About St. Juliana Falconieri · Fullerton, California
St. Juliana Falconieri is a Roman Catholic parish in Fullerton, California, part of the Diocese of Orange. It was founded in 1965 and has been administered since 1993 by the Order of Friar Servants of Mary (O.S.M., the Servites) — fitting because its patron, St. Juliana Falconieri, was herself a Servite. The parish serves a multi-generational community with an attached K-8 Catholic school, an active faith formation program, and a long tradition of lay-led ministries, small Christian communities, and outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Its current pastor, Fr. Michael Pontarelli, O.S.M., assumed the role in 2014 and is assisted by a parochial vicar, deacons, a pastoral associate, and a full lay staff.
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- St. Juliana Falconieri
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Pontarelli, O.S.M.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange
Why belong here
St. Juliana is a parish that takes seriously the 'one body' image of 1 Corinthians 12: every member, from the school children to the seniors, has a part to play. The community gathers around weekday 6:30am Mass, four Sunday Masses, monthly Day of Adoration, weekly confession on Saturday afternoons, and devotional traditions like the St. Peregrine devotion, Divine Mercy chaplet, Rosary & Benediction, and Mary's Journey family rosary. Faith formation is offered for children, middle schoolers (EDGE), high school Confirmation, young adults, and adults through OCIA and Bible studies, and a St. Vincent de Paul Conference carries out the parish's outreach, including the joint Michael Clements Mini Loan Program with St. Mary and St. Philip Benizi parishes. The result is a parish that combines Servite spirituality, a 60-year Catholic school, and a deep bench of lay ministry.
Mass times at St. Juliana Falconieri
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (in the Children's Chapel)
Adoration times
- Monthly Parish Day of Adoration begins after the 8:00 AM Mass and continues through the 6:30 AM Mass the following day (specific dates published in the bulletin).
Our Story: 60+ Years of St. Juliana Falconieri
St. Juliana Falconieri began in 1965 as an outreach of Fullerton's St. Mary's parish, with Monsignor Terence O'Brien as founding pastor and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange opening the school that August. From those early days, when the rectory was a house on Acacia and the Passionists supplied weekend Masses, the parish grew steadily. The arrival of the Servites in 1993 marked a new chapter: the parish was formally entrusted to the Order of Friar Servants of Mary (the same order St. Juliana herself belonged to), and Fr. Jude Herlihy, O.S.M., became its first Servite pastor. The 2008 dedication of the Parish Center by Bishop Tod Brown, the 50th anniversary of the school, and the ongoing Servite pastorate of Fr. Michael Pontarelli, O.S.M., are among the milestones that have shaped today's St. Juliana.
- 1965 – Parish canonically established; school opens in August under the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange.
- 1965–1982 – Passionist community from Sierra Madre Retreat Center supplies weekend Masses.
- 1982 – New rectory built; Fr. Robert Vidal installed as pastor.
- 1987 – Sisters of St. Joseph withdraw from the school; lay leadership takes over.
- 1993 – Parish entrusted to the Servites (O.S.M.); Fr. Jude Herlihy, O.S.M., becomes first Servite pastor.
- 2008 – Bishop Tod Brown dedicates the Parish Center (gym, kitchen, meeting rooms, offices).
- 2014 – Fr. Michael Pontarelli, O.S.M., arrives from Mission San Juan Capistrano as current pastor.
Clergy and Staff
The parish is shepherded by Fr. Michael Pontarelli, O.S.M., pastor, with Fr. Luke Stano, O.S.M., as Parochial Vicar, and visiting priests Rev. David Robinson, SJ and Rev. John Montejano. Deacons Tom Saenz and Darrell Miller assist with liturgy and outreach, and the parish benefits from a strong lay leadership team including a Pastoral Associate, Business Manager, Music Director, Youth Ministry Coordinator, and more.
- Rev. Michael Pontarelli, O.S.M. — Pastor (cell 714-853-1190)
- Rev. Luke Stano, O.S.M. — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. David Robinson, SJ — Visiting Priest
- Rev. John Montejano — Visiting Priest
- Deacon Tom Saenz
- Deacon Darrell Miller
- James Abowd — Pastoral Associate (714-853-1193)
- Esteban Jimenez — Business Manager / Human Resources (714-853-1192)
- Jillian Jimenez — Business Office / Tuitions Manager (714-853-1191)
- Anselma Torres — Administrative Assistant (714-879-1965)
- Vicki Delaney — Safe Environment (714-853-1194)
- Al Lares — Facility Manager (714-394-6209)
- Todd Helm — Music Director (714-349-6507)
- Kris Tran — Youth Ministry and Confirmation Coordinator (714-869-3826)
St. Juliana Falconieri School
St. Juliana Falconieri School is a parish-affiliated Catholic elementary school that has shared the campus with the church since August 1965, when the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange opened its doors. Today the school is led by Principal Manuel Gonzales, Jr. and serves roughly 265 students in Transitional Kindergarten through 8th grade. The school's mission is to proclaim the work of God, build Christian community, and give witness and service to the human community.
