St. Catherine of Alexandria

Parish History

St. Catherine of Alexandria was established in 1910 as a mission church of San Jacinto, Lake Elsinore and Pala, an outreach of the San Luis Rey Mission under Father John J. Burri. The community's first purpose-built chapel, a 26-by-36-foot wooden structure on six lots at the corner of 6th and Front Streets in Old Town Temecula, was dedicated April 15, 1917 — the same day as the now-legendary Vail Ranch barbecue that paid off the chapel's bank loan. After six decades of mission status, the community was canonically erected as its own parish in 1979, the same year the Diocese of San Bernardino was formed. In 1988, with the Old Town site unable to accommodate the growing congregation, the Diocese sold the chapel land; in 1989 the chapel itself was moved to Sam Hicks Monument Park, where it was refurbished and rechristened the non-denominational "Chapel of Memories" in 1994. The parish opened its present 8-acre campus on C Street and Santiago Road in 1990 and has continued adding worship, formation and ministry buildings ever since, celebrating its centennial in November 2010 and serving as a designated Jubilee 2025 Pilgrim Site.

• 1910: Mission begun by Fr. John J. Burri (San Luis Rey)
• April 15, 1917: Original chapel dedicated in Old Town Temecula
• 1930: original 200-year-old bell stolen
• 1969: 650-lb brass ship's bell from USS Georgetown installed
• 1979: canonically erected as a parish of the Diocese of San Bernardino
• 1988–1989: Old Town chapel sold and moved to Sam Hicks Monument Park
• 1990: current C Street campus dedicated
• November 2010: centennial celebrated (3-day gala, BBQ, time capsule)
• 2019: hosted Diocese of San Bernardino Anniversary of Ordination Mass
• 2025: designated Jubilee 2025 Pilgrim Site

Faith Formation & Religious Education

The parish offers comprehensive faith formation for children, youth and adults. K–12 Religious Education runs through the parish office under the Director of Catechetical and Youth Ministries (currently Sharla Ortiz) and a bilingual Coordinator (Aida Baltazar), with Formación de Fe available for Spanish-speaking families. Adult Faith Formation covers OCIA/RCIA (English and Spanish), Adult Confirmation, Bible Study (Mark Perry), Road to Emmaus small faith communities, and the Consecration to Mary program. Young Adult Ministry is led by Sr. Anh Giang, O.D.N.

• Faith Formation K–12 (English & Spanish)
• OCIA / RCIA for adults and children of catechetical age
• Adult Confirmation
• Bible Study & Adult Faith Formation
• Young Adult Ministry
• Road to Emmaus / Small Faith Communities

Liturgical & Music Ministries

Volunteers are recruited to serve at the altar through a wide range of liturgical ministries coordinated by Director of Liturgy Yolanda Ortiz. Opportunities include Altar Servers (Grades 4–12), Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Greeters, Ushers, Master of Ceremonies, Art & Environment / Banners & Decorations, the Linen Ministry, and the M3 Mass Media Ministry which livestreams Mass and produces in-house AV. The Music Ministry, directed by Nancy Marshall, includes cantors, instrumentalists and choirs in both English and Spanish, and pursues the Augustinian maxim "He who sings prays twice."

Sacramental Life

Pastoral staff coordinate every major sacrament. Parents can begin Infant Baptism preparation through Julie Sprengelmeyer (English) or Aida Baltazar (Spanish). Weddings are arranged with Music Director Mario Cuaresma (replaced in current bulletins by Nancy Marshall); pre-marital classes, marriage encounter weekends and marriage counseling are staffed by couples and Deacon Armando Servin. Ministry to the sick and homebound — including Anointing and Viaticum — is coordinated by Deacon John Gabriele and Fr. Emmanuel Azudiugwu. Funerals, Quinceañeras, and annulment assistance are all supported. The Family Healing ministry serves couples with impediments and the divorced seeking to return to the sacraments.

Outreach & Charity

St. Catherine's runs a robust parish outreach network to those in need locally and beyond. The St. Vincent de Paul conference operates a Help Line and Food Pantry (951-587-6752); Birth Choice of Temecula provides crisis pregnancy support; Catholic Charities referrals are facilitated through the parish office. Rachel's Vineyard post-abortion healing, a Pro-Life Ministry and Marriage Encounter programs round out the social outreach. The parish also partners closely with the St. Jeanne de Lestonnac Catholic High School (opened 2018) led by the Sisters of the Company of the Mary — its preschool-through-eighth-grade campus grew out of a 1993 ministry and includes a campus in Temecula with strong ties to St. Catherine's pastorate.

Cultural & Devotional Communities

Reflecting Temecula's diversity, the parish maintains active Filipino, Korean and Hispanic ministries alongside English-speaking groups. The Hispanic ministry (Coordinadora Aida Baltazar) runs a weekly Spanish Mass, MC Movimiento Familiar Cristiano, Grupo de Oración de Renovación Carismática, Conquistando las Naciones para Cristo, Lectores, Ujieres, and a youth group (Grupo de Jóvenes). Filipino and Korean Catholic communities meet for fellowship and prayer under their own coordinators. Devotional groups include the Divine Mercy/Rosary prayer group, Consecration to Mary, the Bereavement Ministry, the Women's Guild, the Dance Ministry, and the Parish Prayer Network, alongside the Knights of Columbus (Council hosted at St. Catherine's).

Clergy & Staff

St. Catherine of Alexandria is currently led by Pastor Rev. Timothy T. Do, with Parochial Vicars Rev. Alexander A. Ospina and Rev. Emmanuel C. Azudiugwu. Rev. Anthony Dao serves as Priest in Residence following his June 30, 2024 retirement as Pastor after 18 years of service to the parish. Pastor Emeritus Rev. John Wagner and Msgr. Don Webber continue in retired priestly ministry. Six deacons — Eduardo Baltodano, John Gabriele, Francisco Meza, Fernando Martinez and Gerardo Vargas — are active, with Deacons Efren Ramirez and Armando Servin serving in retired status. Lay leadership includes Director of Liturgy Yolanda Ortiz, Music Director Nancy Marshall, Bulletin Editor/Secretary Mary Hitzeman, and a Business Manager/Accountant (Jeckie Alcaraz). The Pastoral Council, Finance Council and Ministry Council provide parish governance.

Getting Involved & Joining the Parish

Newcomers are welcomed through the Plan-Your-Visit page and encouraged to register as parishioners. Liturgical Ministry volunteers can sign up directly with Yolanda Ortiz; families with children are routed to the Faith Formation Office. The bulletin (available online and by email through Parishes Online) lists weekly opportunities for ministry, devotional prayer and community events. Those interested in financial support of the parish mission can contact the office about offertory giving, capital campaigns and the annual Bishop's Ministries Appeal. The parish was designated a Jubilee 2025 Pilgrim Site, offering parishioners and visitors expanded confession hours and the opportunity to obtain a Plenary Indulgence.