About St. Francis of Assisi · La Quinta, California
St. Francis of Assisi is a Roman Catholic parish in La Quinta, California, in the Low Desert Vicariate of the Diocese of San Bernardino. Originally established in 1974, it grew from humble beginnings — Masses were first celebrated at a local bank and an auto dealership — into a thriving community that today serves more than 5,600 registered families and over 16,000 registered parishioners. The parish church, dedicated in 1984, was conceived by founding pastor Fr. Raymond Bluett and Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli and patterned after the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy, with interior murals painted by local artist Alexander Rosenfeld. The parish offers Mass in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and (monthly) Tagalog, and runs a wide range of liturgical, formation, and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1974
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Father James McLaughlin
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Bernardino (Low Desert Vicariate)
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi is one of the largest and most culturally diverse parishes in the Coachella Valley, celebrating Mass in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and monthly Tagalog — a community that draws snowbirds, long-time locals, and retirees from the surrounding La Quinta, Indian Wells, and Palm Desert areas. The parish combines a beautifully appointed church built from the vision of Fr. Raymond Bluett and Franco Zeffirelli with a robust calendar of liturgical ministries (altar servers, lectors, EMHCs, music, ushers, art & environment), faith formation, and outreach through partnerships such as FIND food distribution. With active youth, choir, Knights of Columbus, AA, and Scout programs, plus a major building project underway to add classrooms, a youth center, and a larger parish hall, there are many ways for new parishioners to get involved.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
- Friday 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- Friday 5:30 PM
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered in the Church (consult the parish events page / bulletin for current hours).
History of St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Established in 1974 in what was then the Diocese of San Diego (now the Diocese of San Bernardino), St. Francis of Assisi was founded by Fr. Raymond Bluett and spent its first decade worshipping in a bank and a car dealership. The present church, dedicated by Bishop Philip Straling on November 25, 1984, was the vision of Fr. Bluett and Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli and was patterned after the 13th-century Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi. By 1998 the parish had already doubled in size, prompting the construction of a new Pastoral Center and chapel dedicated by Bishop Gerald Barnes in April 1999.
- Founded 1974 by Fr. Raymond Bluett
- Church dedicated November 25, 1984 by Bishop Philip Straling
- Pastoral Center dedicated April 1999 by Bishop Gerald Barnes
- Grew from 2,200 families (1998) to 5,661 families and 16,327 parishioners (2016)
The Church Building & Its Art
The basilica-style church with its vaulted Romanesque-inspired ceiling was designed by Fr. Bluett and Franco Zeffirelli. The interior features 16 murals by La Quinta artist Alexander Rosenfeld, who spent 2½ years recreating the Giotto frescoes from the Basilica in Assisi, and an altar crucifix carved from a single 700-pound block of pepperwood by Italian sculptor Ivo Demetz.
- Design inspired by the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy
- 16 murals (14 depicting the life of St. Francis) by Alexander Rosenfeld
- Altar crucifix carved from pepperwood by Ivo Demetz in northern Italy
- Model for the crucifix — 'The Vision of St. Francis' — found by Fr. Peter Brennan in an Irish gift shop
Liturgical Ministries
The parish's Liturgical Ministries invite parishioners to live out their Baptismal promise by serving at the altar and behind the scenes. Training is provided for all roles; volunteers may call the parish office at (760) 564-1255 to sign up.
- Altar Servers (boys and girls age 11+)
- Art and Environment
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Readers (Lectors)
- Mass Coordinators
- Mass Leaders
- Master of Ceremonies
- Music Ministry
- Sacristan and Assistants
- Ushers / Hospitality
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a Director of Religious Education and offers formation classes for parents and godparents preparing for their child's Baptism. Monthly classes help families renew their own faith life and prepare to raise their children in the Catholic faith. The new parish hall, currently in planning, will include ten classrooms for catechesis, youth meetings, and ministry gatherings.
- Director of Religious Education on staff
- Monthly Baptism preparation classes
- Ten new classrooms planned in the new parish hall
Baptism, Marriage & Sacramental Records
Baptism applications are accepted three months in advance and require a copy of the child's birth certificate and an interview with a priest or deacon. Marriages, funeral arrangements, and sacramental records are handled in person or by phone through the Parish Office.
- Apply for Baptism 3 months in advance
- Birth certificate and priest/deacon interview required
- Marriage: contact the Parish Office at (760) 564-1255
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Care
The parish is served by a pastor, a parochial vicar, and a retired priest, with ministry support from a retired deacon. A Pastoral Care Coordinator, Director of Religious Education, business/finance and bookkeeping staff, communications and technology coordinator, office assistants, receptionists, and housekeeping complete the team. Full staff listing is published on the parish website.
- Father James McLaughlin — Pastor
- Father Dominic Vu — Parochial Vicar
- Father Paul Siebenand — Retired Priest
- Deacon David Hockwalt — Retired Deacon
- Margaret Delgado — Pastoral Care Coordinator
- Director of Religious Education
- Business/Finance and Bookkeeper
- Communications and Technology Coordinator
- Receptionist, Office Assistants, Housekeeping
Parish Build-Out & Future Campus
The parish is in advanced planning for the complete build-out of its property. The project, described in detail on the parish FAQ page, will address long-standing limitations of the existing hall and offices, expand parking for holy days, and provide dedicated spaces for youth, formation, and outreach such as FIND food distribution.
- New hall with ten classrooms for catechesis and ministries
- Large event room with commercial kitchen for parish celebrations
- Dedicated choral room for the Music Ministry
- Existing hall to be converted into a Youth Center
- Additional parking for major holy days
- Outreach space for FIND food distribution, family nights, and fellowship
- Future day-care center and ultimately a larger church building
Outreach & Community Groups
In addition to its liturgical and formation ministries, the parish hosts a wide variety of community groups and partners with local organizations such as FIND for food distribution. The parish facility also accommodates Knights of Columbus gatherings, AA meetings, Scouts, and Diaconate dinners.
- FIND food distribution partnership
- Knights of Columbus
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
- Boy Scouts
- Diaconate dinners
- Diocesan formation events
Visiting La Quinta & the La Quinta Cove
The parish sits in the hills of the La Quinta Cove on Washington Street between Highland Palms Drive and Avenue 48. The original land was part of the historic Clarke Ranch at Point Happy, once the showplace of the Coachella Valley (1912–1952), and the surrounding communities of Indian Wells, Palm Desert, and Indian Palms remain the major portion of the parish boundaries.
- Located on Washington Street between Highland Palms Drive and Avenue 48
- Site once part of the Clarke Ranch at Point Happy
- Parish boundaries include Indian Wells and parts of Palm Desert
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Raymond Bluett1974–
Founding pastor; together with Franco Zeffirelli conceived and designed the church; oversaw the first decade without a church building and the 1984 dedication.
- Fr. Peter Brennan
Discovered the model 'The Vision of St. Francis' in an Irish gift shop that became the altar crucifix.