About Queen of Peace · Mesa, Arizona
Queen of Peace Catholic Parish (www.qop.org) is the oldest Catholic parish in Mesa, Arizona, located in historic downtown Mesa at 30 W 1st St. Founded in 1908 as the Sacred Heart Mission by the Franciscan Fathers of St. Mary's Church in Phoenix, the parish today serves roughly 3,000–3,600 families in the Diocese of Phoenix and is one of the most heavily Hispanic parishes in the diocese, with three of its six Sunday Masses celebrated in Spanish. The parish complex includes the church, a parish hall (Madonna Hall), the parish office/formation center, and Queen of Peace Catholic School (Pre-K through 8th grade).
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- Mary, Queen of Peace
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas (Tom) Bennett
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
Why belong here
Queen of Peace is a bilingual, downtown-Mesa parish with one of the most active Spanish-language liturgical programs in the Diocese of Phoenix — three of its six Sunday Masses are in Spanish, plus a daily 8:30 AM English Mass Monday through Saturday. The parish offers Eucharistic Adoration five days a week (Monday–Friday 9:30 AM–5:30 PM), weekly confessions, a robust liturgical volunteer corps (lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, altar servers, sacristans), a K-8 Catholic school (Queen of Peace Catholic School, home of the Knights), a Music Ministry with English and Spanish choirs, and outreach groups such as the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Legion of Mary, Life Teen, young adult ministry, and a weekly pro-life rosary. With Mass live-streamed online, it serves both longtime parishioners and newcomers to the East Valley.
Mass times at Queen of Peace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:00 PM
- Saturday 9:00 AM
Adoration times
- Monday 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Tuesday 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Wednesday 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Thursday 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Friday 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Parish History
Queen of Peace began in 1908 as the Sacred Heart Mission, founded by the Franciscan Fathers of St. Mary's Church in Phoenix on the corner of Second Street and Country Club Drive. The Spanish Claretian Fathers took over mission leadership in 1923. In 1934 the Rev. Vicente Mestre became the first resident pastor with about 100 parishioners, and the mission was formally constituted as Sacred Heart Parish. The parish was renamed St. Mary, Queen of Peace in 1947 when the present church was built. The 100th anniversary of the parish was celebrated in 2008 with a grand festival.
- 1908 — Sacred Heart Mission founded by Franciscan Fathers
- 1923 — Spanish Claretian Fathers assume mission leadership
- 1934 — Rev. Vicente Mestre named first resident pastor; parish status formalized
- 1940 — Rev. Leo Gattes opens a mission school with Sister Mary Electa, CSPA
- 1942 — School opens with 85 students in four grades
- 1947 — New church and school building constructed; renamed Queen of Peace
- 1968 — Parish hall added
- 1978 — Madonna Hall built
- 1984 — Salvatorian Priests and Brothers take over parish administration
- 1999–2001 — New parish office and adult formation center built
- 2005 — Virginia G. Piper Foundation funds a new pre-K/primary playground
- 2006 — Rev. Charles Goraieb assigned by Diocese of Phoenix
- 2008 — Centennial celebration and parish festival
Parish Life & Why Belong
Queen of Peace is a bilingual, downtown-Mesa parish where Spanish and English Masses, devotions, and ministries are part of everyday life. The parish welcomes about 3,000–3,600 families, runs a K-8 Catholic school, offers Eucharistic Adoration five days a week, and has a strong liturgical volunteer program in both languages. Live-streamed Masses and Flocknote sign-ups make it easy to stay connected from anywhere in the East Valley.
- Six Sunday Masses (three English, three Spanish) plus a Saturday Vigil and daily 8:30 AM Mass
- Eucharistic Adoration Monday–Friday 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Weekly Confessions Tuesday evening and Saturday morning
- Bilingual liturgical volunteers (lectors, EMs, ushers, altar servers, sacristans)
- Music Ministry with English and Spanish choirs
- Outreach through St. Vincent de Paul, Legion of Mary, and a weekly pro-life rosary
Liturgy & Music
The Liturgy page (qop.org/liturgy) coordinates the parish's liturgical volunteers in both English and Spanish, including lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, ushers, altar servers and sacristans. Flocknote (text S34V3 to 84576) is used for sign-ups and updates. The Music Ministry runs English and Spanish choirs and is a featured part of the parish festival. All adult volunteers must complete the Diocese of Phoenix Safe Environment Training (renewed annually) and a background check (renewed every six years); youth volunteers must have a Youth Safe Environment Form on file.
