About St. Mary of the Annunciation · Oakdale, California
St. Mary of the Annunciation is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Catholic parish in Oakdale, California, belonging to the Diocese of Stockton and served by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. The parish's stated mission is to 'make and nourish disciples of Jesus Christ.' From its historic church on Olive Street, the parish offers a full sacramental life — daily and Sunday Masses in both languages, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, and faith formation for children and adults — alongside a network of lay ministries, organizations, and outreach programs serving Oakdale and the surrounding Stanislaus County community.
- Established
- 1902
- Patron
- St. Mary of the Annunciation (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Matthew O'Donnell
- Diocese
- Diocese of Stockton (served by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales)
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a bilingual parish rooted in more than a century of Catholic life in Oakdale, and it shows in the depth of its ministries. Parishioners can grow through OCIA and adult Bible studies, raise their children in CCD and Confirmation prep, or join a thriving community of organizations — Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Young Ladies Institute, Our Lady of Guadalupe Committee, and Our Lady of Fatima Society. Add weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a respect-life rosary in Modesto, an Outreach to the Needy fund, English literacy classes, and a Prayer Shawl Ministry, and you have a parish that takes seriously its mission 'to make and nourish disciples of Jesus Christ.'
Mass times at St. Mary of the Annunciation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: Thursdays after 7:00 AM Mass until 4:00 PM (two adorers required per hour)
Parish Mission
St. Mary's publishes a clear, one-sentence mission: 'St. Mary's Mission is to make and nourish disciples of Jesus Christ.' Everything from the bilingual Sunday Mass schedule to the breadth of its ministries and outreach flows from that mission. The parish also offers a 'COME HOME' information session, designed to invite Catholics who have drifted away back to the Church, with contacts Christina (209-848-8948) and Carol (845-9332).
- Mission statement: to make and nourish disciples of Jesus Christ
- COME HOME — return-to-the-Catholic-Church inquiry session
Parish History
Catholic life in Oakdale began in 1874 and was formalized as St. Mary's parish in 1902. The current 1952 mission-revival church with Moorish influences replaced the prior church destroyed by fire in 1951, and the parish has been served by a small succession of long-tenured pastors — most recently moving into the care of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales beginning in 2011.
- 1874 — Fr. William O'Connor celebrates first Mass in Oakdale (Oakdale Hotel)
- 1881 — Fr. Patrick Welsh (St. Stanislaus, Modesto) begins monthly Masses
- 1888 — Fr. Thomas McGuire builds the first St. Mary's church
- 1902 — Archbishop Patrick Riordan declares St. Mary's a parish; Fr. William Nevin first resident pastor
- 1951 — Fire destroys the Yosemite Ave. church
- 1952 — Present church on Olive St. begun; California mission revival with Moorish influences
- 1952–1980 — Fr. Bryan O'Rourke (later Monsignor)
- 1980–1996 — Fr. B. Joseph Mannion (built Our Lady of Fatima shrine)
- 1996–2011 — Fr. (later Monsignor) Aloys Conrad Gruber
- 2011– — Oblates of St. Francis de Sales assume pastoral leadership (Fr. Richard Morse)
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Fr. Matthew O'Donnell (Pastor) with Fr. Saul Perez serving as Parochial Vicar and Deacon Dan Paulus assisting. The parish office is staffed by Administrative Assistant Brisia Lugo and Secretary Janeth Flores. Faith formation and youth ministry are coordinated by Corinne Rissetto (CCD Grades 1-5) and Tina Lucas (Confirmation / Youth Minister), with Mike and Patti Trimble coordinating OCIA.
- Pastor: Fr. Matthew O'Donnell
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Saul Perez
- Deacon: Dan Paulus
- Administrative Assistant: Brisia Lugo
- Secretary: Janeth Flores
- CCD Coordinator (Grades 1-5): Corinne Rissetto — 209-847-3498
- Confirmation Coordinator / Youth Minister: Tina Lucas — 209-847-3498 / 209-581-3822
- OCIA Coordinators: Mike & Patti Trimble — 925-963-7138
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Mary's runs a robust faith-formation program for children, youth, and adults. The Religious Education / CCD program (Grades 1-5) and Confirmation preparation (coordinated separately) prepare students for Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered during Mass for the 3-5 age group, Vacation Bible School is held each June, and a Youth Group meets Sundays at 6:30 PM. Adults are served through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) and the 'Date with the Word' couples Bible study begun by Deacon Dan Paulus and his wife Kim in May 2022.
