About St. Juan Diego (St. Mary's Parish) · Chandler, Arizona
St. Juan Diego Church is the second worship site of St. Mary Roman Catholic Parish in Chandler, Arizona, dedicated on September 23, 2017 to serve the rapidly growing southeast Chandler area. The parish itself was established in 1937 and now includes over 6,600 registered families across both campuses. St. Juan Diego carries the name of the Mexican visionary canonized in 2002, fitting its multicultural community that celebrates Mass in English, Spanish, and (monthly) Swahili for the Kenyan community. It is pastored by Fr. Daniel McBride, V.F., and belongs to the Diocese of Phoenix.
- Established
- 2017 (St. Juan Diego Church); St. Mary Parish originally established 1937
- Patron
- St. Juan Diego
- Rector
- Rev. Daniel (Dan) McBride, V.F.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
Why belong here
St. Juan Diego is a thriving multicultural Catholic community in southeast Chandler with Mass celebrated in English, Spanish, and (on the third Sunday) Swahili for the Kenyan community, making it welcoming to a wide range of families. The parish pairs active liturgical life with robust ministries — from RCIA (O.C.I.A.), Life Teen youth ministry, and sacramental preparation for children, to Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Walking with Moms in Need, Martha & Mary Women's Outreach, and a Health & Wellness Ministry. With two worship sites (St. Mary and St. Juan Diego), an associated Catholic elementary school (St. Mary-Basha), and a pastor who recently marked 30 years of priestly ordination, it offers a stable, generous home for anyone looking to grow in faith, hope, and service.
Mass times at St. Juan Diego (St. Mary's Parish)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (St. Juan Diego)
- First Friday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (St. Juan Diego)
About the Parish — St. Juan Diego & St. Mary's
St. Juan Diego is the second church of St. Mary Roman Catholic Parish, a 6,600+ family Catholic community in Chandler, Arizona founded in 1937 and pastored by Fr. Daniel McBride, V.F. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Phoenix and runs both a main church (St. Mary's) in central Chandler and the newer St. Juan Diego campus in southeast Chandler. Masses are offered in English, Spanish, and Swahili (monthly) to serve the parish's multicultural community.
- Parish established 1937
- St. Juan Diego dedicated September 23, 2017
- Pastor: Fr. Daniel McBride, V.F.
- Diocese of Phoenix
History of St. Juan Diego Church
What began as weekend Masses in the gymnasium of Navarette Elementary School on November 28, 2004 grew over 12 years into a permanent worship home. The new $7.2 million St. Juan Diego Church opened to nearly 1,200 people for its first Mass on May 7, 2017 — Good Shepherd Sunday — and was formally dedicated on September 23, 2017. The parish chose St. Juan Diego, the Mexican visionary of the 1531 apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe, as patron, reflecting its strong Hispanic identity.
- Mission Masses began Nov 28, 2004 at Navarette Elementary
- First Mass celebrated May 7, 2017
- Dedicated September 23, 2017
- Building cost $7.2 million
Mission Statement
A Catholic parish is established as an extension of the local Church (diocese) with the bishop as its chief shepherd. Under the leadership of the pastor designated by the bishop, St. Mary's Parish strives to make the Catholic faith known through education and catechesis; to celebrate Mass and the Sacraments in accord with the laws and rites of the Catholic Church to foster full, active, and conscious participation of the faithful; to promote works of charity toward the poor and needy; and to provide adequate means for the faithful to participate in the Sacramental life of the Church and to have access to Catholic education.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is pastored by Rev. Daniel (Dan) McBride, V.F., who recently celebrated his 30th anniversary of priestly ordination. He is assisted by deacons, parochial vicars (Fr. Miguel for English ministry and Fr. Edgardo for Spanish), and a parish staff including an Adult Catechesis Director / Coordinator of Hispanic Ministries (Carolina Uribe), Youth Ministry Director (Anthony Scroggins), and Parish Administrative Services Director (Cherise Bennett).
- Fr. Dan McBride, V.F. — Pastor
- Dcn. Dr. Joseph Ryan
- Dcn. Bruce Bennett (OCIA Co-Leader)
- Fr. Miguel — St. Mary English ministry
- Fr. Edgardo — St. Mary Spanish ministry
- Carolina Uribe — Adult Catechesis Director & Coordinator of Hispanic Ministries
- Anthony Scroggins — Youth Ministry Director (Jr. High & High School)
- Cherise Bennett — Parish Administrative Services Director
- Nicole Moore — Infant Baptism coordinator
- Asención Murga — Annulments
Parish Councils
Lay leadership helps guide the parish through advisory and finance councils whose members are listed on the parish website.
