About St. Monica · Tucson, Arizona
St. Monica Roman Catholic Parish is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Catholic parish located at 212 W Medina Road in Tucson, Arizona, in the Diocese of Tucson. Founded in 1964, it is a welcoming community whose mission is to 'proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth.' The parish offers one of the most extensive Mass schedules in the area — fifteen Masses each week across two languages — and serves a diverse, predominantly Spanish-speaking congregation on Tucson's south side. It is currently pastored by Fr. Gilbert Malu Musumbu, a native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ordained in 1988, and is supported by four deacons and a small lay staff.
- Established
- 1964
- Patron
- St. Monica of Hippo (c. 332–387), mother of St. Augustine of Hippo
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Gilbert Malu Musumbu
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson
Why belong here
St. Monica offers something many parishes cannot: an unusually full schedule of fifteen weekly Masses in both English and Spanish, daily Confession on Fridays, and Eucharistic Adoration twice a week. The parish is grounded in faith formation for every age — from First Communion catechesis through the multi-year Bendecidos program to the Confirmation program, RCIA for adults, and youth ministry (Arcoiris for ages 13–17 and Promesa for ages 18–25). Outreach is lived out through the on-site Society of St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. For a Catholic on Tucson's south side looking for a multilingual, mission-driven community with daily Mass and strong sacramental life, St. Monica is a genuine home.
Mass times at St. Monica
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Communal Penance Services held seasonally (e.g. Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 6:00–7:00 PM, with priests from surrounding parishes assisting)
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:00 AM (English)
- Thursday 5:00 PM (Spanish)
- Last Friday of the month 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (during Confessions)
About St. Monica Parish
St. Monica Roman Catholic Parish is a welcoming, bilingual Catholic community at 212 W Medina Road in Tucson, Arizona. The parish describes its mission as proclaiming 'the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth,' summed up in its tagline: 'Loving Christ, Loving Others.' Founded in 1964 as part of the Diocese of Tucson, it serves a predominantly Hispanic population on Tucson's south side while remaining fully bilingual in English and Spanish.
- Founded: 1964
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson
- Tagline: 'Loving Christ, Loving Others'
- Parish mission: to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in word, deed, and truth
Mass and Sacrament Schedule
St. Monica offers one of the most extensive Mass schedules in the Diocese of Tucson — fifteen Masses every week. A single Saturday Vigil is celebrated in English, and five Sunday Masses are celebrated across both languages (one English, four Spanish). Daily Mass is offered Monday through Friday, with morning Mass in one language and an evening Mass in Spanish. All Masses are broadcast live via Facebook Live for those unable to attend in person.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:30 PM (English)
- Sunday: 10:00 AM English; 8:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 7:00 PM Spanish
- Weekday 9 AM: Mon/Wed/Fri in Spanish; Tue/Thu in English
- Weekday 6 PM: Mon–Thu in Spanish
- All Masses also livestreamed on Facebook Live
Parish Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Gilbert Malu Musumbu, a native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo who was ordained on December 1, 1988. The deacon team supports sacramental life, faith formation, and RCIA. Office staff handle reception, bookkeeping, and maintenance, while the Director of Religious Education coordinates the parish's catechetical programs.
- Pastor: Fr. Gilbert Malu Musumbu
- Deacon David Barfuss — High School Confirmation
- Deacon Enrique Mendoza
- Deacon Ignacio Arvizu
- Deacon Nick de la Torre — RCIA
- Cristina Chapetti — Bookkeeper
- Nidia Verdugo — Receptionist
- Swany Max Rodriguez — Sacristan / Maintenance
- Director of Religious Education (Religious Ed office: 520-889-1994)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Monica is structured around age-appropriate programs in both English and Spanish. The parish's flagship school-age program is the Bendecidos curriculum, a structured course of study covering twenty chapters per year with unit tests and a final exam, integrated with the liturgical calendar and fundamentals of daily Catholic prayer.
- Bendecidos program — 20 chapters/year, 5 unit tests + final exam
- 1st–2nd grade: 3-year catechesis track
- 3rd–6th grade: 2-year track
- 7th–9th grade: 1-year track
- Teen sacramental preparation (ages 14–17) for First Communion and Confirmation in the same year
- Annual registration fee $50 (Bendecidos) / $70 (Grades 1–8)
RCIA and Adult Sacraments
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) at St. Monica is directed by Deacon Nick de la Torre. The program prepares adults (18+) who need Baptism, First Communion, and/or Confirmation, and registrations begin each August in the parish office. The page is published bilingually as 'R.C.I.A. Sacramentos para adultos mayores de 18 años.'
- Open to adults 18 and older
- Sacramental prep: Baptism, First Communion, and/or Confirmation
- Registration begins August 1
- Coordinator: Deacon Nick de la Torre
Youth Ministry
St. Monica offers two distinct youth groups for teens and young adults, reflecting the parish's commitment to accompanying young Catholics through every stage of life. Both groups were established under the previous pastorate and continue as outreach arms of the parish.
- Arcoiris Youth Group — ages 13 to 17 (coordinated by Veronica Coronado)
- Promesa Vocational Youth Group — ages 18 to 25
- High School Confirmation program directed by Deacon David Barfuss
Outreach: Society of St. Vincent de Paul
St. Monica hosts a local conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic charitable organization that serves neighbors in need. The parish's St. Vincent de Paul food pantry operates on-site at 212 W Medina Road, providing food assistance to families in the surrounding south-side Tucson community.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference located at the parish
- On-site food pantry at 212 W Medina Rd
- Serves the south-side Tucson community
Visiting, Giving, and Online Presence
St. Monica maintains a bilingual website with online giving, a bulletin page, an events calendar, and live-streamed Masses via Facebook. The parish encourages online giving as a way to support the work of the church and offers a downloadable bulletin for those who want to follow the parish week by week.
- Online Giving available via the parish website
- Weekly bulletin published online
- Live Mass broadcasts on Facebook Live
- Email contact: [email protected]
- Religious Education office: 520-889-1994
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Raul Valencia
Former pastor; also served as director/coordinator of the Promesa vocational youth group (ages 18–25).
- Rev. Jesus Acuña
Former associate pastor.
- Rev. Fr. Gilbert Malu Musumbu
Current pastor; native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ordained December 1, 1988.