About St. John Neumann Catholic Church · Santa Maria, California
St. John Neumann Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Roman Catholic parish located at 966 W Orchard Street on the northwest side of Santa Maria, California, in the Santa Maria Valley of Santa Barbara County. It belongs to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Los Angeles (Santa Barbara Pastoral Region, Deanery 1) and was established in 1987 as a parish carved out of St. Mary of the Assumption to serve the growing Catholic population of the northwest valley. The parish is named after St. John Neumann (1811–1860), the Bohemian-born Redemptorist who became the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia and the first American male citizen to be canonized (1977). Today it operates as a vibrant, multi-cultural community offering daily and Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, ongoing faith formation (CCD/Religious Education), and an active parish hall that originally opened in 1973 as a mission chapel of St. Mary's.
- Established
- 1987
- Patron
- St. John Neumann (Jan Nepomuk Neumann), C.Ss.R., Bishop of Philadelphia
- Rector
- Msgr. Emigdio Herrera
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Los Angeles (Santa Barbara Pastoral Region, Deanery 1)
Why belong here
St. John Neumann offers an unusually complete schedule of Masses for a single parish — seven Sunday celebrations and a daily 8:00 a.m. Mass — making it one of the most accessible Catholic churches on the northwest side of the Santa Maria Valley for working families and Spanish-speaking Catholics. Its parish motto — 'Church is not a place to go. Rather it is a living body where God wants you to become a part' ('La iglesia no es un lugar para ir. Mas bien es un cuerpo vivo del que Dios quiere que seas parte') — captures its bilingual, family-oriented culture. With regular Wednesday and Friday confessions, Friday adoration, ongoing religious education, and ministries tailored to both English- and Spanish-speaking parishioners, it is a welcoming spiritual home for new arrivals to the valley and long-time Santa Maria families alike.
Mass times at St. John Neumann Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Miércoles 6:00–7:00 PM)
- Friday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Viernes 6:00–7:00 PM)
Adoration times
- Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
About St. John Neumann Catholic Church
St. John Neumann is a bilingual Catholic parish serving the northwest side of the Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1987 from St. Mary of the Assumption, the parish now operates from the West Orchard Street Parish Hall originally built in 1973. It offers one of the most extensive Sunday Mass schedules in the region, with celebrations in both English and Spanish, and provides ongoing faith formation for children and adults. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (Santa Barbara Pastoral Region, Deanery 1) and is pastored by Msgr. Emigdio Herrera.
History
The parish traces its physical roots to April 27, 1973, when the first Mass and blessing of the newly constructed Parish Center on West Orchard Street was held as a mission chapel of St. Mary of the Assumption. The multipurpose hall was built to host both Mass and CCD (religious education) classes for the growing Catholic population of the northwest valley. By 1987, with the Catholic community continuing to expand, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony formally established St. John Neumann as an independent parish. Through the 2000s and 2010s the parish expanded its bilingual ministries, and in 2011 Msgr. Emigdio Herrera was named pastor. The parish continues to grow as a center of Spanish- and English-language Catholic life in northern Santa Barbara County.
- 1973 — Parish Center on West Orchard Street blessed (April 27, 1973) as a mission of St. Mary's
- 1987 — Canonically erected as St. John Neumann Catholic Church by Cardinal Mahony
- 2011 — Msgr. Emigdio Herrera appointed pastor
- 2023 — Rev. Jose G. Castaneda appointed Associate Pastor (effective July 1, 2023)
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. John Neumann is pastored by Msgr. Emigdio Herrera, a native of Michoacán, Mexico, who previously served ten years as pastor of St. Emydius in Lynwood and welcomed Cardinal Roger Mahony in November 2005 for the dedication of the renovated St. Emydius church. He was appointed pastor of St. John Neumann in 2011. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles' July 1, 2023 priest-change list records Rev. Jose G. Castaneda as Associate Pastor of St. John Neumann together with Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Guadalupe. Additional parish staff and ministry leaders are listed on the parish website under the staff/contact section.
- Rev. Msgr. Emigdio Herrera — Pastor
- Rev. Jose G. Castaneda — Associate Pastor (since July 1, 2023)
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation is one of the core ministries of St. John Neumann, reflecting the parish's origins as a chapel built in 1973 specifically to host CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) classes. Today the Religious Education program prepares children and youth for First Communion, Confirmation, and ongoing sacramental life, with classes and materials offered in both English and Spanish to serve the parish's bilingual community.
