About St. Katharine Drexel · Martell, California
St. Katharine Drexel Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Sacramento, headquartered in Martell (Amador County, California). Established in 2011 by consolidating three former parishes and their mission churches, it was built around St. Katharine Drexel Church and Parish Center, dedicated in 2013. Today a single parish serves roughly 1,400 families across seven worship sites scattered through Gold Country. The parish offers Mass in English and Spanish, with a robust schedule of weekday and weekend Masses, confession, and adoration; it also functions as a regional training site for the Diocese of Sacramento.
- Established
- 2011
- Patron
- St. Katharine Drexel
- Rector
- Rev. Ryan Mahar
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sacramento (Amador County, Gold Country Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Katharine Drexel is the single Catholic home for English- and Spanish-speaking faithful across all of Amador County, gathering parishioners from seven historic Gold Country worship sites into one community built around the Martell church dedicated in 2013. The parish is unusually full of devotional life — daily Mass, three weekly confession slots, multiple Eucharistic Adoration hours, rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and a Foundations of Faith program using the 'Discovering Christ' series — and it pairs that spiritual depth with concrete outreach through its St. Vincent de Paul Conference, St. Pat's Pantry, Catholic in Recovery, and Life Ministry. Families are supported with children and youth faith formation, men's and women's ministries, and a young-adult program, all on a campus that also serves as a regional training site for the Diocese of Sacramento.
Mass times at St. Katharine Drexel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 4:30–5:45 PM (at SKD)
- Thursday 11:00–11:45 AM (at SKD)
- Saturday 9:00–10:30 AM (at SKD)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 5:00–6:00 PM (at SKD)
- Thursday 5:30 AM–5:30 PM (at SKD)
- Thursday (Family Friendly) 10:00–11:00 AM (at SKD)
Parish Identity & History
St. Katharine Drexel is a consolidated Catholic parish serving all of Amador County in California's Gold Country. Created in 2011 by uniting three parishes and their six mission churches, it is headquartered at the modern St. Katharine Drexel Church and Parish Center in Martell, dedicated on April 7, 2013. The parish falls within the Diocese of Sacramento's Gold Country Deanery and also maintains a station ministry at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione.
- Established 2011 (Nov 30)
- Church dedicated 2013 (Apr 7)
- Diocese of Sacramento — Gold Country Deanery
- Pastor: Rev. Ryan Mahar
- Deacon: Dcn. Ray Moreno
Worship Sites Across Amador County
Because the parish is a consolidation, Mass is celebrated at multiple historic sites throughout the county. The main church in Martell is joined by mission churches in Sutter Creek, Jackson, Ione, and Pioneer, and by older stations reaching back to the 1800s mining communities.
- Immaculate Conception — 115 Spanish Street, Sutter Creek
- Our Lady of the Pines — 26750 Tiger Creek Road, Pioneer
- Sacred Heart of Jesus — 20 Relihan Drive, Ione
- St. Patrick — 115 Court Street, Jackson
- Missions/stations at St. Mary of the Mountains (Plymouth), St. Bernard (Volcano), and Silver Lake
- Station ministry at Mule Creek State Prison, Ione
Faith Formation for Children & Youth
The parish runs a full children's Faith Formation program covering First Communion and Confirmation, with bilingual registration and tuition payment. The Faith Formation office is staffed at the Martell Parish Center; families contact Ellen Waverly at [email protected] for First Communion and the main office for Confirmation.
- Children's Faith Formation & First Communion (Ellen Waverly)
- Confirmation preparation (parish office)
- Bilingual student registration and tuition options
- Classes held at the SKD Parish Center / Social Hall
Adult & Family Discipleship
Foundations of Faith, the parish's adult evangelization program, runs in the Fall and Winter using the 'Discovering Christ' series. Each weekly session includes a shared home-cooked meal, a talk, and small-group discussion, with an optional retreat component mid-series.
- Foundations of Faith (Discovering Christ) — Thursdays 6:30 PM in the SKD Social Hall
- Eight-week experience + retreat
- Contact: Kirsten Lawrence, [email protected]
- Topics include the meaning of life, why Jesus matters, the Resurrection, the Savior, and the Holy Spirit
Parish Groups & Ministries
St. Katharine Drexel has a wide slate of adult and family ministries serving men, women, young adults, and those in recovery, alongside parish-wide prayer and outreach programs.
- Men's Ministry
- Women's Ministry
- Youth & Young Adults Ministry
- Life Ministry
- Catholic in Recovery group
- Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet (weekly, per bulletin)
- St. Pat's Pantry
Outreach: Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The parish's St. Vincent de Paul Conference assists people in need across Amador County, with a particular emphasis on home stability — preventing evictions and utility shutoffs, providing food, and offering compassionate listening. The Conference is led by member John Murphy and supported by Spiritual Adviser Deacon Garcia. It is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and donations are tax-deductible.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — St. Katharine Drexel Conference, Amador County
- Mailing: P.O. Box 76, Volcano, CA 95689
- Phone: (209) 223-5865
- Email: [email protected]
- Spiritual Adviser: Deacon Garcia
Visiting, Contact & Office Hours
The parish serves a large geographic footprint, so first-time visitors are pointed to the website for directions to the most convenient worship site. Office staff are available Tuesday through Friday, 9 AM–5 PM at the Martell Parish Center; emails are welcomed at any time.
- Parish Center: 11361 Prospect Drive, Jackson, CA 95642
- Phone: (209) 223-2970; Fax: (209) 223-1147
- Office email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tue–Fri, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Thomas Relihan
Pastor Emeritus; an Irish priest ordained in 1947, retired in the area.
- Fr. Colin Wen2017–
Reported as pastor in California Catholic Daily feature; originally from Palo Alto, ordained 2013.
- Rev. Ryan Mahar
Listed as current pastor by the Diocese of Sacramento.