About St. Mary · Vacaville, California
St. Mary's Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Vacaville, California (Solano County), in the Diocese of Sacramento. The parish traces its origins to 1867 as a mission of St. Peter's in Dixon and was formally established as a parish in 1947 under Father Michael F. Garvey. Today's church, built in 1956 on Stinson Avenue and renovated in a California-mission style beginning in 2008, serves a bilingual community with weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, plus a Latin (Extraordinary Form) Mass. Alongside worship, the parish runs the Notre Dame School (TK–8), an active Faith Formation program, a large Food Locker feeding about 375 families monthly, the St. Vincent de Paul conference, and a Knights of Columbus council.
- Established
- 1867 (mission origins); 1947 (established as a parish)
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Brian J. Soliven
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sacramento
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a vibrant bilingual Catholic community in the heart of Solano County with something for every age and stage of life. Weekend worship includes English Masses, a noon Mass in Spanish, a Latin (Extraordinary Form) Mass, and daily devotions anchored by weekday Eucharistic Adoration — a rare and treasured offering. Families can enroll children at Notre Dame Catholic School (TK–8, WCEA/WASC accredited) or in the parish's family-based Faith Formation and Sacramental-prep program, while adults are welcomed through OCIA/RCIA. Outreach runs deep: the parish Food Locker feeds roughly 375 families each month, the St. Vincent de Paul conference offers emergency aid, From Thy Bounty and Feed My People serve the homeless, and the Knights of Columbus Council 4901 supports parish life.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday (Martes): 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM
- Saturday (Sábado): 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
- By appointment: (707) 448-2390
Adoration times
- Monday to Friday: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- First Friday of the month: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
History of St. Mary's Parish
St. Mary's is one of the oldest Catholic congregations in Solano County. Her roots run to 1867, when a mission church seating 50 was built in Elmira (then Vaca Station) under St. Peter's of Dixon. As Vacaville grew, a second St. Mary's rose on Mason and Catherine streets (photographed in 1903), with a tall bell tower and rose window. That building burned in the early 1920s, leaving Vacaville without a Catholic church until 1926, when Father Edwin J. Keller built a mission-style church on Merchant and Walnut streets (230 seats, single bell tower — still standing today as a local government building). In 1947 the parish was formally established with Father Michael F. Garvey as first pastor; Father Peter Kelly succeeded him in 1953. By 1956 the parish had outgrown the Merchant/Walnut building, and the present church was constructed on Stinson Avenue at Hemlock Street. In 2004 Father Michael McFadden proposed a California-Mission-style renovation; work began in 2008 and transformed the interior. On October 1, 2022, Bishop Jaime Soto celebrated the parish's 75th anniversary Mass at Andrews Park.
- 1867 — First mission church built in Elmira (Vaca Station), seating 50, mission of St. Peter's, Dixon.
- 1903 — Second St. Mary's on Mason/Catherine with bell tower and rose window; burned early 1920s.
- 1926 — Father Edwin J. Keller built a 230-seat mission-style church on Merchant/Walnut (now a local government building).
- 1947 — Parish formally established; Father Michael F. Garvey first pastor.
- 1953 — Father Peter Kelly succeeds Father Garvey.
- 1956 — Present church built on Stinson Avenue at Hemlock Street.
- 2004 — Father Michael McFadden proposes California-Mission-style renovation.
- 2008 — Renovation begins; interior transformed in mission style.
- 2022 — 75th anniversary celebration with Bishop Jaime Soto at Andrews Park.
- 2025 — Funeral Mass for Father Michael McFadden held July 25 at St. Mary Church.
Parish Staff
The parish team is led by Pastor Rev. Brian J. Soliven, with Parochial Vicars Msgr. Carlos Avilés and (per the diocesan directory) Rev. Pepin Dandou and Rev. Reji Joseph CMI. Dcn. Robert Vandergraaf serves as deacon. Support staff includes a Music Director, Religious Education Coordinator, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Coordinator, Office Manager, Administrative Assistant, Bookkeeper, Grounds Manager, and Grounds Keeper, plus bilingual formation staff for the parish's English and Spanish ministries.
