About St. Michael's Catholic Parish · Poway, California
St. Michael's Catholic Parish is a vibrant Roman Catholic parish in Poway, California, part of the Diocese of San Diego. Located at 15546 Pomerado Road, the parish serves the Poway community with five Sunday Masses, a daily Mass schedule, perpetual adoration, and a robust faith-formation program that includes an on-site Catholic school (St. Michael's School) and Religious Education for K–8 and youth ministry for high schoolers. The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Melchisedech (Mel) Monreal and Associate Pastor Fr. Vic Maristela, alongside Deacon Bill Adsit and a staff of directors for religious education, youth ministry, and adult formation. Its mission emphasizes being a welcoming Catholic community where the message of Jesus is proclaimed through worship, education, and service.
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Fr. Melchisedech (Mel) Monreal
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
St. Michael's offers something for every Catholic at every stage of life: five Sunday Masses, a daily Mass schedule with a weekly Perpetual Help Devotion, and a perpetual Adoration Chapel open roughly 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM most days. Families can choose between the parish's on-site Catholic school (St. Michael's School) and a parish-based Religious Education program for K–8, while teens are welcomed into a Confirmation-prep curriculum, a Bridge Program for confirmed juniors and seniors, and a summer program. The parish also runs more than a dozen lay ministries — Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Women's Bible Study, Marriage Prep, Funeral and Wedding coordinators, Ushers, Holy Family Center Servers, Religious Education Catechists, and more — so newcomers can put faith into action right away.
Mass times at St. Michael's Catholic Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel — Monday to Friday: 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM
- Adoration Chapel — Saturday & Sunday: 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM
- First Friday of the Month: Adoration after the 9:00 AM Mass through 7:15 AM Saturday
History of St. Michael's Parish
St. Michael's Parish was founded in 1959 by Monsignor Michael Coughlan in the then-rural community of Poway. With a $500 loan from Bishop Charles Buddy and a donation of seven acres of land, he built the parish from the ground up: by March 1960 the rectory was finished and he began celebrating Mass out of its garage. After nearly a decade of fundraising and construction, the first Mass was celebrated in a new church building in 1971. The original church was destroyed by fire in 1990; a steel cross recovered from that fire stands today at the entrance of the current church. St. Michael's grew so rapidly that five daughter parishes — Good Shepherd, St. Gabriel, San Rafael, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and St. Gregory the Great — were eventually formed from its territory. Msgr. Coughlan was named the first dean of the new Escondido Deanery in August 1979 and was elevated to monsignor by Pope John Paul II in 1981; he served as pastor until 1984 and continued assisting at St. Michael's until 2004, passing away in 2013.
- Founded: 1959
- Founding pastor: Monsignor Michael Coughlan
- First Mass in new church: 1971
- Original church destroyed by fire: 1990
- Five daughter parishes formed from St. Michael's territory
Clergy & Parish Staff
St. Michael's is led by Pastor Fr. Melchisedech (Mel) Monreal and Associate Pastor Fr. Vic Maristela, with Deacon Bill Adsit serving as OCIA Coordinator. Fr. Mel also serves as Superintendent of St. Michael's School. Lay staff include Mrs. Heather Kostyzak (Director of Religious Education, OCIA/C), Mrs. Alice Beas (Adult Education & Events), and Mrs. Amber Samuels (Youth Minister).
- Pastor: Fr. Mel Monreal
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Vic Maristela
- Deacon: Bill Adsit (OCIA Coordinator)
- Director of Religious Education: Heather Kostyzak
- Adult Education & Events: Alice Beas
- Youth Minister: Amber Samuels
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Michael's Parish describes faith formation as 'the cornerstone' of its Catholic life, offering formation opportunities for every age. The Religious Education program serves families of public-school children from Kindergarten through 8th grade and also runs the Children's Liturgy of the Word for K–2 children during Mass. First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are taught as a two-year sequence beginning in 1st grade, with a Super Sacrament class available for older baptized children. Adults preparing for Confirmation attend yearly sessions and are confirmed by the Bishop each spring at the parish. Unbaptized adults and children age 7 and older are initiated at the Easter Vigil through OCIA and OCIA/C.
