About St. Kieran · El Cajon, California
St. Kieran Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of San Diego located at 1510 Greenfield Drive in El Cajon, California. Founded in 1958 and self-described as a 'hidden jewel on the hill,' it serves several hundred families on a tree-shaded campus in a residential neighborhood of East County San Diego. The parish operates St. Kieran Catholic School (founded 1960) on the same grounds, offering preschool through eighth grade, and provides weekend and daily Masses, confession, religious education for children and adults, and a full calendar of ministries rooted in evangelization and a 'Culture of Life.' Current pastor Father Ben Davison leads the parish alongside a small team of parish and school staff.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- St. Kieran (Ciarán of Saigir)
- Rector
- Fr. Ben Davison
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
St. Kieran is a tight-knit Catholic community in the El Cajon hills offering weekend and daily Mass, Saturday confessions, religious education from kindergarten through Confirmation, RCIA for adults, a parish school, and active liturgical and service ministries. Parishioners can get involved as altar servers, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, members of the Homebound Ministry, the Culture of Life committee, the Altar and Rosary Society, the Bible Study/Prayer Group, youth ministry, and more. It's a place where multi-generational families worship together, school and parish share one campus, and every parishioner is invited into the mission of building up the Kingdom of God.
Mass times at St. Kieran
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 PM - 4:45 PM (in the Church)
- And by appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday of each month — following the 8:30 AM daily Mass: Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction
History & Identity of St. Kieran Parish
St. Kieran Parish was founded in 1958 in the Diocese of San Diego as a Catholic community anchored in Jesus Christ, 'the way, the truth and the life' (John 14:6). The parish has long been described as a 'hidden jewel on the hill,' tucked into a tree-shaded residential area of El Cajon and serving several hundred families. Two years after the parish was founded, St. Kieran Catholic School opened in 1960, staffed by the Sisters of St. Francis of Clinton, Iowa, sharing its classrooms with the parish from the start. That intimate parish-school bond remains the defining feature of St. Kieran today.
- Parish founded in 1958
- School opened in 1960
- Diocese of San Diego
- Original school staff: Sisters of St. Francis of Clinton, Iowa
- Today the religious community teaching at the school: Sister Servants of the Blessed Sacrament
- 65 years of Catholic education celebrated in 2025–2026
Our Pastor, Staff & School Leadership
The parish is led by Father Ben Davison, Pastor. Supporting him is a small, dedicated staff: Mrs. Avery Heid serves as Parish Secretary; Mrs. Kathy Smith is the Bookkeeper; Mrs. Cherilyn Charfauros is the Music/Choir Director and Pianist; and Mrs. Nesreen Abraham is the Preschool Director. Mrs. Nathalie Horning coordinates Youth Ministry and Religious Education, and is the contact for the Youth Group ([email protected]). On the school side, Dr. Melody Belcher serves as Principal, with Mrs. Erin Marshall also serving in school administration.
- Fr. Ben Davison — Pastor
- Mrs. Avery Heid — Parish Secretary
- Mrs. Kathy Smith — Bookkeeper
- Mrs. Cherilyn Charfauros — Music/Choir Director and Pianist
- Mrs. Nesreen Abraham — Preschool Director
- Mrs. Nathalie Horning — Youth Ministry & Religious Education ([email protected])
- Dr. Melody Belcher — School Principal
- Mrs. Erin Marshall — School staff
St. Kieran Catholic School
St. Kieran Catholic School has been offering quality Catholic education since 1960 on a secluded, multi-level campus tucked among the trees in a residential El Cajon neighborhood. The school is accredited by both the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA). Programs include Preschool, Full-Day Kindergarten, and Grades 1 through 8, with a dynamic staff of lay teachers and religious — many alumnae — educating students in faith, knowledge, and service.
- Preschool
- Full-Day Kindergarten
- Grades 1-8
- WASC and WCEA accredited
- Students drawn from 16 different parishes across East County
- Multi-generational community — many students are children/grandchildren of alumni
- Rich faith traditions include daily prayers, student-led weekly Masses, Stations of the Cross, First Friday Benediction, monthly rosaries, May crowning, retreats, sacrament preparation, Missionary Childhood Association, service projects, blessing of the animals on St. Francis Day, and Advent/Christmas traditions
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education at St. Kieran is built on the dual mission of evangelization and catechesis flowing from the Sacrament of Baptism. Classes are offered for children from Kindergarten through High School Confirmation, with a separate Confirmation track for high school youth that begins in 9th grade as a two-year diocesan preparation program including weekly classes, service hours, and a weekend retreat. Adult formation is offered through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), which prepares unbaptized adults and older youth for reception into the Catholic Faith through the Sacraments of Initiation.
