About Our Lady of Refuge · Castroville, California
Our Lady of Refuge is a multicultural Roman Catholic parish in Castroville, California, in the Diocese of Monterey, founded in 1869 to serve the farming communities of north Monterey County. The parish worships in both English and Spanish, with daily Masses, three weekend English Masses and two Spanish Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, a Friday-night homeless shelter (I-Help), and a long list of lay ministries that knit the congregation together. The current church building, completed in 1960, is distinguished by a 19-foot mosaic of Our Lady of Refuge on its facade and a matching 19-foot mural of St. Cecilia inside, along with hand-carved marble, stained glass, a 30-foot reredos and hand-carved Stations of the Cross.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- Our Lady of Refuge
- Rector
- Rev. Pedro Espinoza, J.C.L.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Monterey in California
Why belong here
Our Lady of Refuge is one of the oldest parishes in the Diocese of Monterey (founded 1869) and a true bilingual community — every weekend offers Mass in both English and Spanish, and the parish's own mission statement says it exists to 'build unity through diversity.' Practically, a parishioner can pray with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, serve in the I-Help homeless shelter on Thursdays, sing in the music ministry, take a Marriage Encounter with their spouse, join the Grupo de Oración, or volunteer in religious education led by two religious sisters. The parish also runs the Bill and Isabel Lauderdale Scholarship and Food Pantry for local students and families in need — concrete ways to put faith into action right here in the Salinas Valley.
Mass times at Our Lady of Refuge
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday after the 5:30 pm Spanish daily Mass, in the Chapel
- By appointment (call or come by the parish office)
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Parish History
The parish was established in 1869 under its first pastor, Rev. Hugh Curran, to serve the farming communities of what is now northern Monterey County. The 1960 church building that stands today was designed and built with the Monterey firm A. Lanzini and Sons, who contributed the exterior architecture, the 19-foot facade mosaic of Our Lady of Refuge, the interior St. Cecilia mural, marble, stained glass, the 30-foot reredos, hand-carved Stations of the Cross and all statues. In 2018 Lanzini returned for a major restoration of the wood, gilding, bronze and the vandalized St. Cecilia mural.
- Founded 1869 — first of 22 pastors in an unbroken succession
- Present church built 1960 by A. Lanzini and Sons
- 19-foot mosaic of Our Lady of Refuge on the front facade
- 19-foot original mural of St. Cecilia on the interior wall
- Major 2018 restoration by Lanzini included repair of the St. Cecilia mural
Clergy & Staff
Our Lady of Refuge is pastored by Rev. Pedro Espinoza, J.C.L., who has served the parish since 2011. He is assisted by Deacon Andres Larraza. Religious education in both English and Spanish is led by Sisters from the I.M. (Instituto delle Missioni) congregation, with Sr. Cristina Bortolotti, I.M., as Director of Religious Education and Sr. Jaise Thomas, I.M., as English Religious Education Coordinator. The parish office is supported by Business Manager Aidee Segura.
- Pastor: Rev. Pedro Espinoza, J.C.L. (since 2011)
- Deacon: Dcn. Andres Larraza
- Director of Religious Education (English & Spanish): Sr. Cristina Bortolotti, I.M.
- English Religious Education Coordinator: Sr. Jaise Thomas, I.M.
- Business Manager: Aidee Segura
Our Ministries
The parish runs a wide range of lay ministries in English and Spanish — from Eucharistic Adoration and liturgical service to marriage enrichment, evangelization and direct outreach to the homeless.
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- Altar Society (cleaning the church Friday mornings)
- Music Ministry
- Liturgy Ministry (Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors/Commentators, Altar Servers, Ushers)
- I-Help Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program (Thursdays)
- Encuentro Matrimonial — Marriage Encounter (Richard and Linda Klos)
- Escuela de Evangelización
- El Sembrador Nueva Evangelización
- Sociedad de las Marias
- Grupo de Oración
I-Help: Homeless Shelter Ministry
Every Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, Our Lady of Refuge hosts the Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program (I-Help), a rotating interfaith shelter for brothers and sisters experiencing homelessness in the Castroville area. Volunteers are welcomed to bring a dish to share and to enjoy the fellowship of serving together as Christ's church.
