About St. Anthony · Walnut Grove, California
St. Anthony Catholic Church (also known as St. Anthony and St. Therese Parish) is a small, historic Roman Catholic parish nestled in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta town of Walnut Grove, California, in the Diocese of Sacramento. The parish, established in 1931 (with Catholic worship in the community dating back to the 1880s), serves an agricultural Delta community whose current congregation is largely Mexican and Latin American, alongside long-standing Delta farming families. The red-tiled brick church, designed in a Neo-Romanesque style, anchors a quiet residential neighborhood with 32 stained-glass windows and shrines to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Infant Jesus, and Divine Mercy Jesus. Mass is celebrated in both English and Spanish, with weekday Masses, a Saturday Spanish vigil, and a Sunday English Mass.
- Established
- 1931
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua (Portuguese patron of the parish; large front stained-glass window depicts him)
- Rector
- Rev. Edgardo J. Garcia Velazquez (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sacramento (Sacramento County, Southern Suburbs Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Anthony's offers a quiet, devotional home in the heart of the California Delta where bilingual (English and Spanish) Catholic life has been celebrated for generations. Families are drawn here for robust sacramental life — daily Mass, a Saturday evening vigil, Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday, regular Confession, Baptism, Marriage, First Communion and Confirmation preparation — alongside a warm community calendar built around Catholic Faith Formation, the Fall Festival, the annual Crab Feed, and monthly Parish Bingo. Whether you are a Delta farm family, a Spanish-speaking newcomer, or simply a pilgrim drawn to a historic little church with Portuguese and Irish roots and a Mexican-American present, St. Anthony's welcomes you to worship, serve, and grow in Christ.
Mass times at St. Anthony
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- St. Anthony (Walnut Grove): Thursdays 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Jueves 7pm–8pm)
- St. Therese (Isleton): Thursdays 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Jueves de 4pm a 5pm)
- Or by appointment by calling the Parish Office (Confesiones también se puede pedir por cita llamando a la oficina)
Adoration times
- St. Anthony (San Antonio): Every Thursday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Adoración al Santísimo Sacramento)
- St. Therese (Santa Teresa): Every Thursday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
About St. Anthony Parish
St. Anthony Catholic Church (the Church of Saint Anthony) is a small Roman Catholic parish in the historic Sacramento River town of Walnut Grove, California, in the Diocese of Sacramento. According to the parish's own mission statement, 'St. Anthony's Catholic Church is a spiritual home where the family of God gathers to worship, serve, and glorify our Heavenly Father through loving communion with Jesus Christ and one another.' The parish seeks to grow as disciples through evangelization, catechesis, ongoing formation, and fervent participation in the sacramental life. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish, reflecting the Delta community's present-day demographics and its long-standing bilingual tradition.
- Mission: a spiritual home where the family of God gathers to worship, serve and glorify the Father
- Vision: evangelization, formation, fervent sacramental life
- Parish established 1931 (with Catholic presence dating to the 1880s)
- Diocese of Sacramento — Southern Suburbs Deanery
- Jointly pastored with St. Therese Parish in Isleton (the 'Delta Catholic Parishes')
History of the Parish
Catholic life in Walnut Grove reaches back to the 1880s, when Portuguese and Irish immigrant farm families settled along the west bank of the Sacramento River in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. The present brick church was established in 1931 and designed by architect Harry J. Devine in a Neo-Romanesque style; its stained-glass windows reflect that original Portuguese-and-Irish composition, with a large front window of the Portuguese patron St. Anthony of Padua and side windows of the Irish saints St. Brendan, St. Bridgid, and St. Patrick. As the Delta's demographics shifted, the parish community became predominantly Mexican and Latin American, and the devotional life of the church expanded to include shrines of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Infant Jesus and Divine Mercy Jesus. The Diocese of Sacramento lists the parish as established in 1931; GCatholic concurs.
- Catholic presence in Walnut Grove dates to the 1880s
- Current church built 1931 in Neo-Romanesque style by architect Harry J. Devine
- Original Portuguese and Irish stained-glass iconography preserved
- 32 stained-glass windows, 12 with major scenes of Jesus, St. Anthony, Mary and saints
- Image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help from the original church in Ryde is preserved here
- Shrines of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Infant Jesus and Divine Mercy Jesus added as community changed
Pastor History — A Succession of Shepherds
The pastor succession of St. Anthony's reflects the small but enduring rhythm of Delta Catholic life. After Fr. Cornelius O'Donnell fell ill and returned to Ireland, Father William J. Dinelli — a native Sacramentan ordained in 1961 — was appointed by Bishop William Weigand as priest-in-charge and later pastor, completing a six-year term and retiring in August 2007. Father Walter Tabios succeeded him as Parochial Administrator of both St. Anthony and neighboring St. Therese Parish in Isleton. By 2018 the two Delta parishes were being co-led by Father Alvaro Perez and Fr. Paolo Dorrego, PES. The parish's current Parochial Administrator is Rev. Edgardo J. Garcia Velazquez; Father Dinelli continues to be honored as Pastor Emeritus.
