About St. Christopher · Galt, California
St. Christopher Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the city of Galt, California, belonging to the Diocese of Sacramento (Sacramento County, Southern Suburbs Deanery). The parish traces its roots to a small brick church built and dedicated on October 12, 1885, and was formally established as an independent parish in 1919. Today, under pastor Rev. Miguel J. Silva and a bilingual staff, the parish serves around 1,000 families from its 2001 Spanish-mission-style sanctuary at 950 S. Lincoln Way, offering Mass in both English and Spanish along with faith formation, youth ministry, and traditional devotions such as Eucharistic Adoration and Thursday confessions.
- Established
- 1885 (as a mission); 1919/1920 as an independent parish
- Patron
- Saint Christopher (patron saint of travelers)
- Rector
- Rev. Miguel J. Silva
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sacramento (Sacramento County, Southern Suburbs Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Christopher's welcomes parishioners into a bilingual (English/Spanish) community of about 1,000 families with daily and weekend Mass, weekly Thursday confessions, weekday Eucharistic Adoration, religious education for children, a Vacation Bible School, a youth ministry, and sacramental preparation including RCIA. The parish's mission statement commits it to being 'a community of faith in the Word, a community of worship in sacramental life, a community of love in service' — a visibly active, sacramental and family-friendly Catholic community serving the city of Galt.
Mass times at St. Christopher
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Weekdays (Monday–Thursday) 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (per Discover Mass listing)
Parish History
Catholic worship in Galt began with the dedication of a small brick Church of St. Christopher on October 12, 1885, at 3rd and F Streets — one of the four corner churches of the original Galt town grid. Because the dedication fell on the 393rd anniversary of the discovery of America, parishioners named the church after St. Christopher, patron of travelers. Governor George Stoneman and Archbishop Patrick Riordan of San Francisco attended the dedication, and the Italian man-of-war Christopher Columbus reportedly fired an honorary salute from San Francisco Bay at the appointed hour. For its first decades the mission had no resident priest and was served from Jackson; in 1919 it became an independent parish under Father James Grealy (serving until 1927). The parish marked its 100th anniversary on October 12, 1985, refurbishing the Etruscan spire of the old brick church and adding a handicap ramp.
- 1885 — Brick church built and dedicated at 3rd & F Streets, Galt
- 1919 — Becomes an independent parish; Fr. James Grealy first resident pastor (until 1927)
- 1985 — Centennial celebration; spire refurbished, handicap ramp and brick steps added
- 1999 — Ground broken on a new sanctuary on South Lincoln Way near Cornell Road
- 2001 — New Spanish-mission-style church dedicated; old church becomes Catholic Community Center
Our Sanctuary and Architecture
After roughly 40 years of planning and fundraising, the parish built its current sanctuary on South Lincoln Way near Kost Road to replace the 1885 brick church (which seated only 200). Designed by Comstock-Johnson Architects, Inc. of Sacramento, the church is Spanish mission style with column arcades, cement-plaster wall finish and tile roofing — one of the first buildings in Galt to follow the city's architectural wishes for Lincoln Way. The main church accommodates about 560 people, with a planned second phase to expand the sanctuary by about 200 seats and add a school and auditorium. A treasured link to the founding congregation is the large stained-glass window that originally hung over the altar of the 1885 church and was carefully moved to the new building's west wall.
- Style: Spanish mission
- Architect: Comstock-Johnson Architects, Inc. (Sacramento)
- Capacity: ~560 in main sanctuary
- Notable feature: original stained-glass window from the 1885 brick church
Clergy and Staff
St. Christopher's is led by Pastor Rev. Miguel J. Silva, with Rev. Robert A. Copsey serving as Pastor Emeritus. Deacon Gilberto Coss assists in ministry. The lay staff includes Maria Polanco (Office Manager), Georgina Calderon (Receptionist), Eva Delgado (Youth Minister), Sr. Juliana Clancy (Religious Education Coordinator) and Araceli Garcia (Faith Formation for Children).
- Rev. Miguel J. Silva — Pastor
- Rev. Robert A. Copsey — Pastor Emeritus
- Deacon Gilberto Coss
- Maria Polanco — Office Manager
- Georgina Calderon — Receptionist
- Eva Delgado — Youth Minister
- Sr. Juliana Clancy — Religious Education Coordinator
- Araceli Garcia — Faith Formation for Children
Mass and Liturgical Schedule
St. Christopher's celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish throughout the week. Daily Mass is offered Monday through Friday at 9:00 AM. Saturday Vigil Masses are at 5:00 PM (English) and 7:00 PM (Spanish); Sunday Masses are at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM (English) and 12:00 PM (Spanish). On Holy Days, Mass is offered at 9:00 AM, 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM (Spanish). The parish publishes a monthly Liturgical Schedule on its website.
- Daily Mass: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM English, 7:00 PM Spanish
- Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM English; 12:00 PM Spanish
- Holy Days: 9:00 AM, 5:00 PM, 7:00 PM (Spanish)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
St. Christopher's runs an ongoing Religious Education program for children, with a 2026 cycle currently being organized. The parish also hosts an annual Vacation Bible School (VBS 2025 was held in summer). Sr. Juliana Clancy coordinates Religious Education, and Araceli Garcia directs faith formation for children.
- Religious Education 2026 (children's catechesis)
- Vacation Bible School (annual summer program)
- Coordinator: Sr. Juliana Clancy
- Faith Formation for Children: Araceli Garcia
Sacramental Preparation and RCIA
The parish prepares Catholics of all ages for the sacraments of initiation and the other sacraments. Adults and children of catechetical age seeking Baptism participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), a gradual process of faith sharing, catechesis, and conversion that culminates in initiation into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. Baptized Christians from other traditions who seek full communion are also welcome in the RCIA process. Pre-Baptism classes help parents prepare for the baptism of infants, and the parish offers preparation for First Communion, Confirmation and Marriage (Pre-Cana).
- RCIA — Becoming Catholic
- Pre-Baptism Class for parents of infants
- First Communion and Reconciliation preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Marriage preparation / Pre-Cana
Youth Ministry and Parish Life
Youth Ministry at St. Christopher's is coordinated by Eva Delgado and is intended to bring middle- and high-school-aged parishioners into the sacramental and social life of the parish. The parish also hosts community-building events through the year, which are recorded in its 'Past Events' photo gallery (Parish Events 2023/2024).
- Youth Minister: Eva Delgado
- Annual parish social events (Parish Events 2023/2024)
- Vacation Bible School (summer)
Our Mission and Community
St. Christopher's mission statement declares: 'We, the Church of St. Christopher in Galt, California, declare it to be our primary mission to seek the kingdom of God by responding to His call to share in a joyful, living community as a visible sign of Christ's presence...a community of faith in the Word, a community of worship in sacramental life, a community of love in service.' The Spanish-language version on the homepage echoes the same mission — 'buscar el reino de Dios respondiendo a Su llamado a compartir en una comunidad viva y alegre como un signo visible de la presencia de Cristo.'
- Community of faith in the Word
- Community of worship in sacramental life
- Community of love in service
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Grealy1919–1927
First resident pastor when St. Christopher's became an independent parish in 1919.