About St. Gregory · Phoenix, Arizona
St. Gregory is a bilingual Catholic parish in central Phoenix, Arizona, founded in 1947 and serving the community at the corner of Osborn Road and 18th Avenue. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Phoenix and offers Mass in both English and Spanish, with two English Sunday Masses and two Spanish Sunday Masses, plus a daily weekday Mass and a Saturday Vigil. Beyond Sunday worship, St. Gregory operates an adjoining Catholic school (PreK–8), a 24-hour Adoration Chapel, a two-year Faith Formation program for children, OCIA for adults, a Society of St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, and more than a dozen parish ministries and societies.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- St. Gregory (the Great), Pope and Doctor of the Church
- Rector
- Father Bonaventure (Bona) Ugwu, C.S.Sp.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Phoenix
Why belong here
St. Gregory is a vibrant, bilingual (English/Spanish) Catholic community rooted in central Phoenix since 1947, where parishioners can encounter the Eucharist daily, rest in a 24-hour Adoration Chapel, and raise their children in an on-site Catholic school (PreK–8). The parish supports families through a two-year sacramental Faith Formation program, supports adults through OCIA (in both English and Spanish), and serves neighbors in need through its own St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, the Knights of Columbus, the Legion of Mary, Cursillo, the African Ministry, and ministries of care for the homebound and grieving. With active liturgical, music, hospitality, and outreach ministries — plus a gift shop, parish hospitality, and a Fall Festival — there is a recognized place for nearly every talent and stage of life.
Mass times at St. Gregory
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM
- By appointment (contact the Parish Office)
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day (call the Parish Office for access)
About St. Gregory Parish
St. Gregory is a Roman Catholic parish in central Phoenix, Arizona, belonging to the Diocese of Phoenix. The parish was founded in March 1947 when its first congregation gathered at the Arizona State Fairgrounds, and it has continued to serve the Catholic community of central Phoenix ever since. Today it is a bilingual parish — English and Spanish — with a Catholic school, a 24-hour Adoration Chapel, and a wide range of ministries for every age and stage of life. The parish grounds also include Nazareth House, part of the diocesan seminary, and Gordon Hall, the original interim church now named after the founding pastor, Msgr. Bernard Gordon.
- Founded March 1947 at the Arizona State Fairgrounds
- Moved to converted barracks on parish grounds, November 1947
- Interim church (Gordon Hall) completed April 1948
- Rectory and cafeteria groundbreaking, November 1952
- Current church completed March 1957
- 70th anniversary celebrated in 2017
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is currently led by Father Bonaventure (Bona) Ugwu, C.S.Sp. (Spiritans), as pastor, with Father Chauncey Winkler serving as parochial vicar and Deacon Joseph Kimbuende assisting. Sister Esther Pilar Torres, SCTJM (Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary) is the Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation and Evangelization. Mark Veazie serves as Parish Manager; Yaren Ortega is the Pastoral Associate for Liturgy and Music; Fabiola Hernandez is the Receptionist and Bulletin Editor; and Gregg Schockman assists with audio-visual and music ministry.
- Father Bonaventure (Bona) Ugwu, C.S.Sp. — Pastor
- Father Chauncey Winkler — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Joseph Kimbuende
- Sister Esther Pilar Torres, SCTJM — Pastoral Associate, Faith Formation & Evangelization
- Mark Veazie — Parish Manager
- Yaren Ortega — Pastoral Associate, Liturgy and Music
- Fabiola Hernandez — Receptionist & Bulletin Editor
- Gregg Schockman — Audio-Visual / Music
Faith Formation for Children and Youth
St. Gregory offers a two-year sacramental preparation program for children preparing to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation. Children's sacramental preparation is for those who are seven years of age and older, and parents attend the sacrament classes with their children. The parish also emphasizes parent formation, recognizing parents as the primary educators of their children in the faith. Online registration for the 2026–2027 Faith Formation year is open.
- 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM (Sacramental prep classes)
- 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM (1st Year Faith Formation, with Family Faith Formation led by Sister Esther Pilar)
- Open House / Meet the Catechist: Saturday, September 12, 2026, 10:00 AM in the Church
- First day of class: Thursday, September 17, 2026
- Director: Sister Esther Pilar Torres, SCTJM
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
Adults seeking to become Catholic, or Catholics seeking to complete their initiation sacraments, are welcomed through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). OCIA is offered in both English and Spanish; Spanish OCIA is coordinated through Sister Esther Pilar, SCTJM. Classes for the next cycle begin September 29, 2026.
