About St. Odilia · Oro Valley, Arizona
St. Odilia Catholic Community is a Roman Catholic parish in Oro Valley, Arizona, situated on the northwest side of the Tucson metropolitan area and belonging to the Diocese of Tucson. Founded in 1965 from territory transferred out of Sacred Heart Parish, the community first worshipped at Immaculate Heart High School before dedicating its own church on May 7, 1970. The parish is uniquely dedicated to two patronesses — Saint Odilia of Cologne (principal patroness, relics encased in the stone altar) and Saint Odilia of Alsace (relics in the sacristy) — both honored as patronesses of good eyesight. Today the parish offers a full schedule of weekend and weekday Masses in English, weekly confession, Eucharistic adoration, religious education for children, OCIA for adults, a women's ministry, and a vibrant music program under long-time pastor Fr. R. Miguel Mariano.
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- Saint Odilia of Cologne (principal patroness) and Saint Odilia of Alsace (co-patroness)
- Rector
- Fr. R. Miguel Mariano
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tucson
Why belong here
St. Odilia is a welcoming northwest-side parish with a deep history dating to 1965 and a unique double patronage of two Saint Odilias — both patronesses of good eyesight. The community offers daily and weekend Mass, weekly confession, twice-monthly Wednesday adoration plus a First Friday Holy Hour, a complete K-12 religious education program, OCIA and adult confirmation, women's ministry, bereavement and consolation ministry, a strong music and liturgical program, and active outreach to those in need beyond the parish walls.
Mass times at St. Odilia
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM (2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month)
- Friday 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (1st Friday of the month — Holy Hour)
Parish History
St. Odilia Catholic Community traces its roots to a gift of roughly ten acres in the 7500 block of Paseo del Norte from benefactress Mrs. Eugenia Scullin Bagnall to the Diocese of Tucson. On October 11, 1965 the territory was transferred from Sacred Heart Parish, and the new community celebrated its first Mass just six days later, on October 17, 1965, in the auditorium of Immaculate Heart High School. After years of planning and worshipping in borrowed space, groundbreaking for the church took place May 12, 1969, and the building was dedicated on May 7, 1970, the Feast of the Ascension. The parish identifies itself as 'A Parish for Casas Adobes,' anchoring the community in the northwest Tucson/Oro Valley neighborhood it serves.
- Oct 11, 1965 – Territory transferred from Sacred Heart Parish
- Oct 17, 1965 – First Mass at Immaculate Heart High School auditorium
- May 12, 1969 – Groundbreaking for the church
- May 7, 1970 – Church dedicated (Feast of the Ascension)
The Two Patronesses: Saint Odilia of Cologne and Saint Odilia of Alsace
St. Odilia uniquely claims two patronesses. Saint Odilia of Cologne, a fourth-century British princess, was martyred around 300 A.D. while on pilgrimage to Rome with Saint Ursula and companions; she is the parish's principal patroness, her relics encased in the stone altar, and her feast is celebrated on July 18. Saint Odilia of Alsace, born blind to a Frankish nobleman around 662, was eventually baptized by Saint Erhard and miraculously received her sight; she founded Hohenbourg Abbey and her feast is celebrated December 13, with her relics kept in the sacristy. Both are patronesses of good eyesight — a fitting double patronage for a parish whose members and visitors often seek healing through their intercession.
- Saint Odilia of Cologne — principal patroness; relics in stone altar; feast July 18
- Saint Odilia of Alsace — co-patroness; relics in sacristy; feast December 13
- Both invoked as patronesses of good eyesight
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Fr. R. Miguel Mariano, who also previously served the Diocese of Tucson as Director of Vocations. He is assisted by two permanent deacons — Rev. Mr. Angel Gonzales and Rev. Mr. Todd Mencke (who also coordinates OCIA and Adult Confirmation). Lay staff support liturgy and music (Marlene Mason), religious education (Lupita Parra, Director of Religious Ed. for Grades K-12), parish business and compliance (Diane Simons), the bulletin and data entry (Martha Cymbaluk), altar servers (Theresa Chavez), bereavement/consolation (Hollie Chlup), and plant and maintenance (Antonio Martinez).
- Pastor — Fr. R. Miguel Mariano
- Deacon — Rev. Mr. Angel Gonzales
- Deacon — Rev. Mr. Todd Mencke (OCIA & Adult Confirmation)
- Liturgy / Music Coordinator — Marlene Mason
- Director of Religious Ed. K-12 — Lupita Parra
- Business Manager / Compliance — Diane Simons
- Altar Server Coordinator — Theresa Chavez
- Bereavement/Consolation — Hollie Chlup
- Bulletin & Data Entry — Martha Cymbaluk
- Plant & Maintenance Supervisor — Antonio Martinez
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish offers a Religious Education program for children in Grades K-12, directed by Lupita Parra (extension 202, [email protected]). Online registration for the program year is hosted on the parish website. Adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church are served through the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) and Adult Confirmation process, coordinated by Deacon Todd Mencke and held under the Theological Formation page of the parish site.
- Religious Education (Grades K-12) — Director: Lupita Parra, ext. 202
- OCIA & Adult Confirmation — Rev. Mr. Todd Mencke
- Online registration via stodiliaparish.org/re-registration-materials
Ministries & Outreach
Beyond the sacraments, the parish sustains a varied lay ministry life. The Women's Ministry is an active group on the parish calendar. The Music Ministry and Liturgy Coordinator plan Sunday worship and special celebrations. Altar Servers are coordinated by Theresa Chavez, and the parish maintains a Bereavement/Consolation Ministry for grieving families. A Vocation Ministry, drawing on the pastor's background as diocesan Director of Vocations, fosters discernment of priesthood, religious life, married or single life. The parish also has a track record of outreach beyond its walls — including delivering turkeys to the Casa Maria soup kitchen during the Jubilee Year of Mercy — and Fr. Mariano serves on the board of Sister José Women's Center.
- Women's Ministry
- Music Ministry / Liturgy
- Altar Servers
- Bereavement / Consolation
- Vocation Ministry
- Outreach to Casa Maria & Sister José Women's Center
Visiting & Contact
St. Odilia is located at 7570 N Paseo Del Norte in Oro Valley, Arizona 85704, on the northwest side of the Tucson metropolitan area in the Casas Adobes neighborhood. The parish office can be reached at (520) 297-7271 during business hours. Individual staff members can be reached by email through the directory on the staff page. The parish is also active on Facebook under the Saint Odilia Catholic Community page (facebook.com/stotucson).
- Address — 7570 N Paseo Del Norte, Oro Valley, AZ 85704
- Phone — (520) 297-7271
- Website — stodiliaparish.org
- Facebook — facebook.com/stotucson
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. R. Miguel Mariano
Long-time pastor; also previously served the Diocese of Tucson as Director of Vocations; widely recognized for parish outreach including support of Casa Maria.