About St. George · Apache Junction, Arizona
St. George Roman Catholic Parish is a large, active Roman Catholic parish in Apache Junction, Arizona, in the Diocese of Tucson. Founded in 1968, it grew out of a mission started in 1949 from Queen of Peace Church in Mesa and serves a community that swelled with winter visitors. The parish is currently shepherded by Rev. Monsignor Domenico C. Pinti and offers multiple daily and weekend Masses, year-round Adoration, and a wide range of ministries including the Knights of Columbus, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), the Our Lady of the Desert Guild, and a Homebound/Respect Life outreach. The parish describes its mission as one of 'Christian hospitality to everyone, as we are all members of the Body of Christ.'
- Established
- 1968
- Patron
- St. George
- Rector
- Rev. Monsignor Domenico C. Pinti
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tucson
Why belong here
St. George offers the rhythms of a small-town parish with the resources of a large community: multiple weekend and daily Masses, nearly year-round Adoration in a dedicated chapel, and a pastor who has served the parish for over two decades. Whether you are a year-round resident, a winter visitor, or new to the area, the parish welcomes you with a Knights of Columbus council (Pope John Paul I Council #7243), the Our Lady of the Desert Guild, OCIA for those exploring the faith, Religious Education for children, and ministries that bring Communion to the homebound, support life from conception to natural death, and assist neighbors in need.
Mass times at St. George
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 10:00am (winter schedule)
- Saturday 2:30pm (summer schedule, after 2:00pm Mass)
Adoration times
- Monday 8:00am–11:45am and 1:00pm–2:45pm (Adoration Chapel across from the office)
- Tuesday 8:00am–11:45am and 1:00pm–2:45pm
- Wednesday 8:00am–11:45am and 1:00pm–2:45pm
- Thursday 8:00am–11:45am and 1:00pm–2:45pm
- Friday 8:00am–11:45am only
- Weekday Adoration for 10 minutes after 8:00am Mass, followed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet
Parish History
St. George traces its roots to 1949, when a mission out of Queen of Peace Church in Mesa began celebrating Mass in a small cabin on Vineyard Road. By 1962 the community had grown enough to break ground on its own church, and the parish was officially established in 1968. A new, larger complex opened in 1989 with seating for 750, and the entire complex was renovated and expanded in the early 2000s. The parish now serves over 2,200 families and has developed a strong sense of itself as a worshipping community rather than a territorial parish.
- 1949: Mission begins as 'The Little Catholic Church in the Desert' in a 16' x 16' cabin on Vineyard Road
- 1950s: Mass moves to a local public school
- April 13, 1962: Ground broken by Fr. John Cullinan, pastor of parent parish Christ the King
- First pastor: Fr. Colum Casey, followed by Fr. William Burke and Fr. Floyd Stromberg
- 1968: Parish officially established (per GCatholic)
- 1983: Fr. Charles Maloney arrives and leads workshops for a larger church
- Summer 1989: New complex opens with 750-seat capacity
- December 2001 / March 2002: Fr. Ben Konda named Administrator, then Pastor; leads full renovation
- February 1, 2004: Msgr. Domenico Pinti assigned as Pastor
Our Pastor: Msgr. Domenico Pinti
Rev. Monsignor Domenico C. Pinti has served St. George as Pastor since February 1, 2004. He was ordained a deacon on June 9, 1984, at St. Augustine's Cathedral in Tucson, was assigned to St. George as a deacon, and was ordained a priest on February 2, 1985. His first Mass was celebrated at the old St. George church on February 3, 1985. After serving as Associate Pastor at St. Joseph and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Tucson, and as Pastor of St. Rose of Lima in Safford for 12 years, he returned to St. George. Under his leadership, the parish has grown to 2,256 families.
- Ordained deacon: June 9, 1984, St. Augustine's Cathedral, Tucson
- Ordained to priesthood: February 2, 1985
- First Mass at St. George: February 3, 1985 (old church)
- Served St. Joseph, Tucson (3.5 years) and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Tucson (3.5 years)
- Pastor, St. Rose of Lima, Safford: 1992–2004 (12 years)
- Pastor, St. George: since February 1, 2004
Staff & Clergy
St. George is served by its pastor, a team of winter/assisting priests who support the ministry especially during the busy winter months, two deacons, and a small lay staff. The parish also lists a Finance Council that works with the pastor on temporal matters.
