About St. Mary · National City, California
St. Mary Parish is a Catholic church in National City, California, in the Diocese of San Diego, currently pastored by Father Nemesio Sungcad ("Fr. Nemie") with Father Jorge Mante ("Fr. JM") serving as Associate Pastor. The parish describes itself as a 'melting pot of cultures' with a predominant Filipino and Spanish presence, serving a diverse community through liturgies in English, Spanish, and Tagalog. As of 2026, St. Mary is celebrating its 100th anniversary, marking a century of Catholic faith that began with the dedication of the church on November 14, 1926. The parish offers an unusually rich schedule of daily and weekend Masses, perpetual novenas, Eucharistic adoration, and a wide array of lay ministries and prayer groups.
- Established
- 1926
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Nemesio Sungcad ("Fr. Nemie")
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
St. Mary is one of the most culturally rich parishes in the Diocese of San Diego, with English, Spanish, and Tagalog liturgies that welcome Filipino, Latino, and broader Catholic communities side by side. A heavy daily Mass schedule (seven days a week), novenas nearly every Friday, Friday/Saturday Filipino devotions like Santo Niño and San Pedro Calungsod, and Solemn Eucharistic Adoration make it easy to pray deeply and often. With more than a dozen parish groups and prayer communities, plus bilingual faith formation and youth ministry, there are many easy ways to get involved regardless of language or background.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Tuesday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- First Friday 7:15 AM – 7:45 AM
Adoration times
- Solemn Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Tuesday / First Friday 9:00 AM – 12:00 NN
History of St. Mary Parish
Catholic life in National City began with the first Mass in Granger Hall on February 27, 1887; for decades afterward the faithful traveled to San Diego for Sunday worship. Father H. Eummelen arrived in 1909 to found a local parish, and within a year St. Anthony's Church was dedicated. As the population spread northward, in 1923 a small group purchased property at 8th and D Streets, and after years of card parties, fundraisers, and parish society efforts — including a new St. Vincent de Paul branch in 1925 — Father Thomas J. Butler celebrated the first Mass in the new St. Mary's two weeks before the formal dedication. On November 14, 1926, Bishop John J. Cantwell dedicated the new church before a congregation of 90, confirming 30 children and 10 adults. The parish now celebrates a century of faith, with centenary events planned through November 14, 2026.
- First Mass in National City: Granger Hall, February 27, 1887
- St. Anthony's Church dedicated: 1910
- Land at 8th and D Streets purchased: 1923
- St. Vincent de Paul Society branch formed: 1925
- Church construction cost: $20,000
- First Mass in new church by Fr. Thomas J. Butler: early November 1926
- Dedication by Bishop John J. Cantwell: November 14, 1926
- Confirmations at dedication: 30 children and 10 adults
- Centennial year: 2025–2026, climaxing November 14, 2026
Parish Clergy & Staff
St. Mary is currently led by Father Nemesio Sungcad ('Fr. Nemie'), Pastor, with Father Jorge Mante ('Fr. JM') serving as Associate Pastor. A sizable lay staff keeps the parish office, religious education, music, finances, youth ministry, and facilities running day to day.
- Rev. Nemesio Sungcad — Pastor ("Fr. Nemie")
- Rev. Jorge Mante — Associate Pastor ("Fr. JM")
- Alice Bobadilla — Parish Secretary
- Pilar Ignacio — Director of Catechetical Ministry
- Josephine Pantangco — Bookkeeper
- RG Porciuncula — Music & Liturgy Coordinator
- Paz Tojino — Office Assistant
- Monica Ohara — Finance Council Head
- Neil Aguilera — Youth Coordinator
- Leonila Marmito — Housekeeper
- Luis Granados — Maintenance
- Chito Buccat — Maintenance
- Raydan Marmito — Maintenance
Novenas and Filipino-Spanish Devotions
A hallmark of St. Mary is its near-weekly rhythm of novenas, many of them rooted in the Filipino and Spanish Catholic traditions of its largest communities. Mother of Perpetual Help anchors Tuesdays, San Pedro Calungsod is honored on Saturdays, and the four Fridays of each month rotate through Black Nazarene, Saint Joseph, Santo Niño, and Holy Family devotions — each usually followed by a 6:00 PM Mass.
