About Our Lady of Guadalupe · Chula Vista, California
Our Lady of Guadalupe (Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish at 345 Anita Street in Chula Vista, California, in the Diocese of San Diego. Founded in 1944 to serve a growing Spanish-speaking community in the Otay area, the parish has been entrusted since 2017 to the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo (Scalabrinians), a religious congregation dedicated to the pastoral care of migrants, refugees, and seafarers. The current church, dedicated November 28, 1993, is the third home of the parish and is most often filled for the Spanish-language Masses that dominate its weekly schedule, with one English Mass on Sunday morning. The parish supports the Casa del Migrante in Tijuana and, since late 2023, has hosted an overnight shelter for refugees in San Diego.
- Established
- 1944
- Patron
- Our Lady of Guadalupe (Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe)
- Rector
- Rev. Hily Gonzales, C.S.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
Our Lady of Guadalupe offers a rare combination in the South Bay: a primarily Spanish-speaking Catholic community with weekday and Sunday Masses in Spanish and one Sunday Mass in English, daily exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and a clear missionary heart. Under the Scalabrinians since 2017, the parish is a hub of migrant and refugee ministry — supporting the Casa del Migrante in Tijuana and hosting overnight shelter for refugees in San Diego — alongside long-standing Guadalupana, Altar Society, Nocturnal Adoration, Knights of Columbus, youth, and young-adult groups.
Mass times at Our Lady of Guadalupe
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Daily exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (expanded under Rev. José Luis Muro, 2010–2017; Nocturnal Adoration Society founded 1969)
Parish Identity & Mission
Our Lady of Guadalupe / Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is a bilingual Catholic parish of the Diocese of San Diego, entrusted since 2017 to the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo (Scalabrinians). The Scalabrinian charism — pastoral care of migrants, refugees, and seafarers — shapes nearly every dimension of parish life, from liturgy to outreach. The parish is rooted in a Spanish-speaking Catholic identity that dates to its 1944 founding, while still welcoming English-speaking faithful through its Sunday 11:00 AM Mass.
- Bilingual parish: Spanish primary, English Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM
- Entrusted to the Scalabrinians by Bishop Robert McElroy in 2017
- Pastoral focus on migrants, refugees, and seafarers
A Parish Story Spanning 80+ Years
Authorized by Bishop Charles F. Buddy in 1944 and opened December 12 of that year, the parish began in the home of the San Martin family before its first small church rose at Anita and Fresno. It has lived in three successive church buildings, including the present one dedicated in 1993, and has been shaped by pastors from many national and ministerial backgrounds. The parish's 80th anniversary fell in 2024, marked by the 'Restore My House Project' renovation of the church exterior, stained-glass windows, and the Guadalupe retablo.
- First church at Anita & Fresno (1944)
- Second church era (Most Precious Blood area, 1958+)
- Present (third) church dedicated November 28, 1993
- 80th anniversary in 2024
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education has been a parish mainstay since the CCD program expanded under Rev. Adolphus Chavez (1968–1975). Today the Catechism Office operates from a separate building at 337 Tremont Street, coordinating preparation for First Communion (Andrea Villegas) and Confirmation (Martha Lomeli). The parish also runs English classes for adults and has historically supported youth formation through the 'Santa Cecilia' youth group and trips to World Youth Day in Brazil.
- Catechism Office: 337 Tremont Street, Chula Vista, CA 91911 · (619) 422-1887
- First Communion: Andrea Villegas, Coordinator
- Confirmation: Martha Lomeli
- CCD program (running since at least 1968)
- English classes for adults
Parish Ministries & Groups
Long-running lay organizations — many of which helped build the present church in the late 1980s and early 1990s — remain the backbone of parish life: the Guadalupana Society, Altar Society, Nocturnal Adoration Society, Knights of Columbus, Holy Name Society, and the youth group 'Santa Cecilia.' More recent additions include the Divine Mercy group, senior lunches, youth soccer, health classes, a young-adult group (relaunched 2023), and Scalabrinian lay collaborators.
- Guadalupana Society
- Altar Society
- Nocturnal Adoration Society
- Knights of Columbus
- Holy Name Society
- Youth Group 'Santa Cecilia'
- Divine Mercy group
- Senior lunches
- Young adult group
- Scalabrinian lay collaborators
Migrant & Refugee Outreach
Since 2017, the parish's identity has been shaped by the Scalabrinian mission to migrants, refugees, and seafarers. Scalabrinian lay collaborators support the Casa del Migrante in Tijuana, and at the end of 2023 the parish began hosting an overnight shelter for up to 20 refugees each night in San Diego — supported by food and monetary donations and a growing team of volunteers.