- Religious Education K–8 (public-school families)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (K–2)
- First Reconciliation / First Holy Communion (two-year program)
- Adult Confirmation (yearly sessions; Bishop confirms each spring)
- OCIA and OCIA/C for unbaptized adults and children 7+
- Director: Heather Kostyzak (858-485-1392, [email protected])
Youth Ministry 9–12
The Youth Ministry offers a holistic program for high-school students, with two years of Confirmation Preparation (typically 9th and 10th grade, though students may join later), a Bridge Program for confirmed 11th and 12th graders, Leadership Team opportunities for confirmed high-schoolers, and an active Summer Program. The ministry aims to create a faith-oriented community where teens can grow together through spiritual, social, and service opportunities.
- Confirmation Preparation (two-year curriculum)
- Bridge Program for confirmed 11th–12th graders
- Leadership Team opportunities
- Summer Program
- Youth Minister: Amber Samuels ([email protected])
Adult Education & Events
Adult Education at St. Michael's offers parish-wide opportunities for adults to deepen their faith, meet other parishioners in smaller settings, and continue lifelong faith formation. Programming is coordinated by Mrs. Alice Beas, Director of Adult Education & Events.
- Director: Alice Beas ([email protected])
St. Michael's School
St. Michael's Parish operates an on-site Catholic elementary school, St. Michael's School. The pastor, Fr. Melchisedech Monreal, serves as the school's Superintendent, and the parish lists the school among its major ministries alongside faith formation and parish life. (For current enrollment, tuition, and curriculum details, families are directed to the school's own contact channels.)
- On-site Catholic elementary school
- Superintendent: Fr. Mel Monreal
Parish Ministries & Service Opportunities
St. Michael's runs more than a dozen lay ministries spanning liturgical, pastoral, and outreach service. The parish invites new members to join groups like the Knights of Columbus and Legion of Mary for apostolic service; Catechists and aides for faith formation; Ushers, Holy Family Center Servers, Wedding and Funeral coordinators, and Shuttle Drivers for liturgical and pastoral care; plus Marriage Preparation (Witness to Love) and a Women's Bible Study for formation and fellowship.
- Knights of Columbus
- Legion of Mary
- Religious Education Catechist / Aide
- Religious Education Traffic Aide
- Ushers
- Holy Family Center Servers
- Wedding Coordinator
- Witness to Love Marriage Prep
- Funeral Coordinator / Funeral Reception
- Shuttle Drivers
- Women's Bible Study
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments, with formation pathways for children, teens, and adults. Infant Baptism is offered; older children and adults enter the Church through OCIA / OCIA/C at the Easter Vigil; First Reconciliation and First Communion are prepared over two years; teens prepare for Confirmation through the Youth Ministry; and engaged couples use the Witness to Love Marriage Preparation program.
- Infant Baptism
- First Reconciliation & First Communion (two-year program)
- Confirmation (teen and adult)
- OCIA / OCIA/C
- Marriage Preparation (Witness to Love)
- Funeral coordination
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM), Saturday from 8:30 AM to 12:00 noon, and Sunday from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM. The parish office is closed on Holy Days and Holidays. Phone: (858) 487-4755; email: [email protected]. The Adoration Chapel is open daily, and weekend Masses include five Sunday options plus the Saturday Vigil. (Note: the parish's online livestream Mass is temporarily suspended while work on the church is completed, with the livestream expected to resume the weekend of August 1, 2026.)
- Parish Office: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM)
- Saturday Office: 8:30 AM–12:00 noon
- Sunday Office: 8:30 AM–2:00 PM
- Office closed on Holy Days and Holidays
- Phone: (858) 487-4755
- Email: [email protected]
- Adoration Chapel open daily
- Livestream Mass temporarily suspended; expected to resume August 1, 2026
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Michael Coughlan1959–1984
Founding pastor; started the parish with a $500 loan from Bishop Charles Buddy and a donation of seven acres; celebrated the first Mass in a new church building in 1971; named first dean of the Escondido Deanery in 1979; made a monsignor by Pope John Paul II in 1981; appointed pastor of St. Didacus in 1984.