- Grades: K–8 (including Transitional Kindergarten)
- Founded: 1965, originally staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange
- Mascot: Falcon
- Athletics: Basketball, Flag Football, Volleyball
- Accreditation: NCEA and WASC
- Principal: Manuel Gonzales, Jr. ([email protected], 714-871-2829)
- Address: 1320 N. Acacia Ave., Fullerton, CA 92831
Faith Formation for All Ages
St. Juliana follows the Church's catechetical mission to help the faithful of every age grow in human and Christian maturity. Programs include family-based formation for grades 1–5, the EDGE middle school ministry (grades 6–8) on Wednesday evenings, a two-year high school Confirmation preparation track, post-Confirmation formation, a Young Adult group for ages 18–35, adult Bible studies, and OCIA (Order of Catholic Initiation of Adults) for those seeking to become Catholic or complete their sacraments.
- Children's Ministry (grades 1–5) — family-based, with monthly gatherings after 11:00 AM Mass
- EDGE Middle School Ministry — every other Wednesday, 6:00–7:30 PM, Seven Holy Founders Room
- Confirmation Preparation — two years, about twice monthly on Sunday nights 6:15–8:00 PM
- Young Adult Formation (18–35)
- OCIA — Becoming Catholic, with mentor support
- Adult Bible Studies and Adult Faith Formation
- Men's Fellowship Group — bi-weekly Monday evenings 7:00–8:30 PM
- Motherhood with Mary program
Devotions and Prayer Life
Beyond the Mass schedule, St. Juliana maintains a rich devotional life rooted in Servite and broader Catholic tradition. The monthly Parish Day of Adoration is a cornerstone, complemented by Tuesday-night Rosary & Benediction, Friday afternoon Divine Mercy chaplet, a monthly St. Peregrine devotion with blessing from his relic, and Mary's Journey — a program in which families take a statue of Mary into their homes for a week of nightly family rosary.
- Parish Day of Adoration — monthly, from after morning Mass through next morning's Mass
- Rosary & Benediction — Tuesdays 7:00 PM
- Divine Mercy Chaplet — Fridays 3:00 PM
- St. Peregrine Devotion — first Saturday after 8:00 AM Mass (with relic)
- Mary's Journey — family rosary program (Nina Visconti, 714-572-4152)
- Small Faith Communities — home-based faith-sharing groups
- Men's Fellowship — bi-weekly Monday evenings
St. Vincent de Paul and Outreach
The St. Vincent de Paul St. Juliana Falconieri Conference is the parish's principal outreach arm. It runs the annual Food and Toy Drive (serving dozens of families with hundreds of children each Christmas), Easter Food Basket drives, the '40 Cans of Lent' collection, and — in partnership with the St. Vincent de Paul conferences at St. Mary and St. Philip Benizi parishes — the Michael Clements Mini Loan Program, which provides low-interest loans of up to $7,500 to working-poor neighbors at risk of homelessness, along with financial literacy training.
- St. Vincent de Paul Food & Toy Drive each December (88 families / 209 children / 70 teens in recent years)
- Easter Food Basket Drive
- '40 Cans of Lent' collection
- Michael Clements Mini Loan Program (with St. Mary & St. Philip Benizi)
- Birth Choice Clinic support and parish Pro-Life fundraisers
- Prayer for Military Families list
Parish Life and Annual Events
Beyond the liturgical schedule, St. Juliana's identity is shaped by its long-running organizations and annual traditions. The Women's Club, School Parent's Club, Knights of Columbus, Pastoral Council, and various small Christian communities have served the parish since its earliest years. The annual Parish Fiesta (now the Fall Festival) and other parish-wide events continue to draw families together.
- Annual Fall Festival / Parish Fiesta
- Knights of Columbus (K of C) — regular Rosary, fellowship, and service work
- Pastoral Council
- School Parent's Club
- Women's Club (founded under Fr. O'Brien)
- Coffee & Donuts after Sunday Masses (hosted by parishioners)
- Annual Catholic Schools Week Open House
Visit, Connect, and Give
Parishioners and visitors are welcomed at the church and school on North Acacia Avenue, with the Parish Office open Tuesday through Thursday, 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. The parish offers online giving, a weekly bulletin (printed and PDF), a Good News email newsletter, and a livestream of select Masses at saintjulianalivestream.org. Newcomers can register through the parish website.
- Parish Office: 1316 N. Acacia Ave., Fullerton, CA 92831 — (714) 879-1965 — [email protected]
- Office hours: Tue–Thu, 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Website: stjulianachurch.org
- Livestream: saintjulianalivestream.org
- Weekly bulletin (PDF) posted online
- Parish registration available online
- Donate / Online Giving through the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Terence O'Brien1965 – c.1981
Founding pastor; formed the Women's Club, School Parent's Club, CCD and Youth Ministry, and the annual Parish Fiesta.
- Fr. Robert Vidal1981 – 1993
Arrived as administrator in 1981; installed as pastor July 1982; oversaw major parish growth.
- Fr. Jude M. Herlihy, O.S.M.1993 – 2006
First Servite pastor; formed Pastoral Council, Small Faith Communities, and Stewardship/Facilities groups; celebrated golden jubilee in 2006; died March 6, 2007.
- Fr. Luke Stano, O.S.M.2006 – 2009
Succeeded Fr. Jude; ordained May 27, 1961.
- Fr. Frank Falco, O.S.M.2009 – 2014
Arrived from Chicago July 1, 2009; retired June 30, 2014.
- Fr. Michael Pontarelli, O.S.M.2014 – present
Current pastor; came from Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano where he served eight years.