About Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary · Thermal, California
The Chapel of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary is a small Roman Catholic mission chapel on the Torres-Martinez Indian Reservation in Thermal, California, in the Coachella Valley. Founded in 1904, it has served the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians for more than a century and is administered as a chapel of St. Joseph Mission in San Jacinto (Soboba). The chapel is staffed by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (M.S.C.) and offers a single weekly Sunday Mass to the surrounding tribal community, which for many years was reached only by dirt roads across the reservation.
- Established
- 1904
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Robert "Alex" Anthony, M.S.C. (Administrator; also Chaplain to all Native American communities and chapels in the diocese, appointed July 1, 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Bernardino
Why belong here
Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary offers a unique chance to worship at a small, historic mission chapel at the heart of the Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla community. Visitors are welcomed into a Sunday Mass celebrated by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, in a setting that intentionally weaves Catholic faith with the living traditions of the Cahuilla people. The mission's ministry — across this chapel and the wider diocesan Native American Ministry — is centered on strengthening community, preserving cultural identity, and walking with families through the sacraments of baptism, first Communion, marriage and funeral rites.
Mass times at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
About the Chapel
The Chapel of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary is a small Catholic mission on the Torres-Martinez Indian Reservation in Thermal, California. According to the Diocese of San Bernardino, 'Founded in 1904, the Chapel of the Sacred Hearts of Mary and Jesus is a community that serves to spread the Gospel message with the help of St. Joseph Mission.' The chapel is part of the diocesan Native American Ministry and is administered by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
- Founded in 1904
- Located on the Torres-Martinez Indian Reservation, Thermal, CA 92274
- Operated as a chapel of St. Joseph Mission, San Jacinto (Soboba)
- Administered by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (M.S.C.)
History
Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary has been a continuous Catholic presence on the Torres-Martinez Reservation since 1904. It was originally part of the Diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles, passed to the Diocese of Los Angeles-San Diego, then the Diocese of San Diego in 1936, and to the Diocese of San Bernardino when the diocese was created in 1978. For many decades visiting diocesan priests traveled out to celebrate Mass. A Los Angeles Times report in October 2011 described the small, electricity-free church where Father Earl Henley rang the bell with a thick rope to gather the faithful for 9 a.m. Sunday Mass.
- Continuous mission since 1904
- Originally under the Diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles
- Diocese of San Diego, 1936–1978
- Diocese of San Bernardino, 1978–present
Father Earl Henley, M.S.C. — 25 Years of Service
Rev. Earl Henley, a Missionary of the Sacred Heart, was appointed pastor and chaplain of the Diocese of San Bernardino's Native American Ministry on July 1, 2000. From his base at St. Joseph Mission rectory on the Soboba Reservation, he reached out to Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and to four other tribal chapels — St. Rose of Lima (Santa Rosa), St. Michael (Pechanga), Our Lady of the Snows (Cahuilla) and St. Mary's (Morongo) — distances ranging from 25 to 80 miles. He celebrated the Eucharist as well as baptisms, first reconciliations, first Communions, funerals and one-year funeral anniversaries across all six communities. 'The mission focus is on strengthening the community by bringing Catholic teaching and values while honoring and preserving Native American traditions,' Henley said. A dinner celebrating his more than 25 years of service was held June 5, 2025 at Soboba Springs Golf Course.
- Appointed July 1, 2000
- Served the Native American Ministry of the Diocese of San Bernardino for more than 25 years
- Honored with a retirement dinner on June 5, 2025
Current Leadership — Rev. Robert 'Alex' Anthony, M.S.C.
In 2025 Bishop Alberto Rojas announced new priest assignments, naming Rev. Robert 'Alex' Anthony, M.S.C. as Administrator of St. Joseph Mission, San Jacinto, and Chaplain to all Native American communities and chapels in the Diocese of San Bernardino, including Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The assignment runs for a three-year term from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028. The diocese thanked Rev. Earl Henley, M.S.C. for more than 25 years of service to the Native American communities in the diocese.
- Administrator: Rev. Robert 'Alex' Anthony, M.S.C.
- Term: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028
- Also Chaplain to all Native American communities and chapels in the Diocese of San Bernardino
Mass & Service Schedule
The chapel currently celebrates one Mass a week, on Sunday morning. As a small mission served by a chaplaincy team traveling across multiple reservations, the chapel does not publish a regular daily Mass or weekday adoration schedule online — visitors are encouraged to call the chapel to confirm times and to arrange confession, adoration or other services through St. Joseph Mission.
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 a.m. (English) — per the Diocese of San Bernardino and Discover Mass
- Weekday Masses: not regularly scheduled — call for information
Sacraments
Because Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary is a small chapel, sacramental preparation and celebration are typically coordinated through St. Joseph Mission in San Jacinto. The mission's chaplain regularly celebrates baptisms, first Communions, first Reconciliations, funerals and one-year funeral anniversaries with the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla community. The parish listing also notes RCIA / OCIA (Becoming Catholic) ministry for adults preparing to enter the Church.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation (Confession)
- First Communion
- RCIA / OCIA (Becoming Catholic)
- Funerals and one-year funeral anniversaries
- Marriage (contact the mission)
The Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Community
The chapel serves the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians on their reservation in the Coachella Valley, near the Salton Sea. The mission's ministry — across this and four other reservation chapels — intentionally honors and preserves Cahuilla culture and traditional spirituality alongside Catholic teaching. The reservation sits within a landscape of deep tribal significance, including the surrounding desert and the newly designated Chuckwalla National Monument, which the Torres Martinez tribe co-stewards with the Bureau of Land Management.
- Served tribe: Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians
- Reservation location: Thermal, Riverside County, California
- Cultural context: Cahuilla, with deep ties to the surrounding desert and mountain landscapes
Visit & Contact
Visitors are warmly welcomed to attend Sunday Mass at the chapel. Because the church sits on the reservation and is reached by unmarked dirt roads, the parish asks visitors to call ahead for directions and to confirm Mass and service times.
- Address: Torres-Martinez Indian Reservation, Thermal, CA 92274
- Phone: (760) 398-5577
- Website: sbdiocese.org (Diocese of San Bernardino parish listing id=1380090)
- Languages: English
- Get directions: call the chapel
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Earl Henley, M.S.C.2000–2025
Missionary of the Sacred Heart; pastor/chaplain of the Diocese of San Bernardino's Native American Ministry. Took up the post July 1, 2000 and served more than 25 years. Traveled monthly from St. Joseph Mission on the Soboba Reservation to Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and four other tribal chapels across the desert, celebrating Mass, baptisms, first Communions, funerals and funeral anniversaries. Honored with a retirement dinner at Soboba Springs Golf Course in June 2025.
- Rev. Robert "Alex" Anthony, M.S.C.2025–present
Appointed by Bishop Alberto Rojas as Administrator of St. Joseph Mission, San Jacinto, and Chaplain to all Native American communities and chapels in the Diocese of San Bernardino for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2028.