- OCIA (English): through the Parish Office — (602) 264-4488
- OCIA (Spanish): Sister Esther Pilar, SCTJM — (602) 264-4488
- Classes begin September 29, 2026
St. Gregory Catholic School
St. Gregory Catholic School is a parish school serving students in Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade, located on the parish grounds at 3440 N. 18th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85015. The school is part of the Diocese of Phoenix Catholic schools system and participates in Scholarship Tuition Organizations (STOs) that can cover up to 100% of tuition based on need. The school office can be reached at (602) 266-9527.
- Address: 3440 N. 18th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85015
- Phone: (602) 266-9527
- Grades: PreK–8
- Principal: Rachel Gatson
- Tuition range approximately $6,500–$7,500 depending on grade and parishioner status
- Scholarships available through Catholic Education Arizona (CEA) and other STOs
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the Sunday and weekday liturgies as Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Ushers and Greeters, Sacristans, Audio-Visual assistants, and Linens caretakers — most roles are offered in both English and Spanish. Schedules for Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers and Altar Servers are managed through Ministry Scheduler Pro.
- Altar Servers — English: Cindy Wolf (480) 269-7738; Spanish: Parish Office
- Lectors / Eucharistic Ministers / Sacristan — English: Susie Melton (602) 329-4136; Spanish: Parish Office
- Ushers & Greeters — English: Mona Shelley (602) 312-9490; Spanish: Parish Office
- Audio-Visual / Music — English: Gregg Schockman (602) 264-4488; Spanish: Parish Office
Music Ministry
The parish has choirs and cantors for both English and Spanish Masses, coordinated by Pastoral Associate for Liturgy and Music Yaren Ortega and music assistant Gregg Schockman. New choir members and cantors are always welcome.
- English Choir and Cantors — Gregg Schockman, (602) 264-4488
- Spanish Choir and Cantors — Oficina Parroquial, (602) 264-4488
Societies and Organizations
St. Gregory hosts a number of parish societies and organizations that bring parishioners together for fellowship, formation, and service. These include the Knights of Columbus, the Legion of Mary, the Cursillo Movement (English and Spanish), and the African Ministry.
- Knights of Columbus — Patrick Langerman, (602) 358-6847
- Legion of Mary — Mona Shelley, (602) 312-9490
- Cursillo (English) — Annie Good, (602) 540-7026
- Cursillo (Spanish) — Antonio & Mariela Garcia, (480) 395-4635 / (480) 781-1478
- African Ministry — Joseph Kimbuende, (623) 535-5511
Outreach and Ministries of Care
St. Gregory carries out the corporal works of mercy through its St. Vincent de Paul Conference, the Homebound Ministry, ministry to indigent burials, and a partnership with Maggie's Place (Michael House), a ministry serving young mothers and their children. The Fall Festival brings the parish together annually for fellowship and fundraising.
- St. Vincent de Paul — food pantry and rent/utility assistance; phone 602-266-4884, Mon–Sat 9:00–10:00 AM; contact: Ceci Andrews (602) 206-0783
- Homebound Ministries — Parish Office (602) 264-4488
- Maggie's Place — Michael House — Ruby Londono, (602) 299-8717
- Indigent Burials — Ginger Baron (602) 423-3496 / Debbie Rosales (602) 565-1165
- Fall Festival — Marta Carrasco & Wuilman Lopez, (602) 299-8678
- Anointing of the Sick — Fr. Chauncey Winkler, (602) 264-4488
Sacraments
Information and preparation for all the sacraments is available through the Parish Office. Children prepare for Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation through the two-year Faith Formation program. Adults prepare through OCIA. The parish also coordinates Marriage Preparation, Baptism Classes, Anointing of the Sick, and Funeral Ministry.
- Baptism — Baptism Classes through Parish Office
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:30 PM, or by appointment
- First Eucharist and Confirmation — two-year children's sacramental prep
- Marriage — Marriage Preparation through Parish Office
- Anointing of the Sick — Fr. Chauncey Winkler
- OCIA (Becoming Catholic) — English and Spanish
- Funerals — Christina Collins, (602) 321-6455
Visiting St. Gregory
Visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Gregory. The parish sits at the corner of Osborn Road and 18th Avenue in central Phoenix, with parking in the main lot facing Osborn Road, on 18th Avenue, and in the smaller lot next to Emmaus and Nazareth House. Children of all ages are welcome at Mass; a viewing area with large windows by the rear restrooms is available for parents who need to soothe a fussy child. Visitors are not expected to put anything in the offering — guests and members are welcome to use the gift shop located on the north side of the church, open before and after each weekend liturgy.
- Main parking lot: facing Osborn Road
- Additional parking: on 18th Avenue and beside Emmaus / Nazareth House
- Gift Shop: north side of the church, open before and after each weekend liturgy
- Family-friendly viewing area with large windows near rear restrooms
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Bernard Gordon1947–
First pastor of St. Gregory. The parish's original interim church was later named Gordon Hall in his honor.