About St. Andrew the Apostle · Chandler, Arizona
St. Andrew the Apostle is a Roman Catholic parish in Chandler, Arizona, belonging to the Diocese of Phoenix. Located at 3450 W. Ray Road on the edge of the East Valley, the parish was founded in 1986 and serves a vibrant, growing Catholic community in the Phoenix metro area. The church is distinguished by its mission-style exterior and a sanctuary renovated in 2017 under Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted, centered on a custom crucifix by local artisan Dean Dwyer and a marble tabernacle placed at the heart of the worship space. The parish is staffed by priests of the Apostles of Jesus Missionaries (AJ) congregation and offers four Sunday Masses, daily Mass, weekday confession, perpetual adoration, faith formation for children and youth, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), marriage preparation, and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1986
- Patron
- St. Andrew the Apostle
- Rector
- Fr. Teilo M. Lwande, AJ
- Diocese
- Diocese of Phoenix
Why belong here
St. Andrew the Apostle offers a full sacramental and parish life — four Sunday Masses, a daily Mass schedule, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Friday, and weekday confession — making it easy to build prayer into the week. Families can grow together through faith formation for children (early childhood through 8th grade, including special needs), a youth and young adult ministry, and an OCIA process for adults exploring the Catholic faith. Couples are supported by a dedicated marriage ministry and marriage preparation team, and a pastoral staff including five deacons, three AJ priests, and lay leaders in liturgy, music, communications, and finance makes it easy to get involved.
Mass times at St. Andrew the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM (no confessions on the last Friday of the month)
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Monday through Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM in the Adoration Chapel
- First Friday of the month: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM (or 7:00 PM) in the Church
Welcome from St. Andrew the Apostle
St. Andrew the Apostle describes itself as 'a home for everyone, as we find our identity in Christ, and know that we all belong.' The parish is rooted in the Diocese of Phoenix and staffed by members of the Apostles of Jesus Missionaries (AJ). A full sacramental schedule — daily Mass, weekday confession, and perpetual adoration — is paired with formation programs for every age and stage of Catholic life.
- Motto / tagline: 'a home for everyone'
- Diocese of Phoenix
- Served by the Apostles of Jesus Missionaries (AJ)
Parish History
Founded in 1986, St. Andrew the Apostle grew alongside Chandler itself, with its mission-style exterior becoming an East Valley landmark. The most significant chapter in its recent history came on October 29, 2017, when Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted dedicated a $600,000 sanctuary renovation led by then-pastor Fr. Robert Aliunzi, AJ. The work installed a crucifix by local artisan Dean Dwyer and a new marble tabernacle at the center of the sanctuary, widened the altar area, relocated the choir loft, and added a Marian shrine. The bishop sealed relics of St. Andrew and St. Pius X in the altar and anointed it with sacred chrism.
- Founded 1986 in the Diocese of Phoenix
- Mission-style exterior is a Chandler landmark
- Sanctuary renovation dedicated Oct. 29, 2017 by Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted
- Custom crucifix by local artisan Dean Dwyer
- Relics of St. Andrew and St. Pius X placed in the altar
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Teilo M. Lwande, AJ (Pastor), with two parochial vicars, Fr. Edward Urassa, AJ, and Fr. Nicholas Koro, AJ. Four deacons — Don Crawford, Ramsey Echeverria (also Coordinator of Marriage Ministries), Ernie Garcia, and Michael Quinlivan — assist with liturgy, marriage, and pastoral care. A lay leadership team manages parish business, finance, liturgy, music, faith formation, communications, youth ministry, OCIA, and facilities.
