About St. Daniel the Prophet · Scottsdale, Arizona
St. Daniel the Prophet is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Scottsdale, Arizona, part of the Diocese of Phoenix. Established in 1961 under Bishop Francis Green of Tucson and named for Bishop Daniel James Gercke, the parish has long served the Hayden Road corridor of south Scottsdale with Masses celebrated in both English and Spanish. Today the parish offers daily Mass, a robust religious education program (OCIA/OICA), Eucharistic adoration, and a wide range of parish ministries including the Knights of Columbus, Guadalupanos, St. Vincent de Paul, and a charismatic prayer group. Under its current pastor, Rev. Carlos Gomez, and associate pastor Rev. Jose Jesus Lopez, the parish continues its mission as a multicultural faith community rooted in the Eucharist and outreach to the poor.
- Established
- 1961
- Patron
- Saint Daniel the Prophet (the parish also honors Bishop Daniel James Gercke, third Bishop of Tucson, for whom it is named)
- Rector
- Rev. Carlos Gomez
- Diocese
- Diocese of Phoenix
Why belong here
St. Daniel the Prophet is a parish where the Eucharist truly is the center — daily Mass, perpetual-style adoration on Tuesdays, and a full sacramental schedule are paired with a strong tradition of Hispanic and multicultural ministry, including Spanish-language Masses every Sunday and on Thursday evenings. Newcomers find a warm welcome into religious education for children and adults (OCIA/OICA), and parishioners can get involved through well-established groups like the Knights of Columbus, Guadalupanos, San Juan Diego Ministry, Our Lady's Sodality, the Lion of Judah charismatic prayer group, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. With a bilingual pastor and associate, a devoted faith-formation team led by the Sisters, and decades of service to Scottsdale, St. Daniel's is a parish where families, newcomers to the faith, and lifelong Catholics alike can find a spiritual home.
Mass times at St. Daniel the Prophet
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (before the 4:00 pm Mass)
- Tuesday 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (before the 6:00 pm Mass)
- Thursday 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (before the 6:00 pm Mass)
Adoration times
- Tuesday: Adoration after the 8:00 am Mass until 6:00 pm (Benediction)
Parish History
St. Daniel the Prophet was established in 1961 under Bishop Francis J. Green of Tucson and named for retiring Bishop Daniel James Gercke. The parish opened its own school in 1963 under Father Paul Lawrence, originally staffed by the Sisters of Saint Dominic from Adrian, Michigan. After the Dominican sisters withdrew in 1974 due to declining religious vocations, the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill took over administration in 1988 under Sister Mary Lucilla Wertz, who rebuilt the school community and was honored with the diocesan Golden Apple Award in 1995. The school ultimately closed in 2010, but the parish continues today as a multicultural English/Spanish Catholic community in the Diocese of Phoenix.
- Founded 1961 under Bishop Francis J. Green, Diocese of Tucson
- Named for Bishop Daniel James Gercke (1874–1964), third Bishop of Tucson
- St. Daniel's School opened 1963 under Father Paul Lawrence
- School staffed by Sisters of Saint Dominic (Adrian, MI) 1963–1974
- Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill assumed administration in 1988 under Sr. Mary Lucilla Wertz
- Korean-American ministry developed through Sisters Alice Ruane and Son-Ja Lee, 1988–1990s
- St. Daniel the Prophet School closed in 2010
Parish Staff
The parish is led by pastor Rev. Carlos Gomez and associate pastor Rev. Jose Jesus Lopez. Faith formation is coordinated by Sr. Manuela Vazquez Sanchez, and liturgical ministries by Sr. Viviana Lopez. Parish operations are supported by receptionists Betty Rostran and Erika Inclan and facilities lead Ivan Guerrero.
