About St. John the Evangelist · San Diego, California
St. John the Evangelist is a multicultural Roman Catholic parish in San Diego's Hillcrest / University Heights neighborhood, currently entrusted to the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). Located at 1638 Polk Avenue, the parish offers Mass in English and Spanish and is known for its welcome to LGBTQ Catholics and other groups that have historically felt marginalized by the Church. Its mission statement describes it as 'a loving community of faith, service, and solidarity with the marginalized.'
- Established
- 1913
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Charles Moat Jr., SVD
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist is a small, multicultural parish in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood that intentionally welcomes people who have often felt pushed to the margins of the Church — including LGBTQ Catholics, Spanish-speaking families, and Chinese Catholics. Active ministries range from Bible Study, Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers and Music Ministry, to a vibrant LGBTQ Ministry that meets every fourth Sunday and hosts Hillcrest fellowship events. The parish also lives out its mission through service — feeding the homeless at Father Joe's Villages, marching in San Diego Pride, and gathering for the annual diocesan 'All Are Welcome' Mass.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:25 PM to 4:45 PM (English and Spanish)
Adoration times
- First Friday: 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM
History of St. John the Evangelist
The University Heights area that the parish now serves was originally part of St. Joseph's Parish (the old Cathedral), founded in 1874 with Fr. Anton Ubach as pastor. In 1912 a group of local Catholic women asked Fr. Nunan, then pastor of St. Joseph's, to carve out a new parish; his successor Fr. Heffernan resisted the idea, so the women took their petition all the way to the new Archbishop of Los Angeles and San Diego, the Most Rev. John J. Cantwell. He agreed, and in late 1913 appointed Fr. Peter McNellis as the founding pastor.
- 1913: Parish established; Fr. Peter McNellis appointed first pastor
- 1914: Property purchased at Lincoln and Normal
- 1915: First church building erected under Fr. Loughlin Golden and Fr. McCormick
- May 30, 1952: Present church at Polk and Normal dedicated by Bishop Buddy
- 2016–2017: Bp. John P. Dolan serves as pastor
- 2017–2021: Parish administered by Jesuits under Fr. Kevin Casey, SJ
- 2021–Current: Society of the Divine Word assumes pastoral care
Parish Mission & Welcome
The parish describes itself as 'a multicultural Catholic parish where all are welcome.' Its mission statement emphasizes that, grounded in the belief that all people are created in the image of God, the community is called to be a place of faith, service, and solidarity with the marginalized. This identity is lived out through both its ministries and its public witness — particularly its annual 'All Are Welcome' Mass and its visible participation in San Diego Pride.
LGBTQ Ministry
St. John the Evangelist's LGBTQ Ministry seeks to 'provide spiritual nourishment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families and friends' and to welcome them into full participation in the faith community. The group gathers every fourth Sunday after the 5:00 PM Mass for prayer and reflection on the Gospel, and meets socially for 'Dine Out in Hillcrest' events and other fellowship. The parish also hosts the annual diocesan 'All Are Welcome' Mass and walks as a group in San Diego Pride.
- Fourth Sunday LGBTQ Prayer Group after 5:00 PM Mass
- Monthly 'Dine Out in Hillcrest' fellowship
- Service outings (e.g., serving breakfast at Father Joe's Villages)
- Hosts diocesan 'All Are Welcome' Mass
- Participation in San Diego Pride Parade
- Contact: [email protected]
- Instagram: @sjelbtq
Chinese Catholic Community Chaplaincy
Through Associate Pastor Fr. Anthony Yang, SVD — a priest born in Shaanxi, China, and ordained in 2014 — the parish also serves as the home of the San Diego Chinese Catholic Community. Fr. Yang celebrates a Sunday afternoon Mass in Mandarin and Cantonese that draws 60 to 70 attendees, many of them recent immigrants or older Chinese Catholics who do not speak English. The community also offers Chinese-language RCIA formation every year.
- Mandarin/Cantonese Sunday afternoon Mass
- Annual Chinese-language RCIA
- Chaplain: Fr. Anthony Yang, SVD
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgy as Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, and members of the Music Ministry. A parish Bible Study is also offered for those who want to grow in knowledge of Scripture. Visitors are welcome to join any of the Sunday Masses, and the parish notes that newcomers are not expected to put anything in the collection.
- Altar Servers
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Music Ministry
- Bible Study
Outreach & Service
Consistent with its mission of 'solidarity with the marginalized,' the parish regularly engages in outreach beyond its walls. Recent activities have included groups serving breakfast at Father Joe's Villages' main kitchen and distributing water and snacks to San Diego Pride participants from the church parking lot.
- Father Joe's Villages breakfast service
- San Diego Pride outreach
- Diocesan 'All Are Welcome' Mass hosting
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles Moat, SVD2021–Current
Current pastor; first pastor from the Society of the Divine Word (SVD).
- Rev. Kevin Casey, SJ2017–2021
Administered parish during Jesuit tenure.
- Bp. John P. Dolan2016–2017
Now Archbishop of San Antonio; served during transition.
- Rev. Henry Rodriguez2016
- Rev. William Dillard2003–2014
- Rev. Philip Sessions1999–2003
- Rev. George Byrne1999
- Rev. Msgr. Anthony Giesing1988–1999
- Rev. Msgr. Andrew Hanley1970–1988
- Rev. Vincent Walters1969–1970
- Rev. Msgr. M.C. O'Connor1945–1969
- Rev. Msgr. John B. Cotter1930–1945
- Rev. Martin C. Keating1927–1930
- Rev. Paul de Munck1924–1927
- Rev. Thos F. King1918–1924
- Rev. L.P. Golden1914–1918
Built the first church in honor of St. John the Evangelist in 1915.
- Rev. Peter McNellis1913–1914
First pastor of the new parish, appointed by Archbishop Cantwell.