About St. Apollinaris · Napa, California
St. Apollinaris Catholic Church (known affectionately as 'St. A's') is a Catholic parish in the Vintage neighborhood of Napa, California, founded in 1957 by Archbishop John Mitty of San Francisco and now part of the Diocese of Santa Rosa. It is believed to be the only parish in the United States named for St. Apollinaris, the early Bishop of Ravenna (feast day July 20). The parish community runs St. Apollinaris Catholic School (TK–8), a robust faith formation program, and a wide array of lay ministries including St. Vincent de Paul, Legion of Mary, the Women's Guild, Men's of St. A's, OCIA and youth ministry. Sunday Mass is offered four times, daily Mass twice, and the parish looks after more than 50 years of Catholic life in east Napa.
- Established
- 1957
- Patron
- St. Apollinaris of Ravenna
- Rector
- Rev. Fergal McGuinness
- Diocese
- Diocese of Santa Rosa
Why belong here
St. Apollinaris (or 'St. A's') is a welcoming, multigenerational Catholic community that worships four times on Sunday and twice daily Monday through Saturday, with year-round Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, monthly Hospitality Sunday and 'Lunch with Friends', and an annual fall picnic and November Angel Bazaar. It is one of the few parishes in the country named for St. Apollinaris of Ravenna, and it pairs a parish school (TK–8, founded 1959 by the Sisters of Mercy) with a full slate of faith formation: Religious Education for grades 1–7, Youth Ministry for grades 8–12, a young adult program (18–30), OCIA for those entering the Church, adult Bible study, Theology by the Barrel, baptism and marriage prep, and access to formed.org. Lay apostolates such as St. Vincent de Paul, Legion of Mary, Blessing Bag Ministry, the Women's Guild, Men of St. A's, Spirited Singles, and a Rosary Prayer Group give every parishioner a way to serve.
Mass times at St. Apollinaris
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 9:00 AM in the Church
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration on the First Friday of every month following the 8:45 AM Mass (beginning at about 10:00 AM); sign-up sheet in front of the church
Welcome & Parish Identity
St. Apollinaris Catholic Church — known to parishioners as 'St. A's' — describes itself as a welcoming Catholic Christian community united by faith in God, nourished by Jesus through both the Word and the Eucharist, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Its stated mission is to meet the spiritual, educational and physical needs of its growing parish family and the wider Napa community through prayer, faith formation, evangelization, stewardship, hospitality and social justice.
- Parish Mission statement
- Pastor's Message / Welcome Letter
- Parish Bulletin
- Contact Us
History of the Parish
St. Apollinaris was established on June 24, 1957, when Archbishop John Mitty of San Francisco appointed Rev. Parnell McCarthy as founding pastor. Early Masses were said in a Solano Avenue duplex and at the Grange Hall on Orchard Avenue; the first church was a set of unfinished classrooms. The Irish Sisters of Mercy opened the school in 1959, and the parish has grown continuously for nearly seven decades through the efforts of seven pastors.
- Past Pastors and Milestones from the 1950s through today
- Founding and first buildings
- School additions, hall completion (1961)
- Transfer to Diocese of Santa Rosa (1962)
- Second Vatican Council sanctuary renovation (1966)
- New church dedication November 26, 1989
- Gymnasium groundbreaking October 11, 1998 and dedication November 22, 1999
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Religious Education Program has provided the religious training and spiritual formation for parish children attending public schools for more than 50 years. Classes meet Wednesdays from 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM and prepare children for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion; older students continue on through Confirmation preparation.
- Religious Education for Grades 1–7 (Wednesdays 3:30–4:45 PM)
- First Holy Communion preparation
- Youth Confirmation preparation (Grades 6+)
- Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Christine Walsh (707-255-7200, [email protected])
- Youth Ministry for Grades 8–12
- Young Adult Program (ages 18–30)
St. Apollinaris Catholic School
Founded in 1959 by four Sisters of Mercy from County Galway, Ireland, St. Apollinaris Catholic School celebrated its 65th year in 2024–2025. The school currently serves students in Transitional Kindergarten through 8th grade and is staffed by a highly qualified team of lay teachers, aides and administrative personnel.
