About Our Lady of Perpetual Help · Riverside, California
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a multicultural Catholic parish in Riverside, California, founded in 1955 and entrusted to the care of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (M.S.C.). The parish community worships in four languages — English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Tongan — reflecting the diversity of the surrounding Inland Empire. Located at 5250 Central Avenue, the parish campus also includes OLPH School, a Preschool-through-Grade-8 Catholic elementary school that has served families for over 60 years. The parish belongs to the Diocese of San Bernardino and offers a full sacramental life, religious education in three languages, a food pantry, youth ministry, and numerous lay ministries.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Perpetual Help / Perpetual Succour)
- Rector
- Rev. Benjamin E. Alforque, M.S.C.
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Bernardino
Why belong here
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is one of the most intentionally multicultural parishes in the Inland Empire, with Mass celebrated in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and (monthly) Tongan. The parish combines a long-standing Catholic school (Preschool through Grade 8), an active food pantry serving the surrounding community, RCIA/OCIA, religious education in three languages, a youth ministry, and small faith communities that make it easy to find a place to belong. Worship is offered seven days a week, with a lively 7:00 p.m. Sunday Youth Mass, weekday 8:00 a.m. daily Eucharist, and Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel.
Mass times at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 8:30 AM and by appointment (English / Spanish / Vietnamese)
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM in the Chapel
Parish History
Our Lady of Perpetual Help was founded in May 1955 when Bishop Charles F. Buddy of the Diocese of San Diego appointed Father Thomas Moloney to begin a new parish in Riverside. Five acres were purchased at Central and Streeter, and over the next decade the parish built a school, convent, and church. Bishop Maher dedicated the present church in 1971; the original church became the parish hall. The parish has grown into a deliberately multicultural community, with a Spanish Mass added in 1991, a Vietnamese community joining in 1999, and a Tongan community added in 2001. In 2002 OLPH was chosen for the U.S. Bishops' 'Welcoming the Stranger' multicultural pilot project.
- 1955 — Parish founded by Fr. Thomas Moloney under Bishop Charles F. Buddy
- 1959 — OLPH School opens, staffed by the Sisters of St. Francis
- 1971 — New church dedicated by Bishop Maher
- 1991 — Spanish Mass added; Deacon Ysidro Gurrola leads Hispanic Ministry
- 1993 — Food Distribution Program launched
- 1998 — Parish entrusted to the Diocesan Laborer Priests; Fr. Jose A. Sanz named Administrator
- 1999 — Vietnamese Community registered; Fr. Leo Huyen Dinh, C.I.V.I.C., appointed parochial vicar
- 2001 — Tongan community welcomed; monthly Tongan Mass begun
- 2002 — Selected for U.S. Bishops' 'Welcoming the Stranger' pilot
- Today — Pastoral care provided by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (M.S.C.)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (M.S.C.). The pastor is Rev. Benjamin E. Alforque, M.S.C. (ordained October 17, 1979), assisted by parochial vicar Rev. Juan P. Romero, M.S.C. (ordained July 13, 2013). Two deacons — Deacon Nam Bui and Deacon Bernardo (Bernie) Hernandez — also minister at the parish; Deacon Hernandez coordinates RCIA/Sacramentos Para Adultos.
- Rev. Benjamin E. Alforque, M.S.C. — Pastor
- Rev. Juan P. Romero, M.S.C. — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Nam Bui
- Deacon Bernardo (Bernie) Hernandez — RCIA / Sacramentos Para Adultos (951-261-4958)
Mass & Sacraments Schedule
Our Lady of Perpetual Help offers one of the most multilingual Mass schedules in the Diocese of San Bernardino, with Sunday liturgy in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and (monthly) Tongan, plus a Sunday evening Youth Mass. A daily 8:00 a.m. English Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday. Confessions are heard Saturday mornings, and Eucharistic Adoration is offered in the chapel on Thursday mornings.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM (English)
- Sunday: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM (English); 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM (Spanish); 3:00 PM 1st Sunday (Tongan); 5:00 PM (Vietnamese); 7:00 PM (English Youth Mass)
- Weekdays: 8:00 AM (English)
- Confessions: Saturdays 8:30 AM and by appointment
- Adoration: Thursdays 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM in the Chapel
OLPH Catholic School
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School has served families of the Inland Empire since 1959. Originally staffed by the Sisters of St. Francis (whose last member retired in 1989), it now offers Preschool through Grade 8 and is led by lay faculty and administration. The school is known for its 'whole child' approach — academics, athletics, fine arts, leadership, liturgical life, and Title 1 support — along with before- and after-school extended care. Many current OLPH families are second- and third-generation students. The school office can be reached at 951-689-2125.
