About Sacred Heart of Ocean Beach · San Diego, California
Sacred Heart Church of Ocean Beach is a Catholic parish in the Ocean Beach / Point Loma peninsula neighborhood of San Diego, California, founded on May 10, 1911 by Bishop Thomas Cantwell as a small redwood mission church for the growing seaside community. More than a century later, the parish continues to serve the same neighborhood from its present home at 4776 Saratoga Avenue, offering daily and weekend Mass, Reconciliation, perpetual Adoration in its on-site chapel, faith formation for children and teens, a parish preschool, and an engaged community of ministries. The parish belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego and today is led by Fr. Billy Zondler, who was assigned as pastor in July 2023.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Billy Zondler
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
Sacred Heart of Ocean Beach is a community-scale parish on the Point Loma peninsula where the founding Catholic mission of 1911 still feels close at hand — the same block of Saratoga Avenue that has welcomed Ocean Beach families for more than a century. Daily Mass is offered every weekday morning (with Rosary and Divine Mercy devotion afterward), weekend Masses on Saturday evening and three times on Sunday, and the on-site Adoration Chapel is open nine hours a day with extended time on Fridays. Families can grow together through the parish preschool (a San Diego Union-Tribune "Best of the Peninsula" winner), K–5 religious education, the two-year Teen Confirmation program, and adult initiation through OCIA — and there is a place for everyone who wants to be involved, from liturgical music to youth ministry to faith formation.
Mass times at Sacred Heart of Ocean Beach
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 7:30 am – 7:55 am
- Saturday 3:15 pm – 4:00 pm
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel: daily 9:00 am – 7:00 pm (Fridays until 10:00 am; contact Janice Teixeira at 619.246.4955 or [email protected] for an entry code)
- Private adoration available on weekdays upon request
Parish History
Sacred Heart of Ocean Beach was founded May 10, 1911 by Bishop Thomas Cantwell as a 40-by-24-foot redwood mission church on Santa Monica and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard (then called DeFoe Street). In 1924 the parish bought lots on the corner of Saratoga and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard and the wooden church was physically moved to the present 4776 Saratoga Avenue site, with the first Mass there celebrated June 24, 1924. The dramatic growth of Ocean Beach — from about 100 residents in 1909 to roughly 6,000 by 1927 — shaped the parish's early decades. Between 1945 and 1947 the original church was sold for $1,000 and replaced by the present steel-reinforced-concrete church, designed around sixteen large stained-glass windows depicting the twelve promises of the Sacred Heart — believed at the time to be the first use of such windows in any Catholic church. Sacred Heart Academy followed in 1948.
- Founded May 10, 1911 by Bishop Thomas Cantwell
- Original redwood church at Santa Monica and Sunset Cliffs (DeFoe) Blvd.
- Moved to 4776 Saratoga Avenue in 1924; first Mass there June 24, 1924
- Present concrete church built 1945–47; cornerstone 1946, Palm Sunday 1947 first Mass, Bishop Buddy dedicated May 1947
- Sixteen large stained-glass windows of the Sacred Heart promises; thirty-six smaller stained-glass windows donated by parishioners; copper Stations of the Cross
- Sacred Heart Academy opened September 1948 with Dominican Sisters from Springfield, Illinois
Architecture & Campus
The current church is a steel-reinforced-concrete building constructed on the same lot as the 1911 wooden original, distinguished by its signature sixteen large stained-glass windows of the Sacred Heart promises, thirty-six smaller stained-glass windows, and copper-painted Stations of the Cross. Around the church sits the 1937 parish hall (built under Father Peter A. Connolly), the present rectory — the stucco and tile-roofed "People's Rectory" built under Monsignor Francis Dillon in recognition of parishioner donations — the preschool at 4895 Saratoga Avenue, and a separate Adoration Chapel created during Fr. Ron Hebert's tenure and divided from the sanctuary by a partition.
- Steel-reinforced-concrete church (1947)
- Sixteen large stained-glass windows of the Sacred Heart promises
- Thirty-six smaller donated stained-glass windows
- Copper-painted Stations of the Cross
- Parish hall (1937)
- "People's Rectory" (Monsignor Dillon era)
- Adoration Chapel (added under Fr. Ron Hebert)
Pastor & Clergy
Sacred Heart is currently served by Fr. Billy Zondler, who was assigned as pastor in July 2023, supported by two priests in residence (Fr. Anthony "Tony" Stanonik and Rev. Lt. Emmanuel Ochigbo, USNR) and Deacon Mark Wieczorek (PhD, Esq). The parish's long pastoral history stretches back to its founding in 1911 and includes several long-serving pastors, most notably Monsignor John Rhatigan (the longest in parish history at more than two decades) and Father Declan Foley, who oversaw the move of the church to Saratoga Avenue in 1924.
- Rev. Fr. Billy Zondler — Pastor (since July 2023)
- Rev. Anthony "Tony" Stanonik — In Residence
- Rev. Lt. Emmanuel Ochigbo, USNR — In Residence
- Rev. Mr. Mark Wieczorek, PhD, Esq — Deacon
- Monsignor John Rhatigan — longest-resident pastor (1974–1995)
Parish Staff
Alongside the priests and deacon, the parish is staffed by a small team running parish administration, music, faith formation, youth ministry, finances and the preschool.
