About St. Mary of the Nativity · Salinas, California
St. Mary of the Nativity is a Roman Catholic parish in east Salinas, California, in the Diocese of Monterey in California. The parish serves a predominantly Spanish-speaking community, with six of its seven Sunday Masses celebrated in Spanish and one in English. It is housed in a church at 424 Towt Street (with the parish office at 1702 2nd Avenue) and runs a robust bilingual faith formation program alongside numerous prayer groups and lay ministries.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title of her Nativity)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Fredy Calvario, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Monterey in California
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Nativity welcomes Spanish-speaking and English-speaking Catholics of east Salinas into a parish family rich in devotional life and lay ministry. Daily Mass (with two Masses on Tuesdays and Thursdays), five Sunday Spanish-language Masses plus one in English, Saturday confessions, a full bilingual catechumenate and religious education program, a Friday night youth group, multiple charismatic prayer groups, Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a holy hour for vocations, and active lay ministries (Eucharistic ministers, lectors, altar servers, choirs, catechists, liturgical decoration) make it a place where every member of the family — from abuelitas to high-schoolers — can find a spiritual home.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Nativity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Every Saturday from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM in the Confession Room inside the Church
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 5:00–6:00 PM — Hora Santa Vocacional (Vocation Holy Hour) during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
About St. Mary of the Nativity
St. Mary of the Nativity is a parish of the Diocese of Monterey in California, located in east Salinas. According to the diocese's 2020 directory, the parish was established in 1947; the current church building was constructed in 1963–64. The parish identifies the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of her Nativity as its patron, and her feast day — September 8 — is a Marian celebration observed throughout the universal Church. St. Mary of the Nativity is one of three Roman Catholic parishes in the city of Salinas (alongside Sacred Heart, founded 1876, and Madonna del Sasso, founded 1960).
Faith Formation and Religious Education
St. Mary of the Nativity runs a bilingual Religious Education program for children preparing for Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation, as well as the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA / RICA). The Spanish-language catechetical office operates Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM at (831) 422-9964, and the English-language program is staffed Monday through Friday from 5:30 PM to 7 PM at (831) 758-8445. A new 'Catequesis Familiar' (Family Catechesis) program is offered for children ages 7–12 preparing for First Communion, requiring a parent to attend alongside the child.
- Director of Religious Education: Evelia Tejeda (Spanish program)
- Religious Education Assistant: Brianna Perez
- Coordinator of Religious Education (English): Lydia Chacon-Barba
Prayer Groups and Devotions
The parish supports a lively devotional life in Spanish. Groups gather in the Main Church, in Buckley Hall, and in Rooms B and D throughout the week for charismatic prayer, marriage enrichment, youth ministry, and Eucharistic adoration. A daily 'Señor de la Misericordia' prayer group meets every afternoon from 3:00 to 4:00 PM in the Main Church; two charismatic prayer groups — 'Cordero de Dios' and 'Jesus Vive' — meet on Tuesdays.
- 'Señor de la Misericordia' Prayer Group — daily, 3:00–4:00 PM, Main Church
- 'Cordero de Dios' Charismatic Prayer Group — Tuesdays, 11:30 AM–1:30 PM, Main Church
- 'Jesus Vive' Charismatic Prayer Group — Tuesdays, 7:00–9:00 PM, Main Church
- Worldwide Marriage Encounter — Tuesdays, 7:00–9:00 PM, Room B
- Another Couple for Christ — Mondays, 7:00–9:00 PM, Room D
- Hora Santa Vocacional — Thursdays, 5:00–6:00 PM, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
- 'Otro Joven para Cristo' Youth Group — Fridays, 7:00–9:00 PM, Buckley Hall
Lay Ministries
Parishioners serve in numerous liturgical and catechetical ministries. The website lists Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Liturgy and Decoration, Altar Servers, Choirs, Catechists, and Sacristans, and invites parishioners to call the parish office for more information about getting involved.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Liturgy and Decoration
- Altar Servers (Monaguillos)
- Choirs (Coros)
- Catechists (Catequistas)
- Sacristan Ministry
Clergy and Staff
St. Mary of the Nativity is led by its pastor, Very Rev. Fredy Calvario, V.F., and two parochial vicars. A bilingual parish office staff supports the pastorate, faith formation, finances, and reception/bulletin publication.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Fredy Calvario, V.F.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Gerardo Barajas
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Luis Rodriguez
- Finance Manager: Fabiola Valvaneda
- Office Manager: Analicia Haro-Mijangos
- Receptionist / Bulletin Editor: Galilea Haro
- Director of Religious Education (Spanish): Evelia Tejeda
- Religious Education Assistant: Brianna Perez
- Coordinator of Religious Education (English): Lydia Chacon-Barba
Contact and Location
The church and parish office are two blocks apart in east Salinas. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Church: 424 Towt Street, Salinas, CA 93905
- Parish Office: 1702 2nd Avenue, Salinas, CA 93905 (near the corner of 2nd Avenue and Mariposa Street)
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Phone: (831) 758-1669 | Fax: (831) 758-4715
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Michael Buckley1947–1974
Founding pastor
- Rev. Richard O'Halloran1974–1983
- Rev. Victor Farrell1983–1985
- Very Rev. Greg Sandman1985–1996
- Sr. Patricia Reinhart, PBVM1996 (Administrator Feb–05)
Religious sister who administered the parish
- Rev. Geronimo Cuevas1996–2003
- Very Rev. Enrique Herrera, V.F.2003–2007
- Rev. Antonio Cortes2007–2008
- Rev. José Alberto Vazquez2009–2016
- Very Rev. Fredy Calvario, V.F.2016–present
Current pastor