About St. Monica · Willows, California
St. Monica Parish is a bilingual Roman Catholic community serving Willows and the surrounding Glenn County area in California's Sacramento Valley, established in 1877 under the Diocese of Sacramento. The parish ministers in both English and Spanish and shares its Catholic life with its mission church, St. Mary of the Mountain in Stonyford. Guided by the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church, the parish community commits itself to loving and serving God through Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and the Sacraments.
- Established
- 1877
- Patron
- St. Monica of Hippo (mother of St. Augustine of Hippo)
- Rector
- Rev. Sherwin Colaste (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sacramento (Glenn County, Sutter Buttes Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Monica is a welcoming bilingual parish with a long history in Willows, offering Mass in both English and Spanish each week along with a daily weekday Mass schedule. A faithful community of devoted lay ministers serves in every liturgical role — altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, hospitality, music, sacristans, and audio-visual — and the parish supports regular Adoration and Benediction on First Fridays and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Its reach also extends to the mission church at Stonyford, making it a natural spiritual home for Catholics across Glenn County.
Mass times at St. Monica
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM (in the church)
- Thursday 9:00 AM (in the chapel)
- Friday 8:00 AM – 8:20 AM
- 1st Friday of the Month 9:00 AM (with Adoration & Benediction, 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM)
Adoration times
- 1st Friday of the Month — Adoration & Benediction in the Church, 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
- 1st Friday of the Month — Adoration in the Chapel, 9:00 AM
- 1st Friday of the Month — Adoration, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Welcome & Parish Mission
The parish welcomes visitors in both English and Spanish on its website: 'A Greeting of Peace! ¡Un Saludo de Paz! We welcome you to our Parish Church here at Saint Monica.' Its stated mission is to 'continue the mission of Jesus Christ to bring the good news of salvation to our community. Guided by the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church, we are committed to love, serve God, and nourish our faith through Sacred Scripture, Traditions, and Sacraments.' The welcome is signed by Fr. Sherwin Colaste.
Mass & Service Schedule
St. Monica celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish throughout the week, with the Sunday obligation satisfied by Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM (English), Sunday 9:00 AM (English), and Sunday 12:00 PM (Spanish). Weekday Masses are offered Wednesday through Friday, with a bilingual Wednesday option (8:30 AM English / 6:00 PM Spanish). The parish also maintains Mass at its mission church, St. Mary of the Mountain in Stonyford, on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays at 9:30 AM.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM (English)
- Sunday: 9:00 AM (English), 12:00 PM (Spanish)
- Wednesday: 8:30 AM (English), 6:00 PM (Spanish)
- Thursday & Friday: 8:30 AM (English)
- 1st Saturday & 1st Friday: 8:30 AM
- Holy Days of Obligation: 8:30 AM English / 6:00 PM Spanish
- St. Mary of the Mountain, Stonyford: 9:30 AM on 2nd & 4th Saturdays
Our Patron: Saint Monica
The parish is named for Saint Monica of Hippo (331–387 AD), whose feast day is August 27. The parish website recounts her story: born in Tagaste (present-day Algeria), married to the pagan Patricius, mother of three children (Augustine, Navigius, and Perpetua), and celebrated for her persistent prayers and tears for the conversion of her wayward son, Saint Augustine of Hippo. Her relics were translated to Rome in 1430 by Pope Martin V, and she is patroness of mothers, wives, abuse victims, alcoholics, those seeking conversion, and married women. The city of Santa Monica, California, is also named for her.
- Born: 331 AD in Tagaste (present-day Algeria)
- Died: 387 AD
- Feast Day: August 27
- Patroness of: Mothers, Wives, Abuse Victims, Alcoholics, Conversion, Married Women
- Son: St. Augustine of Hippo
Parish Clergy & Staff
According to the Diocese of Sacramento directory, the parish is led by Rev. Sherwin Colaste as Parochial Administrator, with Rev. Maurice O'Brien serving as Pastor Emeritus. The parish also benefits from the ministry of Deacon Joaquin Lara. Bilingual Faith Community coordinators are Sylvia Hoenike (English) and Leticia Chávez (Hispanic Community).
- Rev. Sherwin Colaste — Parochial Administrator
- Rev. Maurice O'Brien — Pastor Emeritus
- Dcn. Joaquin Lara — Deacon
- Sylvia Hoenike — English Community Coordinator; Music Director
- Leticia Chávez — Hispanic Community Coordinator
Liturgical Ministries & Coordinators
Lay faithful serve in every liturgical role at St. Monica in both the English and Spanish-language communities. The parish publishes a full list of coordinators on its website, organized by ministry and language. Coordinators lead the faithful in serving at the altar, proclaiming the Word, distributing Holy Communion, welcoming parishioners, providing music, caring for the sacred environment, and handling audio-visual needs.
- Altar Servers — English: Matt Amaro & Lorene Silva; Spanish: Raul & Letty Chávez
- Arts & Environment — Spanish: Lety Mata & Martha Chávez
- Audio-Visual — Elvira Lara
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — English: Pamela Ockerman; Spanish: Raul & Letty Chávez
- Hospitality — English: Anthony Niehues & Greg Niehues; Spanish: Julia Mercado
- Music — Sylvia Hoenike
- Lectors/Readers — English: Pamela Ockerman; Spanish: Maribel Palomino
- Sacristans — English: Frank & Suzan Couto; Spanish: Raul & Letty Chávez
Parish Finance Council
St. Monica maintains a Parish Finance Council as required by Canon 537 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law. The council is a consultative body to the Parochial Administrator, assisting in preparing the annual budget and the parish financial report submitted to the Diocese of Sacramento, ensuring internal financial controls, and reviewing parish finances at least quarterly (receiving the balance sheet and budget-vs-actual statement monthly).
- Chair: William Carriere
- Secretary: Pamela Ockerman
- Members: Mike Carney, Frank Couto, Barbara Leach, Ron Mendes, Humberto Medina
- Reports quarterly on parish finances
- Advisory to the Parochial Administrator under Canon 537
St. Mary of the Mountain Mission (Stonyford)
St. Monica Parish also serves as the principal parish for its dependent mission, St. Mary of the Mountain in Stonyford, a small rural community in the western part of Glenn County / Colusa County area. Mass is celebrated there on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month at 9:30 AM, and on Holy Days of Obligation at 9:30 AM.
- Mass: 2nd and 4th Saturdays, 9:30 AM
- Holy Days of Obligation: 9:30 AM
- Served from St. Monica Parish, Willows
Visit & Contact Information
Parishioners and visitors may contact the parish office at (530) 934-3314 or visit in person at 1129 West Wood Street, Willows, CA 95988. The parish website, www.stmonicawillows.com, lists current Mass and confession times and provides 'Contact Us' and 'Parish Staff' links on its homepage.
- Address: 1129 West Wood Street, Willows, CA 95988
- Phone: (530) 934-3314
- Website: www.stmonicawillows.com
- Diocese of Sacramento parish listing: scd.org/parish/st-monica-parish-willows