- CCD / Religious Education classes (English and Spanish)
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Baptism preparation (Bautismos)
Parish Groups & Ministries (Grupos / Groups)
The parish organizes its lay life around parish groups and ministries ('Grupos / Groups') that support liturgy, faith formation, and community outreach. The parish's bilingual character is reflected in the parallel English/Spanish structure of its groups and announcements. New parishioners are invited to join through the website's 'Become part of our parish' invitation.
- Liturgical ministries (Mass coordination, lectors, hospitality)
- Religious Education / Catechists
- Bilingual parish groups (Grupos)
- Bulletin / Communications (Boletines | Bulletins)
Sacraments
St. John Neumann celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments in both English and Spanish. Baptisms (Bautismos), First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation are arranged through the parish office. Confessions are scheduled on Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:00–7:00 PM. The parish encourages families to contact the rectory by phone (805) 922-7099 or email to begin sacramental preparation, especially for Baptism and Marriage.
- Baptism — Bautismos
- First Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage / Matrimony
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation / Confession (Wed & Fri 6–7 PM)
Bulletin & News
St. John Neumann publishes a bilingual weekly bulletin — 'Boletines | Bulletins' — with the Sunday Scripture readings, parish announcements, ministry schedules, and sacramental information. Bulletins are linked from the parish homepage and are available in both Spanish and English, reflecting the parish's bilingual ministry. The website also features the daily Mass readings ('Today's Readings / Lecturas Del Dia').
Visit & Contact
The parish rectory office is open Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM (closed 2:00–3:00 PM for lunch) and on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (closed 1:00–2:00 PM for lunch). Sunday and Monday the office is closed. Visitors are welcomed to attend any Mass on the published schedule; confessions and Friday Eucharistic Adoration are open to all. The parish's address is 966 W Orchard Street, Santa Maria, CA 93458; phone (805) 922-7099; email [email protected].
- Address: 966 W Orchard Street, Santa Maria, CA 93458
- Phone: (805) 922-7099
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://sjnsantamaria.org/
- Office Hours: Tue–Fri 11 AM–7 PM; Sat 10 AM–6 PM; Sun & Mon closed
Diocese & Region
St. John Neumann is part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the largest Catholic archdiocese in the United States. Within the archdiocese the parish belongs to the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region (the archdiocese's northernmost region, covering Santa Barbara County) and to Deanery 1, which includes St. Mary of the Assumption and St. Louis de Montfort in Santa Maria, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Guadalupe, Queen of Angels in Lompoc, Mission La Purisima Concepción, and Immaculate Conception in New Cuyama. The regional bishop is Auxiliary Bishop Slawomir S. Szkredka, S.S.D., V.G.
- Archdiocese: Metropolitan Archdiocese of Los Angeles
- Pastoral Region: Santa Barbara
- Deanery: 1
- Regional Bishop: Auxiliary Bishop Slawomir S. Szkredka, S.S.D., V.G.
- Archdiocesan Directory listing: lacatholics.org
Patron: St. John Neumann
The parish takes its name from St. John Nepomuk Neumann, C.Ss.R. (1811–1860), a Bohemian-born Redemptorist missionary who emigrated to the United States in 1836 and was appointed the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. He founded the first Catholic diocesan school system in the United States, personally walked hundreds of miles visiting his far-flung parishes, and died on January 5, 1860. He was beatified in 1963 and canonized by Pope Paul VI on June 19, 1977 — becoming the first American male citizen to be raised to the altars. His feast day is celebrated on January 5.
- Born: March 28, 1811, Prachatice, Bohemia
- Died: January 5, 1860, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Bishop of Philadelphia, 1852–1860
- Canonized: June 19, 1977 by Pope Paul VI
- Feast Day: January 5
- First American male citizen to be canonized
Pastors & rectors through the years
- St. Mary of the Assumption clergy (mission-chapel era, 1973–1987)1973–1987
Before St. John Neumann became an independent parish, the West Orchard Street chapel was a mission of St. Mary of the Assumption. Pastors of St. Mary's during this era included Msgr. Kieran Marum (appointed July 1964, reassigned 1974), Msgr. James Colberg (1974–1999), and Fr. Riz Carranza (1999–2012).
- First pastor of St. John Neumann (1987)1987
Parish established by Cardinal Roger M. Mahony in 1987, carved out of St. Mary of the Assumption to serve the growing Catholic population of northwest Santa Maria Valley.
- Msgr. Emigdio Herrera2011–present
Native of Michoacán, Mexico; previously served ten years as pastor of St. Emydius in Lynwood, where in November 2005 he welcomed Cardinal Mahony for the dedication of the renovated church. Named pastor of St. John Neumann in 2011.
- Rev. Jose G. Castaneda2023–present
Appointed Associate Pastor effective July 1, 2023 in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles priest-change list; serves concurrently as Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Guadalupe.