About Our Lady Help of Christians · Watsonville, California
Our Lady Help of Christians (Parroquia María Auxiliadora) is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish located in Watsonville, California, in the Diocese of Monterey. Known locally as OLHC, the parish serves a vibrant, multicultural community — celebrating Mass in English, Spanish, and Portuguese every Sunday — and supports faith formation, youth ministry, and outreach through a robust network of lay ministries led by Salesian (SDB) priests. The parish is staffed by the Salesians of Don Bosco and operates religious education programs for First Communion and Confirmation, alongside groups such as the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and various choirs.
- Established
- c. 1855 (150th anniversary celebrated 2005)
- Patron
- Our Lady Help of Christians (Mary Help of Christians / María Auxiliadora)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Paradayil, SDB
- Diocese
- Diocese of Monterey in California
Why belong here
Our Lady Help of Christians is a welcoming, trilingual Catholic community in Watsonville where the Salesian spirit of Don Bosco shapes parish life — with Mass celebrated in English, Spanish, and Portuguese every Sunday. Families find a complete sacramental and faith-formation program for First Communion and Confirmation, plus active choirs, a youth group, Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and ministries for the elderly and homebound. Parishioners can join a historic parish (founded around 1855) that still centers its mission on faith, youth, and outreach in the Pajaro Valley.
Mass times at Our Lady Help of Christians
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (English), or by appointment
- Sunday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Spanish) / Domingos 5:00 PM (Español), or by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration between the morning Masses on weekdays (after 7:00 AM Mass until the 9:00 AM Mass)
About Our Lady Help of Christians
Our Lady Help of Christians (known in Spanish as Parroquia María Auxiliadora) is a Salesian parish of the Diocese of Monterey serving the Watsonville / Pajaro Valley community. The parish gathers English-, Spanish-, and Portuguese-speaking Catholics around the celebration of the Eucharist, faith formation for children and adults, and outreach to those in need. Mass intentions, Gregorian Mass requests, and pastoral services are coordinated through the parish office on East Lake Avenue.
Parish History
Our Lady Help of Christians traces its roots in the Pajaro Valley to around 1855, with the parish celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2005. The community now belongs to the Diocese of Monterey in California and is staffed by priests of the Salesians of Don Bosco (Societas Don Bosco, SDB), an order with a centuries-old mission to evangelize and educate young people. Under Salesian leadership the parish has grown into a multilingual congregation that retains its rural Pajaro Valley character while serving modern families.
- 2005: Parish celebrated its 150th anniversary.
- Founded c. 1855 in the Pajaro Valley.
- Currently ministered by the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB).
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a complete Religious Education program (Programa de Educación Religiosa) preparing children for First Holy Communion and Confirmation, and an RCIA process for adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church. Bilingual staff coordinators support families throughout the year.
- First Holy Communion preparation — two-year program, classes on Saturdays at 11:00 AM, $80 fee
- Confirmation preparation — two-year program (First & Second Year), classes on Mondays at 6:00 PM, $100 fee
- Pre-Baptismal Class — Fr. Joseph Paradayil, SDB & Francisco Vásquez
- RCIA — Enrique Ramirez, Thomas & Margaret Hinga
- Required documents: Baptism (and First Communion) certificate, Safe Environment certificate, health insurance info
Parish Ministries & Groups
OLHC is supported by a broad network of lay-led ministries — from liturgical roles such as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and altar servers, to community and charitable groups including the Knights of Columbus and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Music is served by three distinct choirs reflecting the parish's three languages.
- Lectors: Maria Linan (Sp) / John Maraldo (Eng)
- Eucharistic Ministers: Luis Gonzalez (Sp) / Judy Goscila (Eng)
- Altar Servers: Isabel & Antonio Langarica
- Altar Society: Mildred McCabe & Joyce Kalich
- Knights of Columbus: Michael Condon
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Ushers: Francesco, Ron, Mike / Santiago
- Visit to the elderly (outreach)
- Youth Group: Ana Hernandez, Lorena Moran, Julian Collazo & Maria Linan
- ADMA Choir (Jose Luis Ojeda and group)
- Don Bosco Choir (Saulo Tirado & Group)
- Coro Semillas de Don Bosco (Antonio Langarica & Group)
- Hispanic Celebration/Events; Portuguese Celebration/Events
- Finance Committee: Janice Shaffer
Clergy & Staff
The parish is pastorally served by the Salesians of Don Bosco, with a small team of ordained priests supported by lay parish staff handling religious education, finance, and administration.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph Paradayil, SDB
- Priest (Quinceañera preparation): Fr. Luis Alfredo Oyarzo, SDB
- Parish Secretary: (831) 722-2665
- Finance & Religious Education Coordinator: Lorena López — (831) 722-2392
- Religious Education Coordinator: Felicia Villalobos — (831) 722-2392
- Staff: Maria Linan, Marisabel Abundis
Sacraments
Sacramental preparation at OLHC covers the full Catholic sacramental life — Baptism with pre-baptismal class, First Communion and Confirmation in a multi-year faith-formation program, Reconciliation offered regularly on weekends, Marriage preparation, the RCIA process for adults, and Quinceañera preparation for teens.
- Baptism
- First Holy Communion
- Confirmation (two-year program)
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Marriage (Matrimony)
- RCIA
- Quinceañera preparation
Live-Stream & Online Mass
The parish live-streams select Masses so that homebound parishioners and those unable to attend in person can remain connected to the liturgical life of OLHC. Both English and Spanish Masses are broadcast.
- Live-stream English Mass available on the parish website
- Live-stream Spanish Mass (Misa en Español) available on the parish website
Visit Us & Contact
Our Lady Help of Christians is located at 2401 East Lake Avenue, Watsonville, CA 95076. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:30 PM–5:00 PM, and can be reached at (831) 722-2665 or by email.
- Address: 2401 East Lake Avenue, Watsonville, CA 95076
- Parish office: (831) 722-2665 | Fax: (831) 722-8305
- Religious Education: (831) 722-2392
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:30 PM–5:00 PM
- Directions: Hwy. 1 South to Airport Blvd. → left → continue to East Lake Ave. → left; church on the left.