About St. John of the Cross · Lemon Grove, California
St. John of the Cross is a Roman Catholic parish in Lemon Grove, California, in the Diocese of San Diego, serving more than 4,000 families. Its roots go back to the 1920s and the lemon groves of east San Diego County, and the present Spanish Mission Revival church on Broadway was dedicated in February 1959 by Bishop Francis Buddy of San Diego. Today the parish is one of the most ethnically diverse in the region, with a large Hispanic community, Filipino families, Navy veterans, Chaldean and African-American members, and Masses celebrated in English, Spanish, and bilingual form. St. John of the Cross is also home to its own parish school (PreK–8) and is known for its strong music ministry and welcoming spirit.
- Established
- 1939
- Patron
- St. John of the Cross (San Juan de la Cruz)
- Rector
- Father José Luis Muro
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
St. John of the Cross is one of the largest and most ethnically diverse parishes in east San Diego County, welcoming more than 4,000 families who worship together in English, Spanish, and bilingual liturgies. The parish runs its own Catholic school (PreK–8) staffed by the Sisters of Mercy of the Blessed Sacrament, an active RCIA process for adults, sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation, a youth group, a music and choir ministry that is part of the parish's identity, and a Mental Health Ministry affiliated with the Diocese of San Diego. With seven Sunday Masses each weekend, daily Mass, Saturday confessions, a dedicated sick-call line, and a mission to 'know, love, and serve God' together, it is built for both devout daily practice and family life.
Mass times at St. John of the Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
- By appointment — call the parish office at 619-466-3209
Our Parish
Today St. John of the Cross is a very diverse church of more than 4,000 families in the Diocese of San Diego. Hispanics were the basis of the early community; later Navy veterans settled the area, and large numbers of Filipinos joined the community; Chaldeans and African-Americans also make up the membership. The parish is known for its beautiful music and welcoming spirit and is committed to knowing, loving, and serving God through love of neighbor, Catholic education, sharing time/talent/treasure, sacramental preparation, ecumenical outreach to the surrounding community, and care for the less fortunate.
- More than 4,000 families
- Diocese of San Diego
- Hispanic, Filipino, Chaldean, African-American, and Navy-veteran roots
- Mission: to know, love, and serve God
History of the Parish
The parish's origins go back to the 1920s and the lemon groves of east San Diego County. The land that became Lemon Grove, Encanto, and La Mesa — 4,283 acres — changed hands in 1868; lemon and orange groves soon replaced open range. Catholic families built the humble Church of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus on Lemon Avenue, served by Father Joseph C. Mesny in the 1920s and 1930s. The Mission of Encanto was established in 1939 and the first church built in 1940 (now the Knights of Columbus Hall). Monsignor Daniel O'Donoghue oversaw construction of the new church in the late 1930s and initiated the famous Lemon Grove Rodeo and Fiesta that funded the school and the current church building.
- 1868: land change of hands; lemon and orange groves planted
- 1920s–1930s: Father Joseph C. Mesny serves the early Lemon Grove Catholics
- 1939: Mission of Encanto established
- 1940: First church built (now the Knights of Columbus Hall), dedicated May 5, 1940
- 1941–1957: Lemon Grove Rodeo and Fiesta
- Late 1940s: Parent-Teachers Guild, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts organized
The 1959 Church Building
On February 22, 1959, Bishop Francis Buddy of the Diocese of San Diego dedicated the present Spanish Mission Revival church at Broadway and Washington Street. Construction began a year earlier, with the first Mass celebrated at midnight on Christmas Eve 1958. The 182-foot-long church served 1,500 families with seating for 1,100, and its craftsmanship featured a nine-foot Italian blanco tarrara marble statue of Christ, Italian rosetta marble, Tuscany rose marble, Egyptian black-and-gold marble in the altar, 70 pews of Appalachian red oak, 18 fourteen-foot lancet windows, and shrines to the Holy Family and St. John. Music was built into the architecture itself — the huge medallion over the front entrance contains eight smaller medallions of musical instruments used in worship.
- Spanish Mission Revival style, 182 feet long, dedicated February 22, 1959
- Seating for 1,100
- Nine-foot Italian blanco tarrara marble statue of Christ
- Italian rosetta, Tuscany rose, and Egyptian black-and-gold marble altar
- 18 fourteen-foot lancet windows
- Medallion over the front entrance depicting musical instruments
1995 Renovation and the Kirk Center
During Monsignor Raymond C. Kirk's pastorate (1986–1997), the church underwent a major 1995 renovation: the altar area was clad in beautiful granites and marbles, the baptismal area was relocated to the main entrance under a dome, and the front of the church was redesigned with a gathering area, handicapped accessibility, and parking. The Kirk Center, a multi-purpose building named in honor of Msgr. Kirk, was also built and has served church ministries, functions, meetings, and parish activities since.
- 1995: altar-area renovation in granite and marble
- Baptismal font relocated under dome at main entrance
- Handicapped accessibility and parking added
- Kirk Center multi-purpose building built in honor of Msgr. Kirk
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Marriage, and the Anointing of the Sick. Sacramental preparation is handled through the parish office and the Director of Catechetical Ministry (Monica Salazar, 619-303-0679, [email protected]).
