About St. Canice · Nevada City, California
St. Canice Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Sacramento serving the western Nevada County Mother Lode community from its historic brick church perched on a hilltop at 317 Washington Street in Nevada City, California. The parish traces its roots to 1851, when the first resident priest of the district purchased the lot, and to 1864, when the present brick edifice was built and named for St. Canice Cathedral in Kilkenny, Ireland. It was formally established as an independent parish in 1867 with Father James Clare as its first pastor, and today it serves approximately 500 families through liturgical, spiritual, service, and social ministries, sharing Catholic school formation with neighboring parishes through Mt. St. Mary Academy in Grass Valley.
- Established
- 1851 (lot purchased by Fr. Shanahan); 1864 (current brick church built by Fr. Griffin); 1867 (established as independent parish under Fr. James Clare)
- Patron
- St. Canice (Cainnech moccu Dalann) of Kilkenny
- Rector
- Rev. Alex A. Estrella (Pastor / Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sacramento (Mother Lode Deanery, Nevada County)
Why belong here
St. Canice is a tight-knit Mother Lode parish of roughly 500 families where Sunday Mass, daily Mass, and a regular rhythm of adoration and confession make the sacramental life easy to live. The parish combines the reach of a regional Catholic community — sharing the historic Mt. St. Mary Academy school with St. Patrick and St. Dominic parishes — with the warmth of a small-town church, offering a full Faith Formation program from Religious Ed and RCIA through Youth and Family Ministry, plus senior outreach, a Ladies Guild, a St. Joseph Guild Men's Club, and the historic Saint Canice Cemetery that has served Nevada City Catholics since 1887.
Mass times at St. Canice
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Second Sunday of the month, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
History of St. Canice Parish
Catholic life in Nevada City dates to October 2, 1851, when Father Shanahan, the first resident priest of the district, purchased the lot on the hilltop of Washington and Coyote Streets for one hundred dollars and built a wood-framed St. Peter's Church. That original building, and a larger replacement called Saints Peter and Paul, were both lost to Nevada City fires (1856 and 1863). While Father Dalton was in Ireland in 1864, his assistant Father John Griffin built the present brick edifice, and — following the custom of the time — named it St. Canice after the cathedral in his native Kilkenny, Ireland. The church remained a mission of Grass Valley until 1867, when Father James Clare became its first resident pastor. The parish community today numbers approximately 500 families.
- 1851 — Father Shanahan purchases the lot
- 1856 — First St. Peter's Church destroyed in Nevada City fire
- 1863 — Saints Peter and Paul Church destroyed by fire
- 1864 — Present brick church built and named St. Canice by Fr. Griffin
- 1867 — Established as an independent parish; Fr. James Clare named first pastor
- 1948 — Church remodeled under Fr. Daly
- St. Canice Cemetery, first burial 1887
About St. Canice, the Patron Saint
The namesake of the parish, St. Canice, was born Cainnech moccu Dalann at Glengiven in County Derry, Northern Ireland, and was raised tending the flocks of his tribal chieftain. He studied under St. Finian at Clonard in 543 — where he was counted among the 'Twelve Apostles of Ireland' — and at Glasnevin under St. Mobhi in 544, and was ordained priest in 545 at Llancarfan in Wales under St. Cadoc. He founded many monasteries and churches in Ireland and Scotland, including Drumachose, the cathedral-monastery at Kilkenny, and the great Abbey of Aghaboe in Ossory, where he died in 600. A man of great eloquence and learning, he wrote a Gospel commentary known as Glas-Chainnigh ('Chain of Cainnech'). His feast day is October 11, and he is the patron of the shipwrecked.
- Born at Glengiven, County Derry
- Studied at Clonard (543) and Glasnevin (544)
- Ordained 545 at Llancarfan under St. Cadoc
- Founded Aghaboe, where he is entombed
- Died 600 — Feast day October 11 — Patron of the Shipwrecked
Parish Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently led by Fr. Alex A. Estrella as Pastor (Parochial Administrator), assisted by a parochial vicar — listed as Rev. Santhosh Srayil Kurian CMI in the Diocese of Sacramento directory, and as Fr. Jossy Vattothu on the parish website — and by three deacons: Rick Soria (active) and James Chatigny and Brian Moore (retired). Father James McKnight, who served as pastor from 1994, is Pastor Emeritus. Religious education is coordinated by Kim Mello, and the St. Canice Center at 236 Reward Street houses parish formation ministries.
- Rev. Alex A. Estrella — Pastor / Parochial Administrator
- Rev. Santhosh Srayil Kurian CMI — Parochial Vicar (Diocese of Sacramento listing)
- Fr. Jossy Vattothu — Parochial Vicar (parish website listing)
- Rev. James McKnight — Pastor Emeritus
- Deacon Rick Soria
- Deacon James Chatigny (retired)
- Deacon Brian Moore (retired)
- Kim Mello — Religious Education
Faith Formation
The parish's Faith Formation program spans cradle to adulthood. Children's sacramental preparation covers Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation, supported by the parish's Religious Education program. Adult formation includes an Adult Bible Study, RCIA for those becoming Catholic (with a parallel 'Interested in Becoming Catholic' inquiry path), and the Opening Doors, Catholic Come Home, and Catholic Update outreach efforts for returning Catholics. The Enthronement of the Sacred Heart and a parish Prayer Line round out the spiritual formation offerings.
