About Santa Margarita de Cortona · Santa Margarita, California
Santa Margarita de Cortona is a small Roman Catholic parish in the unincorporated town of Santa Margarita, San Luis Obispo County, California, in the Diocese of Monterey. The parish sits in a historic valley whose Catholic roots reach back to the 1787 Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia, a sub-mission of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, making it the oldest site of Catholic worship in the area after Mission San Luis itself. The current parish was formally established in 1933 and dedicated to Saint Margaret of Cortona, an Italian Franciscan tertiary. The present church, built in 1933–34 after a fire destroyed the earlier sanctuary, still anchors the community at 22515 H Street.
- Established
- 1933
- Patron
- Saint Margaret of Cortona (Italian Franciscan tertiary, 1247–1297)
- Rector
- Rev. Robert Sullivan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Monterey in California
Why belong here
Santa Margarita de Cortona offers the rare experience of being a small, tight-knit Catholic community in one of the most historic Catholic settings on California's Central Coast — the same valley where the Franciscans said Mass more than two centuries ago. With weekday Masses Wednesday through Friday and a Saturday Vigil, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, and Reconciliation before every Sunday Mass, the parish gives parishioners steady, unhurried access to the sacraments. The parish keeps alive devotions rooted in its Franciscan heritage (Saint Margaret of Cortona is a Franciscan tertiary), and its modest size means visitors and newcomers are quickly known by name. It is a fitting stop for anyone interested in the living continuation of the California mission story.
Mass times at Santa Margarita de Cortona
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm (before Vigil Mass)
- Sunday 9:00 am – 9:30 am (before 10:00 am Mass)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 10:00 am – 11:00 am (immediately following the 10:00 am Mass, for one hour)
- First Saturday 9:00 am
History
The parish is rooted in the 1787 Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia, established by Franciscan missionaries from Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa as a sub-mission and ranching outpost in the upper Salinas River valley. The asistencia contributed crops and livestock to Mission San Luis Obispo, hosted traveling padres, and served the local Salinan people. After Mexican secularization in 1841, the rancho passed to Joaquín Estrada; Catholic worship continued sporadically for more than a century, with traveling priests saying Mass in the chapel, in local homes, or at the adobe ranch headquarters. A formal parish was established in 1933, the present sanctuary was completed and dedicated on April 28, 1934, and the parish was re-dedicated to its original Franciscan patroness on December 7, 1997.
- 1787 — Asistencia established by Franciscans of Mission San Luis Obispo
- 1829–1830 — Father Gil y Taboada reports earthquake damage to all walls of the Santa Margarita house
- 1841 — Rancho Santa Margarita secularized and granted to Joaquín Estrada
- 1905 — Parish acquires former print shop/schoolhouse as first dedicated church
- 1906 — Bishop Conaty dedicates the remodeled church
- 1933 — Formal parish established; original church destroyed by fire
- 1934 — Bishop Scher dedicates the present church (April 28)
- 1988 — Father Richard Bonjean begins dramatic renovation
- 1997 — Bishop Sylvester Ryan re-ded parish to Santa Margarita de Cortona (Dec. 7)
Mass, Sacraments & Devotions
The parish offers a five-day weekly Mass schedule (Wednesday through Friday mornings, Saturday Vigil, and Sunday morning), with Saturday evening and Sunday morning confessions preceding Mass. Eucharistic Adoration follows the Wednesday morning Mass for one hour and is also offered on the first Saturday of the month at 9:00 am. The parish's Franciscan heritage is reflected in its dedication to Saint Margaret of Cortona, a Franciscan tertiary.
- Mass: Sat Vigil 5:00 pm; Sun 10:00 am; Wed–Fri 10:00 am; Holy Days 10:00 am (Vigil 6:00 pm)
- Confession: Sat 4:00–4:30 pm; Sun 9:00–9:30 am
- Adoration: Wed 10:00–11:00 am (after Mass); First Sat 9:00 am
- Anointing of the Sick by appointment
Staff & Parish Leadership
The parish is led by its pastor in cooperation with a Parish Council and Altar Society, and is supported by staff in religious education, liturgy, music, and parish administration. The Diocese of Monterey directory has historically listed the parish alongside nearby Our Lady Star of the Sea, with shared ministry resources.