- Grades served: TK through 8
- Principal: Olivia Brazil; Vice-Principal: Lani Manasse
- Operates 8:00 AM–3:00 PM, Monday through Friday
- Up to 339 students enrolled
- School website: https://stapollinarisschool.org/
- Parent organization: MERCY (Making Education Reach Catholic Youth)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all the Sacraments of initiation and healing. Parents and godparents attend baptism preparation; couples contact the parish office at least six months before their wedding for marriage preparation, and the parish also references the Retrouvaille program for married couples facing difficulty. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the Religious Education Program, and Anointing of the Sick / homebound ministry is offered as needed.
- Baptism (infant)
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- First Holy Communion
- Confirmation
- Matrimony (6 months notice required)
- Anointing of the Sick / Homebound Ministry
Lay Ministries & Parish Organizations
St. A's supports a wide range of lay apostolates. Liturgical ministries include Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Ushers, Ministry to the Homebound, the 9:00 AM and Noon Mass Choirs, and a Christmas Eve Children's Choir. Charitable and devotional groups include St. Vincent de Paul, Legion of Mary, Blessing Bag Ministry, the Marian Visitors, a Charismatic Prayer Group, and a Rosary Prayer Group that meets Mondays at 7:00 PM to pray the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Legion of Mary (contact: Victor Rodriguez)
- Blessing Bag Ministry
- Italian Catholic Federation
- Rosary Prayer Group (Mondays 7:00 PM)
- Women's Guild, Men of St. A's, Spirited Singles
- Parish Pastoral Council and Parish Finance Council
- Respect Life Committee, Team for the New Evangelization
Family Life & Fellowship
Family Life at St. Apollinaris organizes a monthly gathering of married and engaged couples, with the goal of assisting them to become the 'true' domestic church. Activities include speakers, dinners, movie nights, game nights, informative video presentations on Catholic teaching about God's Plan for marriage, family nights, and dedicated couple time. Parish-wide fellowship events include monthly Hospitality Sunday, a monthly 'Lunch with Friends,' an annual Fall Barbecue-Picnic, and the long-standing November Angel Bazaar that supports the Religious Education Program.
- Family Life couples gatherings (monthly)
- Hospitality Sunday (second Sunday after morning Masses)
- Lunch with Friends (monthly)
- Annual Fall Barbecue-Picnic
- November Angel Bazaar
Facilities & Grounds
The parish campus sits on an approximately 9.8-acre parcel on Lassen Street in the Vintage neighborhood of east Napa and includes the church, school building, parish hall / fellowship hall, gymnasium, administrative offices, convent and athletic field. The current church was dedicated November 26, 1989; the gymnasium was built 1998–1999; and recent planning applications include additional modular classrooms to support the school's TK–8 program without increasing enrollment.
- Approximately 9.8-acre campus on Lassen Street
- Church dedicated November 26, 1989 (Feast of Christ the King)
- Gymnasium completed 1999
- Athletic field developed by the Men's Club
- Shared parking for church, school, gymnasium and hall
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Parnell McCarthy1957–1960
Founding pastor; appointed by Archbishop John Mitty on June 24, 1957; celebrated first Masses in a Solano Avenue duplex and the Grange Hall on Orchard Avenue.
- Rev. George Shirle1960–1975
Second pastor; oversaw annual school grade additions (1960–1964), completion of the church hall (May 1961), and the parish's transfer to the new Diocese of Santa Rosa (1962).
- Rev. Patrick Gleeson1975–c.1984/85
Third pastor (began June 9, 1975); paid off the $550,000 hall-church debt, obtained diocesan approval for a new church, and oversaw the start of the athletic field and the Italian Catholic Federation branch (1977).
- Rev. Michael J. Clearyc.1985–2001
Fourth pastor (arrived January 1985); led the major building fund drive and oversaw construction of the new school building and the dedication of the new church on November 26, 1989. Retired October 2001.
- Msgr. Joseph Alzugaray2001–2011
Fifth pastor (arrived September 2001); continued physical improvements to church, school and grounds. Retired October 31, 2011; passed away January 2014.
- Rev. William Donohueafter 2011 to c.2019
Succeeded Msgr. Alzugaray; led the parish in its ongoing ministries before Fr. McGuinness.
- Rev. Fergal McGuinness2019–present
Seventh pastor; ordained for the Diocese of Santa Rosa in 1986.