- Religious Education (children)
- Baptism preparation
- First Holy Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- RCIA / Interested in Becoming Catholic
- Adult Bible Study
- Enthronement of the Sacred Heart
- Opening Doors (returning Catholics)
- Catholic Come Home / Catholic Update
- Prayer Line
Youth and Family Ministry
St. Canice maintains active Youth Ministry and Family Ministry programs to support the spiritual life of younger parishioners and parents. Together with the sacramental preparation tracks (First Communion, Confirmation), they offer ongoing formation and community for families in the parish and the wider Mother Lode area.
- Youth Ministry
- Family Ministry
Senior Outreach
The Senior Outreach ministries of St. Canice accompany elderly and homebound parishioners through visits, the Eucharist, and accompaniment through grief. Eucharistic Ministers bring Communion to the homebound, the Bereavement Ministry supports those who have lost loved ones, and a dedicated Homebound Ministry keeps isolated parishioners connected to the parish community.
- Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick
- Homebound Ministry
- Bereavement Ministry
Community Service and Fellowship
The parish's community life is shaped by long-standing organizations that bring parishioners together in service and fellowship. The Ladies Guild and the St. Joseph Guild Men's Club are among the oldest parish organizations, while Mothers Of Many Services (MOMS) provides community and support for mothers. A general Fellowship ministry and the parish's Welcoming Committee help integrate new members into parish life.
- Ladies Guild
- St. Joseph Guild Men's Club
- Mothers Of Many Services (MOMS)
- Fellowship
- Welcoming Committee
Saint Canice Cemetery
Saint Canice Cemetery is the only historic Catholic cemetery in Nevada City. It was established by St. Canice Church with its first burial in 1887 and continues to be maintained and managed by the parish. The cemetery and its services are primarily for St. Canice parishioners, and all proceeds remain in the parish. The cemetery offers full plots, cremation plots, and niches for cremains, as well as monuments and lettering for shutter doors. Inquiries are handled by Hank Page at 530-274-7926.
- Established 1887 — first historic Catholic cemetery in Nevada City
- Full plots, cremation plots, and niches available
- Monuments and shutter-door lettering available
- Contact: Hank Page, 530-274-7926
Catholic School — Mt. St. Mary Academy
St. Canice shares Catholic elementary formation with neighboring parishes through Mt. St. Mary Academy, the educational ministry of St. Patrick Parish in Grass Valley. Established in 1859, the school serves Transitional Kindergarten through 8th grade and is the school of choice primarily for the Catholic communities of St. Patrick, St. Canice, and St. Dominic, as well as for families of other faith traditions. The current principal is Edee Wood, and the school is located at 400 South Church Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945.
- Mt. St. Mary Academy — TK through 8
- Established 1859
- Principal: Edee Wood
- 400 South Church Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
- Shared by St. Patrick, St. Canice, and St. Dominic parishes
Sacraments
St. Canice celebrates the full sacramental life of the Roman Catholic Church. The parish website lists Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist (Mass and Eucharistic Adoration), Marriage, the Priesthood, Confession (Reconciliation), and the Anointing of the Sick as the sacraments supported by parish life and ministry.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (Mass) and Eucharistic Adoration
- Marriage (Matrimony)
- Confession (Reconciliation)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Priesthood (vocation support)
Contact and Visiting
St. Canice Catholic Church is located at 317 Washington Street, Nevada City, California 95959, on a hilltop near the corner of Coyote Street in historic downtown Nevada City. The parish can be reached by phone at 530-265-2049 and by email at [email protected]. A separate St. Canice Center for parish activities and formation is located at 236 Reward Street, Nevada City, CA 95959. The parish is part of the Diocese of Sacramento, in the Mother Lode Deanery of Nevada County.
- Address: 317 Washington Street, Nevada City, CA 95959
- Phone: 530-265-2049
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish website: www.stcanice.com
- St. Canice Center: 236 Reward Street, Nevada City, CA 95959
- Diocese of Sacramento — Mother Lode Deanery
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Shanahan1851–
First resident priest of the Nevada City district; purchased the church lot in 1851 and built the original wood-framed St. Peter's Church.
- Father Deyaert
Succeeded Father Shanahan.
- Father Daltonthrough 1863
Succeeded by Father Griffin; traveled to Ireland in 1863; perceived Grass Valley as growing faster than Nevada City and moved his residence there.
- Father John Griffin1863–1864
Assistant pastor; built the present brick church in 1864 and named it St. Canice after Kilkenny's cathedral in his native county.
- Father James (J.) Clare / Claire1867–
First resident pastor of the newly independent parish (1867).
- Father Maher1873
- Father McNulty1874
- Father Tanahm1886
- Father O'Kane1891
- Father Claire1892
- Father Clyne1896
- Father O'Reilly
- Father Morgan1944
- Father Daly1948
Remodeled the church in 1948.
- Father Mello1980
- Father James McKnight1994
Currently Pastor Emeritus.
- Father Xavier Godwin2004
- Father Tim Nondorf2006
- Father Sylvester Kwaitkowski2008
- Father Alexander (Alex) Estrellacurrent
Current Pastor / Parochial Administrator per parish website and Diocese of Sacramento.