About St. Louis Catholic Church · Cathedral City, California
St. Louis Catholic Church is a bilingual Catholic parish located at 68633 C Street in Cathedral City, California, serving the eastern Coachella Valley as part of the Diocese of San Bernardino. Founded in 1948, it was carved from portions of Our Lady of Solitude in Palm Springs and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Indio to serve the growing desert communities. Today the parish is united by diversity, love, the Word of God, and the Eucharist, offering Masses in English, Spanish, and bilingual format, with a particularly strong Hispanic ministry presence. The current pastor/administrator is Rev. Jose Antonio Orozco, supported by a parochial vicar, deacons, and a large lay leadership team.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- Saint Louis IX, King of France
- Rector
- Rev. Jose Antonio Orozco (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Bernardino
Why belong here
St. Louis Catholic Church offers one of the most diverse Mass schedules in the Coachella Valley — six weekend Masses in English and Spanish, daily bilingual Masses, Friday evening Spanish Mass, weekly Friday confessions with Eucharistic Benediction, and Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays from September through April. The parish meets people where they are with ministries including RCIA, Confirmation classes, a Monday Night Prayer Group that prays the Liturgy of the Hours, a Music Ministry choir, a monthly Soup Kitchen for the homeless, the Knights of Columbus-related Faith & Charity group, and parish groups for men, women, marriage, hospitality, and the sick. Its mission — 'Saint Louis Church lives united by diversity, love, the word of God, and the Eucharist' — is lived out across a bilingual community with deep roots stretching back to the founding families of 1948 Cathedral City.
Mass times at St. Louis Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (per parish website)
- Friday 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM, followed by Eucharistic Benediction (per Diocese of San Bernardino directory)
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (September through April) — Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the Monstrance
- First Friday of the month: all-night Eucharistic Benediction following the 6:30 PM Spanish Mass, continuing until 5:00 AM Saturday
- Friday 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM — Eucharistic Benediction paired with Confessions (per diocesan directory)
About the Parish — History & Heritage
St. Louis Catholic Church was formed in 1948 and has served Cathedral City and the surrounding Coachella Valley communities for more than seven decades. The parish's mission statement declares that 'Saint Louis Church lives united by diversity, love, the word of God, and the Eucharist,' and that 'All are welcome to worship, collaborate and be part of our Community.' The church building on C Street houses fifteen Loire stained glass windows and an Eiffel-Tower-style steeple, both nods to the parish's French patron saint.
Humble Beginnings (1948–1972)
In March 1948 St. Louis Parish was formed from the southeastern portion of Our Lady of Solitude in Palm Springs and the northwestern portion of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Indio — a sprawling 12-by-24-mile territory. The first Mass was celebrated February 29, 1948 in the home of Mrs. Emma Hamill. Many Masses followed in parishioners' homes until May 23, 1948, when the parish moved into a permanent building — an old 150-by-30-foot military hospital ward relocated from the site now occupied by Desert Regional Hospital. Bishop Charles T. Buddy of the Diocese of San Diego dedicated and blessed St. Louis Catholic Church on February 10, 1949.
- Founding pastor Rev. Joseph Leissler served 24 years (1948–1972)
- First Mass: February 29, 1948 in the home of Mrs. Emma Hamill
- Dedicated February 10, 1949 by Bishop Charles T. Buddy
Building the Present Church (1973–1974)
Bishop Leo T. Maher of the Diocese of San Diego presided at groundbreaking on April 6, 1973, and construction began May 7, 1973 for a new church and rectory at 37220 Glenn Avenue. The design incorporated fifteen stained glass windows depicting the Mysteries of the Rosary, designed and made by Gabriel Loire in Chartres, France, with the steeple designed to imitate the Eiffel Tower. Bishop Maher dedicated the new St. Louis Catholic Church on March 3, 1974. Four years later the parish became part of the newly established Diocese of San Bernardino.
- Gabriel Loire of Chartres, France — stained glass artist
- Eiffel-Tower-inspired steeple
- Dedicated March 3, 1974 by Bishop Leo T. Maher
The Sacred Hearts Era (1981–2013) and Beyond
In 1981 Bishop welcomed the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (ss.cc.) to staff St. Louis; they served the parish continuously for more than three decades. After Fr. Michael N. Maher, ss.cc., retired due to illness before the end of his term in 2013, diocesan priests took over. Rev. Arnel Macabio, MS (Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette), was sent by Bishop Gerald Barnes for what was meant to be five months and stretched to 1 1/2 years. In July 2017 Rev. Luis A. Guido was appointed pastor for a six-year term, followed by the current administrator Fr. Jose Antonio Orozco.