- Rev. Monsignor Domenico Pinti – Pastor
- Fr. Rodney Farke – Winter/Assisting Priest
- Fr. Eamonn Boland – Winter/Assisting Priest
- Fr. Mike Wensing – Winter/Assisting Priest
- Fr. Charlie Flynn – Winter/Assisting Priest
- Deacon Paul Rokosz
- Deacon Ralph Huber
- Debbie Wohlforth – Bookkeeper (ext. 103)
- Grace Vozel – Parish Secretary (ext. 101)
- Christine Ollive – Director of Religious Education (ext. 102)
- Heather Hohimer – Receptionist
- Denis McDonald – Maintenance
- Rudy Pallanes – Maintenance
- Finance Council: Susan Insalaco, Debbie Wohlforth, Arlene Showers, Ray Kimble
Outreach & Support Ministries
St. George lives out its mission of Christian hospitality through several outreach ministries that serve the sick, the homebound, the local poor, and the unborn. The Knights of Columbus (Pope John Paul I Council #7243) is the principal fraternal organization, and additional ministries focus on Respect Life, Help for the Needy, and bringing the Eucharist to those who cannot attend Mass.
- Knights of Columbus – Pope John Paul I Council #7243 (2nd Monday, 7:00pm)
- Homebound Ministry – Ministers of Care bring Communion to the sick and homebound; training required
- Respect Life Ministry – works on life issues from conception to natural death
- Help for the Needy Ministry – supported monthly by the Our Lady of the Desert Guild
- Eucharistic Ministers to the home, hospital, or care facilities (must show proof of residence within parish)
- Parish Gift Shop (operated by the Guild)
Faith Formation & OCIA
Adults interested in becoming Catholic or exploring the faith join the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA), a spiritual journey of formation leading to the reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and Communion at the Easter Vigil. The parish also offers Religious Education for children, with registration for the 2026–2027 year, and a Children's Liturgy of the Word program during Sunday Mass where children gather near the Altar and are taken to the Atrium classroom for age-appropriate teaching on the day's readings. The parish also hosts an annual Vacation Bible School.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) – for adults seeking the sacraments of initiation
- Religious Education – Director Christine Ollive; registration open for 2026–2027
- Children's Liturgy of the Word – children dismissed to the Atrium during Mass readings
- Vacation Bible School – Guild assists with snacks
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation through Religious Education
Our Lady of the Desert Guild
The Our Lady of the Desert Guild fosters Marian spirituality among the women of the parish and the wider Apache Junction community. Active members commit to praying one decade of the Rosary each day for the sick and suffering of the parish in lieu of dues. The Guild supports many parish social events and a seminarian each year, and operates the Parish Gift Shop and the Annual Tea (held in February).
- Meets 1st Wednesday of the month at 9:30am (no summer meetings)
- Coordinates Our Lady of Guadalupe Potluck, Lenten Soup & Bread, RCIA Easter Vigil reception, First Communion Receptions, Life Teen Spaghetti Dinner, and Baccalaureate Brunch
- Monthly donation to Help for the Needy Ministry
- Funds cleaning of Altar linens
- Sponsors a seminarian annually
- Members pray a daily decade of the Rosary for the sick and suffering
- Operates the Parish Gift Shop and the Annual Tea in February
Bulletin & Communications
The parish publishes a weekly bulletin (available as a PDF on stgeorgeaj.com) with the full Mass schedule, parish announcements, and a calendar of upcoming events. The website also provides online giving, a photo gallery of parish events, downloadable bulletins, and a livestream of the 6:30am Sunday Mass and Holy Day Masses for the homebound.
- Weekly online bulletin at stgeorgeaj.com/bulletin
- Livestream of Sunday 6:30am Mass and Holy Day Masses
- Online giving via Our Sunday Visitor (1-800-348-2886)
- Photo gallery of parish events
- Parish events calendar
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Colum CaseyFirst pastor, after 1962 groundbreaking
First pastor of St. George, named after the 1962 groundbreaking.
- Fr. William Burke
Succeeded Fr. Casey as pastor.
- Fr. Floyd Stromberg
Followed Fr. Burke.
- Fr. Charles MaloneyArrived 1983
Saw the need for a larger church; led parish workshops that produced the new complex opened in 1989.
- Fr. Ben KondaAdministrator Dec 2001; Pastor March 2002
Renovated the entire parish complex and expanded the Social Hall and Church.
- Rev. Msgr. Domenico C. PintiPastor since February 1, 2004
Ordained deacon 1984 at St. Augustine's Cathedral, Tucson; first Mass at the old St. George church Feb 3, 1985; previously Associate Pastor at St. Joseph and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Tucson, and Pastor of St. Rose of Lima, Safford.