- Rev. Carlos Gomez — Pastor
- Rev. Jose Jesus Lopez — Associate Pastor (ext. 104)
- Sr. Manuela Vazquez Sanchez — Faith Formation Coordinator, Religious Education & Adult Formation (ext. 105)
- Sr. Viviana Lopez — Coordinator of Liturgical Ministries (ext. 106)
- Betty Rostran — Receptionist / Priest Assistant (ext. 107)
- Erika Inclan — Receptionist (ext. 102)
- Ivan Guerrero — Maintenance and Facilities
Religious Education & OCIA/OICA
St. Daniel the Prophet runs a year-round Religious Education program for children (grades 3 through high school) and adults, organized by Sr. Manuela Vazquez Sanchez. The parish also offers the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) and an adapted OCIA for children (OICA), which prepares catechumens and candidates to receive the sacraments of Christian initiation — Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Children's classes run in a two-year cycle from August through April; adult classes run in a one-year cycle, with parallel instruction available in English and Spanish.
- OCIA / OICA – sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation
- Two-year sacramental preparation cycle for children (grades 3–high school)
- One-year adult cycle offered in English and Spanish (August–April)
- Tuition: $130 per year, per child
- Required documents: Birth Certificate; Baptismal, Communion, and Confirmation certificates when applicable
- Registration for 2026–2027 opens April 1, 2026
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical service is coordinated by Sr. Viviana Lopez. Lay faithful serve at the altar, proclaim the Word, distribute Holy Communion, prepare the sacred linens, sing in the choir, welcome the assembly, and care for the sacristy. The Music Ministry rehearses Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm in the Choir Loft and sings for Sunday liturgies.
- Altar Servers (boys grade 3 and up)
- Senior Altar Servers (men, for Masses and funerals)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Liturgical Linen Service
- Music Ministry / Choir (Tuesday 7:00 pm rehearsals)
- Ushers
- Sacristans
Parish Life and Community Groups
Beyond the liturgy, the parish hosts a wide range of devotional, charitable, and fellowship groups, with a particularly strong tradition of Spanish-speaking and Marian ministry. The Guadalupanos and San Juan Diego Ministry focus on devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, while the Knights of Columbus serves families and the broader Scottsdale community. The Lion of Judah Charismatic Prayer Group meets weekly for praise and intercession, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides outreach to neighbors in need, and Our Lady's Sodality gathers women of the parish in fellowship and service.
- Guadalupanos — Spanish-speaking women's ministry promoting Our Lady of Guadalupe; meets 1st & last Wednesdays 6:30–8:00 pm
- San Juan Diego Ministry — Spanish-speaking men's ministry with prayer, retreats, and processions; meets twice monthly on Tuesdays
- Knights of Columbus — St. Daniel Council; meets 2nd Thursday of the month (Rosary first)
- Lion of Judah Charismatic Prayer Group — meets Wednesdays 5:30–7:30 pm in the chapel
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — parish-bounded charity; hotline 480-289-4455
- Our Lady's Sodality — women's sodality (ages 12 and up); First Saturday Mass, rosary, and meetings
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are celebrated at the parish, following the Catechism of the Catholic Church's teaching that 'the whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments' (CCC 1113). Practical preparation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage) is handled through the parish office and faith formation team, while Reconciliation is heard regularly on Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
- Baptism
- Eucharist (First Holy Communion)
- Confirmation
- Penance / Reconciliation — Sat 3–4 pm, Tue 5–6 pm, Thu 5–6 pm
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage (Matrimony)
- Holy Orders
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:45 am to 5:00 pm, and closed on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Visitors and parishioners can reach the office by phone, email, or in person, and a maintenance request form is available online for facilities issues.
- Address: 1030 N Hayden Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257
- Phone: 480-945-8437
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:45 am – 5:00 pm (closed Fri/Sat/Sun)
- Maintenance requests: [email protected]
- Part of the Diocese of Phoenix
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Paul Lawrence1961– (founding era)
Guided the opening of St. Daniel's School in 1963 with the Sisters of Saint Dominic from Adrian, Michigan.
- Father Desmond Maguire
Former pastor in Buk-Kyo Dong, Mokpo, Korea; reunited at St. Daniel's in 1988 with Sr. Alice Ruane, who had worked alongside him in Korea.