- Mother of Perpetual Help — Tuesday 6:00 PM
- San Pedro Calungsod — Saturday 8:00 AM
- Black Nazarene — 1st Friday 5:00 PM novena, 6:00 PM Mass
- Saint Joseph — 2nd Friday 6:00 PM
- Santo Niño — 3rd Friday 6:00 PM
- Holy Family — 4th Friday 6:00 PM
Liturgical Ministries
Serving at Mass is at the heart of parish life. St. Mary's Parish Liturgical Committee coordinates Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Lectors (Ministers of the Word), Sacristans, the Ministry of Environment and Décor, and Ushers / Hospitality — all recruited and trained to support reverent, welcoming liturgies.
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Ministers of the Word (Lectors)
- Sacristans
- Ministry of Environment / Décor
- Ushers / Hospitality Ministry
- Parish Liturgical Committee
Ushers and Hospitality
Ushers are described on the parish website as 'ministers of hospitality who play a key role in the living Body of Christ as the first contact believers have with the assembly.' They greet, seat the congregation, conduct the collection, direct the presentation of the gifts and communion, and help care for the church after Mass.
- Greet and welcome parishioners and visitors
- Provide assistance with seating at Mass and other liturgical functions
- Conduct the collection during Mass
- Direct the presentation of the offertory gifts
- Direct the congregation during communion
- Check for articles left behind and litter in the pews
Parish Organizations and Prayer Groups
St. Mary hosts more than a dozen parish groups and prayer communities, many of them reflecting the Filipino and Spanish-speaking heritage of the parish. These groups form the backbone of the parish's evangelization, fellowship, and service work.
- Black Nazarene Prayer Group
- Mother Butler Guild
- Christian Movement for Military Families (Military Couples)
- Daily Rosary Group
- El Shaddai San Diego Chapter
- Jesus Divine Light Prayer Group
- Missionary Families of Christ
- Knights of Columbus — San Lorenzo Ruiz Council #9904
- Together in Christ Prayer Group
- Young Adult Ministry
Hispanic Community Groups
Spanish-speaking parishioners sustain their own devotional and formation groups, including Marian apostolates, charismatic prayer, and evangelization teams.
- Apostolados de Maria
- Grupo de Oración Carismática
- Grupo de Evangelización
- Guadalupanas
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Religious education is led by Pilar Ignacio, Director of Catechetical Ministry. A separate Youth Coordinator (Neil Aguilera) handles youth ministry, and a Young Adult Ministry is listed among the parish organizations, giving St. Mary age-appropriate faith formation from childhood through young adulthood.
- Catechetical Ministry / Religious Education — directed by Pilar Ignacio
- Youth Ministry — coordinated by Neil Aguilera
- Young Adult Ministry — listed as an active parish group
Music and Liturgy
Music ministry is coordinated by RG Porciuncula, who serves as Music & Liturgy Coordinator. Choir rehearsals had been a parish priority even at the founding — in 1926 the choir, under Louis Smith, rehearsed to be ready for the church's dedication.
- Music & Liturgy Coordinator: RG Porciuncula
Centennial Celebration (2025–2026)
Starting in early 2026, the parish launched a year-long centenary celebration leading up to the 100th anniversary of its November 14, 1926 dedication. Activities include parish projects, events, and prayer initiatives inviting parishioners to honor the faith of those who came before and entrust the parish's future to the next generation.
- Centenary preparation begins: January 2026
- Centennial climax date: November 14, 2026
- Includes meaningful activities, projects, and programs across the year
Getting in Touch
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Mary by phone or in person; the parish secretary's office is the first point of contact.
- Address: 426 E 7th St, National City, CA 91950, USA
- Phone: (619) 474-1501
- Website: http://www.stmarynationalcity.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father H. Eummelen1909–
Arrived in 1909 to establish the Catholic parish in National City; held daily 7:30 a.m. services and 9:00 a.m. Sundays with preaching in German and English.
- Father Thomas J. Butler1926
Celebrated the first Mass in the new St. Mary's church two weeks before its formal dedication.