About Saint Maximilian Kolbe · San Diego, California
Saint Maximilian Kolbe Roman Catholic Polish Mission is a Polish-language Roman Catholic mission of the Diocese of San Diego located in the Pacific Beach neighborhood of San Diego, California. The mission is staffed by the Society of Christ Fathers (Księża Chrystusowcy / SCh), a Polish religious congregation founded in 1932 by Cardinal August Hlond to minister to Polish Catholics living outside Poland. The parish community serves Polish-speaking Catholics across the San Diego region, with parishioners traveling from as far as Temecula to attend Mass in Polish. The mission is especially known for housing relics of three great apostles of Divine Mercy — Blessed Pope John Paul II, St. Faustina Kowalska, and Blessed Father Michał Sopoćko — and for its annual Polish heritage festival in Pacific Beach.
- Established
- 1971
- Patron
- Saint Maximilian Kolbe (St. Maksymilian Maria Kolbe)
- Rector
- Father Czesław Rybacki, SCh (in transition — Father Andrzej Galant, SCh arriving August 2026)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
Saint Maximilian Kolbe is the spiritual home of Polish Catholics in the greater San Diego area, offering Mass celebrated in Polish in a community shaped by more than five decades of shared heritage. It welcomes worshippers who drive in from across the region — even from Temecula — and gathers them around the Eucharist, devotions to Divine Mercy, and the veneration of relics of St. Faustina, Blessed John Paul II, and Blessed Father Michał Sopoćko. The mission also serves Polish families through religious education for children and youth, faith formation for First Communion and Confirmation, and a vibrant annual Polish festival that strengthens the bonds between parishioners and their Pacific Beach neighbors.
Mass times at Saint Maximilian Kolbe
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- First Friday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 6:15 PM (18:15) during the 7:00 PM Mass
History of the Polish Mission
The Polish Roman Catholic Mission of St. Maximilian Kolbe in San Diego was born out of the desire of Polish immigrants to celebrate the sacraments in their native language. The first Polish Mass was offered in July 1971 in the chapel of the Carmelite Sisters on Howley Boulevard. For nearly a quarter-century the community moved between the chapel of the Carmelite Sisters, Blessed Sacrament parish, and Our Mother of Confidence parish before finally acquiring its own building at 1735 Grand Avenue in Pacific Beach in 1995.
- First Polish Mass: July 1971, Carmelite Sisters chapel, Howley Boulevard, San Diego
- Earliest hosts: Carmelite Sisters, Blessed Sacrament parish, Our Mother of Confidence parish
- Founding pastors: Fr. Justynian Pawełek and Fr. Fryderyk Górka
- 1995: Pastoral care entrusted to the Society of Christ Fathers (SCh); building at 1735 Grand Ave acquired
- 22 December 1996: Church blessed by Bishop Robert H. Brom
- 2007: Loan on church building paid off under Fr. Jerzy Frydrych, SCh
- 2009: Parish hall and rectory renovated; January 2010 — Bishop Brom blessed them; hall named for Pope John Paul II
- 30 August 2015: Fr. Czesław Rybacki, SCh, becomes pastor
Society of Christ Fathers (Księża Chrystusowcy)
Since 1995 the mission has been served by the Society of Christ Fathers (SCh), a Polish religious congregation founded in 1932 by Cardinal August Hlond. Their principal mission is the spiritual care of Polish Catholics living outside the borders of Poland — a charism that makes them the natural shepherds of San Diego's Polish mission. Father Provincial Hubert Zasada directs assignments of SCh priests across parishes in the United States and Canada.
- Congregation founded: 1932 by Cardinal August Hlond
- Charism: pastoral service to Polish people abroad
- Past SCh pastors in San Diego: Fr. Stanisław Kowalski, Fr. Edward Traczyk, Fr. Jerzy Frydrych, Fr. Czesław Rybacki
- Father Provincial: Hubert Zasada, SCh
Clergy and Parish Leadership
Father Czesław Rybacki, SCh, has been pastor of the mission since 30 August 2015. By a recent decision of Father Provincial Hubert Zasada, Fr. Rybacki will enter retirement and take up residence at the Mission of St. Brother Albert Chmielowski in San Jose, while Father Andrzej Galant, SCh, currently in Seattle, will become the new pastor in August 2026.