- Pastor: Rev. Robert Sullivan
- Parish Secretary / Office Manager: Mary Lou Ahearn (historically; current staff to be confirmed by parish)
- Director of Religious Education (per 2019 directory): Erika Rivera (with assistant Joanna Reyes)
- Liturgy Coordinator: Julie Smeltzer
- Music Director / Coordinator: Fred Martinez; Steve Schulte
- Bookkeeper: Rosalba Cruz
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish operates a year-round Religious Education program for children preparing for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation, and historically has offered RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) for adults entering the Church. Spanish-language catechesis has been part of the parish's ministry, supported by a Spanish DRE and Spanish liturgy team.
- Religious Education (children)
- RCIA for adults (English and historically Spanish)
- Spanish-language religious education and liturgy
Music & Liturgy
Liturgy and music are coordinated by a parish team that includes a Music Director and Liturgy Coordinator. Father James R. Cadera, pastor from 1970 to 1987, raised the funds to purchase the organ still in use. The parish traditionally celebrates Holy Days, Anointing of the Sick, and sacramental rites with music and liturgical volunteers.
- Music Director / Coordinator (Fred Martinez, Steve Schulte)
- Liturgy Coordinator (Julie Smeltzer)
- Organ acquired during Father Cadera's pastorate (1970–1987)
The 1787 Asistencia & California Mission Heritage
Beyond the parish church, the original 1787 Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia ruins lie a short distance away on private Santa Margarita Ranch property. The compound — adobes, a stone-walled storage house with guest rooms, and a chapel — was named for Saint Margaret of Cortona, an Italian Franciscan tertiary. The site is California Historical Landmark No. 364 and lies on the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail route through San Luis Obispo County. Tour access is occasionally available during public ranch events.
- California Historical Landmark No. 364
- On the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail route
- Located on private Santa Margarita Ranch property
- Tours occasionally offered
Visiting & Pilgrimage
Santa Margarita is a popular stop for travelers between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and the parish is a natural pilgrimage point for those interested in the California missions. The parish church is open for scheduled Masses and confessions, and visitors are warmly welcomed. A visit pairs well with Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (parent mission, 8 miles south), the asistencia ruins (on the ranch), and the historic downtown of Santa Margarita.
- Located 8 miles north of downtown San Luis Obispo off U.S. 101
- Free parking near the church
- SLO Regional Transit Route 9 serves the town
- Combine with Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and the asistencia ruins
Contact & Directions
Parishioners and visitors may reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person at the rectory on H Street in the historic downtown of Santa Margarita. The parish shares its ministry with Our Lady Star of the Sea in Cambria, and both fall under the Diocese of Monterey in California.
- Address: 22515 H Street, Santa Margarita, CA 93453
- Mailing: P.O. Box 350, Santa Margarita, CA 93453-0350
- Phone: (805) 438-5383
- Fax: (805) 438-4313
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocese: Diocese of Monterey in California
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Coen1933–1935
Began the present church structure in 1933 after a fire destroyed the earlier sanctuary; died before its completion.
- Rev. John Nelson1934–1939
Pastored during the completion and dedication of the new church on April 28, 1934, with Bishop Scher.
- Rev. Thomas Morahan1939–1941
Pastored in early years after completion of the new church.
- Rev. Peter C. (P.C.) Santy1941–1948
Pastored during World War II era.
- Rev. Anthony C. Stuhlmann1948–1961
Mission of St. William's, Atascadero; served the wider area including Santa Margarita.
- Msgr. Silvano Baquedano1961–1969
Also served as Catholic chaplain at Atascadero State Hospital.
- Rev. Msgr. Charles Smith1969–1970
Interim administrator.
- Rev. James R. Cadera1970–1987
Long-tenured pastor; raised funds to purchase the parish organ.
- Rev. Richard A. Bonjean1988–1996
Ninth in the 20th-century succession; arrived February 2, 1988, and led a dramatic renovation — repainting, reroofing, and refurbishment — of a nearly moribund parish.
- Rev. Joseph Grech1995–2001
Parish Administrator 1995–96; Parochial Administrator 1996–2001. Secured permission to restore the parish's original dedication to Santa Margarita de Cortona, retired a diocesan debt of more than $32,000 by July 1998.
- Rev. James Frerkes2001–2006
Succeeding pastor after Father Grech.
- Rev. Russ Brown2006–2008
Short-term pastor before Robert Travis.
- Rev. Robert Travis2008–c.2018
Long-serving pastor; later moved to pastorate of Our Lady Star of the Sea parish.
- Rev. Robert Sullivan2018–present
Listed as pastor in the Diocese of Monterey 2019 directory.