About St. Edward · Stockton, California
Saint Edward Catholic Parish (Parroquia de San Eduardo) is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in East Stockton, California, belonging to the Diocese of Stockton. The parish describes itself as a Community of Worship, a Community of Service, and a Community of Witness, serving a predominantly Spanish-speaking congregation with one Sunday Mass in English and the rest in Spanish. The parish operates out of a parish office on South Cardinal Avenue and maintains an active religious education (CCD) program, a building fund for a new Community Center, and a wide range of Spanish-language prayer and evangelization groups.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- St. Edward the Confessor
- Rector
- Father Martin Garcia Marin
- Diocese
- Diocese of Stockton (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
Saint Edward's is a vibrant bilingual parish with five weekend Masses (one in English, four in Spanish), daily Mass Monday through Saturday, and a full schedule of weekly devotions and Spanish-language prayer groups — Grupo de Oración Comunidad de Amor, Grupo de Crecimiento, Grupo de Evangelización, Grupo de Intercesión, Hombres en el Espíritu, and Mujeres en el Espíritu. The parish runs an active CCD / religious education office for First Communion, Confirmation, and adult faith formation, and its Community Center capital campaign is a visible sign that this is a parish investing in the long-term life of its East Stockton community. Visitors are welcomed in both English and Spanish, confessions are available after most weekday Masses and on Saturday afternoons, and Adoración Nocturna (overnight adoration from Saturday 8 p.m. to Sunday 6 a.m.) anchors the parish's devotional life.
Mass times at St. Edward
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (after Mass, inside the church or wherever the priest designates)
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- After weekday Masses inside the church (no confessions on the 2nd Friday of every month)
Adoration times
- Adoración al Santísimo: Monday 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- Adoración al Santísimo: Tuesday 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- Adoración al Santísimo: Wednesday 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- Adoración al Santísimo: Thursday 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- Adoración al Santísimo: Friday 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Adoración Nocturna (Night Adoration): Saturday 8:00 PM through Sunday 6:00 AM
Parish Identity & Mission
The parish states its identity directly on its homepage: 'We the people of Saint Edward's Parish know ourselves to be called in the Lord through Baptism and Confirmation: To be a Community of Worship, giving praise to God through our celebration of the Eucharist and the Sacraments. A Community of Service, reaching out to those in need in our community. A Community of Witness, passing on our faith to those with whom we live.' The same mission statement is published in Spanish. It shapes everything from the daily Mass schedule to the parish's outreach and CCD program.
- Community of Worship — Eucharist and the Sacraments
- Community of Service — outreach to those in need
- Community of Witness — passing on the faith
- Bilingual parish: English and Spanish
History of Saint Edward Parish
St. Edward traces its origins to 1967, when the Dominican Sisters' chapel from St. Joseph's Hospital was relocated to East Stockton, forming the seed of the new parish. As Stockton's East Side grew more Mexican-American through the 1970s, the parish expanded with it, sending its religious education program across the street to Elmwood School. The current church was dedicated in 1991. The parish remains rooted in that East Stockton community today, with most of its Masses celebrated in Spanish.
- 1967 — Chapel relocated from St. Joseph's Hospital to East Stockton
- 1970s — Parish grows with the Mexican-American community; religious education moves to Elmwood School across the street
- 1991 — Current church dedicated
- Today — One of the Diocese of Stockton's established parishes
Faith Formation & Religious Education (CCD)
Religious Education is coordinated out of a separate CCD office (phone 209-337-0176, email [email protected]). The office handles preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, and sacramental formation for older children. Catechism classes include English-only Tuesday classes and Spanish-language tracks. Presentations of children to the community are scheduled only during 1st weekend Masses.
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Maria Pantoja
- CCD Assistant: Lizbeth Castillo — [email protected] — (209) 337-0176
- Office hours: Monday – Wednesday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday English-only classes available
- Sacraments of Initiation page (English & Spanish)
Parish Ministries & Spanish-Language Groups
Most of the parish's lay groups are organized in Spanish and meet on parish grounds — in the church, in the small room inside the church, or in the hall next to the parish office. The groups form the backbone of parish life between Masses.
- Grupo de Oración Comunidad de Amor (Prayer Group, Community of Love) — meets in the church
- Grupo de Crecimiento (Growth Group) — meets in the hall next to the office
- Grupo de Evangelización (Evangelization Group) — meets in the hall next to the church
- Grupo de Intercesión (Intercession Group) — meets in the hall next to the office
- Grupo de Hombres en el Espíritu (Men in the Spirit) — meets in the church
- Mujeres en el Espíritu (Women in the Spirit) — meets in the hall next to the office
- Lectores (Lectors) — meets in the children's room inside the church
- Misa para Enfermos (Mass for the Sick)
Sacraments
The parish prepares children and adults for the sacraments of initiation. Infant baptisms (children under 6) require planning four months in advance and are not celebrated during Lent; older children are routed through the CCD office. First Communion and Confirmation preparation are also handled through the CCD office.
- Infant Baptism (under 6) — 4 months advance planning, no baptisms during Lent
- Baptism for children 6+ — through CCD office (209) 337-0176
- First Communion — through CCD office
- Confirmation — through CCD office
- Presentations of children during 1st weekend Masses only
Our Staff
The parish is led by Father Martin Garcia Marin, with Deacon Jesus Aguilar assisting. Office and faith-formation staff handle the parish's day-to-day operations and CCD program.
- Father Martin Garcia Marin — Pastor
- Deacon Jesus Aguilar
- Elizabeth Bedolla — Office Manager
- Ana Peguero — Office Assistant
- Maria Pantoja — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Lizbeth Castillo — CCD Assistant ([email protected] / 209-337-0176)
St. Edward Community Center Project
The parish is in the middle of a capital campaign to build a St. Edward Community Center. Donors who give $300 or more are recognized on a 'Giving Tree' donor wall inside the new center — with bronze, silver, and gold leaves for smaller gifts and Hope, Faith, and Love rocks for larger gifts up to $90,000. Inscriptions can commemorate family birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, births, baptisms, and confirmations.
- Bronze leaf: $300
- Silver leaf: $500
- Gold leaf: $1,000
- Hope rock (small): $5,000
- Faith rock (medium): $10,000
- Love rock (large): $20,000–$90,000
- Donations may be pledged weekly or as a one-time gift
Parish Office & Practical Information
The parish office is open Monday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, but is closed on the fourth Thursday of every month for fumigation. The CCD office keeps separate hours (Monday – Wednesday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM). Contact is by phone (209-466-3020), email ([email protected]), or US mail to 731 South Cardinal Avenue, Stockton, CA 95215. The parish also operates an EIN (#1035272) for tax-deductible donations.
- Parish office hours: Monday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Office closed on the fourth Thursday of every month (fumigation)
- Phone: (209) 466-3020
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 731 S. Cardinal Ave, Stockton, CA 95215
- Sunday 10:00 AM English Mass livestreamed at stedwardstockton.family/mass-livestreams