About St. Anthony Mary Claret · Anaheim, California
St. Anthony Mary Claret is a Roman Catholic parish in east Anaheim, California, belonging to the Diocese of Orange. It was founded in 1955 on land donated by the Huarte family and today serves a multicultural congregation of roughly 3,000 families — predominantly Latino with a sizable Filipino community and growing Vietnamese presence — through daily and Sunday Masses in English, Spanish, and a bilingual liturgy, Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacraments, faith formation for children and adults, a vibrant food pantry (St. Vincent de Paul), and the Called to Greatness young adult ministry. Its current pastor, Fr. Bill Cao — a Vietnamese-American priest appointed Parish Administrator in 2014 and installed as Pastor on October 1, 2017 — has led extensive physical renovations to the 1950s modernist sanctuary and campus.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- St. Anthony Mary Claret
- Rector
- Fr. Bill Cao
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange
Why belong here
St. Anthony Mary Claret is one of Anaheim's most genuinely multicultural parishes, where English, Spanish, and a bilingual liturgy coexist side-by-side and where a Vietnamese pastor has intentionally broken down the historic language silos to build one faith community. It offers unusually rich devotional life for a parish of its size — Perpetual (24-hour) Eucharistic Adoration, daily Mass, Saturday confession, a bilingual OCIA process for adults, robust faith formation and Confirmation for youth, a vibrant St. Vincent de Paul food distribution every Wednesday, a Knights of Columbus council, and the Called to Greatness young-adult ministry. With a deep 70-year history in east Anaheim, an active fiesta and devotional tradition, and a pastor known for energetic pastoral leadership, it is a good fit for Catholic families, young adults, and newcomers looking for a parish that takes both the Eucharist and outreach seriously.
Mass times at St. Anthony Mary Claret
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (Bilingual)
Adoration times
- Perpetual (24-hour) Eucharistic Adoration in the adoration chapel
- Thursday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (scheduled Holy Hour)
Parish History
St. Anthony Mary Claret was founded in 1955 by Monsignor Michael Walsh on 8 acres of former orange- and avocado-grove land in east Anaheim donated by the Huarte family. The first Baptism was celebrated June 24, 1955; the first Mass in the new church was Christmas Day 1956; and Cardinal James McIntyre solemnly dedicated the completed complex on March 16, 1958. The parish belonged to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles until 1976, when it became part of the new Diocese of Orange.
- 1951 — Huarte family donates land for a new parish
- 1955 — Msgr. Michael Walsh begins parish life at the La Jolla Mission chapel (Our Lady of Guadalupe)
- June 24, 1955 — first Baptism: Lawrence Murillo
- Christmas Day, 1956 — first Mass in the completed church
- September 16, 1957 — parish school opens under the Sisters of St. Louis
- March 16, 1958 — solemn dedication by Cardinal James McIntyre
- 1976 — transferred from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to the new Diocese of Orange
- 2009 — parish school closes after more than 50 years
- 2014 — Fr. Bill Cao appointed Parish Administrator
- October 1, 2017 — Fr. Bill Cao installed as Pastor
- October 24, 2025 — 70th-anniversary multicultural gala banquet
Worship Schedule
The parish offers 14 Masses a week — daily morning Masses Monday through Saturday, two evening/Saturday Vigil options, and six Sunday Masses ranging from a 6:30 AM English Mass through a 5:00 PM Spanish Mass, with a bilingual liturgy at 11:30 AM.
- Daily 8:30 AM Mass (language rotates by day)
- Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM (English)
- Six Sunday Masses: 6:30 AM English, 8:00 AM Spanish, 9:45 AM English, 11:30 AM Bilingual, 1:15 PM Spanish, 5:00 PM Spanish
- First Friday Spanish Mass at 7:00 PM
- Thursday 7:00 PM Spanish evening Mass
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Anthony Claret serves children, youth, and adults. Programs are coordinated out of the former parish-school campus, which still houses the Confirmation office (Room 100) and other ministry offices.
- Faith Formation for children, including Baptism and First Communion preparation
- Confirmation — two-year high school program, registration opens late June; office in Room 100, hours Tue 3–6 PM, Wed 9 AM–12 PM, Thu 3–6 PM
- Confirmation Director: Ana Orozco
- Faith Formation Office: 714-778-1399
OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
Replacing the older 'RCIA' framework, the parish OCIA process walks unbaptized adults, baptized Catholics needing sacraments, and baptized non-Catholics into full communion with the Catholic Church. Adult Confirmation preparation is also provided here.
- Unbaptized adults — prepare for Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation
- Baptized Catholics without First Communion / Confirmation — complete Christian initiation
- Baptized non-Catholics — make a Profession of Faith and receive First Communion and Confirmation
- Non-Confirmed Catholics — Adult Confirmation program
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments according to the Roman Rite, with dedicated preparation tracks for children and adults.
