About St. Maria Goretti · Elk Grove, California
St. Maria Goretti Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Elk Grove, California, located on Bradshaw Road in the southern suburbs of Sacramento. Established in 2007, it belongs to the Diocese of Sacramento and is pastored by Rev. Sylvester Kwiatkowski, a Polish-born priest who has served the parish since 2019. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass in English, weekly Eucharistic Adoration in its adoration chapel, a robust Catholic Faith Formation (CFF) program, a youth ministry, and a variety of outreach groups. The community is a multicultural mix of Anglo, Asian, and Hispanic parishioners, and the parish shares the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School with the surrounding area.
- Established
- 2007
- Patron
- St. Maria Goretti
- Rector
- Rev. Sylvester Kwiatkowski
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sacramento
Why belong here
St. Maria Goretti is a welcoming, multicultural parish in the heart of Elk Grove where daily and Sunday Masses are offered in English along with a strong weekly Eucharistic Adoration schedule in its dedicated adoration chapel. Parishioners can grow in their faith through Catholic Faith Formation classes for children, sacramental preparation for First Eucharist and Confirmation, RCIA-adapted classes, an active youth ministry, and devotional and Bible study groups. The parish also lives its mission of service through ministries to the sick and homebound, the Knights of Columbus, a Respect Life group, a bereavement group, a health ministry, and an evangelization team, while sharing a Catholic school — St. Elizabeth Ann Seton — with the wider community.
Mass times at St. Maria Goretti
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM (enter through Main Church entrance)
- By appointment (call the parish office at 916-647-4538)
- No Confessions on Holy Saturday
Adoration times
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday: 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM (Chapel)
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM (Chapel)
- 1st Friday: 6:30 PM (Adoration to follow the Mass)
About St. Maria Goretti Parish
St. Maria Goretti Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Elk Grove, California, established in 2007 within the Diocese of Sacramento. The parish's stated mission is: 'We the People of St. Maria Goretti Parish are called by Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God through prayer, praise, sacraments and education in order to share the message of love, justice, and forgiveness in service to all, and to build the Church.' The community is multicultural — a mix of Anglo, Asian, and Hispanic parishioners — and gathers for daily and Sunday Mass, weekly Adoration, and a wide range of formation, service, and devotional ministries.
- Established 2007
- Diocese of Sacramento, Sacramento County Southern Suburbs Deanery
- Parish patron: St. Maria Goretti (feast day July 6)
- Multicultural parish: Anglo, Asian, and Hispanic parishioners
History of the Parish
The parish was established in July 2007 to serve Catholics in the Elk Grove area. In its first years it was led by a succession of founding pastors before the current pastor, Fr. Sylvester Kwiatkowski, was assigned in 2019. The parish website publishes a full list of pastors from the founding year to the present.
- 2007–2009: Rev. Soane T. Kaniseli
- 2010–2013: Rev. Terry A. Fulton
- 2014–2017: Rev. Mervin P. Concepcion
- 2017–2019: Rev. Joshy Mathew, CMI
- 2019–present: Rev. Sylvester Kwiatkowski
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Sylvester Kwiatkowski, supported by Sr. Rosabel Sare and a team of lay staff handling faith formation, liturgy, administration, business, and maintenance. The parish also has a dedicated Youth Ministry Leader and a Pastoral Council.
- Pastor: Rev. Sylvester Kwiatkowski
- Sr. Rosabel Sare
- Business Manager: Adin Selby
- Maintenance Manager: Christopher Palileo
- Religious Education Coordinator: Carrie Lopez
- Liturgy Coordinator: Paula Bonifacio
- Office Administrator: Teresa Reyes
- Receptionist: Denys Servin
- Youth Ministry Leader
Catholic Faith Formation (CFF)
The parish's Catholic Faith Formation (CFF) program provides ongoing religious education for parish children, with structured two-year tracks preparing students for the sacraments of First Eucharist and Confirmation. CFF classes are also offered for older children, including an RCIA-adapted track for the non-baptized. Registration for the 2026–27 CFF year was reported as open in early summer, with new parishioner family registration accepted Monday–Friday afternoons and Sunday mornings.
- Pre-Communion (usually 1st grade) and First Eucharist (usually 2nd grade)
- Continuing Faith Formation for Grades 3–6
- Pre-Confirmation (7th grade) and Confirmation (8th grade)
- RCIA-adapted for children (Wednesdays)
- CFF Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM; phone (916) 647-4538 ext 202
- CFF email: [email protected]
Youth Ministry
The parish employs a dedicated Youth Ministry Leader to coordinate faith, fellowship, and service opportunities for the parish's young people. Specific program details and meeting times are available through the parish office.
- Staffed Youth Ministry Leader
- Contact via parish office (916) 647-4538
Liturgy & Music
Liturgy is coordinated by a Liturgy Coordinator and supported by a music ministry that includes cantors, choirs, and instrumentalists. The parish also publishes photos of Mass, Confession, and Adoration in online photo albums.
- Liturgy Coordinator: Paula Bonifacio
- Cantors, choirs, and instrumentalists
- Online photo albums of Mass, Confession, and Adoration
Parish Ministries & Outreach
The parish invites parishioners to join a wide range of ministries that put the Gospel into practice — from service to the sick and respect for life, to fraternal, devotional, and evangelization work. All ministries are coordinated through the parish office.
- Ministry to the Sick & Homebound (trained Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)
- Knights of Columbus
- Health Ministry
- Respect Life
- Bereavement Group
- Bible Study and Devotional Groups
- Evangelization Ministry
- Pastoral Council
Ministry to the Sick & Homebound
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion bring the Eucharist to parishioners who cannot come to church, continuing the healing and compassionate ministry of Jesus. The ministry provides training and mentorship, and visits can be requested by calling the parish office.
- Members must be trained as Eucharistic Ministers and active parishioners
- Time commitment varies based on the needs of those visited
- Visit requests: call (916) 647-4538
Sacraments
The parish prepares children for the sacraments of initiation — First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation — through its CFF program, and offers an RCIA-adapted track for older children. Confession is regularly available, and priests or Eucharistic ministers can be requested to visit the sick and homebound.
- First Eucharist preparation (two-year program)
- Confirmation preparation (two-year program beginning in 7th grade)
- RCIA-adapted for children
- Confession by appointment in addition to Saturday confessions
- Visits to the sick and homebound on request
School: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School
St. Maria Goretti shares the local Catholic school with the surrounding community. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School serves parish families with a Catholic K–8 education in the Elk Grove area.
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School
- Shared local Catholic school for the parish community
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Soane T. Kaniseli2007–2009
First pastor of the newly established parish.
- Rev. Terry A. Fulton2010–2013
- Rev. Mervin P. Concepcion2014–2017
- Rev. Joshy Mathew, CMI2017–2019
Member of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI).
- Rev. Sylvester Kwiatkowski2019–present
Current pastor; Polish-born priest ordained in 1989, former missionary in Belarus, also a painter whose work is featured at Divine Mercy conferences and during parish Masses.