About St. Louise De Marillac · El Cajon, California
St. Louise de Marillac is a small, rural Catholic parish tucked into the Suncrest/Crest hills above El Cajon, California, in the Diocese of San Diego. The community traces its roots to 1942, when French-speaking residents of Suncrest Hill began gathering for Mass in a small house; a permanent church was built in 1950 and dedicated in 1951. Today the parish has about 100 registered families who are active in CCD, RCIA, lay ministry, and a number of beloved traditions including a Marian grotto, an Octoberfest, and an annual Las Posadas on Christmas Eve. After being badly damaged in the 2003 Cedar Fire, the church was rebuilt and rededicated in 2004, and continues to offer a traditional, intimate worship experience in the East County.
- Established
- 1942
- Patron
- St. Louise de Marillac
- Rector
- Fr. Scott Burnia
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
St. Louise de Marillac offers something rare in the Diocese of San Diego: a small, traditional Catholic parish where almost everyone knows each other by name. With about 100 registered families, the parish keeps CCD class sizes small and personal, gathers everyone on the patio for coffee and donuts after both Sunday Masses, and puts on beloved traditions like the annual Octoberfest and the Las Posadas on Christmas Eve. Add in daily Mass, weekday adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, an active RCIA program, and a devotion to St. Louise de Marillac that runs from a Marian grotto on the front lawn to the prayer life of the community, and you have a parish that feels like family for anyone living in the Crest, Suncrest, and East County foothills.
Mass times at St. Louise De Marillac
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- By appointment (call 619-749-7908)
Adoration times
- Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Parish History
St. Louise de Marillac was born out of the French community on Suncrest Hill in the early 1900s, who asked the Bishop again and again for their own parish and a French-speaking priest. The first parish Mass was celebrated on April 19, 1942 in a small house that still stands on the current property. A rectory was acquired in 1944, and by 1950 Bishop Buddy selected the present site for a permanent church. Ground was broken August 27, 1950, the cornerstone laid December 19, 1950, and the first Mass in the new building was Christmas Eve midnight Mass, 1950. The church was officially dedicated July 8, 1951 by Bishop William O'Brien. A Marian grotto was added on the front lawn on August 13, 2000, dedicated by Bishop Brom. The parish marks its 50th anniversary in 1994 with an extended celebration climaxing in an outdoor Mass under a tent in the parking lot.
- First parish Mass: Sunday, April 19, 1942 (in a small house on the current property)
- First resident priest: Rev. Frederick Coupal
- Rectory property purchased: November 1944
- New church site selected by Bishop Buddy: May 1950
- Property purchased for $600: August 22, 1950
- Ground broken: Sunday, August 27, 1950
- Cornerstone laid: December 19, 1950
- First Mass in new church: Christmas Eve midnight Mass, December 25, 1950
- Official blessing & dedication: July 8, 1951, by Bishop William O'Brien
- 50th anniversary Mass under tent: October 9, 1994, celebrated by Bishop Brom
- Marian Grotto dedicated on the front lawn: August 13, 2000, by Bishop Brom
The Cedar Fire of 2003 and the Parish's Role in Crest
On October 26, 2003, the Cedar Fire tore through the Crest community and badly damaged St. Louise de Marillac. Pastor Fr. Irwin evacuated the Blessed Sacrament and tried three times to return, eventually walking the four miles up the hill on Monday when no cars were allowed through. Inside, the church was devastated: the front stained-glass windows were broken (the fire had entered there), the organ was destroyed, some pews had burned, and smoke and water damage ruined many furnishings. The parish hall became the emergency relief center for all of Crest: the Thrift Shop below the church opened for clothing, and local restaurants donated hot meals so that breakfast, lunch, and dinner were available to everyone. Padre Dam arrived with water trucks because the hall's own water was contaminated. For the first time the pastors of the three Crest churches came together for an ecumenical healing service in the parking lot. St. Louise was the only one of the three damaged. After months of Mass in the church hall, the refurbished church was rededicated February 8, 2004.
- Date of fire: October 26, 2003
- Damage: stained-glass windows broken, organ destroyed, pews burned, smoke & water damage
- Parish hall used as community relief center
- Thrift Shop opened to anyone needing clothing
- Padre Dam supplied water trucks and bottled water
- First-ever ecumenical healing service with the three Crest churches in the parking lot
- Church rededicated: February 8, 2004
Our Patroness: St. Louise de Marillac
The parish takes its name from St. Louise de Marillac, foundress (with St. Vincent de Paul) of the Daughters of Charity. She was born in Paris — the same city from which many of the early Suncrest Hill parishioners had come — and was beatified by Pope Benedict XV in 1920 and canonized by Pope Pius XI on March 11, 1934. Her feast day is May 9. In 1960, Pope John XXIII declared her Patroness of Christian Social Workers, and as a wife, mother, teacher, nurse, social worker, and religious foundress she is held up as a model for all women. Her remains are enshrined in the chapel of the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity.
