About St. Michael · Gila Bend, Arizona
St. Michael Catholic Church is a small bilingual Catholic parish serving the rural community of Gila Bend, Arizona, in the Diocese of Phoenix. Tucked into the desert southwest between Phoenix and Yuma along Interstate 8, the parish welcomes English- and Spanish-speaking faithful with a weekly Vigil Mass in English on Saturday, a Sunday Mass in Spanish, and a full schedule of weekday Masses, Confessions, and Eucharistic Adoration. Under the pastoral care of Rev. Jose (Joe) Cornelia, the parish identifies itself with the motto 'Loving Christ, Loving Others,' proclaiming a humble spirit, fellowship, and the desire to 'help one another get to Heaven.' The parish also maintains a historic link to St. Lucy Mission (Tohono O'odham) in nearby San Lucy, having been staffed at various times by Jesuits, the Congregation of Holy Cross, and diocesan priests.
- Established
- 1885
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Jose (Joe) Cornelia
- Diocese
- Diocese of Phoenix
Why belong here
St. Michael's is a small, bilingual parish where visitors, snowbirds, and lifelong residents alike are personally welcomed by name — its pastor writes that all are welcome 'whether you are visiting from out of town, snow birds, renewing your faith, discovering faith for the first time, or even you seeking out an answer for your life.' The parish combines a reverent Eucharistic life — with daily Mass, weekday Confessions, and nearly continuous Eucharistic Adoration — with hands-on religious education for children preparing for First Communion and Confirmation. Its mission identity, 'Loving Christ, Loving Others,' is lived out through service to those in need and a historic outreach to the Tohono O'odham community at nearby St. Lucy Mission.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM
- Sunday 9:30 AM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 7:30-8:00 AM
- Thursday 7:30-8:00 AM
- Tuesday 4:30-5:00 PM
- Friday 4:30-5:00 PM
- Saturday 4:30-5:00 PM
- Sunday 9:30-10:00 AM
Welcome from the Pastor
On the parish's About page, Rev. Jose (Joe) Cornelia offers a personal welcome: 'I am delighted to welcome you to St. Michael's Catholic Church of Gila Bend. I pray that you may find warmth and happiness in our parish and I look forward to getting to know you personally in the coming days. You are most welcome to join us whether you are visiting from out of town, snow birds, renewing your faith, discovering faith for the first time, or even you seeking out an answer for your life.' His message, signed 'Grace and Peace with you all,' sets the tone for a small, warm community that openly invites visitors.
Mission and Identity
The parish describes its identity with the tagline 'Loving Christ, Loving Others.' Its formal mission statement reads: 'We the people of St. Michael Catholic Church proclaim to practice a humble spirit, empower a community of fellowship, and spread the good new of Jesus Christ.' A second statement of purpose adds that the community does this 'while serving those in need, adoring the real presence of Christ and living in the unity of love to help one another get to Heaven.' The website highlights four parish pillars: Religious Education ('Discovering God together'), Ministries ('Spreading faith and love'), Giving ('Your gifts make a difference in people's lives'), and a parish Bulletin.
- Loving Christ, Loving Others (parish tagline)
- Humble spirit, fellowship, spreading the Good News
- Serving those in need
- Adoring the real presence of Christ
- Helping one another get to Heaven
Religious Education and Sacrament Preparation
The parish's Religious Education page frames faith formation in distinctly Catholic terms: 'The parish is the center of faith formation for Catholics. Every person in your pews, every Catholic in your parish community…child or adult…is on their own journey toward Christ and a life of discipleship.' The parish organizes classes by grade level and offers dedicated preparation for the sacraments of First Communion, First Penance, and Confirmation. A parish review from earlier years also notes that classes met on Tuesdays and Thursdays for children in 2nd grade or higher, with the bilingual program coordinated by parish catechists.
- Religious Education classes by grade
- Sacrament Preparation for First Communion and First Penance
- Confirmation Preparation
- Family-centered, parish-based faith formation
Music Ministry
The parish supports a Music Ministry that rehearses weekly and provides music for the parish's bilingual liturgies. Musicians and cantors serve both the English Vigil Mass and the Spanish Sunday Mass.
