About St. Mary · Fullerton, California
St. Mary's Catholic Church is a bilingual (English and Spanish) parish in Fullerton, California, situated in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. Founded in 1912 as the first Catholic church in Fullerton, the parish today serves roughly 2,700 families (about 10,000 individuals) on West Commonwealth Avenue. It offers a full sacramental life, faith formation from kindergarten through 8th grade, youth ministry, RCIA, outreach to the homeless and a longstanding Deaf community ministry led by its current pastor, Fr. Steve Correz.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Steve Correz
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange
Why belong here
St. Mary's welcomes newcomers with one of the most diverse Mass schedules in Fullerton: six Sunday Masses in English and Spanish, a daily 8:00 AM English Mass, a 6:30 PM Spanish Mass Monday through Friday, weekly Eucharistic Adoration and First Friday 24-hour Adoration. The parish offers formation for every age — Children's Faith Formation grades 1–8, sacrament preparation for First Communion, Confirmation and Baptism, RCIA for adults and children, and a Tuesday-evening High School Youth Ministry. Outreach to the homeless through Thursday food distribution, Pathways to Hope, and St. Vincent de Paul, plus a 25-year Deaf community ministry, make St. Mary's a hub of service for North Orange County.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:30-4:40 PM
- Saturdays 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM (traveling/reconciliation day)
- or by appointment
Adoration times
- Daily after the 8:00 AM Mass
- Wednesdays and Thursdays after the 6:30 PM Mass
- First Friday of the Month (24-hour Adoration)
About St. Mary's Catholic Church
St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fullerton is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, founded in 1912 as the first Catholic church in the city. The parish's stated mission is to raise and nourish the Catholic faith, welcome others into the flock of Christ, serve the poor, catechize youth, and live out the Catholic call to peace, love and justice. Its Core Values reflect this dual focus on faith formation and outreach.
- Founded 1912 — first Catholic church in Fullerton
- Bilingual English/Spanish parish
- Diocese of Orange
- Roughly 2,700 registered families
Our Pastor — Fr. Steve Correz
Fr. Steve Correz is the current pastor. He was born in Fullerton and raised in Yorba Linda, the youngest of five children. He and his twin brother Stuart attended St. Joseph Parish in Placentia, where they received First Holy Communion from a newly ordained Fr. Sera. Both brothers studied in the seminary together; Stuart died before ordination due to congenital heart problems. Fr. Steve was ordained in 2000 and has served at St. Edward the Confessor, St. Martin de Porres, St. Columban, Our Lady of Guadalupe (La Habra), Our Lady of Assumption (Ventura), Our Lady of Fatima, San Felipe de Jesus, Christ Our Savior, and St. Joachim. He previously served as pastor/administrator at Christ Our Savior and Our Lady of Assumption, and worked in the Mission Office at the Diocese of Orange Pastoral Center. He has ministered to the Catholic Deaf Community for over 25 years and communicates in English, Spanish and ASL.
- Ordained 2000
- Bilingual English/Spanish, fluent in ASL
- Deaf Community ministry 25+ years
Parish Office / Horario de Oficina
The parish office is open weekdays with a lunch closure, and on weekends for shorter hours. Travelers can drop in for Reconciliation during the Saturday Reconciliation Day hours.
- Mon-Fri: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM)
- Sat-Sun: 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM
- Phone: (714) 525-2500
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Mary's Children Faith Formation provides parish religious education for children ages four through 8th grade who do not attend Catholic school. The curriculum is liturgical-based, centered on the Sunday Gospels, with five age-appropriate levels that engage children with Catholic doctrine in meaningful ways. Faith Formation staff listed on the parish website includes Anne Evans, Bill Fernandez, Candice Gates and Dave Hill.
- Grades 1-8 Faith Formation Classes
- Liturgical-based curriculum centered on the Sunday Gospels
- Classes begin at 4:00 PM, followed by 5:30 PM Youth Mass
Sacrament Preparation
Children typically undergo two years of formal preparation before receiving First Holy Communion and First Penance, and two years before Confirmation. Confirmation students meet Sundays 4:00-5:15 PM and must attend the 5:30 PM Youth Mass as part of their formation.
