St. Catherine of Siena

Parish Mission and Identity

St. Catherine of Siena Parish describes its mission as following Jesus by welcoming all, sharing gifts, and giving glory to God. With more than 1,100 families, it is one of the oldest parishes in the Diocese of Oakland and is often called the 'mother church' of East Contra Costa County. The parish publishes its mission statement in both English and Spanish (La parroquia de Santa Catarina de Siena sigue a Jesús dándole la bienvenida a todos, compartiendo nuestros dones y dando gloria a Dios).

• Over 1,100 registered families
• Bilingual English/Spanish parish life
• Diocese of Oakland parish

Parish History

Catholic worship in Martinez began in 1853, when Dominican Fathers crossed the Carquinez Strait by ferry from St. Dominic's in Benicia (then the state capital) to celebrate Mass in Brown's Store. The congregation built an adobe church, then a small wooden structure (1866) that blew over in a gale, then a steepled wood-frame church in 1868 on the current Estudillo/Mellus site. In 1873 St. Catherine of Siena became a full-fledged parish with its own resident pastor; in 1940 the present stucco church with a turreted bell tower replaced the 1868 building.

• 1853: First Mass celebrated in Brown's Store by Dominican Fathers from Benicia
• 1866: Small wooden church built — destroyed in a gale within two years
• 1868: Steepled wood-frame church built on the current site
• 1873: Established as a parish with a resident pastor
• 1888: Parish cemetery established on Carquinez Scenic Drive
• 1940: Present stucco church with turreted bell tower built; 1890 bell and some stained glass from the 1868 church preserved
• 1949: Parish school and convent dedicated by Archbishop John J. Mitty; Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet arrive; 250 students enrolled

Parish Staff and Clergy

The parish is led by Father Michael 'Mike' Nufable, who was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Oakland on May 29, 2015. Born in Vallejo and raised in Hercules, he served at St. Leander Parish in San Leandro and as Parochial Vicar at St. Patrick Parish in Rodeo-Hercules before coming to Martinez. He is supported by two deacons and a lay staff.

• Father Michael 'Mike' Nufable — Pastor ([email protected]; 925-228-2230 ext. 1006)
• Deacon Troy
• Deacon Albert
• Karen Glen — OCIA / Faith Formation contact ([email protected]; 925-228-2230 ext. 1005)
• Lillian — Parish Secretary ([email protected])
• Dave — Music/Facilities
• Colleen — Administrative Assistant (925-228-2230 ext. 1003)
• Business Manager/Bookkeeper

Mass, Sacraments and Devotions

The parish celebrates Mass daily and offers a full schedule of sacraments and devotions. Sunday Mass is offered Saturday evening as a Vigil and twice on Sunday morning, with the 8:30 AM Mass livestreamed.

Faith Formation and Religious Education

Faith formation at St. Catherine's spans childhood through adulthood. Children in grades 1–8 follow a two-year Sacramental Preparation track called ROOT (Year 1, grades 1–4) and MEND & NOURISH (Year 2, grades 5–8), where MEND covers Reconciliation and NOURISH covers First Eucharist. Confirmation is a separate two-year program for grades 9–12, with classes typically held Sunday mornings before the 11:00 AM Mass. A Junior Core is offered for confirmed high-schoolers interested in ongoing faith-sharing and service.

• ROOT (grades 1–4, family formation, Sunday mornings)
• MEND & NOURISH (grades 5–8; First Penance and First Holy Eucharist)
• Confirmation Preparation (grades 9–12, two-year program)
• Adult Confirmation Inquiry
• Junior Core (high-school faith and service group)

St. Catherine of Siena School (Preschool–8th Grade)

The parish school was established in 1949 and opened its doors with 250 students under the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. It now serves Preschool through 8th grade and is one of seven schools in the Lumen Christi Academies network across the Diocese of Oakland. Students attend Mass twice a week, participate in the church choir, join faith families, and attend grade-level retreats; CYO athletics include basketball, cross country, track and field, and cheerleading. The school celebrated its 70th anniversary of Catholic education in 2019.

• Founded 1949 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
• Address: 604 Mellus Street, Martinez, CA 94553
• Phone: 925-228-4140
• Principal: Jessica Griswold ([email protected])
• Member of Lumen Christi Academies (Diocese of Oakland)
• CYO athletics: basketball, cross country, track and field, cheerleading

Outreach and Parish Life

The parish carries out social-justice and pastoral outreach through visits and Communion to the elderly, homebound and sick, bereavement support, and other service groups that provide fellowship and assistance to the broader community. The parish website publishes an events calendar that includes gatherings such as the annual All Ministry & Clubs Meeting and other parish-wide celebrations.

• Visits and Communion to the elderly, homebound and sick
• Bereavement support
• Fellowship and service groups
• Annual parish events and ministry meetings

St. Catherine of Siena Cemetery

Established in 1888, the parish cemetery sits overlooking the Carquinez Strait on the old road to Port Costa (Carquinez Scenic Drive, Martinez). It is the final resting place of more than 2,500 local parishioners, with crypts and monuments recording the names of early settlers and prominent families dating back to the 1800s. Notable burials include Don Juan Salvio Pacheco, co-founder of Concord, and Sam (Simon) Rodia, who designed and built the famous Watts Towers in Los Angeles. A Cemetery Clean-Up Day is held annually; volunteer forms are required.

• Established 1888
• Location: 10 Carquinez Scenic Drive, Martinez
• Over 2,500 burials
• Notable burials: Don Juan Salvio Pacheco, Sam (Simon) Rodia (Watts Towers)
• Annual Cemetery Clean-Up Day

Sacraments at St. Catherine's

The parish office helps families arrange all the usual sacraments. Baptisms are scheduled after an initial meeting with Fr. Mike; First Penance and First Eucharist are prepared through MEND & NOURISH; Confirmation follows the two-year 9th–12th grade program (with a separate Adult Confirmation track); OCIA serves adults seeking initiation; and Reconciliation is heard on the regular weekly schedule or by appointment.

• Baptism — initial meeting with Fr. Mike
• First Penance / First Communion — MEND & NOURISH
• Confirmation — two-year youth program or Adult Confirmation
• Reconciliation — Mon/Thu/Sat plus by appointment
• Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
• Matrimony — through the parish office
• OCIA for adult initiation

Visit, Contact and Office Hours

The parish office is at 1125 Ferry Street, Martinez, CA 94553, next to Martinez City Hall in downtown Martinez. Phone: 925-228-2230. Email: [email protected]. Office hours are Monday 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM, Wednesday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM, and Friday 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM; the office is closed Tuesday and Thursday. Sunday Mass is livestreamed on the parish Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.

• Address: 1125 Ferry Street, Martinez, CA 94553
• Phone: 925-228-2230
• Email: [email protected]
• Office hours: Mon 8:30–2, Wed 8:30–4, Fri 8:30–2 (closed Tue/Thu)
• Sunday 8:30 AM Mass livestreamed on Facebook