SS. Peter and Paul

Parish History

Established in 1981 by Bishop Francis Quinn, SS. Peter & Paul grew out of the older Catholic community of Rocklin that had worshipped at St. Mary's of the Assumption since 1883. Under founding pastor Father Michael J. Dillon, the parish purchased its Granite Drive property in 1982 and celebrated the first Mass in the new church on Christmas Eve 1983. Over the next three decades the campus was built up entirely without further borrowing — a story the parish attributes to a culture of stewardship among its members.

• 1883 — St. Mary's of the Assumption dedicated in Rocklin by Archbishop Joseph Alemany of San Francisco.
• 1981 (May 1) — Bishop Francis Quinn establishes SS. Peter & Paul Parish and appoints Fr. Michael J. Dillon as founding pastor.
• 1982 — Land purchased on Granite Drive for $370,000.
• 1983 (Christmas Eve) — First Mass celebrated in the new church.
• 1985 — Rectory built, largely with volunteer labor.
• 1991 — Religious education center and library added.
• c. 2001 — Parish priest's residence, classrooms, youth center, multipurpose room, and offices completed.
• 2009 — Fr. Dillon retires after 28 years as pastor (named Pastor Emeritus).
• Today — About 3,000 registered families; Christmas/Easter liturgies historically drawing ~6,000.

Our Patron Saints

The parish is named for Saints Peter and Paul, the two great apostles commemorated together on June 29 — one of the oldest feasts in the Roman liturgical calendar.

Clergy & Staff

The parish is led by Fr. Renier Siva and supported by two permanent deacons and a sizable lay staff covering faith formation, liturgy, music, youth ministry, and office administration. Fr. Michael J. Dillon, who founded and led the parish from 1981 to 2009, retains the title of Pastor Emeritus.

• Rev. Renier Siva — Pastor
• Rev. Michael J. Dillon — Pastor Emeritus
• Deacon David Haproff
• Deacon Bob Leathers
• Melissa Terry — Office Manager
• Lawanda Tassinari — Bookkeeping Assistant
• Michelle Pfister — Coordinator of Liturgy (Interim)
• Dan Welz — Coordinator of Music (Interim)
• Laura Pipitone — Bulletin Editor
• Kris Dahla — Coordinator of Youth & Family Faith & First Communion
• Jen Gordon — Coordinator of Youth & Family Faith & Confirmation
• Nancy Von Thaden — Coordinator of High School Youth Ministry & Young Adult Ministry
• Katie Maynard — Coordinator of Christian Initiation (OCIA)
• Darcy Wharton — Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation
• Todd Benjamin — Maintenance

Generations of Faith (Faith Formation for All Ages)

SS. Peter & Paul describes itself as a parish of lifelong faith formation, with coordinated tracks for children, teens, young adults, parents, and adults. Sacrament preparation for Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation is a consecutive two-year process typically beginning in 1st grade (Reconciliation/Communion) and 7th grade (Confirmation).

• Youth & Family Faith (K – 6): Sundays or Mondays 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
• Youth & Family Faith (7th–8th & HS Confirmation): Sundays 6:15 PM – 7:45 PM
• Launch Youth Ministry (3rd–5th grades)
• Lift Youth Ministry (6th–8th grades)
• Life Teen (9th–12th grades) — meets Sunday evenings after the 5 PM Mass
• Young Adult Ministry (ages 18–35) — meets monthly after the Saturday 5 PM Mass
• Adult Faith Formation — book club, prayer groups, retreats, small faith communities, Bible studies, parenting classes, parish mission
• OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (typically a 2-year process)
• Adult Confirmation preparation
• Family Faith Formation Sessions — two family-centered faith formation sessions and one family service project per year

Sacramental Preparation

The parish prepares parishioners for each of the seven sacraments. Infant baptism (up to age 6) is celebrated on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month, with a required preparation class for parents and at least one godparent. Couples preparing for marriage must give at least six months' advance notice and complete an Engaged Encounter weekend, FOCCUS sessions, and a Natural Family Planning introduction.

