About St. Mary of the Assumption · Stockton, California
St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church is a historic bilingual (English and Spanish) Roman Catholic parish at 203 E. Washington Street in downtown Stockton, California, known as the Mother Church of the Diocese of Stockton. Founded in 1851, it is the oldest parish in the region, with roots tracing back to Father Dominic Blaive, who arrived with a French party and was convinced by city founder Captain Charles Weber to remain as the first pastor. Today the parish is a culturally diverse, spirit-filled community served by a pastoral administrator, priests in residence, and a deacon, with daily Mass, an extensive weekend Mass schedule in both English and Spanish, and weekday confessions.
- Established
- 1851
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title of the Assumption)
- Rector
- Rev. Misael Avila (Pastoral Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Stockton
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Assumption welcomes everyone into a culturally diverse, spirit-filled community united in Christ Jesus. The parish lives its mission to serve as 'a beacon for those who seek to encounter the Risen Christ' through a robust schedule of daily and weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, weekday confessions, and ministries rooted in service to downtown Stockton and beyond. As the historic Mother Church of the Diocese of Stockton — founded in 1851 — it offers parishioners a tangible connection to the Catholic heritage of the San Joaquin Valley along with the warmth of a contemporary bilingual parish family.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Assumption
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday 11:30 am (English) / 6:00 pm (Spanish), or by appointment
About St. Mary of the Assumption
St. Mary of the Assumption is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Roman Catholic parish located at 203 E. Washington Street in downtown Stockton, California. Its published mission statement reads: 'United in Christ Jesus, we are a spirit-filled, culturally diverse church, based on a foundation filled with hope to serve as a beacon for those who seek to encounter the Risen Christ.' The parish is led by a Pastoral Administrator with the assistance of a Parochial Vicar, two priests in residence, and a deacon, and the parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
- Pastoral Administrator: Rev. Misael Avila
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Edwin Musico
- In Residence: Rev. Christian Ezeh
- In Residence: Rev. George Okoro
- Deacon: Leo Canton
- Office Phone: (209) 490-6790
- Fax: (209) 948-0673
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–5:00 pm
History of the Parish
Founded in 1851, Saint Mary's is the oldest Catholic parish in the Stockton region and the so-called Mother Church of the Diocese of Stockton. Father Dominic Blaive, who arrived with a French party in 1851, was convinced by city founder Captain Charles Weber to remain and became its first pastor. Because the early parish had no defined boundaries, its pastors established mission churches across what became San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties; as those mission communities grew they became independent parishes, beginning with St. Louis at La Grange in 1852 and ending with St. George's in Stockton in 1951.
- First Catholic services in Stockton attributed to Father Villarrasa, who often traveled with immigrants to the area.
- Father Dominic Blaive — first pastor, arrived 1851 with a French party.
- Captain Charles Weber donated the Washington Street property for the original wooden church.
- Father Robert Maurice (third pastor) started the annual parish Festival to fund a new church.
- Cornerstone of the present brick church laid July 7, 1861 under Father Joseph Gallagher; Archbishop Alemany dedicated the church Christmas Eve 1861.
- The original wooden church used white cloth for walls and rough boards for the altar.
- Even the building that became the Annunciation Cathedral of the Diocese of Stockton was conceived and built by a pastor of Saint Mary's.
The Church Building
The present church is a Gothic-style brick structure whose construction was carried out in sections over many years as funds became available, with several architects and contractors contributing along the way. The cornerstone was laid on July 7, 1861 and the building was dedicated by Archbishop Alemany on Christmas Eve of that year, but the church was not fully completed until 1913. Because of the long construction period the finished building does not entirely follow the original plan, yet it remains a fine representation of the Gothic design in church architecture.
- Style: Gothic
- Construction material: brick
- Cornerstone laid: July 7, 1861
- Dedicated: Christmas Eve, 1861 (by Archbishop Alemany)
- Construction fully completed: 1913
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by a Pastoral Administrator, supported by a Parochial Vicar, two priests in residence, and a deacon. Clergy names are published on the parish website's About Us page and confirmed in the weekly bulletin.
- Pastoral Administrator: Rev. Misael Avila
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Edwin Musico
- In Residence: Rev. Christian Ezeh
- In Residence: Rev. George Okoro
- Deacon: Leo Canton
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, or email, and a contact form is available on the parish website for suggestions, comments, or service requests. The parish is located in downtown Stockton on East Washington Street.
- Address: 203 E. Washington St., Stockton, CA 95202
- Office Phone: (209) 490-6790
- Fax: (209) 948-0673
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://stmaryschurchofstockton.org
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–5:00 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Dominic Blaive1851 (arrived)
First pastor of Saint Mary's; came to Stockton in 1851 with a French party; convinced to stay by Captain Charles Weber, the city's founder.
- Father Robert Maurice
Third pastor; initiated an annual parish Festival to raise money to build a larger church.
- Father Joseph Gallagher1861
Pastor when the cornerstone of the present brick church was laid on July 7, 1861; Archbishop Alemany dedicated the church on Christmas Eve of 1861.