- Born in Paris
- Foundress of the Daughters of Charity (with St. Vincent de Paul)
- Beatified: May 9, 1920, by Pope Benedict XV
- Canonized: March 11, 1934, by Pope Pius XI
- Feast day: May 9
- Declared Patroness of Christian Social Workers by Pope John XXIII in 1960
Faith Formation and Religious Education (CCD)
The parish's Faith Formation program, drawn from Deuteronomy 4:10, aims to impart the truths of the Catholic faith to children in practical, livable ways through scripture, traditional instruction, and participation in the liturgy and sacraments. Because St. Louise is a small community, CCD class sizes are kept small so each child gets individual attention, and the whole program periodically gathers the classes together for special instruction around liturgical feasts and parish celebrations such as the annual Las Posadas on Christmas Eve, group penitential services, monthly youth Masses, and the May Crowning. Classes meet on Sundays from 9:15 AM to 10:15 AM and currently run from Kindergarten through 10th grade. The program is led by Nate Guyear, the parish's Director of Catechetical Ministry, and the parish is actively recruiting volunteer catechists for all grades.
- Grades: Kindergarten through 10
- Class time: Sundays 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
- Director: Nate Guyear ([email protected], 619-288-3770)
- Special gatherings: Las Posadas, penitential services, monthly youth Masses, May Crowning
- Catechist Appeal: parish is seeking volunteer catechism teachers for all grades
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) at St. Louise de Marillac walks adults through the Catholic faith in preparation for receiving Baptism, Confirmation, and/or Holy Eucharist, typically at the Easter Vigil. The parish's prayer for each RCIA candidate is that, after the sacraments, they will happily welcome their conversion, live the practices and beliefs of the Catholic faith, and share the Word of God with family and friends — inspiring others to join or return to the Church. Inquiries are directed to the pastor, Fr. Scott Burnia, and to the RCIA leader.
- Open to adults preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, and/or Holy Eucharist
- Sacrament typically received at the Easter Vigil
- Contact: Fr. Scott Burnia, [email protected]
- RCIA Leader: Nate Guyear, [email protected]
Sacraments
The parish celebrates and prepares parishioners for the seven sacraments. Baptism requires that both parents be registered parishioners and that both godparents be practicing Catholics; arrangements are made by appointment through the parish office. Children preparing for First Eucharist and Confirmation are formed through the CCD program, while adults go through RCIA. Reconciliation is offered Saturdays 4:00 – 5:00 PM and by appointment. Families are asked to call the parish office for the sick or elderly to arrange Anointing of the Sick and (when needed) shut-in visits.
- Baptism: by appointment; registered parents; practicing-Catholic godparents
- Confirmation: teens via CCD, adults via RCIA
- Eucharist: celebrated at daily, Saturday Vigil, and Sunday Masses
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 4:00 – 5:00 PM and by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick: call the parish office (619-749-7908)
Parish Life, Fellowship, and Annual Traditions
Even with only about 100 registered families, St. Louise de Marillac runs a remarkably full calendar of fellowship and devotion. After both Sunday Masses the patio fills up for coffee and donuts. The parish gathers monthly for a parish breakfast, hosts a yearly Octoberfest and a Christmas party, and keeps the older French Catholic heritage alive with Las Posadas on Christmas Eve. The parish hall and Thrift Shop serve the wider Crest community, and holiday food drives are organized throughout the year. A St. Louise Prayer Group meets regularly, and an Altar & Rosary Society is forming.
- Coffee & Doughnut Fellowship after both Sunday Masses
- Monthly parish breakfasts
- Annual Octoberfest
- Annual Christmas party
- Annual Las Posadas on Christmas Eve
- St. Louise Prayer Group
- Altar & Rosary Society (forming)
- Holiday food drives
- Thrift Shop open to the community
Parish Staff and Contact
The parish is led by a small, tight-knit staff. Fr. Scott Burnia serves as Parish Priest; Andrew Biondo is the parish Bookkeeper; Nate Guyear is the Director of Catechetical Ministry (DCM); and Linda Ronan serves as Volunteer Secretary. Inquiries can be made by phone at (619) 749-7908 or by email at [email protected]. The parish office is located at 2005 Crest Drive, El Cajon, CA 92021.
- Fr. Scott Burnia — Parish Priest ([email protected])
- Andrew Biondo — Bookkeeper ([email protected])
- Nate Guyear — Director Catechetical Ministry ([email protected])
- Linda Ronan — Volunteer Secretary ([email protected])
- Phone: (619) 749-7908
- Address: 2005 Crest Drive, El Cajon, CA 92021
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Frederick Coupal1942 –
First resident priest of St. Louise de Marillac; was fluent in French and welcomed the French-speaking families of Suncrest Hill.
- Rev. Richard Waterfall1950 – 1951
Pastor at the time the new church was built and at its official blessing and dedication on July 8, 1951.
- Fr. Lou Salca1983 – 2001
The longest-serving pastor in the parish's history.
- Fr. Irwin
Pastor during the 2003 Cedar Fire; evacuated the Blessed Sacrament, walked the four miles back up the hill, and oversaw the parish hall's role as a relief center for the Crest community. Oversaw the church's rededication on February 8, 2004.
- Fr. Scott Burnia2011 – present
Current parish priest.