- Lisa Danaher — Office Manager ([email protected], ext. 101)
- Janis Cantú — Music Director ([email protected])
- Natalie Culbertson — Youth Minister ([email protected], ext. 106)
- Stephen Williams — Director of Catechetical Ministry ([email protected], ext. 102)
- Rachel Ohalek — Bookkeeper ([email protected], ext. 103)
- Rebecca Godina — Pre-School Director ([email protected], (619) 222-7252)
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments — Baptism, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage and Holy Orders — and describes them as encounters with the life and presence of Jesus Christ that are at once spiritual and physical. Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion is built into the K–5 Children's Religious Education program, while Confirmation has its own two-year teen track and an adult OCIA path for those becoming Catholic.
- Baptism
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Eucharist
- Confirmation (teen two-year program and adult OCIA)
- Marriage
- Holy Orders
- 24/7 Sacramental Emergency line
Faith Formation & Education
Faith formation at Sacred Heart runs from preschool through adult initiation. Children's Religious Education serves Kindergarten through Grade 5 every Tuesday 5:30 – 6:45 pm and includes two years of preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Children in those grades can also attend Children's Liturgy of the Word during the 10:00 am Sunday Mass during the school year. Confirmation is a two-year program for high schoolers meeting at Sacred Heart Academy; adults seeking Confirmation or coming into the Church do so through the Becoming Catholic (OCIA) process.
- Children's Religious Education (K–5), Tuesdays 5:30–6:45 pm, includes First Reconciliation / First Communion prep
- Children's Liturgy of the Word during 10:00 am Sunday Mass (school year)
- Teen Confirmation (two-year program at Sacred Heart Academy; contact Natalie Culbertson, ext. 106)
- Adult Confirmation / Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
- Contact: Stephen Williams, Director of Catechetical Ministry — [email protected], ext. 102
Sacred Heart Academy Preschool
Sacred Heart Academy Preschool is a Christian preschool for children ages 2 through 5 serving the Point Loma / Ocean Beach area of San Diego, located at 4895 Saratoga Avenue. The school was voted best preschool on the Peninsula in the San Diego Union-Tribune Readers Poll. Programming combines play-based, sensory and structured activities focused on the whole child — social, emotional, cognitive and motor development — across five large classrooms staffed by a fully qualified team. Director Rebecca Godina can be reached at (619) 222-7252 or [email protected] to arrange a tour.
- Ages 2–5
- Five large classrooms
- Play-based, sensory and structured activities
- Voted best preschool on the Peninsula (San Diego Union-Tribune Readers Poll)
- Director: Rebecca Godina — (619) 222-7252 — [email protected]
- Address: 4895 Saratoga Avenue, San Diego, CA 92107
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at Sacred Heart is coordinated by Music Director Janis Cantú ([email protected]). The parish's traditional landmark is its stained-glass program — sixteen large windows depicting the twelve promises of the Sacred Heart (a first in American Catholic architecture at the time of their installation) and thirty-six smaller windows donated by parishioners — giving the sanctuary a luminous quality that is central to its worship life.
- Music Director: Janis Cantú
- Sixteen large stained-glass windows of the Sacred Heart promises
- Thirty-six smaller donated stained-glass windows
- Copper-painted Stations of the Cross
Visit, Contact & Giving
Parishioners and visitors can contact the parish office by phone (619-224-2746), email ([email protected]) or in person at 4776 Saratoga Avenue, San Diego, CA 92107. Online giving is available through the parish website, and newcomers are encouraged to register through the parish's online registration page. A 24-hour Sacramental Emergency line is linked from the parish homepage for Anointing of the Sick and last rites.
- Address: 4776 Saratoga Avenue, San Diego, CA 92107
- Phone: 619-224-2746
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish registration available online
- Online giving via the parish website
- Sacramental Emergency line on the homepage
Pastors & rectors through the years
- First pastor (early resident priest, name not preserved on the parish history page)1911–c.1921
Served the young mission parish in its first decade before Father Foley's arrival.
- Father Declan FoleyFebruary 1921 – November 1925
Second resident pastor, from Toronto, Canada. Purchased the Saratoga Avenue lots and oversaw moving the wooden church to the present site; first Mass at the new location June 24, 1924.
- Father Peter SantyNovember 24, 1925 – c.1929
Constructed the small rectory next to the church on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, completed November 7, 1927.
- Father J. B. RoureJanuary 20, 1929 – August 1933
Known to parishioners as pastor of "the little brown church."
- Father Peter A. Connolly1933–1939
Oversaw construction of the present parish hall in 1937.
- Father Hannonc.1939–c.1947
Sold the original 1911 wooden church for $1,000 in 1945 and shepherded construction of the present steel-reinforced-concrete church with its sixteen large stained-glass windows of the Sacred Heart promises.
- Monsignor Francis Dillonmid-20th century – 1968
Built the present rectory, the "People's Rectory"; became the parish's first Pastor Emeritus upon retirement in 1968.
- Monsignor Kenneth Stack1968 – 1973
Died in office in 1973.
- Father John Sproul and Father John Gomes (interim)1973 – January 16, 1974
Served as associate pastors filling in between Monsignor Stack's death and Monsignor Rhatigan's appointment.
- Monsignor John RhatiganJanuary 16, 1974 – 1995
Longest resident pastor in parish history, served with Associate Pastor Msgr. Nicholas Clavin.
- Father Robert White1995 – c.1996
Succeeded Monsignor Rhatigan briefly upon his retirement.
- Father Ron Hebert1996 – c.2014
Remodeled the sanctuary to diocesan suggestions; added the Wall of Remembrance and the adoration chapel with a partition separating it from the altar.
- Father William StevensonJuly 2014 – June 2015
- Rev. Canon Thomas W. ThompsonJuly 2015 – June 2018
- Father Thomas KielyJuly 2018 – May 2023
- Father Billy ZondlerJuly 2023 – present
Current pastor.