- Baptism seminar — 3rd Saturday of the month (English 2:00 PM, Spanish 5:00 PM), Kirk Center
- First Communion — 2-year program, child must be 6 or in 1st Grade; $100/year
- Confirmation — 2-year program, candidate 13 or starting 8th grade; $150 first year, $265 second year
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:00–4:30 PM or by appointment
- Marriage and Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. John of the Cross is a multi-track catechetical ministry serving children preparing for First Communion and Confirmation, as well as adults preparing through RCIA. Registrations for First Communion and Confirmation begin in February and end August 31; classes begin in September. The Director of Catechetical Ministry is Monica Salazar.
- First Communion classes: Wed 4:30–6:00 PM, Thu 4:30–6:00 PM, or Sat 9:30–11:00 AM
- Confirmation classes: Tue or Thu 6:30–8:00 PM; monthly Friday Youth Group 7:00–8:30 PM
- RCIA contacts: Margaret Hutter (619-465-6719), Catherine Loanzo (619-733-6375), Ronald Galacgac (619-517-6189)
- Director of Catechetical Ministry: Monica Salazar, [email protected], 619-303-0679
Music and Choir Ministry
Music has been a signature part of parish life at St. John of the Cross since the 1959 church was built — the front medallion of the building itself celebrates the musical instruments of worship. Today the St. John of the Cross choirs enrich and lead the liturgies in sacred song, grounded in Colossians 3:16: 'singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.'
- Choir and Music Ministry
- Matthew Ignacio and Isaias Villafaña — music contacts
- Matthew Ignacio phone: 619-708-4150
- Music referenced in the architecture: medallion of musical instruments above the front entrance
St. John of the Cross School
St. John of the Cross Catholic School (PreK–8) sits at 8175 Lemon Grove Way, Lemon Grove, CA 91945, and has been part of the parish since 1948. The school is staffed by the Sisters of Mercy of the Blessed Sacrament, who arrived in 1986. School hours are 8:00 AM – 2:45 PM (Fridays 8:00 AM – 1:30 PM); preschool hours are 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM; extended care runs 7:00–7:45 AM and 2:45–6:00 PM. The current principal is Maria Guadalupe (Lupita) Hernandez; the Vice Principal is Fiona Grimes; the Preschool Director is Samantha Hernandez; the Finance Manager is Elizabeth Quiñones.
- Address: 8175 Lemon Grove Way, Lemon Grove, CA 91945
- Phone: 619-466-8624
- Website: www.stjohncross.org
- Grades: PreK–8; school opened July 1, 1980 (per CA Dept. of Education)
- Principal: Lupita Hernandez ([email protected])
- Vice Principal: Fiona Grimes
- Preschool Director: Samantha Hernandez ([email protected])
- Finance Manager: Elizabeth Quiñones ([email protected])
- Staffed by Sisters of Mercy of the Blessed Sacrament since 1986
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults welcomes new members into the Catholic Church and helps current members grow in their Christian faith. Inquirers come seeking to know Jesus and the Catholic way of relating to Him; the process teaches about the Church, our beliefs, the value of faith, and a prayerful way of life.
- RCIA Coordinator contact: Margaret Hutter — 619-465-6719
- Additional contacts: Catherine Loanzo (619-733-6375), Ronald Galacgac (619-517-6189)
Youth Ministry
The parish runs a youth group that meets Friday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Youth are also expected to attend at least one Friday Youth Group session per month as part of the Confirmation preparation track.
- Youth Group: Fridays 7:00–8:30 PM
- Confirmation candidates must attend at least one Friday Youth Group session per month
- Youth Minister: Matt Ignacio
Pastoral & Community Outreach
The parish's mission explicitly calls it to be 'ecumenically minded with the whole surrounding community in which we live' and to 'reach out to the less fortunate' and 'live our faith at all times.' In addition to regular sacramental and formation programs, St. John of the Cross hosts a Mental Health Ministry affiliated with the Diocese of San Diego and offers counseling and spiritual direction through the parish office.
- Mental Health Ministry — [email protected], 619-466-3209
- Counseling and Spiritual Direction — by appointment through the parish office
- Emergency Sick Call (any time): 619-490-4202
- Ecumenical outreach and care for the less fortunate as part of parish mission
Contact, Office Hours & Location
The parish office is at 8086 Broadway, Lemon Grove, CA 91945 (phone 619-466-3209, fax 619-466-9276). Office hours are Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM; the office is closed on weekends. Counseling or spiritual direction is available by visiting or calling the parish office. A separate emergency sick-call line (619-490-4202) is staffed at any time.
- Address: 8086 Broadway, Lemon Grove, CA 91945
- Phone: 619-466-3209
- Fax: 619-466-9276
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM for lunch)
- Closed Saturday and Sunday
- Emergency sick call: 619-490-4202 (any time)
- Website: sjcparishlg.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Father Joseph C. Mesny1920s–1930s
First pastor of Lemon Grove; beloved for sending helpers out with food and alms for the poor; helped kindle early community spirit.
- Monsignor Daniel O'Donoghuelate 1930s
Administered the parish and initiated construction of the new church; founded the famous Lemon Grove Rodeo and Fiesta (1941–1957).
- Monsignor Raymond C. KirkJuly 1986 – July 1997
Major 1995 renovation of the church with granite and marble altar area; relocation of the baptismal font; built the multi-purpose Kirk Center in his honor.
- Monsignor Edward ('Ned') BrockhausJuly 1997 – June 2010
'Building Together' campaign produced a new parochial school, new parking lots, and church grounds beautification; retired July 1, 2010; died May 3, 2023, at age 85.
- Father Peter NavarraJuly 1, 2010 – June 30, 2019
Succeeded Msgr. Brockhaus as pastor.
- Father José Luis MuroJuly 1, 2019 – present
Current pastor.