About St. John Vianney · Goodyear, Arizona
St. John Vianney is a Roman Catholic parish in historic Goodyear, Arizona, within the Diocese of Phoenix and served by the Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.). The parish combines a long-serving faith community (Catholic Mass has been celebrated at this site since 1946, and the parish itself was canonically established in 1956) with an on-site Catholic school (preschool through 8th grade, founded 1992), an active faith-formation program, and English- and Spanish-language liturgies. Its stated mission is 'To Know Jesus and To Make Him Known,' and the parish continues to grow its ministries, school enrollment, and sacramental life on the original property near downtown Goodyear.
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- St. John Vianney (Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, the Curé d'Ars)
- Rector
- Fr. David Halm, C.S.C. (Congregation of Holy Cross)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix (Diocese of Phoenix, established 1969)
Why belong here
St. John Vianney offers a complete Catholic life in one historic Goodyear campus: English and Spanish Masses with a posted confession schedule, a Holy Cross–led K-8 Catholic school, a year-round children's faith-formation program, marriage preparation, Christian initiation (RCIA), a youth ministry, and a music ministry. The parish's long C.S.C. heritage, growing school, and stated mission 'To Know Jesus and To Make Him Known' make it a natural fit for families, couples, and new Catholics in the west Phoenix Valley.
Mass times at St. John Vianney
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 9:00 – 11:00 am (appointments needed)
- Tuesday evening (see parish schedule)
- Saturday 9:00 – 11:00 am (appointments suggested, walk-ins accepted)
- 5:00 – 7:00 pm (appointments suggested, walk-ins accepted)
Parish History
Catholic worship in the Goodyear area dates to 1946, when Fr. Joseph Gamm, C.M.F. began offering Mass at Avondale School No. 1. Fr. Francis J. Murphy, regarded as the founding pastor, followed in 1954 and Bishop Daniel J. Gercke of the Diocese of Tucson formally established St. John Vianney Parish on April 28, 1956. The first church building ('Grand Hall,' completed 1959) and the 1962 convent-now-parish-office remain the heart of the campus today. The Franciscan Sisters of Rock Island, Illinois, served the parish from 1962 to 1974. Under successive Congregation of Holy Cross pastors — including Fr. John Herman, C.S.C. — the parish grew from a few hundred to nearly 2,000 parishioners and built its school.
- First Mass in the area: 1946 (Avondale School No. 1 auditorium)
- Parish canonically established: April 28, 1956 by Bishop Daniel J. Gercke, Diocese of Tucson
- Grand Hall (first church) completed: 1959
- Convent (now parish office) built: 1962
- Franciscan Sisters of Rock Island, Illinois, served 1962–1974
- Steady C.S.C. pastoral leadership since the mid-20th century
Parish Staff
The parish office is staffed by clergy and lay ministers supporting Christian initiation, religious education, youth ministry, music, marriage prep, and operations.
- Fr. David Halm, C.S.C. — Pastor
- Fr. Brian Kennedy, C.S.C. — Associate Pastor & Director of Parish Christian Living
- Rev. Mr. Bob Solis — Deacon
- John Delaney II — Deacon
- Delila Baca — Director of Religious Education of Children
- Maribel Miranda — Christian Initiation Minister
- Amanda Shaheen — Music Minister ([email protected])
- Esmeralda Avila — Marriage Preparation Minister ([email protected])
- Doug Weivoda — School Principal
- Francis Castro — Youth Minister
- Ana Valdez — Receptionist
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Faith Formation Office (623-932-5613) supports parish religious education for children and youth, Christian initiation for adults, and marriage preparation. Delila Baca serves as Director of Religious Education of Children; Maribel Miranda is the Christian Initiation Minister; Esmeralda Avila coordinates marriage preparation.
- Religious Education for Children
- Christian Initiation (RCIA)
- Marriage Preparation
- Youth Ministry
- Faith Formation phone: 623-932-5613
St. John Vianney Catholic School
Founded in 1992 under Fr. Joseph Corpora, C.S.C., St. John Vianney Catholic School is a Christ-centered, preschool-through-eighth-grade community guided by the Congregation of Holy Cross. Its mission aligns with Blessed Basile Moreau's charge to 'make God known, loved, and served,' and it integrates faith and reason under the pillars of Mind, Heart, Hope, Zeal, and Family. The school offers before- and after-care, a free/reduced lunch program, and tuition of $7,000/year for 2025–2026.
- Established 1992 by Fr. Joseph Corpora, C.S.C.
- Preschool through 8th grade
- Guided by the Congregation of Holy Cross
- Before Care: 6:30–7:30 am, Mon–Fri
- After Care: 3:00–5:00 pm Mon–Thu; 12:40–5:00 pm Fri
- Gates open 7:30–7:50 am; late after 7:50 am
- Release times Mon–Thu: PK-5 2:50 pm, 6-8 3:00 pm; Fri: PK-5 12:35 pm, 6-8 12:45 pm
- Tuition 2025–2026: $7,000/year
- School office: 623-932-2434
- Vision: empower young people to embrace God-given talents and vocation
Music & Liturgical Ministries
The Music Ministry supports weekend and daily Masses under Music Minister Amanda Shaheen. Sacramental preparation, liturgical ministries, and parish events are coordinated through the parish office and clergy team.
- Music Minister: Amanda Shaheen
- Liturgies celebrated in English and Spanish
- Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses supported by parish music ministry
Contact, Location & Communication
The parish campus is located at 539 E. La Pasada Blvd., Goodyear, AZ 85338. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–5:00 pm. The parish uses Flocknote to communicate with parishioners (text SJVAZ to 84576).
- Address: 539 E. La Pasada Blvd., Goodyear AZ 85338
- Parish office: 623-932-3313
- Faith Formation: 623-932-5613
- School: 623-932-2434
- Office hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Stay connected: text SJVAZ to 84576 (Flocknote)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Gamm, C.M.F.1946–
Began celebrating Mass in the Avondale School No. 1 auditorium in 1946 for the area's Catholics before the parish was formally established.
- Fr. Francis J. Murphy1954–
Regarded as the founding pastor; began serving the area in 1954, also at the Avondale school auditorium.
- Fr. John Herman, C.S.C.
Earlier served as Associate Pastor under Fr. Joe; became Pastor and grew the parish from a few hundred to nearly 2,000 parishioners while expanding ministries and planning a larger church on the historic Goodyear site.
- Fr. Joseph Corpora, C.S.C.founded parish school 1992
Pastor under whom St. John Vianney Catholic School was established in 1992, beginning with preschool.
- Fr. Tom Eckert, C.S.C.July 1, 2011 – June 31, 2020
Had previously served the parish as a deacon in 2002; focused on revitalizing the parish and growing school enrollment through scholarships and the 'Padre's Pies' fundraiser.
- Fr. Paul Ybarra, C.S.C.July 1, 2020 –
California native and 'Triple-Domer' from the University of Notre Dame; taught middle school at SJV through ACE (2002–2004) and returned as Associate Pastor and 8th-grade religion teacher (2011) before becoming pastor in 2020.
- Fr. David Halm, C.S.C.current
Current Pastor on the parish staff page.