Rosary, Stations of the Cross, and Prayer Groups
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish maintains a vigorous devotional life: the Rosary is prayed daily Monday through Friday at 7:00 AM; during Lent, Stations of the Cross are prayed Friday evenings at 6:30 PM in the Chapel, followed by soup and sharing in the Sacred Heart Hall; a Monday Night Prayer Group meets at 7:00 PM in the Convent Chapel for Gospel reflection, Liturgy of the Hours, intercessory prayer, and an alternating Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet; and a Pro-Life Rosary gathers the community to pray for the sanctity of life from conception until natural death.
- Daily Rosary Mon–Fri 7:00 AM
- Stations of the Cross Friday 6:30 PM (Lent)
- Monday Night Prayer Group 7:00 PM (Convent Chapel)
- Pro-Life Rosary
- Grupo de Oración (Spanish prayer group)
- Grupo Guadalupano
Pastoral Staff & Clergy
Parish life is led by a Parish Administrator, a Parochial Vicar, deacons, and a team of office and ministry staff. The Diocese of San Bernardino is led by Bishop Alberto Rojas.
- Parish Administrator — Rev. Jose Antonio Orozco ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Salvador Vazquez-Flores ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Athanasius Ezealla (per parish Coordinators page)
- Deacon — Jaime Rosas, Coordinator of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Deacons — Ricardo Garcia and Juan Arreola (per diocesan directory)
- Bishop Alberto Rojas — Diocese of San Bernardino
- Office Manager — Isabel Salas ([email protected])
- Bookkeeper — Alejandra Garcia ([email protected])
- Receptionist — Susana Reyes ([email protected])
- Youth Ministry & Confirmation Coordinator — David Gonzalez ([email protected])
Parish Coordinators & Lay Leaders
The parish publishes a large bilingual list of coordinators organized under Worship / Adoración, Evangelization / Evangelización, and Service / Servicio. Hundreds of lay faithful lead ministries from the altar to the parish kitchen — including Lectors (English & Spanish), Eucharistic Ministers, Hospitality, Marriage Ministry, Faith & Charity, Soup Kitchen, and more.
- Worship coordinators: Lectors (Glenn Davis, English; Ginez Apolinar, Spanish); Eucharistic Ministers (Rosa Guerra, Lorena Mora, Imelda Figueroa, Juventino); Grupo Guadalupano (Amalia Garcia)
- Evangelization coordinators: Fr. Jose Antonio Orozco; Altar Servers (Maria Imelda Rubio and Francis Solorio); Ministry to the Sick (Samuel Lopez); Grupo de Oración (Natividad Alverdin); Hospitality (Amalia Garcia, Maria Felix Martinez); Marriage Ministry 'Caminando con Jesús'
- Service coordinators: Faith & Charity / Fe y Caridad (Fabiola Camacho); Prevención y Rescate (Fatima Huereca); Religious Education (Deacon Jaime Rosas)
Ministries, Faith Formation & Music
Discipleship at St. Louis is expressed through more than thirty ministries — from liturgical service at the altar to outreach to the homeless — plus a robust religious education program for children and youth and ongoing formation for adults through RCIA and Confirmation.
Faith Formation (Religious Education & Sacraments)
Deacon Jaime Rosas serves as Coordinator of Religious Education, organizing sacramental preparation, RCIA classes, Confirmation classes, and a monthly Soup Kitchen outreach. RCIA prepares adult candidates for the Catholic sacraments of initiation; the two-year Confirmation program is coordinated by David Gonzalez (Youth Ministry & Confirmation Coordinator). Baptism Preparation is offered for parents, and the Marriage Ministry ('Caminando con Jesús') accompanies engaged couples.
- Religious Education (K–8) — Deacon Jaime Rosas, ext. 124
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) — adult initiation
- Confirmation classes — Year 1 & Year 2 (David Gonzalez)
- Baptism Preparation
- Marriage Ministry — 'Caminando con Jesús'
- Eucharistic Minister visits to the sick and homebound
Music Ministry & Liturgical Arts
The Music Ministry gathers singers of all ages to lead worship, with rehearsals on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM in the Choir Loft. The choir sings at the 11:30 AM Sunday Mass and welcomes new members as their schedules allow. Liturgical arts are further served by Altar Servers (grades 3 and up with bilingual coordinators), Sacristans, Lectors (English & Spanish), Liturgical Linen Service, Flowers & Grounds, and Senior Altar Servers assisting at funeral Masses.