- Preschool through Grade 8
- Founded 1959; Sisters of St. Francis staffed the school through 1989
- Principal (as of 2016 announcement): Ann Meier
- State-of-the-art computer lab, library and resource center, preschool program
- Extended care before and after school
- School phone: 951-689-2125
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish offers religious education in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, with separate coordinators for each community. OCIA/RCIA and Sacramentos Para Adultos for adults entering the Church are coordinated by Deacon Bernie Hernandez. A dedicated Youth Ministry is also active, and a 7:00 p.m. Sunday Youth Mass gathers high-schoolers and young adults each week.
- Religious Education (English) / Confirmation — Mary Fisher, 951-217-2676
- Catecismo / Religious Education (Spanish) — Eva Jaimes, 951-686-4077
- Religious Education (Vietnamese) — 951-689-8921
- RCIA / OCIA / Sacramentos Para Adultos — Deacon Bernie Hernandez, 951-261-4958
- Youth Ministry (with Sunday 7:00 PM Youth Mass)
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve Mass as altar servers, lectors (English and Spanish), Eucharistic ministers (English, 7:00 PM and 11:00 AM), ushers, ujieres, and environment/decoration teams. The parish is also served by a group of deacons and a music ministry supporting the four-language liturgy schedule.
- Altar Servers / Monaguillos — 951-689-8921
- Eucharistic Ministers, 7:00 PM — David Baez, 951-707-7714
- Eucharistic Ministers, 11:00 AM — Ramiro Guerrero, 714-392-5461
- Lectors (English) — Mildred Polk, 951-801-1779
- Lectores (Spanish) — Fernando Andrade, 714-423-1610
- Environment / Decoración — Roberto & Laura Vargas, 714-679-1757
- Ushers — Mike Koury, 951-687-5328
- Ujieres (Spanish) — 951-689-8921
Outreach & Community Service
Outreach to those in need has been part of OLPH's identity since 1993, when the Food Distribution Program was launched. Today the parish Food Pantry continues to feed neighbors in the Riverside area. A Bereavement Ministry supports grieving families, and Visitation to the Sick brings Communion to homebound parishioners in both English and Spanish.
- Food Pantry / Dispensa de Comida — Sue Spagna, 951-687-8146
- Bereavement Ministry — Marie Hoesman, 951-359-1669
- Visitation to the Sick (English) — Lincoln Mena, 951-689-8921
- Comunión a los Enfermos (Spanish) — Raul Juarez, 951-588-6616
- Church Cleaning / Limpieza de Iglesia — Griselda Martinez, 951-489-2096
Parish Life, Prayer & Fellowship
Beyond Mass and the sacraments, OLPH offers a wide range of prayer, fellowship, and formation groups. Our Lady's Guild, Small Faith Communities, and a Fellowship committee build community; a Devotions committee, Spanish prayer group (Grupo de Oración), and Spanish men's group (Grupo de Hombres) sustain prayer life; and a marriage-enrichment ministry (Mejorando Matrimonios) accompanies couples.
- Our Lady's Guild — Jean Fortuna, 951-687-3423
- Fellowship — Flora Helepiko, 951-489-9755
- Small Faith Communities — Donna Nurre, 951-684-7922
- Devotions — Joe & Annette Diaz, 951-684-3437
- Grupo de Oración — Rosario Vásquez, 951-237-1054
- Grupo de Hombres — Cresencio Puente, 951-203-8907
- Mejorando Matrimonios — Benjamin & Marina Posada, 714-393-4947
Visit, Register & Contact
Parish registration forms are available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese on the parish website. The parish office is open Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM). For weddings, baptisms, quinceañeras, or other sacramental needs, the parish office can be reached at 951-689-8921 (ext. 100 for Weddings and Baptisms).
- Parish office: 951-689-8921 • Fax: 951-689-3619
- School office: 951-689-2125
- Email: [email protected]
- Registration forms: English, Spanish, and Vietnamese on olphriverside.org
- Online giving available via the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Thomas (Maloney/Moloney)1955–
Founding pastor appointed by Bishop Charles F. Buddy of San Diego in May 1955; broke ground for school and convent.
- Fr. Jose A. Sanz1998–
Appointed Administrator when the parish was entrusted to the Diocesan Laborer Priests with the approval of the Bishop of El Paso.
- Fr. Leo Huyen Dinh, C.I.V.I.C.1999–
Appointed parochial vicar by Bishop Gerald Barnes to serve the newly registered Vietnamese community.
- Rev. Benjamin E. Alforque, M.S.C.
Current pastor; professed first vows June 2, 1976, ordained October 17, 1979; serves with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.