About Our Lady of Light · Descanso, California
Our Lady of Light is a small Catholic parish in the mountain community of Descanso, California, about 45 minutes east of San Diego in the Diocese of San Diego. The parish was founded in 1935 and is best known for its warm, close-knit community and its famous annual Deep Pit Barbecue, a tradition started in 1937 that draws visitors from across the mountains and the coast. Daily Mass, weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction, a Rosary said before every Mass, and a Religious Education program for children through high school form the backbone of parish life.
- Established
- 1935
- Patron
- Our Lady of Light (Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of 'Our Lady of Light')
- Rector
- Fr. Enrique Fuentes
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
Our Lady of Light offers the full rhythm of traditional Catholic life in an intimate mountain-parish setting: daily Mass Monday through Friday, a Saturday Vigil, two Sunday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction, the Rosary prayed before every Mass, and regular Confession times including during the Thursday Holy Hour. Families can enroll children from preschool through high school in Religious Education, Confirmation preparation, and the Sunday children's classes, while adults can journey through RCIA on Wednesday evenings. If you are looking for a small, welcoming community rooted in decades of faith — and the chance to attend one of the oldest parish barbecues in the region — Our Lady of Light in Descanso is worth a visit.
Mass times at Our Lady of Light
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday 8:45 AM
- Thursday 7:10 – 7:50 PM (during Holy Hour)
- By appointment
- Holy Week by appointment only
Adoration times
- Thursday 7:00 – 8:00 PM — Holy Hour with Benediction
- First Friday 7:00 – 8:00 PM — Holy Hour with Benediction
Welcome to Our Parish
Our Lady of Light Catholic Parish sits at 9136 Riverside Drive in the mountain village of Descanso, about 45 minutes east of San Diego. The parish community lives by the words of Matthew 28:18-20 — 'Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations…' — and welcomes visitors from the mountains to the coast. The parish grounds include Our Lady's Grotto for quiet reflection and a Holy Family statue set in the Rose Garden.
- Diocese: Diocese of San Diego (Bishop Robert W. McElroy)
- Founded: 1935
- Motto verse: Matthew 28:18-20
Devotions & Other Services
The Rosary is prayed 20 minutes before every Mass. Adoration and Exposition continue throughout the year (except on Holy Thursday).
- Rosary — 20 minutes before all Masses
- Adoration/Exposition on Thursday following the 8:00 AM Mass
Our Pastor
Fr. Enrique Fuentes has served as Pastor of Our Lady of Light since July 1, 2020, as announced on the parish's own 'Our Pastor' page.
- Fr. Enrique Fuentes — Pastor (appointed July 1, 2020)
Catholic Youth Ministry & Religious Education
Our Lady of Light welcomes children from preschool through high school to enroll in the Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation Program. Children's and teen classes meet Sunday mornings from 9:00 to 9:50 AM, and Confirmation preparation is offered for both teens and adults. RCIA for adults is held on Wednesday evenings.
- Religious Education — preschool through high school
- Sunday classes for Kids & Pre-Teens — 9:00 to 9:50 AM
- Confirmation preparation (youth and adult)
- RCIA for adults — Wednesday evenings
- Religious Education Coordinator: Kerri ([email protected])
- Catholic Youth Ministry Coordinator: Gloria White ([email protected])
Pro-Life Ministry
The parish lists a Pro-Life fellowship ministry on its website, gathering parishioners for prayer and witness together with the pastor.
- Pro-Life fellowship with Fr. Steven Larion and fellow pro-life supporters (historical reference)
The Annual Deep Pit Barbecue
Since 1937, Our Lady of Light has hosted its now-famous Deep Pit Barbecue, an end-of-summer celebration on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. The tradition descends from Native American earth-pit cooking: parishioners burn two cords of oak firewood (doused with diesel fuel) the afternoon before, then once the coals are ready eight hours later, the locally grown beef is cut into 25-pound bundles, seasoned, wrapped in muslin and burlap, tied with wire, and lowered onto the coals by masked 'firewalkers.' More coals and dirt are shoveled on top, and the bundles slow-cook for thirteen hours overnight before being pulled up and served. The event — which the parish says has been running since before World War II — features pit-barbecued beef, mountain ranch beans, slaw, western rolls, homemade pies and cobbler, vendor booths, 'Grandpa's Attic' yard sale, kids' games, line dancing to live Western music (the 'Big City Hillbillies' or similar), and raffle prizes (typically two $500 grand prizes). By 2017 the parish had hosted its 80th annual barbecue, and the tradition continues to draw visitors from the mountains to the coast.
- Held annually on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend
- Started in 1937 — 80th annual held in 2017
- Authentic deep-pit earth cooking, 13-hour overnight slow-roast
- Live country/Western band, vendor booths, kids' games, raffle prizes
- Open to the public from the mountains to the coast
Our Lady's Grotto & Rose Garden
The parish grounds feature two peaceful devotional spots: Our Lady's Grotto, set aside for quiet reflection, and a statue of the Holy Family in the Rose Garden. Both are referenced on the parish homepage as places that draw parishioners into prayer throughout the year.
- Our Lady's Grotto — a place for quiet reflection
- Holy Family statue in the Rose Garden
Visiting, Contact & Office Hours
The parish office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM, and can be reached by phone at (619) 445-3620 or fax at (619) 445-3621. Email inquiries go to [email protected]. The parish publishes its bulletin through the Diocese of San Diego (sdcatholic.org).
- Address: 9136 Riverside Drive, Descanso, CA 91916
- Phone: (619) 445-3620
- Fax: (619) 445-3621
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM, Monday / Wednesday / Friday
- Bulletin hosted via www.sdcatholic.org