- First Communion / First Penance — two-year preparation
- Confirmation Year 1 and Year 2
- Baptism preparation classes — second Sunday of the month at 3:00 PM in St Dominic classroom
Baptism at St. Mary's
The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated in the church on the third Sunday of the month at 3:00 PM. Parents and godparents are required to attend a Baptism preparation class held the second Sunday of every month at 3:00 PM in St Dominic classroom. There are exceptions in March and April (Lent) which are listed on the parish website.
- Baptism: 3rd Sunday of the month, 3:00 PM
- Preparation class: 2nd Sunday of the month, 3:00 PM
High School Youth Ministry
St. Mary's runs an active High School Youth Ministry with weekly meetings Tuesday evenings. Teens are expected to bring their YouCat book (a $25 fee is charged for lost books), may have no more than two absences, must complete two service projects and five faith hours, and are required to attend First Friday Adoration. The Sunday 5:30 PM Youth Mass is central to youth formation.
- Youth Ministry — Tuesdays 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
- Youth Mass — Sundays 5:30 PM
- Requirements: YouCat book, two service projects, five faith hours, First Friday Adoration
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) at St. Mary's is directed by John Rayburn, who has been with the program since 2015 and is certified by the Diocese of Orange. The program welcomes adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church or complete their Sacraments of Initiation, and also offers an adapted track for children age seven and older who need Baptism, Confirmation and First Holy Communion.
- RCIA Director: John Rayburn (since 2015)
- Adult track for unbaptized or uncatechized adults
- Adapted children's track (age 7+) for the three Sacraments of Initiation
Music Ministry — Choirs
Music ministry at St. Mary's includes a Spanish Choir and a Youth Choir that sings at the Sunday 5:30 PM Youth Mass, with opportunities for singers and instrumentalists.
- Spanish Choir — contact Miss Yulissa, 714-270-5311
- Youth Choir (Sundays 5:30 PM Mass) — contact Mrs. Bridget, 949-709-6881
Liturgical Ministries
The parish invites parishioners to serve in liturgical roles that support Mass and other celebrations.
- Lectors (proclaim the Scriptures at Mass)
- Altar Servers
- Adult Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a pillar of parish life at St. Mary's. The parish partners with Pathways to Hope, a Fullerton-based nonprofit that runs homes for homeless families in the area. The parish also distributes food to the homeless and poor on Thursdays and collects blankets and jackets for St. Vincent de Paul. The annual Warm Coat Drive and ongoing blanket collection support local neighbors in need.
- Pathways to Hope — homes for homeless families
- Thursday food distribution to homeless and poor
- St. Vincent de Paul — blankets and jacket collection
Deaf Catholic Community Ministry
Under Fr. Steve Correz, who has ministered to the Catholic Deaf Community for more than 25 years, St. Mary's is a hub for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Catholics in the Diocese of Orange. The pastor communicates in English, Spanish and ASL, and the parish welcomes Deaf parishioners into its sacramental and community life.
- English, Spanish and ASL pastoral communication
- 25+ years of Deaf Community ministry under Fr. Steve Correz
Parish Fellowship & Service
Beyond liturgical roles, parishioners can join a Fellowship Committee that coordinates social activities and parish gatherings, or serve on the Finance Council supporting the parish's temporal mission. Volunteers are also invited to help set up Faith Formation classrooms on Fridays.
- Fellowship Committee — social activities and gatherings
- Finance Council
- Friday classroom setup volunteers (call 714-525-2500 ext. 8556)
Plan Your Visit
St. Mary's sits at 400 W. Commonwealth Avenue in Fullerton, just minutes from downtown. The parish office is open weekdays 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (closed 12:00-1:00 PM for lunch) and weekends 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM. Confessions are heard Saturdays 3:30-4:40 PM, with extra Reconciliation Day hours from 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM, or by appointment. Visitors are warmly welcomed at any Mass.
- Address: 400 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832
- Phone: (714) 525-2500
- Website: saintmarysfullerton.org