- Weekly rehearsals
- Music for English Vigil and Spanish Sunday Mass
Outreach to St. Lucy Mission
Since the 1960s, St. Michael Catholic Church has been the host parish for St. Lucy Mission (Tohono O'odham), located in San Lucy, Arizona. This outreach — carried out by Jesuits from 1963 to 1986, then by the Society of the Atonement, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the Salvatorians, the Congregation of Holy Cross, and since 2001 by priests of the Diocese of Phoenix — is one of the most distinctive features of the parish's identity. Sacramental records for Native American parishioners of St. Lucy Mission (baptisms, marriages, burials) from 1963 onward are preserved in the diocesan archive and in the Guide to Catholic Records About Native Americans in the United States at Marquette University.
- St. Lucy Mission (Tohono O'odham), San Lucy, Arizona
- Joint ministry by St. Michael's priests since 1963
- Currently served by Diocese of Phoenix priests (since 2001)
- Sacramental records preserved at Marquette University
Parish Staff and Contact
The parish office is staffed part-time and can be reached by phone, email, or in person. Visitors are invited to leave a voicemail at (928) 683-9997 if no one answers. Parish bulletins, photos of parish life, and a giving page are all linked from the official website.
- Pastor: Rev. Jose (Joe) Cornelia
- Office phone: (928) 683-9997
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 314 N. Dodson Ave., Gila Bend, AZ 85337
- Weekly bulletin available on the website
Getting Involved
The parish welcomes new members and visitors at every stage of faith. The pastor's letter and the homepage both emphasize that those passing through Gila Bend, seasonal 'snow birds,' people returning to the faith, inquirers, and longtime members are all equally invited to join the community. Practical ways to get involved include enrolling children in Religious Education, joining the Music Ministry, supporting the parish through online giving, and praying with the community during Adoration.
- Join the parish community
- Enroll children in Religious Education / sacrament prep
- Participate in the Music Ministry
- Support the parish through online giving
- Spend time in Eucharistic Adoration
History of Pastoral Care
The succession of religious institutes and dioceses that have staffed St. Michael's reflects the missionary character of southwestern Arizona. Beginning in 1885, Tucson diocesan priests from Immaculate Conception in Phoenix served the original San Lucy / Gila Bend mission. After brief Franciscan service, Tucson diocesan priests from Immaculate Conception in Ajo took over, followed by Franciscans of the Santa Barbara Province. From 1963 the parish was staffed by the Jesuits of the California Province, then the Society of the Atonement, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the Salvatorians, and the Congregation of Holy Cross. Since 2001 diocesan priests of the Diocese of Phoenix have served as pastor.
- 1885-1915: Tucson diocesan priests (Immaculate Conception, Phoenix)
- 1915-1916: Franciscans, St. John the Baptist Province
- 1916-1957: Tucson diocesan priests (Immaculate Conception, Ajo)
- 1957-1963: Franciscans, Santa Barbara Province
- 1963-1986: Jesuits, California Province
- 1986-1987: Society of the Atonement
- 1987-1995: Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Los Angeles Province
- 1995-1996: Salvatorians, U.S.A. Province
- 1996-2001: Congregation of Holy Cross, Midwest Province
- 2001-present: Diocese of Phoenix
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Tucson diocesan priests (Immaculate Conception, Phoenix)1885-1915
Established and attended St. Lucy / Ss. Simon and Jude Mission at San Lucy / Paloma Ranch / Gila Bend.
- Franciscans, St. John the Baptist Province1915-1916
Based at St. John's, Laveen; attended St. Lucy's.
- Tucson diocesan priests (Immaculate Conception, Ajo)1916-1957
Attended to St. Lucy's.
- Franciscans, Santa Barbara Province1957-1963
Based at San Solano Missions, Topawa; attended to St. Lucy's.
- Jesuits, California Province1963-1986
St. Michael's, Gila Bend, attended to St. Lucy's.
- Society of the Atonement1986-1987
At St. Michael's, Gila Bend, attended to St. Lucy's.
- Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Los Angeles Province1987-1995
At St. Michael's, Gila Bend, attended to St. Lucy's.
- Salvatorians, U.S.A. Province1995-1996
At St. Michael's, Gila Bend, attended to St. Lucy's.
- Congregation of Holy Cross, Midwest Province1996-2001
At St. Michael's, Gila Bend, attended to St. Lucy's.
- Diocese of Phoenix (diocesan priests)2001-present
Diocesan priests at St. Michael's continue to attend to St. Lucy Mission (Tohono O'odham), San Lucy, Arizona.