About St. Joseph Mission · Boron, California
St. Joseph Mission (SJM) is a Catholic mission church serving the small desert community of Boron, California, in the Western Mojave Desert along Highway 58. It is a mission of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in California City, within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno's High Desert Vicariate. Sunday Mass is celebrated in English at 8:15 AM, and the mission is pastored along with the wider parish by Father Kris Sorenson, who has led the community since 2010 and also ministers to inmates at the California City Correctional Center. The mission was established in 1969 and continues to serve Boron Catholics together with its sister parish about 35 minutes away in California City.
- Established
- 1969
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Father Kris Sorenson
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno (High Desert Vicariate)
Why belong here
St. Joseph Mission offers Boron's Catholics a welcoming Sunday Mass in English at 8:15 AM, regular opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (after Mass on the 2nd and 4th Sundays, and 7:30–8:00 AM on the 3rd Sunday), and a midweek Bible Study in the Boron rectory. Worshippers are supported by a stable pastor who has served the desert communities since 2010, plus access to the parish's wider ministries — Knights of Columbus, a food bank, Al-Anon, Religious Education, and a free Formed.org subscription — all shared with the sister parish in California City about 35 minutes away.
Mass times at St. Joseph Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday — at St. Joseph's Mission, Boron, 2nd & 4th Sunday for 15 minutes following Mass
- Sunday — at St. Joseph's Mission, Boron, 3rd Sunday, 7:30–8:00 AM, before Mass
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Adoration is offered at Our Lady of Lourdes in California City (Thursday 6:00–7:00 PM, 1st & 3rd Thursdays, following 5:30 PM Mass, with confessions). No adoration is scheduled at St. Joseph Mission itself.
About St. Joseph Mission
St. Joseph Mission (SJM) is the Catholic mission church in Boron, California, a small community in the Western Mojave Desert along Highway 58. It functions as a mission of Our Lady of Lourdes Church (OLL) in California City, about 35 minutes away, and the two share a single pastor, parish office, and staff.
- Founded 1969 (per GCatholic)
- Located at 12456 Boron Ave., Boron, CA 93516
- Part of the Diocese of Fresno, High Desert Vicariate
Pastor and Leadership
The mission is pastored by Father Kris Sorenson, who has led the combined OLL/SJM parish since 2010. He also serves as the High Desert Vicar (V.F.) for the Diocese of Fresno and as Administrator of St. Mary of the Desert Church in Rosamond and St. Francis of Assisi Mission in Mojave, giving him pastoral responsibility for four desert churches within roughly 35 miles. He additionally brings the sacraments to inmates at the California City Correctional Center.
- Pastor: Father Kris Sorenson (since 2010)
- Also High Desert Vicar (V.F.) for the Diocese of Fresno
- Parish Staff: Secretary, Bookkeeper, Director of Religious Education (DRE), volunteers
Parish Office and Contact
The Parish Office for both OLL and St. Joseph Mission is located in California City, so all mail, telephone, fax, and email correspondence routes through that office. Office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 8:30 AM–1:30 PM, and Friday 8:30 AM–12:00 noon.
- Mailing: P.O. Box 2060, California City, CA 93504-2060
- Telephone: (760) 373-2256
- Fax: (760) 373-2206
- Office Hours: Tue–Thu 8:30 AM–1:30 PM; Fri 8:30 AM–12:00 noon
Ministries and Faith Formation
The mission shares in the wider parish's ministries. A weekly English Bible Study meets at the St. Joseph Mission rectory in Boron on Wednesdays at 10:15 AM, and a Spanish Bible Study (Estudio Bíblico) meets in California City. Religious Education for children is coordinated through the parish Director of Religious Education (DRE).
- SJM Bible Study — Wednesdays, 10:15 AM, Boron Rectory
- Spanish Bible Study (Estudio Bíblico) at OLL
- Religious Education (DRE)
- Adult Catechesis (RCIA) via OLL
- Knights of Columbus
- Food Bank services
- Al-Anon meeting
- Free Formed.org access for parishioners (videos and audiobooks in English and Spanish)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Kris Sorenson2010–present
Also serves as High Desert Vicar (V.F.) for the Diocese of Fresno; Administrator of St. Mary of the Desert (Rosamond) and St. Francis of Assisi Mission (Mojave); brings sacraments to inmates at California City Correctional Center.