- Every Thursday, 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
- Bring a dish to share
- Interfaith rotating shelter model
Liturgy & Music
The parish invites parishioners to serve at Mass as Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors/Commentators, Altar Servers or Ushers, in both English and Spanish Masses. The music ministry welcomes singers and instrumentalists; the church's interior is anchored by the 19-foot mural of St. Cecilia, patron saint of music. Music is coordinated by Lisa Brom (831-682-0126).
- Eucharistic Ministers (Ministros Extraordinarios)
- Lectors/Commentators (Lectores/Comentaristas)
- Altar Servers (Monaguillos)
- Ushers (Hospitalidad)
- Music — contact Lisa Brom, (831) 682-0126
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education is offered in both English and Spanish, directed by Sr. Cristina Bortolotti, I.M., with Sr. Jaise Thomas, I.M. coordinating the English program. The parish also provides a 'Why be a Catholic?' RCIA-style introduction series using talks by Fr. Joshua Clifton.
- Director of Religious Education (English & Spanish): Sr. Cristina Bortolotti, I.M.
- English Religious Education Coordinator: Sr. Jaise Thomas, I.M.
- Online Baptismal Classes (see Parish Forms)
- 'Why be a Catholic?' introduction series with Fr. Joshua Clifton
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments, with online forms available for baptismal classes, sacramental certificate requests, priest permission to celebrate, and extraordinary celebration contracts. Confessions are heard every Friday after the 5:30 pm Spanish Mass in the Chapel, or by appointment.
- Baptism — online baptismal classes
- Reconciliation — Friday after 5:30 pm Spanish Mass or by appointment
- Marriage — Marriage Encounter ministry active; priest permission form available
- Confirmation, First Communion, Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
- Sacramental Certificate Request form available
Bill & Isabel Lauderdale Scholarship and Food Pantry
Parishioners Bill and Isabel Lauderdale grew up in poverty in 1920s and '30s California, worked their way up, and remained active at Our Lady of Refuge, the Third Order of St. Francis, and local food pantries. Their estate funded a perpetual scholarship and food-pantry fund at the parish. Applications for 2026 are currently open.
- Scholarships for local students — applications open for 2026
- Funds a parish food pantry
- Honors Bill & Isabel Lauderdale's life of service
Visit, Contact & Giving
The parish office is staffed weekdays at 11140 Preston Street, Castroville, CA 95012. Office phone (831) 633-4015; a secondary line is staffed by Rosie at (838) 270-0444. Online giving, the parish bulletin, and the e-bulletin are available through the website.
- Address: 11140 Preston Street, Castroville, CA 95012
- Phone: (831) 633-4015 — Rosie: (838) 270-0444
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.olorc.org/
- Online giving, bulletin, and e-bulletin available on the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Hugh Curran1869–1888
First pastor
- Rev. Patrick Lennon1889–1892
- Rev. Michael W. Mahoney1892–1901
- Rev. Joseph Nunan1901–1902
- Rev. John Reynolds1902–1903
- Rev. Joseph O'Reilly1904–1911
- Rev. John Walsh1911–1933
- Rev. Stephen O'Keeffe1933
- Rev. James J. Thummel1933–1937
- Rev. J.G. Franco1938–1950
- Rev. Joseph E. McGoldrick1950–1951
- Rev. Harold Goodwin1951–1952
- Rev. Charles A. Stross1951–1952
Administrator
- Rev. Msgr. Vincent W. Richards1952–1973
Longest-tenured pastor
- Rev. George McMenamin1973–1975
- Rev. Alberto Q. Battaglioia1975–1977
- Rev. James Burdick1977–1983
- Rev. Cornelius (Scott) McCarthy1983–1993
- Rev. Rudy Ruiz1993–2003
- Rev. Eugenio Aramburo2003–2004
- Rev. Roberto Vera2004–2011
- Rev. Pedro Espinoza, J.C.L.2011–
Current pastor