About St. James · Durham, California
St. James Mission is a small Catholic mission church in the unincorporated community of Durham, in Butte County, California. It is one of the Sutter Buttes Deanery parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento and is officially listed as a mission of St. John the Baptist Parish in nearby Chico (the mother parish was established in 1878). The mission serves the rural Durham community with Sunday Mass celebrated in English and shares in the clergy, faith-formation programs, and sacramental life of its mother parish, St. John the Baptist.
- Patron
- St. James the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Francisco Hernandez (Pastor of mother parish St. John the Baptist, Chico, overseeing the mission)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sacramento
Why belong here
St. James Mission gives the small Durham community a regular weekly Sunday Mass close to home in a simple, neighborhood setting, while still being part of the larger St. John the Baptist Catholic family in Chico. Parishioners benefit from the full sacramental and formational life of the mother parish — daily Mass, First Friday Adoration, Reconciliation, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), Faith Formation for children, and Youth Ministry for grades 7–12 — all just a short drive away in Chico.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment at St. John the Baptist Parish, Chico (call the parish office at 530-343-8741)
- Saturday 3:30 PM at St. John the Baptist confessional (mother parish)
- Wednesday 6:30 PM at St. John the Baptist (after the 6 PM Mass, including Spanish)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month at 6 PM at St. John the Baptist Church, Chico (in the church)
- Monday–Friday, 24 hours at the Adoration Chapel at St. John the Baptist, Chico
About St. James Mission
St. James Mission is the Catholic mission church for the small rural community of Durham in Butte County, California. It belongs to the Diocese of Sacramento and is officially administered as a mission of St. John the Baptist Parish in Chico. The mission provides a weekly Sunday Mass for local Catholics who would otherwise have to travel into Chico for the Eucharist, and it shares the priests, deacons, staff, faith-formation programs, and sacramental ministries of the mother parish.
- Diocese: Sacramento (Butte County / Sutter Buttes Deanery)
- Mother parish: St. John the Baptist, Chico (established 1878)
- Patron: St. James the Apostle (feast day July 25)
- Mass: Sundays at 8:30 AM in English
Mass & Worship
The mission celebrates one weekly Sunday Mass at 8:30 AM in English at 2416 Faber Street, Durham. For daily Mass, additional Sunday Masses, Reconciliation, and Eucharistic Adoration, parishioners travel to St. John the Baptist Parish in Chico, which offers an extensive schedule in both English and Spanish.
- St. James Mission — Sunday 8:30 AM (English)
- Saturday Vigil at St. John the Baptist — 5 PM English, 7 PM Spanish
- Sunday Masses at St. John the Baptist — 8 AM, 10 AM, 12 noon (Spanish), 5 PM (English)
- Weekday Masses at St. John the Baptist — Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 7:30 AM; Wed 8:30 AM; Tue/Thu 6 PM (English); Wed 6 PM (Spanish)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education for the children of St. James Mission is provided through the Faith Formation program at St. John the Baptist Parish in Chico. Classes are designed for students in 1st through 6th grade and aim to grow children in the knowledge and love of the Lord while preparing them to receive the sacraments.
- Faith Formation for grades 1–6 (English)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for children ages 0–5
- First Reconciliation is normally received in 2nd grade as part of Faith Formation
Youth Ministry
Middle-school and high-school students connected to St. James Mission take part in the Youth Ministry of St. John the Baptist, which gathers students in grades 7–12 in friendship and faith through weekly youth group, service opportunities, and weekend retreats.
- Weekly youth group for junior high and high school students
- Volunteer service opportunities
- Weekend retreats
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
Adults interested in learning about the Catholic faith or becoming Catholic are invited to participate in the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) offered at the mother parish, St. John the Baptist. The program welcomes inquirers at any stage of the journey.
- OCIA for adults — preparation for Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation
- Inquiry sessions for those simply exploring the Catholic faith
- Rite of Christian Initiation for children also available through Faith Formation
Clergy & Staff
St. James Mission is served by the priests of St. John the Baptist Parish. The mission's sacramental and pastoral care is shared between the pastor and parochial vicar, with deacons and parish staff supporting the wider Chico-area Catholic community.
- Pastor — Rev. Francisco Hernandez
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Dean Marshall
- Deacons at St. John the Baptist — Dcn. William Bruening, Dcn. Leigh Langerwerf, Dcn. Jesus Padilla Campos, Dcn. Paul Sajben
- Office Manager — Sandra O'Horan
Sacraments
Arrangements for the Sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Confirmation for parishioners of St. James Mission are coordinated through the St. John the Baptist Parish office in Chico. First Reconciliation is typically received by children in 2nd grade through the Faith Formation program.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- First Reconciliation (2nd grade) and First Eucharist — through Faith Formation
- Marriage — preparation through St. John the Baptist
- Anointing of the Sick — on request
- Confirmation — preparation coordinated at the mother parish
Visit & Contact
St. James Mission is located at the corner of Holland Avenue and Faber Street in Durham, California. The mission is a small chapel without dedicated on-site office staff; for any pastoral needs, schedule information, or sacramental arrangements, contact the mother parish, St. John the Baptist, in Chico.
- Address — 2416 Faber Street, Durham, CA 95938
- Phone — (530) 343-8741 (St. John the Baptist Parish office)
- Website — https://www.sjbchico.org/stjames
- Diocese of Sacramento page — https://www.scd.org/parish/st-james-mission-durham