- Baptism — at least one month in advance; monthly in English and Spanish; no Baptisms during Lent
- First Communion — through Faith Formation
- Confirmation — two-year high school program or Adult OCIA
- Marriage — meet with a priest at least six months in advance; Witness to Love mentor program
- Sacramental certificates available by request through the parish office
Ministries & Groups
Parish life is organized around a wide range of ministries serving every age and language group, with an emphasis under Fr. Bill Cao on integrating rather than separating them by language.
- Knights of Columbus — newly installed council, Grand Knight Diosdado O. Martinez (2025)
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Distribution — every Wednesday 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM, back parking lot
- Pastoral Migratoria (Migrant Ministry)
- Called to Greatness (CTG) — Young Adult Ministry, ages 18–39, 2nd & 4th Thursdays at 7:00 PM in Room 100
- Heart & Soul — Middle School Youth Ministry
- Liturgy Ministry / Choir / Music
- Bereavement Ministry
- Men's Club (founded 1950s)
- Women's Club / Women's Guild Association
- Witness to Love Marriage Preparation
Parish School & Campus
The parish school opened September 16, 1957 under the Sisters of St. Louis (Sisters Mary Carol O. Boyle, Philomena Cassidy, and Frances Leonard) with 195 students and ran for more than fifty years before closing in 2009 under Fr. Rudolph Preciado. The campus has been given new life through a 2025 one-year lease to Vibrant Minds, a TK–6 charter school serving about 350 students. The former school offices are still used by the parish Faith Formation, Confirmation, and youth ministries.
- 1957 — school opens with 195 students
- 2008 — Fr. Rudolph Preciado informs Bishop Tod Brown the school cannot be sustained
- 2009 — school closes after 50+ years
- 2025 — Vibrant Minds charter school leases the campus, TK–6, ~350 students
Clergy & Staff
Pastoral leadership includes the pastor, a parochial vicar, and a team of deacons and lay staff coordinating liturgy, faith formation, youth ministry, business operations, and the parish bulletin.
- Fr. Bill Cao — Pastor
- Fr. Nam Doan — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Leonel Vargas
- Deacon August Mones
- Marisela Cabrera — Faith Formation
- Ana Orozco — Confirmation Director
- Karla Nungaray — Bereavement / Heart & Soul / Called to Greatness
- Arcelia Rodriguez — Business Manager
- Martin Ruiz — Liturgy
- Carlos Lozada — Bulletin Editor
Patron Saint: St. Anthony Mary Claret
The parish's patron, St. Anthony Mary Claret (1807–1870), was a Spanish Jesuit priest and missionary, Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, founder of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (the Claretians), and confessor to Queen Isabella II of Spain. His feast day is October 24, and the parish chose to mark its 70th anniversary with a multicultural gala banquet on that day in 2025.
- 1807–1870
- Spanish Jesuit, Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba
- Founder of the Claretians (Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary)
- Confessor to Queen Isabella II of Spain
- Feast Day: October 24
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Michael Walsh1955–1967
Founding pastor. Oversaw construction of the church, convent, school, and parish hall. Celebrated the first Mass on Christmas Day 1956. School opened September 16, 1957. Solemnly dedicated the church on March 16, 1958 with Cardinal James McIntyre presiding. Founded the Men's Club (and the annual parish fiesta) and the Women's Club. Built the parish's physical foundation.
- Rev. James Nash1967–1984
Succeeded Msgr. Walsh. Credited with deepening the parish's spiritual life. Retired in 1984.
- Rev. Ken Schmidt1984–1985
Served as parish Administrator in the interim after Msgr. Nash's retirement, before Fr. Dunning's arrival.
- Rev. James DunningDecember 1985–1990
Known for his outgoing personality. Energized parish life, formed new groups, and strengthened the Men's Club and Women's Guild Association.
- Rev. Mario 'Marito' RebamontanAssociate Pastor 1985–1990; Pastor 1990–c. early 2000s
Filipino priest fluent in Spanish. Beloved for his humor and warmth; oversaw aesthetic renovations including the stained glass windows, chandeliers, and redesigned altar. Led the parish through its growth to over 5,000 predominantly Hispanic families.
- Rev. Rudolph PreciadoAfter Fr. Mario (early/mid-2000s) – c. 2014
Born in Guadalajara, Mexico. Renovated the church and added the Blessed Sacrament Chapel beside the cry room. In 2008 wrote to Bishop Tod Brown that the parish lacked the means to keep the school open; the parish school closed in 2009 after 50+ years.
- Rev. Bill Cao2014–present (installed as Pastor October 1, 2017)
Vietnamese-American priest fluent in English, Vietnamese, and Spanish. Appointed Parish Administrator in 2014, installed as Pastor October 1, 2017. Led extensive physical Renewal and Revitalization and fostered integrated, multicultural parish life across English, Spanish, and Vietnamese communities.
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