- Pastor (current): Fr. Czesław Rybacki, SCh (since 30 Aug 2015; has served Polish parishes abroad since 1993)
- Pastor (incoming, August 2026): Fr. Andrzej Galant, SCh (from Seattle)
- Parish Council Chair: Piotr Giba
- Finance Council Chair: Bogdan Maziarz
- Parish office hours: open before and after daily Mass
Veneration of the Relics of the Apostles of Divine Mercy
The mission has been honored with first-class relics of the three great apostles of Divine Mercy: Blessed Pope John Paul II, St. Faustina Kowalska, and Blessed Father Michał Sopoćko. According to the parish, the relics remind the faithful of the holiness of the saints and their cooperation with God's grace, inspire prayers for their intercession, and are associated with the many miracles and favors received through God's mercy.
- Relic of Blessed Pope John Paul II
- Relic of St. Faustina Kowalska
- Relic of Blessed Father Michał Sopoćko
- Relics placed in the church for veneration
- Why we venerate relics — explained on the parish website
Faith Formation for Children and Youth
The mission offers religious-education classes (lekcje religii) for children and youth, with enrollment coordinated through the pastor. Preparation is provided for the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation, and parents are encouraged to register their children and youth with Father Rybacki.
- Children's religious education (lekcje religii)
- Youth ministry
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation (przygotowanie do bierzmowania)
- Registration: contact Fr. Czesław Rybacki
Annual Catholic Appeal and Building Renovation Fund
Each year the parish joins the Diocese of San Diego's Annual Catholic Appeal under the banner 'In Mission We Are One.' On the first Sunday of every month a second collection is taken up for the Church Renovation Fund to support ongoing maintenance and improvement of the mission's buildings; the parish records its renovation history in detail on its website.
- Annual Catholic Appeal — Diocesan goal supported by the parish each year
- Church Renovation Fund — second collection every first Sunday of the month
- Interior renovation of the church — project ongoing since 2010
- Renovation history (kronika renowacji) documented on parish site
Polish Heritage and Community Life
Twice a year, in addition to weekly liturgy, the parish gathers the wider Polish-American community of San Diego around its annual Polish festival in Pacific Beach. The three-day event features pierogi, polka music, and Polish cultural programming and has drawn more than 5,000 people in recent years, becoming both a key fundraiser and a powerful expression of Polish Catholic unity in Southern California.
- Annual Polish festival in Pacific Beach (23rd year as of 2017; 5,000+ attendees)
- Polish-language liturgy throughout the year
- Strong tradition of Święconka (Easter basket blessing)
- Community fundraising for parish mission
Contact and Visit
The mission is located at 1735 Grand Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109, in the Pacific Beach neighborhood, and can be reached by phone at (858) 272-7655 or by email at [email protected]. The parish office is open before and after daily Mass.
- Address: 1735 Grand Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109
- Phone: (858) 272-7655
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.polishmission.org
- Parish office hours: before and after daily Mass
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Justynian Pawełekfrom 1971
One of the founding pastors; celebrated the first Polish Mass in July 1971 at the Carmelite Sisters chapel on Howley Boulevard.
- Father Fryderyk Górkafrom 1971
Co-founding pastor alongside Fr. Pawełek.
- Father Marian Sikorski
Guided the Polish Mission and served its members with pastoral care.
- Father Gerard Obłonczek
Co-led the mission together with Fr. Sikorski.
- Father Stanisław Kowalskithrough 1996 blessing
Oversaw the 1995 purchase of the 1735 Grand Avenue building and its renovation; church blessed by Bishop Robert H. Brom on 22 December 1996.
- Father Edward Traczyk, SCh2003 – ~2005
Continued the work of his predecessor for two years.
- Father Jerzy Frydrych, SCh2005 – 2015
Paid off the building loan in 2007; completed parish hall and rectory renovation in 2009; Bishop Brom blessed the new rectory and John Paul II parish hall in January 2010.
- Father Czesław Rybacki, SCh30 August 2015 – 2026
Current pastor; has served Polish parishes outside Poland since 1993; will move to retirement at St. Brother Albert Chmielowski Mission in San Jose.
- Father Andrzej Galant, SChfrom August 2026
Incoming pastor, transferring from Seattle.