- Pastor: Rev. Brian J. Soliven ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar: Msgr. Carlos Avilés
- Parochial Vicars (diocesan directory): Rev. Pepin Dandou; Rev. Reji Joseph CMI
- Deacon: Dcn. Robert (Rob) Vandergraaf
- Director of Family & Faith Formation / FertilityCare / Marriage Prep: Andreya Arévalo
- Religious Education Coordinator: Armida Ramírez
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Coordinator
- Office Manager: Terri Brawner
- Music Director
- Bookkeeper: Sandra Ruiz
- Grounds Manager: David Hernandez
- Grounds Keeper: Esteban Vargas
- Administrative Assistant: Dominick Dicarlo / Flor Hernandez
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
St. Mary's uses a 'Family of Faith' whole-family model rather than a two-year track, helping parents and children grow together. Sacramental preparation follows a readiness approach — a child receives the sacrament when they understand its meaning, know basic Catholic prayers, and meet diocesan requirements (minimum two years). The parish runs parallel English and Spanish tracks for First Communion and Confirmation, plus OCIA (RCIA) for adults and teens, and a dedicated Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium.
- Family Faith Formation — two Wed meetings per month, 5:00–6:30 PM, Parish Hall.
- Confirmation (Years 1 & 2) — Tuesdays 5:00–6:30 PM, Parish Hall.
- First Communion (English) — 2nd & 4th Wednesdays 5:00–6:30 PM.
- First Communion (Spanish) — 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 5:00–6:30 PM.
- Catecismo en Español — Guillermina Rodriguez, [email protected], 707-446-7067.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
- OCIA / RCIA (Adult & Teen) — Wyman Adcock, 707-372-8919.
Notre Dame Catholic School
Notre Dame School is the parish school, located at 1781 Marshall Road, Vacaville, CA 95687. It serves Transitional Kindergarten through 8th grade and is accredited by the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA) and co-accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The 2023–24 PSS Private School Universe Survey data reports 313 students enrolled with a 22.2:1 student/teacher ratio. The school's motto is 'Reverence • Respect • Responsibility.' Principal Meghann Bauer leads the school; admissions inquiries go to [email protected].
- Address: 1781 Marshall Road, Vacaville, CA 95687
- Phone: (707) 447-1460 | Fax: (707) 447-1498
- Website: notredamevacaville.org
- Principal: Meghann Bauer ([email protected])
- Transitional Kindergarten – Grade 8; co-accredited WCEA & WASC.
- Enrollment: 313 students; student/teacher ratio 22.2:1.
Charitable Ministries & Outreach
Outreach is one of the defining marks of St. Mary's. The parish Food Locker is the largest single effort — it took over operations from Church of the Epiphany and now distributes groceries to roughly 375 families (~1,300 people) every month, drawing on weekly donations from Safeway, Sprouts, Walmart and WinCo and bulk purchases from the Solano Contra Costa Food Bank. The parish also runs the Vacaville Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for emergency aid, supports pregnant mothers through the Gabriel Project, prepares hot lunches through From Thy Bounty (since 2013) and Feed My People, and brings Communion to the sick and homebound.
- St. Mary's Food Locker — Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 10:00–11:45 AM; Thu 5:00–6:30 PM; (707) 446-4613.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Vacaville Conference — emergency short-term aid; (707) 421-5488.
- The Gabriel Project — support for pregnant mothers; (800) 910-0191.
- From Thy Bounty — 1st & 3rd Mondays, 50 hot lunches for Opportunity House (since 2013).
- Feed My People — hot meals at Church of the Epiphany; Tue lunch 1:00–2:00 PM, Fri dinner 4:30–6:30 PM.
- Communion to the Sick / Comunión a los enfermos — Barbara Duval, (707) 447-8966.
- Knights of Columbus Council 4901 — Juan Briceño, (707) 392-9588.
