About Our Lady of Perpetual Help · Indio, California
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a Roman Catholic parish in Indio, California, in the Diocese of San Bernardino, serving one of the most heavily Catholic communities in the Coachella Valley. Founded in 1928 as a Franciscan mission and raised to full parish status in 1937 under its first pastor, Fr. Patrick Kenny, it is the mother Catholic parish of Indio and has been at the heart of the city's Catholic identity for nearly a century. Today the parish ministers to 2,900+ registered families in a heavily Hispanic community (over 60% Catholic) with a robust bilingual schedule of English and Spanish Masses, a K-8 parish school (the first Catholic school in the Coachella Valley, opened in 1951), a preschool, faith formation for all ages, and an extensive network of ministries.
- Established
- 1928 (mission), 1937 (parish)
- Patron
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Rector
- Rev. Juan Carlos Lopez (Parish Administrator, 2023–present)
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Bernardino
Why belong here
OLPH is the heart of Catholic life in Indio — a parish where thousands of families find a true spiritual home and where the Sacraments, faith formation, and community life are offered in both English and Spanish every day of the week. Members participate in over 30 ministries spanning youth, family, marriage prep, Quinceañeras, pro-life work, spiritual direction, Catholic Daughters, Knights of Columbus, prison prevention outreach, and a K-8 parish school that has formed Indio's children for more than 70 years. With Friday Eucharistic Adoration, a daily Rosary, weekly OLPH Novena, and mission-driven outreach to youth and working families, OLPH offers every generation a concrete place to grow in faith.
Mass times at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 8:30 AM
- Saturday 8:30 AM
Adoration times
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament / Santísimo — Friday 8:30 AM until 6:00 PM (begins with Mass, includes Holy Hour, Silent Hour at noon, 3:00 PM Divine Mercy Rosary, 5:00 PM Holy Rosary, Repose at 6:00 PM)
About Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a Roman Catholic parish in Indio, California, belonging to the Diocese of San Bernardino. Founded as a Franciscan mission in 1928 and elevated to parish status in 1937, it is the mother Catholic parish of Indio, where more than 60% of residents identify as Catholic. The parish is bilingual (English/Spanish) and serves 2,900+ registered families through weekend and daily Mass, an extensive devotional life, Faith Formation, over 30 ministries, and a parish school and preschool that date back to 1951.
- Diocese of San Bernardino
- Bilingual: English and Spanish
- 2,900+ registered families
- Founded 1928 (mission) / 1937 (parish)
- Feast Day: June 27
Parish History
A Franciscan Mission was founded in Indio in 1928 to serve the small Catholic community; it became a quasi-parish in 1934 and on January 1, 1937 was raised to full parish status under first pastor Fr. Patrick J. Kenny, who built the first church that year. Rapid population growth through the 1940s and '50s soon made the original church too small, and pastor Fr. John Rhatigan (1958–61) built the present church, solemnly blessed and dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help on April 24, 1960.
- 1928 — Franciscan Mission founded in Indio
- 1934 — Mission becomes quasi-parish
- 1937 — Raised to parish status under Fr. Patrick J. Kenny; first church built
- 1951 — Our Lady of Perpetual Help School opens with 218 students under the Sisters of Notre Dame — first Catholic school in the Coachella Valley
- 1960 — Present church solemnly blessed and dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help (April 24)
- 1996 — First Catholic Preschool added
- 2005–2007 — New two-story school building constructed with support of Tom and Rita Martin
- 2008 — Bishop Gerald Barnes invites shared leadership model; Mrs. Laura Lopez named Pastoral Coordinator
- 2015 — Launch of Capital Campaign 'Living Our Faith, Building Our Community'
Capital Campaign & Facilities Growth
In 2015 the parish launched Phase II of its Capital Campaign under the motto 'Living Our Faith, Building Our Community.' With leadership gifts from John and Dorothy Shea, land and a future rectory from the Martin family, and $500,000 from Sacred Heart Parish in Palm Desert, the $6.75 million campaign funded a new Preschool, a Ministry Center/Gym, expanded Parish Offices, and additional parking. A new two-story school building had previously been completed between 2005 and 2007.
- Phase II: 'Living Our Faith, Building Our Community'
- New Preschool, Ministry Center/Gym, Parish Offices
- Expanded parking (two parcels donated by Tom and Rita Martin)
- $4 million gift from John and Dorothy Shea
- Two parcels + house for future rectory from the Martin family
- $500,000 from Sacred Heart Parish, Palm Desert
Clergy & Parish Staff
The current clergy team is led by Parish Administrator Rev. Juan Carlos Lopez, with Parochial Vicar Rev. Eloy Trujillo and five deacons. The parish office is staffed by a Parish Office Administrator, an Accounting Clerk, a Front Desk Assistant, an Office Assistant, a Coordinator of Catechetical Ministries and a Religious Education Assistant, plus maintenance personnel.
- Rev. Juan Carlos Lopez — Parish Administrator
- Rev. Eloy Trujillo — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Brijido Rodriguez
- Deacon Mark A. Padilla
- Deacon Jerry Lugo
- Deacon Luis Ramirez
- Deacon Alfredo Razo
- Martha Flores — Parish Office Administrator
- Jaquelyn Cazares — Front Desk Assistant
- Blanca Mercado — Accounting Clerk
- Emily Rosas — Office Assistant
- Steve Gutierrez — Maintenance
- Eva Soto — Coordinator of Catechetical Ministries
- Nixia Angulo — Religious Education Assistant
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates all seven Catholic Sacraments. Baptism requires a bilingual preparation class (held monthly), a $100 administrative fee, a child's birth certificate, sponsor/godparent application, and proof of a pre-baptismal class; children age 8 and over enter through RCIA. Marriages, Quinceañeras, and Annulment referrals are coordinated through the parish office and Catechetical Ministry. Adult and Youth Confirmation, First Communion, and RCIA are offered year-round.
