About St. Catherine of Alexandria · Riverside, California
St. Catherine of Alexandria is a Roman Catholic parish in Riverside, California, part of the Diocese of San Bernardino. Founded in 1946 by Fr. Joseph Murphy, C.S.Sp., originally as the Church of the Holy Spirit to serve a small community of Black families, the parish was renamed St. Catherine of Alexandria in 1948 when the Extension Society helped fund construction. Pastoral care has been entrusted to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC), and today the parish serves more than 5,000 families with one of the most diverse congregations in the Inland Empire, offering Mass in English, Spanish, Filipino, and American Sign Language.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- St. Catherine of Alexandria
- Rector
- Rev. Arturo Mateo, MSC (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Bernardino
Why belong here
St. Catherine of Alexandria is one of the largest and most culturally diverse parishes in the Inland Empire — over 5,000 families worship here in English, Spanish, Filipino, and American Sign Language, including a dedicated 10:15 am ASL Mass for the Deaf community. The parish runs a K-8 school, an affiliated high school (Notre Dame), a full faith-formation program from First Communion through Confirmation, robust youth ministry (Life Teen and EDGE), adult OCIA, ongoing Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, a daily online Rosary, and outreach through health, deaf, and Filipino ministries. Families find a vibrant community rooted in nearly 80 years of Catholic tradition and entrusted to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
Mass times at St. Catherine of Alexandria
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM (in Church)
- No confessions on Holy Saturday
- Weekdays by appointment only — call parish office (951) 781-9855
Adoration times
- First Fridays — Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament immediately following the 8:15 AM Mass until 5:00 PM
- Sundays 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM (Holy Hour)
History of St. Catherine of Alexandria
The parish was founded on Pentecost Sunday, June 9, 1946, by Fr. Joseph Murphy, C.S.Sp., to serve about 20 Black families living along Arlington Avenue in Riverside. Originally named the Church of the Holy Spirit, it began life in a barn on the dirt road that would later become a major thoroughfare. Through decades of growth — a barracks chapel in 1948, the present 800-seat church in 1957, a parish school and high school, and a major 1998 capital campaign — it has become one of the largest and most diverse parishes in the Diocese of San Bernardino. Pastoral care passed from the Holy Ghost Fathers to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1981.
- 1946 — First solemn Mass in a barn on Arlington Avenue, June 9 (Pentecost Sunday)
- 1948 — Barn replaced with surplus barracks from Camp Haan; parish renamed St. Catherine of Alexandria
- 1954 — Fr. Daniel Bradley organizes parishioner building crews
- 1957 — Present church (seats 800), rectory, parish school, and Notre Dame High School built
- 1981 — Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) assume pastoral care
- 1998 — "Building for the Family of Christ" capital campaign: renovated parish hall, new Ministry and Youth Center, new Student Services Center on the site of the original church
- Today — over 5,000 families; liturgies in English, Spanish, Filipino, and ASL
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Catherine of Alexandria offers one of the broadest Mass schedules in the Inland Empire: a daily 8:15 AM Mass Monday through Saturday, plus a 5:30 PM weekday Mass (suspended Memorial Day through Labor Day). Sundays feature six Masses, including a 10:15 AM Mass interpreted in American Sign Language and a 1:45 PM Mass in Spanish. A Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:15 PM fulfills the Sunday obligation. Livestream Masses are broadcast via the parish website and Facebook.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:15 PM
- Sunday: 6:30, 8:30, 10:15 (ASL), 12:00 PM, 1:45 PM (Español), 5:15 PM
- Weekday mornings: Monday–Saturday 8:15 AM
- Weekday evenings: Monday–Friday 5:30 PM (except Memorial Day–Labor Day)
- Wednesday 5:30 PM — Mass in Spanish
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Religious Education / Faith Formation office, under Rev. Joseph Christy Yesudass, MSC, with Director of Catechetical Formation Olivia Wiseman, oversees faith formation from elementary age through adulthood. Children's preparation for First Holy Communion follows a three-year sequence beginning in 1st grade, with Reconciliation typically received in the second year and First Communion in the third. Confirmation and adult OCIA programs round out the parish's sacramental preparation.
- Year 1 — focus on Sunday Gospel / Word of God
- Year 2 — preparation for and reception of First Reconciliation
- Year 3 — preparation for and reception of First Holy Communion
- Confirmation preparation for teens
- Adult OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults)
- Contact Olivia Wiseman — (951) 781-9855 ext. 25
Adult Faith Formation
Adult Faith Formation fosters mature Catholic discipleship through Bible studies, small faith-sharing groups, retreats, seasonal Advent and Lenten missions, Lenten soup suppers, and Catholic men's and women's fellowship. The parish invites parishioners to recognize needs and propose new groups; ideas may be directed to Olivia Wiseman at the parish office.