Youth, Young Adult & Family Life
Middle- and high-school teens are invited to Youth Group (Grupo de Jóvenes) on Sundays 6:30–8:30 PM in the Parish Hall, with the parish's Spanish-language track built around 'Compassion, Friendship, Love, and Commitment.' A separate Young Adult Ministry hosts retreats such as 'The Narrow Path' (June 21, 2025). FertilityCare Services and Wedding/Marriage Preparation are coordinated through Andreya Arévalo, and parish marriage preparation requires contact at least six months in advance.
- Youth Group — Sundays 6:30–8:30 PM, Parish Hall Rooms 1 & 2; grades 8–12.
- Grupo de Jóvenes — Spanish-language youth track.
- Young Adult Retreats (e.g., 'The Narrow Path,' June 21, 2025).
- FertilityCare Services & Marriage Preparation — Andreya Arévalo.
- Matrimony / Matrimonios: call six months in advance.
Parish Identity & Spiritual Life
St. Mary's describes herself as 'a vibrant Catholic Christian community' whose mission is to help people grow in their relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The parish emphasizes unity, faith formation for the whole family, and bilingual welcome. The renovated interior — with its mission-style timber and ornament inspired by the California Missions — is meant to draw worshippers into an encounter with Christ. Father McFadden often spoke of 'her beauty and timelessness' offering an encounter with Jesus Christ to all who enter.
- Mission: 'a vibrant Catholic Christian community… here to help you in your relationship with God through Jesus Christ.'
- Tagline: 'Our Parish is Your Parish.'
- Weekday and First Friday Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
- Traditional Latin (Extraordinary Form) Mass available.
- Religious Goods Store inside the church.
Communications & Staying Connected
The parish communicates through its printed Sunday bulletin (archived back to 2020), the official website (stmarysvacaville.com), the MyParish App, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Livestream Masses (10 AM and 5 PM Sunday English, 12 PM Sunday Spanish) have been offered since reopening from the pandemic.
- Sunday Bulletins archived online (current year plus back to 2020).
- MyParish App for push notifications.
- Facebook: facebook.com/vacavillestmarys
- Instagram location page for St. Mary's Parish Vacaville.
- YouTube channel linked via bulletins and Facebook.
Visiting & Practical Information
St. Mary's is located at 350 Stinson Avenue, Vacaville, CA 95688 — at the corner of Stinson Avenue and Hemlock Street. The parish office can be reached at (707) 448-2390 or [email protected]. A Religious Goods Store operates inside the church during posted hours and is a convenient stop for sacramental gifts, books, and devotional items.
- Address: 350 Stinson Avenue, Vacaville, CA 95688.
- Phone: (707) 448-2390.
- Email: [email protected].
- Religious Store hours: Sat 4:30–7 PM; Sun 7 AM–6:30 PM; Mon–Sat 7:30 AM; Tue–Fri 5:30–6:30 PM; Fri 7:30 AM & after 8 AM Mass until 9:30 AM.
- Email for store: [email protected].
- Vacaville is on I-80 between Sacramento and San Francisco.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Michael F. Garvey1947–1953
First resident pastor when St. Mary's was elevated from mission to parish in 1947.
- Father Peter Kelly1953–
Succeeded Father Garvey as pastor in 1953; oversaw the 1956 relocation to Stinson Avenue.
- Father Michael McFaddenserved decades; retired 2009
Ordained June 19, 1961; served the Diocese of Sacramento for 64 years; in 2004 proposed the California-Mission-style renovation that began in 2008; Pastor Emeritus of St. Mary Parish; died July 9, 2025, age 88; funeral Mass celebrated July 25, 2025, at St. Mary Church.
- Father Bergaround 2020 (COVID reopening)
Pastor during the pandemic-era reopening of public Mass in 2020; referenced as 'Padre Berg' in parish bulletin correspondence.
- Rev. Brian J. Solivencurrent (as of 2025)
Current pastor; announced new parish leadership at the 75th anniversary celebration in October 2022.