- Lectors / Lectores
- Eucharistic Ministers / Ministros de Eucaristía
- Ushers / Ujieres
- Altar Servers / Monaguillos
- Sacristans / Sacristanes
- English and Spanish choirs
- Flocknote communications: text S34V3 to 84576
- Diocesan Safe Environment Training (annual) and background check (every 6 years) required for all adult volunteers
Ministries & Outreach
The parish's ministries and outreach flow from its bilingual, working-class downtown-Mesa community. They include traditional Catholic service organizations (St. Vincent de Paul, Legion of Mary), age-based faith formation (Life Teen for high-schoolers and a Young Adult Ministry), a weekly pro-life rosary prayed at a local abortion clinic on Monday mornings, and an annual parish festival that doubles as the parish's biggest fundraiser.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Legion of Mary
- Life Teen youth ministry
- Young Adult Ministry
- Pro-Life Rosary — Mondays 7:00 AM at a local abortion clinic
- Annual Parish Festival with raffle, food, and music
- Live-stream ministry (Watch Live / Ver en Vivo on the website)
Queen of Peace Catholic School
Queen of Peace Catholic School (qopschool.org) is the parish school, serving Pre-K through 8th grade on the parish campus at 141 N. MacDonald St., Mesa. The school states its mission as forming 'a welcoming and inclusive community that aspires to academic excellence and encourages students to be life-long learners who are Christ-centered and service-oriented.' Current enrollment is around 175–220 students, and the team mascot is the Knights.
- Principal: Mrs. Renee Baeza
- Pastor: Fr. Thomas Bennett
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Davila
- Operations Manager: Bryce Korte
- Front Office: Gardenia Garnica; School Nurse: Brenda Lopez
- Pre-K Director: Annette Murphy
- Lower-school faculty include Taylor McKinney (K), Stacy Kocab (1st), Luz Mendoza (1st TA), Theresa Dolye (3rd), Rylie Dominguez (4th), Cassie Flores (5th)
- Middle-school faculty include April Huenecke (ELA/History), Jerry Smith (Math), Colin McCloskey (PE)
- Interventionists: Frances Gonzales and Marissa Walz; Librarian: Maya Reteguin; ESL TA: Gloria Haro
- Each grade 2–8 adopts a seminarian annually for prayer and support
- Extracurriculars include media and drama clubs and athletic teams (Knights)
- School phone: (480) 969-0226; Fax: (480) 275-2097
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is currently led by Fr. Thomas Bennett as pastor; he also serves as dean for the East Valley deanery of the Diocese of Phoenix. A parochial vicar, Fr. Davila, assists him. The parish offices and the school share the campus, and key lay staff include Renee Baeza (school principal), Bryce Korte (parish/school operations manager), Gardenia Garnica (front office), Brenda Lopez (nurse), and Sofia (liturgy coordinator, [email protected]). Maureen Battles (English) and Rudy Navarro (Spanish) are listed as Safe Environment contacts.
- Fr. Thomas Bennett — Pastor ([email protected])
- Fr. Davila — Parochial Vicar
- Renee Baeza — Principal, Queen of Peace Catholic School ([email protected])
- Bryce Korte — Operations Manager ([email protected])
- Sofia — Liturgy Coordinator ([email protected])
- Maureen Battles — Safe Environment (English)
- Rudy Navarro — Safe Environment (Spanish)
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments, with formation offered in both English and Spanish. School-aged sacramental preparation is coordinated through Queen of Peace Catholic School and the parish faith-formation program; adult initiation is handled through the parish's RCIA process.
- Baptism — infant and adult (through RCIA)
- First Reconciliation and First Communion
- Confirmation (typically in the teen years)
- Marriage — preparation required; the parish periodically hosts group marriage-vow renewal Masses
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders and Religious Life — discernment support
- Funeral and Bereavement ministry
Visit, Contact & Location
Queen of Peace is located in historic downtown Mesa at 30 W 1st Street, Mesa, AZ 85201 — across from the Mesa Arts Center and a short walk from the Mesa Light Rail line and Main Street. The parish offices and Queen of Peace Catholic School sit next door at 141 N. MacDonald. The main parish phone is (480) 969-9166; the school phone is (480) 969-0226. Masses and other liturgies are live-streamed from the homepage, and visitors can register as parishioners online.
- Parish address: 30 W 1st St, Mesa, AZ 85201
- School address: 141 N. MacDonald, Mesa, AZ 85201
- Parish phone: (480) 969-9166
- School phone: (480) 969-0226
- Parish fax: (480) 969-8120 (office)
- Website: www.qop.org
- School website: qopschool.org
- Live-stream: Watch Live / Ver en Vivo on the homepage
- Online parish registration available on the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Vicente Mestre1934–
First resident pastor; mission was formally elevated to parish status under his leadership with about 100 parishioners.
- Rev. Leo Gattes1930s–1940s
Led the fight against Mesa zoning to build the parish school; founded the mission school in 1940 with Sister Mary Electa (Sisters of Mercy of the Precious Blood).
- Salvatorian Priests and Brothers1984–c. 2006
Religious order assigned administration of the parish after the Sisters of the Precious Blood left the school.
- Rev. Charles (Charlie) Goraieb2006–c. 2022
Assigned by the Diocese of Phoenix in 2006 to administer the spiritual needs of the church and school.
- Rev. Thomas Bennettcurrent
Current pastor; also serves as dean for the East Valley deanery.