- Fr. Teilo M. Lwande, AJ — Pastor
- Fr. Edward Urassa, AJ — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Nicholas Koro, AJ — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Don Crawford
- Deacon Ramsey Echeverria — Coordinator of Marriage Ministries
- Deacon Ernie Garcia
- Deacon Michael Quinlivan
- Florence Slattery — Parish Business Manager
- Mary Pacheco — Director of Finance
- Carol Fuizzotti — Director of Liturgy
- Anjanette Indelicato — Director of Music
- Dan Ballinger — 2:00 PM Mass Music Minister
- Kim Doyle — Coordinator of Becoming Catholic (OCIA) and Adult Faith Formation & Spirituality
- Adrian Warpness — Coordinator, Early Childhood – 8th Grade / Special Needs
- Kristen Hew — Coordinator of Youth & Young Adult Ministry
- Jeannie Hernandez — Coordinator of Communications
- Katy Lorentz — Funeral Coordinator
- Luis Enriquez — Facilities Manager
- Joe Toon — IT Support
- Mary Kathryn Boucher — Administrative Assistant (Parish Office / Marriage Preparation)
Music and Liturgy
Liturgy is led by Carol Fuizzotti (Director of Liturgy) and Anjanette Indelicato (Director of Music), with Dan Ballinger as Music Minister for the 2:00 PM Mass. Music at Sunday Mass varies by time slot — Ensemble at the Saturday Vigil and 11:00 AM Sunday Mass, Adult Choir at 9:00 AM, and a Contemporary Band at 2:00 PM; the 7:00 AM Sunday Mass has no music.
- Saturday 5:00 PM — Ensemble
- Sunday 7:00 AM — No music
- Sunday 9:00 AM — Adult Choir
- Sunday 11:00 AM — Ensemble
- Sunday 2:00 PM — Contemporary Band
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation covers children from early childhood through 8th grade, including special needs students, coordinated by Adrian Warpness, with Cecilia Warpness as program assistant. Adult faith formation and the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process — formerly RCIA — are coordinated by Kim Doyle for adults exploring the Catholic faith or seeking to complete their sacraments.
- Early Childhood through 8th Grade faith formation
- Special Needs faith formation
- OCIA / Becoming Catholic for adults
- Adult Faith Formation & Spirituality
Youth and Young Adult Ministry
St. Andrew the Apostle has a dedicated Youth & Young Adult Ministry coordinated by Kristen Hew, designed to accompany teens and young adults in forming a relationship with Christ and using their gifts in the life of the parish.
- Coordinator: Kristen Hew
Marriage and Family
Marriage preparation and ongoing marriage ministry are a particular strength at St. Andrew the Apostle. Deacon Ramsey Echeverria serves as Coordinator of Marriage Ministries, and Mary Kathryn Boucher handles administrative support for marriage preparation from the parish office.
- Deacon Ramsey Echeverria — Coordinator of Marriage Ministries
- Mary Kathryn Boucher — Marriage Preparation administrative support
Other Parish Services
Beyond the core sacramental and formation ministries, the parish runs funeral coordination, communications, and facilities support. Katy Lorentz is the parish Funeral Coordinator; Jeannie Hernandez leads communications; Luis Enriquez manages facilities. The parish office can be reached at (480) 899-1990.
- Katy Lorentz — Funeral Coordinator
- Jeannie Hernandez — Coordinator of Communications
- Luis Enriquez — Facilities Manager
- Parish phone: (480) 899-1990
Visit, Connect, and Stay in Touch
Visitors and newcomers are welcomed at standrewchandler.com and on the parish's official Facebook page. The parish is located at 3450 W. Ray Road, Chandler, AZ 85226, and can be reached by phone at (480) 899-1990 for directions and more information.
- Website: https://standrewchandler.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaintAndrewAZ/
- Address: 3450 W. Ray Road, Chandler, AZ 85226
- Phone: (480) 899-1990
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Robert Aliunzi, AJthrough at least 2017
Pastor who led the $600,000 sanctuary renovation dedicated by Bishop Olmsted on October 29, 2017; member of the Apostles of Jesus Missionaries.
- Fr. Teilo M. Lwande, AJPastor since 2022
Previously served at St. Andrew the Apostle as Associate Pastor and Director of Religious Education / Infant Baptisms; named Pastor in 2022.