About St. Elizabeth Ann Seton · Los Osos, California
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is a bilingual Catholic parish serving the Los Osos / Baywood-Los Osos community on California's central coast in the Diocese of Monterey in California. Founded in 1984, the parish describes itself as 'an all-welcoming Christ-centered community celebrating our deeply rooted Catholic traditions, respectful & appreciative of our multicultural diversity, journeying together to share family values and commitment to service.' Weekend Mass is celebrated in English (Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning) and in Spanish (Sunday late morning), with daily Mass Monday through Friday and a weekly Spanish evening Mass on Wednesdays. The parish offers the full range of Catholic sacraments, an active Faith Formation program for children, teens, and adults (including OCIA/RCIA), a St. Vincent de Paul conference, a People's Kitchen outreach, and a daytime-only Adoration Chapel for personal prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
- Established
- 1984
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- Rector
- Rev. Joey R. Buena
- Diocese
- Diocese of Monterey in California (Roman-Latin Rite)
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton offers a small, bilingual parish where English- and Spanish-speaking families genuinely worship side by side — from a Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses (one in English, one in Spanish) to a daily 9:00 am Mass and a Wednesday evening Spanish Santa Misa. The parish feeds that liturgy with real formation: a full Faith Formation program (First Communion, a two-year teen Confirmation, ongoing Adult Confirmation, and OCIA for those becoming Catholic), supported by trained catechists and a parish subscription to FORMED. Outreach is concrete — a St. Vincent de Paul conference, the People's Kitchen food ministry, a Food Basket program, and Sunday hospitality with hot drinks and snacks after the 9:00 am Mass — and parishioners are invited into visible roles as lectors, choir, altar servers, greeters, and ministers to the homebound. A daytime Adoration Chapel, weekly Devotions, and a patron saint who was herself a wife, mother, widow, convert, and founder of Catholic schooling make this a community that takes family life, multicultural identity, and service seriously.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesdays, 2:00 pm – by appointment only (walk-ins welcome, received after the last appointment)
Adoration times
- (English) Divine Mercy and Adoration: Wednesday 9:45 am – 11:00 am
- (Spanish) Exposition, Adoration, Divine Mercy, and Benediction: Wednesday 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm
- Daytime-only Adoration Chapel open for personal quiet prayer and adoration (closed during Mass and in the evenings)
About St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is a bilingual Catholic parish in Los Osos, California, in the Diocese of Monterey in California (Roman-Latin Rite). The parish's vision statement describes it as 'an all-welcoming Christ-centered community celebrating our deeply rooted Catholic traditions, respectful & appreciative of our multicultural diversity, journeying together to share family values and commitment to service.' The parish's stated mission flows from that vision. Visitors are welcome to weekend Mass in English (Saturday Vigil at 4:00 pm and Sunday at 9:00 am) and in Spanish (Sunday at 11:30 am), as well as daily Mass Monday–Friday at 9:00 am and a Wednesday evening Santa Misa at 7:00 pm.
- Vision-Mission: all-welcoming, Christ-centered, bilingual, service-oriented community
- Parish Office Hours: Tuesday & Friday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm; Sunday by appointment
Parish History
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton traces its origins to the early 1980s, when a Los Osos Catholic Church Formation Committee worked with Fr. James Sweeny (then pastor of St. Timothy's in Morro Bay) to secure land donated by Al Switzer on Palisades Avenue. Bishop Shubsda approved the formation of the new parish on July 2, 1984, and Fr. Jim Frerkes was named first pastor. The parish was famously formed before any church building existed; worshippers first gathered at Trinity United Methodist Church, then at Sunnyside School, and daily Mass was offered in the home of retired priest Fr. Carl Scheljens. Within two years, community fundraising enabled construction of the current church building, with Mass briefly celebrated in the rectory garage until the interior was complete.
- July 2, 1984: parish formation approved by Bishop Shubsda
- First pastor: Rev. Jim Frerkes (1984 – Dec. 1993)
- Founding worship sites: Trinity United Methodist Church, Sunnyside School, rectory garage
Staff
The parish is served by a small, clearly identified staff team.
- Pastor: Rev. Joey R. Buena — 805-235-8803 — [email protected]
- Receptionist / English DRE / OCIA / Liturgies Coordinator: Heather Hurley — 805-235-8803 — [email protected]
- Office Manager / Bookkeeper / Spanish Liturgies & Spanish First Communion Coordinator: Javier Soto Osorio — 805-441-5428 — [email protected]
Liturgical Ministries
The Liturgy page invites parishioners to serve in a range of roles during Mass and invites them to contact the named Servant Leaders for each ministry. The parish is bilingual, so most ministries list both English and Spanish leads or coordinators.