- Fr. Cornelius O'Donnell — predecessor pastor (returned to Ireland)
- Rev. William J. Dinelli — pastor ~2001–2007 (now Pastor Emeritus)
- Rev. Walter Tabios — Parochial Administrator following Dinelli
- Fr. Alvaro Perez & Fr. Paolo Dorrego, PES — co-pastors from July 1, 2018
- Rev. Edgardo J. Garcia Velazquez — current Parochial Administrator
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs Catholic Faith Formation (CFF) classes for children and provides preparation for adults in the sacraments of Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage. The Director of Religious Education for St. Anthony's is Cathy Baranek. The Parish Office is open Monday 5–7:30 PM, Wednesday 5–7:30 PM, and Saturday 10:30 AM–12:30 PM, and can be reached at (916) 776-1330 or [email protected]. The parish's Religious Education page announces upcoming First Communion celebrations (e.g., May 15, 2026 at 5 PM) and advises that CFF registrations are handled through the parish office.
- Catholic Faith Formation (CFF) classes for children
- Adult sacramental preparation: Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Marriage
- Director of Religious Education (St. Anthony's): Cathy Baranek
- Parish Office hours: Mon & Wed 5–7:30 PM, Sat 10:30 AM–12:30 PM
- Phone: (916) 776-1330 | Email: [email protected]
Sacraments
Information on sacramental preparation is published on the parish website. For Baptism, English-speaking families make an appointment with the parish office for Baptismal Preparation; Spanish-speaking families attend the pre-baptismal talks (pláticas pre-bautismales) held every third and fourth Friday of the month at 7:00 PM at St. Anthony Parish, registering through the parish office at (916) 776-1330. First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage preparation are coordinated through the Religious Education program and parish office. Confessions are heard weekly on Thursdays at both parish sites and by appointment.
- Baptism: English — by appointment; Spanish — pláticas the 3rd & 4th Fridays at 7 PM
- First Communion — preparation through CFF
- Confirmation — preparation through parish
- Marriage — preparation arranged through parish office
- Confession — Thursdays at both St. Anthony and St. Therese, and by appointment
Parish Staff & Contact
The parish is led by Parochial Administrator Fr. Edgardo J. Garcia Velazquez, with Permanent Deacon Jose Gerardo Martin serving the parish. Pastoral care is provided jointly with the Delta Catholic partner parish of St. Therese in Isleton. The Music Director is Lynn Ortega; Cathy Baranek serves as Director of Religious Education for St. Anthony's; Myrna Flores serves as Hall and Facilities Manager; and Ron Squaglia is the parish contact. The parish office can be reached by phone, email, or in person during published hours.
- Parochial Administrator: Fr. Edgardo J. Garcia Velazquez
- Permanent Deacon: Dcn. Jose Gerardo Martin
- Pastor Emeritus: Rev. William J. Dinelli
- Music Director: Lynn Ortega (916-776-1980)
- Director of Religious Education (St. Anthony's): Cathy Baranek
- Hall & Facilities Manager: Myrna Flores (916-277-5317)
- Parish Office: (916) 776-1330 | [email protected]
Parish Life: Festivals, Food & Fellowship
Beyond the liturgy, St. Anthony's is known for warm Delta-style parish gatherings. The annual calendar centers on the Fall Festival in October, the Crab Feed held at the end of January each year, and Parish Bingo held every second Friday evening of the month. These events — combined with the bilingual liturgical schedule, weekly Adoration, and sacramental preparation — form the rhythm of parish life for both longtime Delta families and newer Spanish-speaking parishioners.
- Fall Festival (October)
- Annual Crab Feed (end of January)
- Parish Bingo — 2nd Friday evening of each month
- Bilingual fellowship (English & Spanish)
- Weekly Eucharistic Adoration — Thursdays
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Cornelius O'Donnell
Predecessor pastor; became ill and returned to Ireland; Fr. Bill Dinelli took his place.
- Rev. William J. Dinelli2001–2007
Appointed Priest-in-Charge then Pastor by Bishop Weigand; served six-year term; now Pastor Emeritus. Native Sacramentan ordained 1961.
- Rev. Walter Tabios2007–
Appointed by Bishop Weigand as Parochial Administrator of St. Anthony and St. Therese following Fr. Dinelli's retirement.
- Fr. Alvaro Perez & Fr. Paolo Dorrego, PES2018–
Began pastoral duties on Sunday, July 1, 2018, jointly leading the Delta Catholic parishes of St. Anthony (Walnut Grove) and St. Therese (Isleton).
- Rev. Edgardo J. Garcia Velazquez
Current Parochial Administrator per the parish website and Diocese of Sacramento.