- Music Ministry — Tuesday 7:00 PM rehearsal in the Choir Loft
- Choir sings at 11:30 AM Sunday Mass (note: bulletin lists 11:00 AM Spanish as standard)
- Altar Servers — Maria Imelda Rubio (Spanish), Francis Solorio (English)
- Lectors — Glenn Davis (English); Ginez Apolinar (Spanish)
- Eucharistic Ministers — multiple bilingual coordinators
Prayer & Small-Community Groups
Beyond Sunday Mass, the parish supports an array of small communities: a Men's Group that meets every other Saturday morning from 7:30 to 8:50 AM for coffee, breakfast, and conversation; a Women's Group with occasional gatherings and babysitting available; the Monday Night Prayer Group; the Pro-Life Rosary; Grupo de Oración (Spanish prayer group); and Grupo Guadalupano for devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
- Men's Group — every other Saturday 7:30 AM
- Women's Group — periodic gatherings
- Monday Night Prayer Group — Convent Chapel 7:00 PM
- Pro-Life Rosary
- Grupo de Oración
- Grupo Guadalupano
Outreach & Service to the Community
The parish lives out its mission through charitable outreach. The Soup Kitchen provides hot meals on a monthly basis to the homeless; Faith & Charity (Fe y Caridad) organizes parish-wide charity efforts; Prevención y Rescate focuses on prevention and outreach; a Ministry to the Sick brings the Eucharist to homebound parishioners; and Hospitality welcomes all who come to Mass and parish events.
- Soup Kitchen — monthly hot meals for the homeless
- Faith & Charity / Fe y Caridad — Fabiola Camacho
- Prevención y Rescate — Fatima Huereca
- Ministry to the Sick — Samuel Lopez
- Hospitality / Hospitalidad — Amalia Garcia, Maria Felix Martinez
Parish Buildings & Facilities
The parish campus includes the 1974 church (with fifteen Gabriel Loire stained glass windows and an Eiffel-Tower-inspired steeple), the rectory, the Parish Hall (dedicated January 2001 after a multi-year community planning process that began in 1992), and the Convent Chapel used for the Monday Night Prayer Group. The address is 68633 C Street, Cathedral City — at the corner of C Street and Glenn Avenue.
- Church (dedicated March 3, 1974)
- Parish Hall (dedicated January 2001)
- Rectory
- Convent Chapel — home of Monday Night Prayer Group
- Sacred Heart Hall — used for Stations of the Cross soup-and-sharing during Lent
Visit Us & Get Involved
St. Louis Catholic Church welcomes visitors and newcomers to any of its seven weekend Masses or daily bilingual Masses. The parish office can be reached at 760-328-2398 (Monday–Friday), and the Coordinators page lists dozens of lay leaders to contact directly about joining a ministry. New members are encouraged to attend an upcoming RCIA class or Confirmation session — events are posted on the parish website's homepage.
- Phone: 760-328-2398
- Address: 68633 C St., Cathedral City, CA 92234
- Mass times published in English and Spanish on the home page
- Upcoming events (RCIA, Confirmation) listed on the homepage calendar
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Leissler (ss.cc. — Founder)1948–1972
Founding pastor; served the community for 24 years.
- Rev. Alfred Giemer1972–1979
- Rev. Robert Rockwell1979–1981
- Rev. Patrick Crowley, ss.cc.1981–1982
First of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary invited to staff the parish in 1981.
- Rev. Michael J. Brooks, ss.cc.1982–1987
- Rev. Patrick O'Hagan, ss.cc.1987–1987
- Rev. Paul Murtagh, ss.cc.1987–1994
- Rev. Michael J. Brooks, ss.cc. (returned)1995–2003
- Rev. Michael N. Maher, ss.cc.2003–2013
Last priest of the Sacred Hearts congregation to staff the parish; retired before end of final term due to illness.
- Rev. Arnel Macabio, MS (Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette)2013–c.2014
Sent by Bishop Gerald Barnes to cover the vacancy left by Fr. Maher; a 5-month assignment turned into 1 1/2 years.
- Rev. Luis A. GuidoEffective July 2017 — appointed for 6 years
Served with Parochial Vicars Rev. Anthony Waturuocha and later Rev. Anthony Ibegbunam.