- English Lectors & Commentators – Jonniepat Mobley
- English & Spanish Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Serving, Sacristan, Environment – Heather Hurley (805) 235-8803
- English Choir – Sergio Servano
- Spanish Choir & Instrumentalists – Alma Aranda
- Greeters & Plate Collectors – Larry Borello (805) 458-2759
- Ministers to the Homebound – Heather Hurley (805) 235-8803
- Plate Collection Counters – Javier Soto Osorio (805) 441-5428
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Faith Formation page offers programs for all ages, supported by trained catechists and a parish subscription to FORMED.ORG. Children and teens prepare for First Holy Communion and Confirmation through a multi-year catechism program; adults can complete OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) or Adult Confirmation. The parish notes that enrollment for the 2025–2026 school year is closed, and that registration for 2026–2027 begins April 25, 2026 and ends August 2, 2026.
- Children's First Holy Communion preparation (catechism)
- Two-year teen Confirmation program (youngest Year 1 learners may be 8th grade)
- Ongoing Adult Confirmation catechesis
- OCIA for unbaptized adults and children 7+
- Parish access to FORMED.ORG digital content
- Registration for 2026–2027: April 25 – August 2, 2026
- Contact: Heather Hurley, (805) 235-8803, [email protected]
Sacraments
The parish bulletin and website outline the process for every sacrament and devotion. Preparation timelines vary: infant Baptism should be arranged about 2 months in advance, weddings and Quinceañeras require 6 months, and Anointing of the Sick and Last Rites are available on demand. Emergency Baptism is handled by calling Fr. Joey directly.
- Infant Baptism (newborn–6 yrs): ~2 months lead time; meet with Fr. Joey first
- Emergency Baptism: call Fr. Joey immediately (805) 235-8803
- Baptism / First Communion / Confirmation for ages 7+ and adults: email Heather or call the office cell
- Quinceañera: 6 months lead time; Diocese Quinceañera Class and Confirmation enrollment required (1 (805) 441-5428)
- Wedding: 6 months lead time; appointment with pastor
- Annulment: appointment with pastor
- Anointing of the Sick: 1st Friday after English Mass; 1st Wednesday 7:30 pm (Spanish)
- Last Rites: 24/7 via 1 (805) 441-5428
- Funeral, Blessings of vehicles / religious items / homes / shops, Spiritual Counseling, Minor Exorcism (Deliverance Prayer)
Outreach & Parish Life
Beyond the liturgy, the parish runs an active outreach and fellowship life. St. Vincent de Paul is present as a parish conference (and is recruiting volunteers), People's Kitchen and Food Basket extend food support to those in need, and the parish hosts food sales such as the pre-Christmas Tamale sale. Sunday Hospitality — coffee, hot drinks, and snacks in the parish hall after the 9:00 am Mass — is a weekly gathering point. A Live Stream ministry brings weekend Masses to homebound and ill parishioners.
- St. Vincent de Paul parish conference (volunteers welcome)
- People's Kitchen
- Food Basket
- Parish food sales (e.g., Christmas Tamales — pre-orders required)
- Sunday Hospitality after the 9:00 am Mass
- Live Stream of weekend Masses for the homebound and ill
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Jim Frerkes1984 to December 1993
First Pastor (with Rev. Carl Scheljens assisting). Celebrated Mass in Trinity United Methodist Church, then Sunnyside School auditorium, then the new church. His dog 'Buttons' famously greeted parishioners at the door.
- Rev. Michael BellJanuary 1994 to May 1994
Administrator.
- Rev. Paul ValdezJuly 1994 to November 1995
- Rev. Mark StetzDecember 1995 to February 2001
Pastor.
- Deacon Dave LeachFebruary 2001 to July 2005
Administrator (Rev. Joel Almendras assisted, April 2003 to June 2004).
- Rev. Heibar Castañeda2004 to 2006
- Rev. Ed Holterhoff2005 to 2006
- Very Rev. Enrique Herrera, V.F.2006 to 2008
- Rev. Lucas PantojaJune 2008 to June 2014
Pastor.
- Rev. Joey R. BuenaAdministrator July 2014–2017; Pastor 2017–2023; Pastor 2023–present
Current pastor; also serves as Music Coordinator.