- Parish Advisory Council: Dan Martinez, Ursula Johnston, Dan Farkas, Gary Davis, Meghan McCarthy, Marc Sierra, Jill Hawbaker, Sharon Rogers, Ted Tessier
- Parish Finance Council: Joe Wallace, Melissa Fraser, Larry Becker, Marilyn Felix, Frank Slate, Nathan Krick, Barb Gomez, Dave Hocevar, Dee Marsh
Liturgical & Music Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgy as Altar Servers (youth, 4th grade and up who have received First Communion and Confirmation), Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Greeters, and Ushers. Music is coordinated at St. Mary's by Sam Rayes and at St. Juan Diego by George Rayes. The Art & Environment ministry decorates the church through the liturgical year, especially for Christmas and Easter.
- Altar Servers (Youth)
- Lector Ministry
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Greeters
- Ushers
- Art & Environment
- Music Ministry
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Religious Education Department assists parents in forming their children in the Catholic faith through catechesis covering Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, liturgy, lives of the saints, and Catholic customs and practices. Children must complete a 2-year Religious Education program in the Diocese of Phoenix to receive their sacraments.
- Sacramental Preparation for Children (2-year program)
- Special Education Religious Education (accommodations and dedicated classes)
- OCIA / RCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Tuesdays 7 PM in Hurtado Hall, St. Mary's
- Baptism preparation (English & Spanish)
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Life Teen is the parish's Catholic high school youth ministry for grades 9–12, gathering on Wednesdays from 6:30–7:30 PM with catechetical nights, issue nights, and fun nights. A youth-led Teen Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 4:30 PM at St. Juan Diego, with teens serving as musicians, greeters, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and ushers. The parish also offers a Young Adult Retreat called 'Restored.'
- Life Teen (grades 9–12) — Wednesdays 6:30–7:30 PM
- Teen Mass — Sundays 4:30 PM at St. Juan Diego
- 'Restored' Young Adult Retreat
- Youth Sacramental Preparation
Sacraments
The parish celebrates and prepares the faithful for all the major sacraments of the Catholic Church.
- Anointing of the Sick — call 480.963.3207 (after hours 623.245.5292)
- Infant Baptism through Age 6 — Nicole Moore x107, [email protected]
- Baptism Age 7 through Adult — via OCIA
- Marriage Preparation — Carolina Uribe x105
- Annulments — Asención Murga x106
- First Communion & Confirmation (children, 2-year RE program)
- OCIA / RCIA — Tuesdays 7 PM, Hurtado Hall, St. Mary's
Outreach, Charity & Fellowship
St. Juan Diego and St. Mary's host a wide range of outreach and fellowship ministries supporting parishioners and the broader Chandler community, from pregnancy support to bereavement care and women's fellowship.
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Walking with Moms in Need
- Martha & Mary Women's Outreach
- Grief & Bereavement Ministry (Dcn. Dr. Joe Ryan)
- 'Mending Hearts' Parish Bereavement Support Group
- Health & Wellness Ministry
- Couples for Christ
- Knights of Columbus (two councils: Fr. Patterson #3121 and Fr. Louis Anthony Sigman #16277)
- Legion of Mary (two Praesidia)
- Daughters of Mary
- Boy Scouts
- WINGS — 'Women in God's Service' Ministry @ St. Juan Diego
St. Mary-Basha Catholic School
Founded in 1944, St. Mary-Basha Catholic Elementary School is the parish's PreK–8 school and has educated thousands of children in the Catholic faith, enabling them to make faithful and valuable contributions to society.
- Founded 1944
- PreK through 8th grade
- Part of St. Mary Parish
Contact & Locations
The parish is served by two offices — the main St. Mary's Parish Office in central Chandler and the St. Juan Diego Church Office in southeast Chandler.
- St. Mary's Parish Office — 230 W. Galveston St., Chandler, AZ 85225 — 480.963.3207 — [email protected] (Mon–Fri 9 AM–4 PM)
- St. Juan Diego Church Office — 3200 S. Cooper Rd., Chandler, AZ 85286 — 480.734.2187 — [email protected] (Mon–Fri 9 AM–1 PM)
- Facebook: facebook.com/stmarychandler
Becoming a Parishioner
Catholics living in the area who participate regularly in the liturgy are invited to register as members of the parish. Registration forms are available online for both St. Mary's and St. Juan Diego.
- St. Mary's Registration form available on website
- St. Juan Diego Registration form available on website