About St. Louis of France Catholic Church · La Puente, California
St. Louis of France is a Roman Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles serving the working-class, predominantly Hispanic community of La Puente in the San Gabriel Valley. Founded in 1955 (with its parish school opening in 1956 under the Sisters of St. Louis), the parish conducts Mass in both English and Spanish and maintains a robust bilingual sacramental and ministry life. Located at the corner of Temple Avenue and Ardilla Avenue, the parish offers daily Masses, a Catholic school, youth ministry, OCIA (formerly RCIA), and a wide array of devotional and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- St. Louis IX of France
- Rector
- Fr. Michael Gutierrez
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Los Angeles (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
St. Louis of France is a genuinely bilingual, multicultural parish where seven Sunday Masses and daily Masses in both English and Spanish mean that working families and teens can find a liturgy that fits their week. The parish anchors a community Catholic school, a Life Teen high-school and Edge middle-school youth ministry (Victor Maldonado coordinates youth ministry), OCIA for adults, a Knights of Columbus council, Filipino Ministry, a Senior Citizens Club, altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of the sick, and a bereavement ministry. Visitors will find a working-class, immigrant-rich San Gabriel Valley community that takes seriously its call to live the Gospel in the family and neighborhood.
Mass times at St. Louis of France Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM
- 1st Friday of the Month: 5:00 PM (Primer Viernes del Mes)
Adoration times
- 1st Friday: 6:00 PM (ends at 6:00 AM the following morning)
About St. Louis of France Parish
St. Louis of France Catholic Church is a bilingual, multicultural Catholic parish in the City of La Puente, in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County. According to the parish's own About Us page, 'St. Louis of France Church was founded in 1955. It is located in the San Gabriel Valley in the City of La Puente.' The parish sits in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and is administered as part of San Gabriel Pastoral Region, Deanery 11. It serves a working-class, predominantly Hispanic community while also maintaining ministries for Filipino, English-speaking, youth, and senior members of the parish family.
- Founded in 1955
- Archdiocese of Los Angeles
- San Gabriel Pastoral Region, Deanery 11
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) parish life
Parish Staff and Clergy
St. Louis of France is staffed by a pastor, two associate pastors, two priests-in-residence, a permanent deacon, and a full parish-office team covering business, faith formation, youth ministry, weddings/Quinceañeras, and reception.
- Fr. Michael Gutierrez — Pastor ([email protected])
- Fr. Hugo Neyra — Associate Pastor ([email protected])
- Fr. Jalder Hernandez — Associate Pastor ([email protected])
- Fr. Benito Armenta — In Residence ([email protected])
- Fr. Jude Uche — In Residence ([email protected])
- Jose Rodriguez — Deacon ([email protected])
- Marisa Marquez — Business Manager
- Victor Maldonado — Youth Pastoral Coordinator
- Perla Cetina — Administrative Assistant
- Salvador Mendoza — Receptionist
- Citlalli Prado — Wedding & Quinceañera Coordinator
- Lena Solis-Aguilera — OCIA Coordinator (ext. 106)
- Angelica Diaz — Religious Education Secretary
- Ms. Lorraine Ovalle — School Principal
- Nancy Del Real — School Secretary
Parish Office and Contact
The parish office at 630 Ardilla Avenue, La Puente, CA 91746 is the administrative hub of the parish. The church itself, where Mass is celebrated, is across the street at 13935 E Temple Avenue, La Puente, CA 91746. Phone (626) 918-8314 / Email [email protected]. Office hours: Sunday closed; Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–7:00 PM; Saturday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM.
- Parish Office: 630 Ardilla Ave, La Puente, CA 91746
- Church: 13935 E Temple Ave, La Puente, CA 91746
- Phone: (626) 918-8314
- Email: [email protected]
Liturgical Ministries (English)
Lay men and women serve the parish through liturgical and pastoral ministries coordinated in English. New volunteers are invited to contact the parish office; many of the listed coordinators use parish-office extensions or personal phone numbers.
- Altar Servers — contact Lupita (323-905-3714)
- Bereavement Ministry — Parish Office (626-918-8314)
- Disciples Young Adults — contact Mario (626-501-0142)
- English Lectors — contact Jim (626-918-8314)
- Eucharistic Ministers — contact Belinda (626-918-8314)
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Sick — contact Fr. Hugo (626-918-8314)
Youth Ministry — Life Teen & Edge
St. Louis of France runs two complementary youth programs: Life Teen for high-school teens (built around the Sunday 1:00 PM Teen Mass and integrated into parish life so youth and adult faith communities are not divided) and Edge for middle-schoolers. The youth pastoral coordinator is Victor Maldonado. The Life Teen program's stated mission is to 'integrate the youth with the rest of the parish community through Christ to prevent divisions of ministry.'
- Life Teen — Sunday 1:00 PM Teen Mass (English)
- Edge — Middle School youth ministry
- Coordinator: Victor (213-656-5352)
- Edge contact: Andres (310-699-9002)
Faith Formation — OCIA (Adult Initiation)
Adults seeking to become Catholic, complete their Christian initiation, or receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist are welcomed through OCIA — the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly known as RCIA). Coordinator: Lena Solis-Aguilera, (626) 918-8314 ext. 106.
- OCIA Coordinator: Lena Solis-Aguilera
- Office extension: 106
- Adult baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion
Children's and Family Faith Formation
Faith formation for children is coordinated through the parish Religious Education office, with a dedicated secretary (Angelica Diaz). First Communion and Confirmation preparation for school-age children is offered in both English and Spanish, in coordination with the parish's monthly school liturgy in which students serve as ushers, choir, lectors, and gift-bearers.
- Religious Education Secretary: Angelica Diaz
- First Communion preparation (English/Spanish)
- Confirmation preparation for teens
- Monthly school liturgy rotating with weekend Masses
St. Louis of France School
St. Louis of France Parish School has educated children from La Puente and the surrounding communities since 1956. Originally staffed by the Sisters of St. Louis ("Louie Nuns"), the school once had packed classrooms of 40–62 students per grade. Today it operates with smaller class sizes under principal Lorraine Ovalle, with tuition assistance and sliding-scale rates to keep the school affordable for the working-class community. The school website is bilingual and its faculty and staff maintain an open-door visitation policy.
- Founded 1956
- Originally staffed by the Sisters of St. Louis
- Principal: Ms. Lorraine Ovalle
- School Secretary: Nancy Del Real
- Spanish-bilingual instruction and outreach
- Tuition assistance / sliding scale available
Community & Cultural Ministries
Beyond liturgy and faith formation, St. Louis of France supports a number of community and cultural organizations that reflect the diversity of La Puente and the wider San Gabriel Valley.
- Filipino Ministry — contact Romy (626-443-6437)
- Knights of Columbus — contact Manuel
- Senior Citizens Club — contact Margie (626-968-5910)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. John Woolwayearly 2010s (at least 2012–c. 2013)
Pastor during the Angelus feature; led parish and school revival efforts with principal Vaughn Bernardez and the Shea Foundation.