- Religious Education (CCD) Grades 1-5 — Corinne Rissetto
- Confirmation preparation — Tina Lucas
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (ages 3-5) — Spencer & Chris Tacke
- Vacation Bible School (June, ages 4-12)
- Youth Group — Sundays 6:30 PM — Tina Lucas
- OCIA (adults) — Mike & Patti Trimble
- 'Date with the Word' Couples Bible Study — Louie & Gina Rodriguez
Sacraments
The parish prepares the faithful for and celebrates the standard seven sacraments, with particular focus on the sacraments of initiation. Parents can register children for Baptism and the First Sacraments; teens prepare for Confirmation; couples are assisted with Marriage Preparation; and unbaptized adults or Christians seeking full communion enter the Catholic Church through the OCIA process that culminates at the Easter Vigil.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation
- First Holy Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage Preparation
- OCIA (Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil)
Parish Organizations
St. Mary's is sustained by a deep bench of lay-led organizations — both longstanding Catholic fraternal groups and culturally rooted societies reflecting the parish's diverse community. These organizations raise funds, serve the parish, support seminarians, and care for the bereaved, and they welcome new members.
- Young Ladies Institute (YLI) — Catholic women 16+, supports seminarians, CCD, scholarships
- Helping Hands (YLI) — funeral-reception lunches at the Parish Center
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Committee — Miguel A. Barajas (595-7200)
- Legion of Mary — lay evangelization, visits to hospitals, care centers, and shut-ins
- Our Lady of Fatima Society — Portuguese-heritage parishioners, Joe & Yvette Bento (996-9835)
- Knights of Columbus — Gabriel De La Riva (209-840-2824)
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is central to the parish's identity, both locally and through the wider Church. Through parish collections, St. Mary's Outreach to the Needy provides emergency food and partial one-time utility help. The Respect Life Committee promotes the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, participates in the Walk for Life in San Francisco and Modesto, and gathers weekly to pray the Rosary at the Modesto abortion center. The English For All program, supported by the Stanislaus Literacy program, teaches English to adult learners. The Prayer Shawl Ministry creates blessed shawls, lap blankets, and small stuffed animals for the ill, lonely, or those in need.
- St. Mary's Outreach to the Needy (Parish Office: 209-847-2715)
- Respect Life Committee — Spencer Tacke (848-3529)
- English For All (ages 18+) — Rosalie Osman (604-6831), Imelda Arellano (604-2200)
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — Patty Liekhus (714-356-7315)
- Catholic Relief Services (for international disasters, e.g., Venezuela relief)
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
Parishioners and visitors are welcomed at the parish office on Olive Street, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 to 4:30 PM (closed 1:00–2:00 PM for lunch). The parish can be reached by phone at (209) 847-2715 and by fax at (209) 847-7348. Sunday Masses and other content are available via the parish's YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person.
- Address: 1225 Olive Street, Oakdale, CA 95361
- Phone: 209-847-2715 | Fax: 209-847-7348
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–1:00 PM, 2:00 PM–4:30 PM (closed for lunch 1:00–2:00)
- CCD & Confirmation line: 209-847-3498
- Mass livestreams on the parish YouTube channel
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William Nevin1902–
First resident pastor when San Francisco Archbishop Patrick Riordan formally declared St. Mary's a parish.
- Fr. Bryan O'Rourke (later Monsignor)1952–1980
Named pastor at groundbreaking for the present church; led fundraising for the new church, school, and rectory. Retired 1980, named Monsignor.
- Fr. B. Joseph Mannion1980–1996
Built the shrine to Our Lady of Fatima on parish grounds; during his tenure Roberto Magdaleno became the first St. Mary's parishioner ordained a Permanent Deacon. Retired 1996.
- Fr. (later Monsignor) Aloys Conrad Gruber1996–2011
Succeeded Fr. Mannion; retired December 2011.
- Fr. Richard Morse, OSFS2011–
Oblate of St. Francis de Sales; came as Administrator in July 2011, named pastor in February 2012, beginning the parish's continuing OSFS relationship.
- Fr. Matthew O'Donnellpresent
Current pastor.