Our Lady of Guadalupe

Parish History & Heritage

Our Lady of Guadalupe began in 1967 when the Diocese of Santa Rosa purchased property on Old Redwood Highway to create a regional apostolic center for the Mexican-American people of the Windsor area. The 'Guadalupe Apostolic Center' celebrated its first Mass in February 1969, became a 'Mission Sui Juris' in August 1971, and was renamed 'Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission' under Rev. Wilfred Sheehy. After a devastating 1982 fire, the mission was rebuilt by 1983, a new rectory followed in 1986, and the present church was constructed under Rev. Thomas Gowing and dedicated on December 12, 1993 — the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The mission was officially erected as a parish in June 1994 with Rev. Vincent O'Neill as its first pastor, and the Mary Agatha Furth Parish Center was dedicated in December 2000.

• 1967: Property purchased by Diocese of Santa Rosa for Guadalupe Apostolic Center
• February 1969: First Mass celebrated in original building
• 1971: Became Mission Sui Juris; later renamed 'Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission'
• April 6, 1982: Fire destroyed interior and roof
• August 1983: Rebuilding completed; new rectory finished January 1986
• December 12, 1993: Current church dedicated on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
• June 1994: Officially established as a parish
• December 2000: Mary Agatha Furth Center dedicated

Parish Leadership & Staff

The parish is currently led by Pastor Rev. Carlos Ortega. The staff directory on the parish website lists a parish office volunteer, a Religious Education coordinator, a bookkeeper, and Deacon Todd Graveson, who teaches the English baptismal classes.

• Pastor: Rev. Carlos Ortega — ext. 207
• Parish Office (Volunteer): ext. 201 — [email protected]
• Religious Education: Rosario Ponce — ext. 202 — [email protected]
• Accounting / Bookkeeper: ext. 204 — [email protected]
• Baptism Classes: Deacon Todd Graveson (by appointment)
• Diocesan Bishop: Most Rev. Robert F. Vasa — (707) 545-7610

Mass & Liturgical Schedule

Our Lady of Guadalupe offers weekday bilingual Masses Tuesday through Friday, weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, and a weekly Thursday Holy Hour with Adoration and Confessions. There is no Monday Mass. The parish is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays for office business.

• Monday: No Mass
• Tuesday–Friday: 9:00 AM Bilingual Mass
• Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM (English); 7:00 PM (Spanish)
• Sunday: 9:00 AM (English); 12:30 PM (Spanish)
• Thursday Holy Hour: Adoration 5:00–7:00 PM with Confessions at 6:00 PM

Faith Formation & Religious Education

The parish's Faith Development office coordinates Religious Education, First Communion, and Confirmation preparation. Registration for the 2025–2026 First Communion and Confirmation programs was held July 7–11 and July 14–18, 2024 from 12:00–4:00 PM, with baptismal and birth certificates required at enrollment. Adult Confirmation candidates are asked to call the parish office. Rosario Ponce (ext. 202) leads Religious Education.

• Religious Education for children
• First Communion preparation
• Confirmation preparation (youth and adult)
• $65 Confirmation registration fee with baptismal certificate
• Contact: [email protected] or (707) 837-8962 ext. 202

RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

Our Lady of Guadalupe's RCIA ministry is described as a 'journey of conversion' — a roughly nine-month formation process for adults who wish to be baptized or to come into full communion with the Catholic Church by receiving the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) together at the Easter Vigil. The parish invites sponsors and inquiry potlucks and walks through the three traditional periods of the catechumenate.

• Three periods: Rite of Acceptance, Rite of Sending/Rite of Election, and Period of Purification and Enlightenment
• Sacraments of Initiation received together at the Easter Vigil
• Sponsors from the parish walk alongside participants
• Contact: Rosario Ponce — (707) 837-8962

Sacraments

The parish website has dedicated pages for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Reconciliation. Parents and godparents attend a pre-baptismal class taught by Deacon Todd Graveson; marriage preparation begins with a call to the parish office.

• Baptism: pre-baptismal class required; $40 church fee; documents required
• First Communion: registration through Religious Education office
• Confirmation: youth and adult tracks; $65 fee with baptismal certificate
• Marriage: call parish office to begin preparation (707-837-8962)
• Reconciliation: regular weekly schedule plus by appointment

Outreach & Volunteer Opportunities

Our Lady of Guadalupe maintains an Outreach ministry — including 'Feed the Hungry' — and a broader Volunteer Program whose mission is to enhance and extend the parish's ability to provide services through training, relationship development, and connecting parishioners with opportunities to serve. Volunteers may serve in parish ministries by contacting the parish office for current openings.

• Feed the Hungry outreach ministry
• Parish Volunteer Program
• Mary Agatha Furth Center (parish center for ministry and gathering)
• Contact: (707) 837-8962

Getting Here & Contact

The parish is conveniently located on Old Redwood Highway and is accessible by Sonoma County Transit Route 60, which stops at the church entry courtyard (northbound) and across the street at the Windsor Palms Shopping Center (southbound). The parish office is open Tuesday–Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

• Address: 8400 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor, California 95492
• Phone: (707) 837-8962
• Email: [email protected]
• Office Hours: Tuesday–Friday 9 AM – 3 PM (closed Sat/Sun/holidays)
• Transit: Sonoma County Transit Route 60
• Online giving via PayPal: paypal.me/OurLadyofGuadalupe

Mission Statement

The parish's published mission statement reads: 'We, the congregation of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, rooted in a caring community, are guided by the Holy Spirit to grow in love and compassion. By extending the heart and hands of Our Lady in our daily lives, we joyfully commit ourselves to proclaim the Gospel, celebrate our faith and acknowledge our diversity as God's precious gift. We pledge to serve the needs and concerns of everyone and will strive to build God's kingdom of love, justice and peace through worship, evangelization and service.'