- Kindergarten through High School Confirmation
- Confirmation: 2-year program beginning in 9th grade
- RCIA for adults and children of catechetical age
- Coordinator: Mrs. Nathalie Horning — [email protected]
- Adult Education / RCIA: contact Parish Office 619-588-6881
Liturgical Ministries
St. Kieran's liturgical life is supported by an active group of lay parishioners who serve in the sanctuary. Altar Servers (youth) assist at weekend Masses and at the Wednesday school Mass. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion distribute the Eucharist at Mass, and many of them also serve the homebound. Ministers of the Word (Lectors) proclaim the Scripture readings, generally serving once or twice a month at the Mass they regularly attend, with training provided.
- Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Ministers of the Word (Lectors)
- All adult parishioners encouraged to inquire via the Parish Office at 619-588-6881
Spiritual & Service Ministries
Beyond the liturgy, St. Kieran offers several ministries rooted in prayer, formation, and outreach. The Homebound Ministry sends installed Eucharistic Ministers to bring Communion, friendly visits, and telephone reassurance to the homebound, those in care facilities, and the terminally ill, while the pastor remains available to administer Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. The Culture of Life committee represents the parish at diocesan meetings and supports Life Perspectives, East County Pregnancy Center, and Culture of Life Family Services. The parish also hosts a 1st Saturday Rosary, a Wednesday Prayer Group (led by John and Sharon Somers), and weekday Bible Study.
- Homebound Ministry (Eucharistic visits + friendly visits)
- Culture of Life (Life Perspectives, East County Pregnancy Center, Culture of Life Family Services)
- Altar and Rosary Society — 1st Saturday Rosary, 9 AM in Parish Hall
- Prayer Group — Wednesdays 7:00-8:30 PM, St. Mary's Room (John & Sharon Somers)
- Bible Study — Thursdays 9:00-11:00 AM, Parish Office Conference Room
- Contact: Bible Study/Prayer Group — 619-447-0434
Youth Ministry
St. Kieran's Youth Ministry is coordinated by Mrs. Nathalie Horning and serves both middle school and high school youth. The Religious Education Youth Group covers Kinder through Middle School, while High School youth participate in a separate Confirmation track and Youth Group, including fun events, retreats, and service opportunities.
- Middle School events — permission slips/RSVP may be required
- High School Youth Group
- Confirmation preparation (2 years, beginning in 9th grade)
- Contact: [email protected]
Sacraments at St. Kieran
St. Kieran prepares parishioners for and administers all seven Catholic Sacraments. Children prepare for First Reconciliation and First Communion through the parish Religious Education program, and Confirmation is a two-year program starting in 9th grade. Adults and older children seeking initiation into the Catholic Church are welcomed through the RCIA process. The pastor celebrates Marriage (contact the Parish Office), administers Anointing of the Sick upon request, and is available for Reconciliation by appointment in addition to the regular Saturday schedule.
- Baptism (preparation through RE/RCIA)
- First Reconciliation and First Communion
- Confirmation (2-year, beginning 9th grade)
- Marriage — contact Parish Office 619-588-6881
- Anointing of the Sick — by request
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 4:15-4:45 PM and by appointment
- RCIA for unbaptized adults and children of catechetical age
Visit Us — Address, Hours & Contact
St. Kieran Catholic Church is located at 1510 Greenfield Drive, El Cajon, CA 92021, on a secluded, tree-shaded campus at the top of Olive Hills. The Parish Office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM (closed for lunch 12:00-1:00 PM); during summer break the office is closed on Wednesdays. The main parish phone is 619-588-6881 (fax 619-588-5274). The Religious Education / school office line is 619-588-6398.
- Address: 1510 Greenfield Drive, El Cajon, CA 92021
- Parish Phone: 619-588-6881
- Fax: 619-588-5274
- Religious Education / School Office: 619-588-6398
- Office Hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM (closed 12-1 for lunch)
- Summer: Office closed on Wednesdays
Safe Environment & Diocesan Reporting
As a parish of the Diocese of San Diego, St. Kieran follows the Diocese's safe-environment policies. Allegations of sexual misconduct by clergy or Church personnel may be reported by calling Mary Acosta, Victim Assistance Coordinator, at (858) 490-8353, by emailing [email protected], or by visiting www.safeinourdiocese.org. Situations of recent or ongoing sexual abuse should also be reported to local law enforcement.
- Victim Assistance Coordinator: Mary Acosta, (858) 490-8353
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.safeinourdiocese.org
- Recent/ongoing abuse: also report to local law enforcement