About St. John Vianney Catholic Church · Hacienda Heights, California
St. John Vianney Catholic Church is a large bilingual (English/Spanish) Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles serving Hacienda Heights, California, a community in the San Gabriel Valley. Named for the Curé d'Ars, the patron saint of parish priests, the parish was founded in the early 1960s by Msgr. James O'Callaghan and broke ground on its first permanent church on January 15, 1967. The original California-mission-style church, dedicated by Cardinal James Francis McIntyre in 1969, was destroyed by an arson fire in the early hours of April 16, 2011. After seven years of worship in a temporary structure, the parish dedicated a new 22,100-square-foot church on June 23, 2018, designed by Zecchetto Architects with a seating capacity of about 1,100. With roughly 5,300 registered families, St. John Vianney is one of the larger parishes in the eastern San Gabriel Valley and is known for its SJV Food Pantry, which serves over 570 families weekly.
- Established
- 1960s (parish established; groundbreaking for first permanent church: January 15, 1967)
- Patron
- St. John Vianney (Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, the Curé d'Ars)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Timothy Nichols
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Los Angeles (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Los Angeles; San Gabriel Pastoral Region)
Why belong here
St. John Vianney is a large, multilingual (English and Spanish) parish where seven weekend Masses each Sunday make Catholic life accessible for working families, retirees, and youth. Its 2018-built church seats 1,100 and is complemented by daily Mass, weekday confession, all-day Eucharistic adoration on Fridays, and a robust roster of lay ministries including five parish choirs, OCIA, faith formation, confirmation, youth ministry, the Nourish caregiver support group, and St. Vincent de Paul-inspired outreach through the SJV Food Pantry that feeds more than 570 families every week. A community that survived an arsonist's total loss of its church in 2011 and rebuilt in seven years is unusually tight-knit, faith-formed, and service-oriented.
Mass times at St. John Vianney Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Friday: 4:30 PM – 6:45 PM (with Eucharistic Procession on the last Thursday of the month at 6:45 PM)
- First Friday of the month: 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM (per Discover Mass listing)
History of St. John Vianney Parish
St. John Vianney was founded in the early 1960s by Msgr. James O'Callaghan, who served as founding pastor for 27 years and built the parish from 'just dirt' into a thriving community of several thousand families. Ground was broken for the first permanent church on January 15, 1967, and Cardinal James Francis McIntyre dedicated the California-mission-style building in November 1969. After the 2011 arson, the parish worshipped for seven years in a temporary 750-seat tent before dedicating its new 1,141-seat church on June 23, 2018.
- Founding pastor Msgr. James O'Callaghan (served ~27 years; d. 2002 at age 85)
- Groundbreaking for first church: January 15, 1967
- Original church dedicated by Cardinal McIntyre: November 1969
- Arson fire: April 16, 2011 (early morning hours)
- Arsonist convicted: Gregory Yusuke Shiga, July 9, 2013
- Ground blessing for new church by Archbishop Gomez: June 18, 2016
- New church dedicated by Archbishop Gomez: June 23, 2018
The New Church Building
The new St. John Vianney Church was designed by Zecchetto Architects and built by SMS Builders, with construction completed in 2018. It is 22,100 square feet with 1,141 seats, sited on a 10.8-acre flat campus. The structure features eight 24-inch-thick shear walls and boundary pilasters nearly 50 feet tall, extensive board-formed concrete, and a 40-foot bell tower. The ceremonial doors and baptismal font sit within the original footprint, while the outline of the 1969 church forms a memorial gathering space and exterior entry court.
- Architect: Zecchetto Architects
- General contractor / concrete: SMS Builders
- Size: 22,100 sq ft
- Seating capacity: 1,141
- Site: 10.8 acres
- Bell tower: 40 feet tall
- Shear walls / pilasters: 24 inches thick, ~50 feet tall
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Msgr. Timothy Nichols, with two associate pastors and a team of deacons and deacon couples. The Corpus Christi Center houses the administrative staff, including a Business Manager, Faith Formation Director, Liturgy/Music Director, Youth Ministry Coordinator, Parish Outreach Director, and OCIA Coordinator.
- Pastor: Rev. Msgr. Timothy Nichols
- Associate: Rev. Michael Di Pietro
- Associate: Rev. Joseph Cho
- Deacons: Dcn. Martin Shengda Zhu; Dcn. Jesse Martinez; Dcn. Dan & Amy White; Dcn. Renee & Cynthia Sosa
- Business Manager: Jeannie Jaramillo Shepard, CPA
- Faith Formation Director: Becky Cerda
- Liturgy Director: Mike Fike; Adult Choir Director: Christine Leong Brydges
- Youth Ministry: Judith Branconier
- Parish Outreach Director: Kelly Choi
- OCIA Coordinator: Gina Zepeda
- Confirmation Coordinator: Fr. Michael
- Quinceañera Coordinator: parish office
- Bulletin/Administrative Assistant: Jan O'Neill
Liturgical Ministries
Lay faithful participate in the parish liturgy through five parish choirs, acolytes and altar servers, lectors, cantors, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion — both at weekend liturgies and through ministry to the homebound and at El Encanto Convalescent Hospital.
