year receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
- Eight-plus-year curriculum in Catholic faith and Vietnamese culture
- Saturday classes during the academic year
- Confession in year three; Confirmation in year eight
- Uniforms required for staff, students, and youth-group members
Don Bosco Youth (MHOCC Youth Group)
Mary Help of Christians Center's youth ministry, known as Don Bosco Youth, is affiliated with the Salesian family. Graduates of the Saturday catechetical school are invited to remain active in the youth group as leaders, friends, and role models for the younger students. The group has joined with St. Anthony's Youth Group in Oakland and other Northern California Salesian youth for joint gatherings that include Mass, fellowship, and vocation-animation panels with priests, brothers, sisters, and men in formation. Young people from MHOCC have served as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and altar servers at these gatherings.
- Salesian-affiliated youth group based at MHOCC
- Joint gatherings with other Northern California Salesian youth for vocation animation
- Graduates serve as leaders and role models for current students
Sacraments and Devotions
The center celebrates the Sacraments in Vietnamese for its community. The Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses fulfill the Sunday obligation; daily Mass is offered Monday through Friday. Confession is scheduled before the Saturday Vigil, and individual confessions can be arranged through the St. Luke parish office. Confirmation and First Reconciliation are given in the context of the catechetical school program.
- Sunday and daily Mass in Vietnamese
- Saturday Vigil and Holy Day Vigil Masses in Vietnamese
- Confession: Saturday 5:00–6:00 PM
- Confirmation in year eight of catechism; First Reconciliation in year three
Contact, Location and Parent Parish
Mary Help of Christians Center is located at 1616 Pyrenees Avenue, Stockton, CA 95210, in the 95210 ZIP code. Phone contact for the center is (209) 477-6295. Because the mission is administered under Saint Luke Catholic Church, scheduling one-on-one confessions and other appointments is handled through the St. Luke parish office at (209) 948-3450.
- Address: 1616 Pyrenees Avenue, Stockton, CA 95210
- Phone: (209) 477-6295
- Parent parish: St. Luke Catholic Church, 3847 N. Sutter St, Stockton — (209) 948-3450