- Casa del Migrante, Tijuana (Scalabrinian lay collaborators)
- Overnight refugee shelter for 20 guests per night (since late 2023)
- Volunteer and donation drives organized by the parish
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church, with dedicated coordinators for First Communion and Confirmation, and a long history of baptisms (the very first being celebrated December 14, 1944). Couples should contact the parish office for marriage preparation, and the sick or homebound may reach the parish through its office line or, in emergencies, by texting the after-hours line (due to scam calls, the parish asks for texts only).
- Baptism
- First Communion (Andrea Villegas)
- Confirmation (Martha Lomeli)
- Marriage — by appointment with the parish office
- Confession — Friday mornings or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
Our Staff & Contact
The parish is pastored by Rev. Hily Gonzales, C.S., with Rev. Rigoberto Olivares, C.S. serving as associate pastor. Deacons Guillermo Valdivia and Mario Diaz assist in liturgical and pastoral ministry. The parish office is staffed Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM, with the Catechism Office located separately at 337 Tremont Street.
- Rev. Hily Gonzales, C.S. — Pastor
- Rev. Rigoberto Olivares, C.S. — Associate Pastor
- Deacon Guillermo Valdivia
- Deacon Mario Diaz
- Lili Hernandez — Office Administrator
- Vicki Jimenez — Receptionist
- Lourdes Silva — Secretary
- Gilbert Marquez — Accountant
- Felipe Dominguez — Maintenance
- Martha Lomeli — Confirmation
- Andrea Villegas — First Communion Coordinator
- Office phone: (619) 422-3977
- Catechism Office: (619) 422-1887
- Evening emergency (text only): (619) 706-8211
Building & Facilities
The current church, dedicated November 28, 1993, has been the parish's spiritual home for three decades. Its exterior, stained-glass windows, doors, and Guadalupe retablo were restored in 2022–2023 under the 'Restore My House Project' in preparation for the 80th anniversary, and air-conditioning and new fans were installed. The parish hall — built in 2006 under Rev. Mario Vesga — and the expanded parking lot host the parish's many events, including the historic annual bazaars and queen contests.
- Third (present) church, dedicated Nov 28, 1993
- Parish hall built in 2006
- Parking lot expanded in the 1990s
- 'Restore My House Project' completed 2022–2023
Visit & Get Involved
Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed. The parish office at 345 Anita Street is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, and the most popular Sunday services are the 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM Spanish Masses, the 11:00 AM English Mass, and the afternoon 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM Spanish Masses. Weekday 9:00 AM Spanish Masses are the simplest entry point for visitors, and confession is offered Friday mornings or by appointment.
- Office: 345 Anita Street, Chula Vista, CA 91911
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Most popular Sunday: Spanish 7, 9 AM; English 11 AM; Spanish 1, 5 PM
- Weekday Spanish Mass: 9:00 AM
- Confessions: Friday 10 AM – 12 PM, or by appointment
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Vincent Cizauskas1944–1945
Founding pastor; celebrated the parish's first baptism on December 14, 1944.
- Rev. Antonio Gallego1958–
Installed as pastor when the new 4th Street church was rededicated in late 1958 as Most Precious Blood Church.
- Rev. Adolphus Chavez1968–1975
Oversaw growth of CCD program; founded the Adoration Society in 1969; youth group 'Santa Cecilia' flourished under Josefina Romero.
- Rev. Edward Connolly1975–1977
Fostered strong community spirit; the Guadalupana Society grew and joined the diocesan Confederation.
- Monsignor Luis Balderas1977–1990
Championed Natural Family Planning, family evangelization through the Padre Hidalgo Center, social ministry, lay leadership, seminarian vocations, and the permanent diaconate; opened the parish library.
- Rev. Bruce Orsborn1990–1996
Drove construction of the present (third) church, dedicated November 28, 1993; parishioners signed blocks and roof tiles they donated.
- Rev. Mario Vesga1996–2006
Paid off the church debt and oversaw construction of the new parish hall (2006).
- Rev. Pedro Navarra2006–2010
Focused on evangelization through Ecclesiology, Mariology, Bible study, and catechesis on liturgy and sacraments.
- Rev. José Luis Muro2010–2017
Emphasized the New Evangelization: daily Eucharistic exposition, expanded confession, Year of Faith, youth ministry growth; ordained Deacon Guillermo Valdivia (2012); took young adults to World Youth Day in Brazil.
- Rev. Ramiro Chan, C.S.2017–
First Scalabrinian pastor; introduced the Scalabrinian mission and formed Scalabrinian lay collaborators supporting the Casa del Migrante in Tijuana.
- Rev. Hily Gonzales, C.S.October 2021–present
Current pastor; led the 'Restore My House Project' (2022–2023) for the parish's 80th anniversary.