- Children's Choir (12 Noon Mass, biweekly; rehearsal Thursdays 6:00–7:15 PM)
- Adult Choir (10:00 AM Mass; rehearsal Thursdays 7:30–9:30 PM)
- 8:00 AM Spanish Choir (Carlos Mosqueda)
- 1:45 PM Spanish Choir (Juan Lopez)
- 5:15 PM Youth Mass Choir (Lilia Garcia)
- Acolytes & Altar Servers (grades 5+, ages 10–18)
- Lectors and Cantors
- Eucharistic Ministry to the Sick and to El Encanto Convalescent Hospital
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish provides sacramental preparation for children, teens, and adults. Religious Education Director Becky Cerda oversees the children's faith formation program; Confirmation is coordinated for high-school students by Fr. Michael; OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for unbaptized adults and catechumens is coordinated by Gina Zepeda. A dedicated Quinceañera coordinator works with families preparing for that rite.
- Religious Education (Director: Becky Cerda; Registrar: Flor Espinoza)
- Confirmation for High School
- OCIA for Adults (Gina Zepeda)
- Quinceañera preparation
- Bible Study (September through May)
Parish Outreach — Food Pantry and Charity
Parish Outreach, directed by Kelly Choi, is the social-services arm of St. John Vianney. Its signature ministry is the SJV Food Pantry, which currently distributes food to more than 570 families in need every week. The outreach also partners with Genesis House and supports other Christian Service initiatives.
- SJV Food Pantry — weekly distribution to 570+ families
- Genesis House partnership
- Christian Service outreach
- Volunteer coordinator: Kelly Choi (626-330-2269 Ext 228)
Youth, Family, and Caregiver Ministries
St. John Vianney maintains a dedicated Youth Ministry (Coordinator Judith Branconier), a Youth Mass celebrated every Sunday at 5:15 PM, and the Nourish caregiver support group, which meets in Room 7 on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM and on the fourth Wednesday at 11:00 AM. Bereavement Ministry assists families who have lost a loved one.
- Youth Ministry (Judith Branconier, Ext 231)
- Youth Mass — Sundays at 5:15 PM
- Nourish Caregiver Support Group
- Bereavement Ministry
Visiting and Contact Information
The parish office (Corpus Christi Center) is located on the church campus at 1345 Turnbull Canyon Road. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Friday 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, and Saturday and Sunday 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The parish publishes weekly bulletins online, livestreams two Sunday Masses, and asks new members to submit a parish registration form available through the Corpus Christi Office.
- Address: 1345 Turnbull Canyon Rd., Hacienda Heights, CA 91745
- Phone: (626) 330-2269
- Fax: (626) 330-0220
- Office hours Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–5:30 PM; Fri 8:30 AM–3:30 PM; Sat/Sun 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Bulletins: sjvhh.org/bulletins.html
- Parish Registration Form available through Corpus Christi Office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. James O'Callaghanfounding pastor; served ~27 years (early 1960s until retirement)
Founding pastor of St. John Vianney. Built the original mission-style church (groundbreaking Jan. 15, 1967; dedicated by Cardinal McIntyre Nov. 1969). Passed away in 2002 at age 85. Called 'Casa de O' parish.
- Rev. Msgr. Timothy Nicholspastor since approximately 2002; still serving as of 2018 dedication
Led the parish through the 2011 arson and the seven-year rebuilding campaign that produced the new 2018 church. Had been pastor for 14 years as of the 2016 groundbreaking.
- Rev. Ricardo 'Ricky' ViverosAssociate Pastor 2009–at least 2011
Did his seminary internship at St. John Vianney; ordained 2008; returned 2009 as associate pastor. Woke to the sound of shattering glass the night of the fire and escaped the rectory.
- Rev. Ricardo de AlbaAssociate Pastor circa 2011
Listed among associate pastors at the time of the 2011 fire.
- Rev. Mike SezziIn residence circa 2011
Listed as 'in residence' among priests living at the rectory at the time of the fire.
- Rev. Michael Di PietroAssociate Pastor, current
Listed on current parish staff page.
- Rev. Joseph ChoAssociate Pastor, current
Listed on current parish staff page.
 "St. John Vianney Catholic Church")