- Baptism (English & Spanish; classes monthly; fee $100)
- First Communion
- Confirmation (Adult and Youth)
- Marriage / Bodas (Catechetical Ministry office, 760-347-0594)
- Annulments / Anulaciones
- Quinceañeras
- RCIA / RICA (Yolanda Nieves)
- Welcome Back Catholics / Regresando a Casa
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Our Lady of Perpetual Help runs a full Faith Formation program for children (Religious Education classes on Monday evenings, September through May) and adults, including Adult Confirmation, RCIA, 'Welcome Back Catholics,' and Formación de Fe de Adultos. The 2024–2025 calendar includes special Masses for All Saints, All Souls, Thanksgiving, the Immaculate Conception, Christmas, the New Year, Ash Wednesday, the Sacred Paschal Triduum, and Easter, plus a Penance Service and a Year-2 Confirmation Retreat.
- Coordinator of Catechetical Ministries: Eva Soto
- Religious Education Assistant: Nixia Angulo
- Adult Confirmation & RCIA: Yolanda Nieves
- Regresando a Casa / Welcome Back: Ana María Fernández
- Monday evening classes for children (Sept–May)
- Year-2 Confirmation Retreat and Penance Service
OLPH School & Preschool
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School is the first Catholic school in the Coachella Valley, founded in 1951 under the care of the Sisters of Notre Dame with 218 students. It flourished through the 1960s–1990s, added a Catholic Preschool in 1996, and received a new two-story school building in 2005–2007 thanks to the Martin family's generosity. The school continues its mission of total Catholic formation of mind, body, and spirit; enrollment in 2014–15 reached 242 students.
- Founded 1951 — first Catholic school in the Coachella Valley
- Sisters of Notre Dame, 1951–1995
- Catholic Preschool added 1996
- New two-story building, 2005–2007 (Tom & Rita Martin)
- Preschool Director: Margaret Rivera (760-775-3477)
- School (K-8) Principal: Diane Arias (760-347-3786)
Ministries & Groups
OLPH is home to more than 30 ministries and groups covering liturgy, formation, family life, outreach, and community service. They range from the parish council and Knights of Columbus to ministries for bereavement, health & wellness, prison prevention, Pro-Life work, Catholic Daughters, marriage prep, youth (YAME), young adults, Quinceañeras, Vocations, Spiritual Direction, the Rosary, the Altar Society, Lectors, Ushers, Sacristans, Altar Servers, and music. The parish also offers a marriage tribunal liaison for Annulments and a Pro-Bono Legal Advice line for parishioners.
- Liturgy: Altar Servers, Lectors (English & Spanish), Ushers, Sacristans, Music
- Formation: Catechetical Ministry, Adult Confirmation, RCIA, Welcome Back Catholics, Spiritual Direction
- Family Life: Quinceañeras, Weddings, Catholic Daughters
- Outreach: Pro-Life, Bereavement, Pastoral Care, Health & Wellness, Prevención y Rescate, St. Vincent-style outreach
- Community: Knights of Columbus, Squire Circle, Knights of Columbus YAME (young adults), That Man is You
- Marian/Patronal: Ministerio de Fátima, Ministerio Guadalupano, OLPH Novena, Rosary Ministry
- Vocational & Lay Leadership: Vocations Ministry, Parish Council, School Board
Contact & Visit
The Administration Office is at 82-470 B Bliss Avenue, Building B, Indio, CA 92201, with office hours Tuesday–Friday 8:30 AM–5:00 PM (closed for lunch 1:00–2:00 PM). The parish office can be reached at (760) 347-3507 or [email protected], and the parish is also active on Facebook as 'olphfaithfuls.indio.'
- Address: 82-470 B Bliss Ave, Bldg B, Indio, CA 92201
- Phone: (760) 347-3507
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Tue–Fri 8:30 AM–5:00 PM (closed 1:00–2:00 PM)
- Website: www.olphindio.org
- Facebook: olphfaithfuls.indio
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Patrick J. Kenny1937–1944
First pastor; built the first church in 1937
- Rev. Michael J. Browne1944–1945
- Rev. Richard P. Maher1945–1948
- Rev. Joseph Mackey1948–1955
- Rev. Michael O'Duignan1955–1958
- Rev. John Rhatigan1958–1961
Built the present church, solemnly blessed April 24, 1960
- Rev. Msgr. Maximiliano Gomez Macouzet1961–1966
- Rev. J. Ernest Hayes1966–1967
- Rev. Llyod Bourgeois1967–1969
- Rev. J. Vincent Sullivan1969–1980
- Rev. Patrick Comerford, C.S.Sp.1980–1984
- Rev. Michael Grey, C.S.Sp.1984–1986
- Rev. Joseph B. Gaglione, C.S.Sp.1986–1988
- Rev. Robert Clover1988–1992
- Most Rev. Bishop Gerald Barnes1992–1993
Diocese administrator during transition
- Very Rev. Rafael Partida1993–2002
- Rev. John S. Vieira2002–2008
- Mrs. Laura Lopez2008–2015
Pastoral Coordinator under the shared-leadership model (lay leadership)
- Rev. Alexander Gamino2015–2023
First pastor under renewed priest-minister title
- Rev. Juan Carlos Lopez2023–present
Current Parish Administrator