- Eucharistic Adoration hour
- Bible Studies
- Small Faith Groups
- Advent and Lenten Missions
- Lenten Soup Suppers
- Retreats and Workshops
- Catholic Men's and Women's Fellowship
- Prayer Groups
Youth Ministry — Life Teen & EDGE
St. Catherine of Alexandria runs a thriving youth ministry using the Life Teen programs. High school teens gather Sunday nights for Life Teen (praise and worship, prayer, games, snacks, community building). Middle schoolers meet twice monthly on Wednesdays for EDGE nights. A separate Spark Ministry welcomes Catholic young adults. The ministry also coordinates seasonal outreach — most notably distributing Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets to hundreds of local families each year.
- Life Teen (high school) — Sundays 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
- EDGE (middle school) — Wednesdays 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Spark Ministry — Catholic young adult community
- Thanksgiving and Christmas food basket outreach (350+ families)
- Director: Lance Wiseman, Obl. OSB — (951) 781-9855 x14, [email protected]
- Youth Minister: Carlos Perez
Parish Life & Cultural Ministries
The parish makes space for the cultures and languages of its worshipping community. Filipino Ministry promotes Philippine culture, tradition, and religious celebrations in collaboration with the Diocese of San Bernardino Filipino Ministry. Deaf Ministry cultivates faith and cultural activities among Deaf parishioners in American Sign Language and supports the parish's 10:15 AM ASL Sunday Mass. A Health Ministry promotes wellness through education, medical equipment provision, and direct support.
- Filipino Ministry — cultural and religious celebrations
- Deaf Ministry — ASL Mass and outreach (contact Patty Lopez 951-801-5489)
- Health Ministry — health education and equipment support (contact Debbie Thomas)
Liturgy, Weddings & Funerals
Worship and Liturgy is led by Rev. Ephraim Arciga, MSC, with a Wedding Coordinator (Kelly Gilbert), a Funeral/Liturgy Coordinator (Diana Nelson), and a Liturgy Assistant (Victoria Williamson). The team plans and oversees all parish liturgical services, supports engaged couples as they prepare the wedding liturgy, and accompanies families through funeral planning.
- Liturgy Director — Rev. Ephraim Arciga, MSC
- Wedding Coordinator — Kelly Gilbert
- Funeral/Liturgy Coordinator — Diana Nelson
- Liturgy Assistant — Victoria Williamson
Parish Staff & Office
Day-to-day parish operations are led by Administrator Rev. Arturo Mateo, MSC, with Business Manager Ronna Bugarin. Office Hours are Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Saturday and Sunday closed). The parish office is located across the street from the church at 7005 Brockton Avenue.
- Administrator — Rev. Arturo Mateo, MSC
- Business Manager — Ronna Bugarin
- Secretary — Patricia Granados
- Maintenance — Oscar Lopez
- Janitor — Aleida Garcia
- Faith Formation Program Assistant — Rachel Mahahoney
- OCIA Coordinator — Marcus Jones
Parish Campus
The parish occupies several buildings clustered around Arlington and Brockton Avenues. The 1957 church (about 800 seats) and rectory anchor the campus; the parish school serves roughly 360 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, and the Spiritual Development Center on Nixon Street was bequeathed to the parish by the longtime rectory housekeeper. The 1998 "Building for the Family of Christ" capital campaign added a renovated parish hall, the Ministry and Youth Center (in the former convent), and the Student Services Center, built on the site of the original church.
- Church (1957, ~800 seats)
- Rectory (1957)
- Parish school (K–8, ~360 students)
- Spiritual Development Center (6956 Nixon St.)
- Parish hall (renovated 1998)
- Ministry and Youth Center (1998, in former convent)
- Student Services Center (1998, on site of original church)
Visiting & Getting Involved
Visitors are welcomed with the greeting "Welcome! Bienvenidos! Mabuhay!" The parish is located just off the 91 Freeway at the corner of Brockton and Arlington — easy to reach from anywhere in Riverside. Those wishing to register, schedule a baptism or wedding, enroll children in faith formation, or learn about volunteering in any of the parish's many ministries are encouraged to call the office during weekday hours.
- Phone: (951) 781-9855
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: www.stcofa.org
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/stcofa
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Murphy, C.S.Sp.1946
Founder; celebrated first Mass in a barn on June 9, 1946
- Fr. Sylvester Dellert1953
Arrived and began the campaign to build a school
- Fr. Daniel P. Bradley, C.S.Sp.1954
Organized parishioners into building crews; built the present church in 1957, the parish school, and Notre Dame High School
- Fr. Paul Lippert1948
Made the appeal for funding to the Extension Society which required renaming the parish to St. Catherine of Alexandria