• Baptism (infant) — 2nd and 4th Sundays; preparation class required
• First Communion & Reconciliation — two-year preparation beginning in 1st grade
• Confirmation — two-year preparation beginning in 7th grade
• Adult Confirmation — for baptized Catholics who have received Communion but not Confirmation
• Marriage — 6 months advance notice; Engaged Encounter, FOCCUS, and NFP intro required
• Annulments — assisted through the parish office
• Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
• Funeral / Mass of Christian Burial — priests assist with planning and grief support

Marriage Ministry

Couples discerning marriage at SS. Peter & Paul first meet the pastor and complete marriage preparation approved by the Diocese of Sacramento, typically including an Engaged Encounter weekend at Christ the King Retreat Center in Citrus Heights, FOCCUS sessions in a Roman Catholic parish, and an introductory Natural Family Planning session. The parish also points already-married couples to Marriage Encounter weekends and offers annulment assistance through the office.

• Initial meeting with the pastor
• Engaged Encounter weekend (Christ the King Retreat Center, Citrus Heights)
• FOCCUS marriage preparation sessions
• Natural Family Planning introductory session
• Marriage Encounter referrals for already-married couples
• Annulment help via parish office

Funeral & Bereavement Ministry

When a loved one dies, the parish assists families in planning either a Mass of Christian Burial or a Memorial Service, providing Scripture texts, funeral guidelines, a printable program template, and a Funeral Reception Ministry. Priests pray with the family and walk them through the liturgy during a time of grief.

• Texts of Sacred Scripture (reading selection aid)
• Funeral Reception Ministry
• Template for printed Funeral Mass program
• Funeral Guidelines document
• Bereavement ministry support

Outreach & Charity

Outreach is a central part of parish life. Parishioners regularly serve at the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room off Vernon Street in Roseville, which provides a hot noon meal five days a week, year-round to roughly 60 guests each day. During Advent, the Assist-a-Family program matches parishioners with families referred by the parish staff, Prosper Placer, and local agencies — providing a grocery gift card and gifts per family member.

• St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room (Roseville) — 5 days/week, ~60 meals served daily
• Assist-a-Family Christmas outreach — Adopt-a-Family program with grocery gift cards and gifts
• Parish Service Outreach Team — coordinates service and social-justice opportunities
• Cooperation with Prosper Placer and other local agencies

Volunteers & Leadership

Parish ministry is built on volunteer leadership. The parish has a Finance Council, a Service Outreach Team, a Fundraising Team, a Prayer Team, and an Art & Environment Team, and offers many ways for parents, adults without children in the ministry, young adults, and teens to serve — from one-time opportunities to more regular commitments.

• Finance Council
• Service Outreach Team
• Fundraising Team
• Prayer Team
• Art & Environment Team
• Volunteer interest form available on the parish website

Becoming a Parishioner

Online Parish Registration is available on the parish website for those who are new to the area, new to the parish, or updating their information. Registered parishioners receive parish mailings and the weekly email that keeps them apprised of events, ministries, and giving opportunities. Online giving and mailed offertory envelopes are both available.

• Online Parish Registration form on rocklincatholic.org
• Weekly parish email newsletter (sign-up on homepage)
• Online giving via rocklincatholic.org/giving
• Mailed offertory envelopes available on request

Accessibility & Visit Information

The parish goes out of its way to welcome those with physical or hearing needs. A reserved area in the front pew on the baptismal side of the church (and another on the choir side) accommodates wheelchair users, with ushers available to help. Assisted Listening Devices are available for the hearing impaired. The church and adoration chapel are open daily from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM for private prayer, regardless of the Mass schedule.

• Wheelchair-accessible pew area (baptismal side, front of church)
• Additional accessibility area on choir side
• Assisted Listening Devices for the hearing impaired
• Church & adoration chapel open daily 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Parish office open Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM (closed 12–1 PM); closed Fridays