About St. Patrick · Merced, California
St. Patrick's Parish is a warm, welcoming Catholic faith community in Merced, California, serving the people of the Central Valley from its main church at 671 E. Yosemite Avenue. Inspired by the example of its patron saint, the parish celebrates a full schedule of daily and Sunday Masses in both English and Spanish, with a Saturday Vigil and weekday Masses also offered at the historic Our Lady of Mercy Church on W. 21st Street. The combined parish — Vatican records still list it officially as St. Patrick's — runs a robust religious-education program, sponsors Our Lady of Mercy School (Preschool–8), and reaches out to families, youth, adults, and the homebound through faith formation, sacramental preparation, and a music and liturgy ministry. Parishioners are encouraged to see themselves as participants, not spectators, in the life of the parish.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Robert Borges
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fresno
Why belong here
St. Patrick's offers one of the most complete Mass and confession schedules in Merced, with multiple Sunday and weekday Masses in both English and Spanish, daily Mass at the historic Our Lady of Mercy Church, and Saturday and Tuesday confession times. The parish runs a thriving religious-education program for grades 1–8, sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation, a school (Our Lady of Mercy, Preschool–8th), youth ministry, OCIA for adults, a caring music and liturgy program, and ministry to the sick and homebound — all on a spacious 15.5-acre campus shaped by more than a century of Merced Catholic history.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesdays 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM at St. Patrick's Church
- 1st Saturday 9:45 AM – 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Mercy Church (459 W. 21st St.)
- By appointment (call 209-383-3924)
- Additional Lenten reconciliation services scheduled each week of Lent (see bulletin)
Our Story — From 1867 to Today
Catholic life in Merced is rooted in St. Joseph's Parish in Mariposa (1867); Merced began as a mission and held its first Masses in 1873 at the home of Mathias Smythe. Within the same year Father McNamara purchased property at 21 and L Streets and built the first St. Patrick's Church, blessed by Archbishop Alemany. The parish's name shifted to Our Lady of Mercy in 1918 when a larger church was completed — a name taken from the Merced River — but Vatican records continue to recognize the parish officially as St. Patrick's. A pastoral-team era (1971–1989) united St. Patrick's, Our Lady of Mercy and Sacred Heart, then in 1989 Our Lady of Mercy and St. Patrick's formally merged into one combined parish — the community that today worships at 671 E. Yosemite Avenue.
Building the New St. Patrick's Church (1991–1994)
After Masses moved into Our Lady of Mercy School's McKenna Hall in the 1980s, the parish launched a final fundraising campaign under Father David A. Brum in 1991. The new property was blessed on Palm Sunday 1993; Father Jean-Michael Lastiri was assigned as Pastor on July 1, 1993, and broke ground with Bishop John Steinbock on November 12, 1993. The church was designed by Craig Scott of DuPertuis and Scott and was completed in December 1994. The Harguindeguy Center — a renovated historic residence on the new six-and-a-half-acre 'Love property' — was dedicated by Bishop Steinbock on March 17, 1998, in honor of beloved former pastor Monsignor John Harguindeguy.
- 1991 — Capital campaign launched (Fr. David A. Brum)
- April 1993 — New church property blessed on Palm Sunday
- July 1, 1993 — Fr. Jean-Michael Lastiri assigned Pastor
- November 12, 1993 — Groundbreaking with Bishop John Steinbock
- December 1994 — New St. Patrick's Church completed
- March 17, 1998 — Harguindeguy Center blessed by Bishop Steinbock
- November 23, 2002 — New parish center dedicated by Bishop Steinbock
Parish Leadership & Staff
The parish is led by a pastor and parochial vicar supported by three permanent deacons, a Director of Adult Faith Formation, a Director of Liturgical Music, and a dedicated administrative and maintenance team. Office staff divide responsibilities between the St. Patrick's Parish Office (Sandy Minor — Assistant Administrator/Secretary/Hall Rentals/Safe Environment; Veronica Ochoa — Bulletin Editor & Wedding/Quinceañera Coordinator) and the Our Lady of Mercy office. Cheryl Waite serves as Counselor; Belen Torres is the Bookkeeper; Robert Luiz and Mathew Rodriguez support ministry operations; and Jesse Diaz, Rosemarie Pierce, Jose Salcido and Fernando Garcia Jr. serve on the maintenance and event-support team.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Robert Borges ([email protected])
- Deacons: Chuck Reyburn, Mike Smith, Jose Morales
- Director of Adult Faith Formation (and OCIA): Dcn. Chuck Reyburn ([email protected], 209-749-1255)
- Music & Liturgy Director: Dennis Brown ([email protected])
- Catechism Coordinator: Maria Jessie Lopez ([email protected], 209-455-3271)
- Assistant Administrator / Hall Rentals / Safe Environment: Sandy Minor ([email protected])
- Bulletin Editor / Wedding & Quinceañera Coordinator: Veronica Ochoa ([email protected])
- Bookkeeper: Belen Torres
- Counselor: Cheryl Waite ([email protected])
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Religious Education Program assists parents as the primary educators of their children, offering Catechism classes for grades 1 through 8 with preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion over two consecutive years. Classes are held Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Our Lady of Mercy School, beginning promptly at 4:15 PM. Children also participate in community-service projects such as food collections for the needy and the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child shoebox drive. High School Confirmation is a separate two-year small-group program for grades 9–12. Adult formation includes the OCIA process (year-round on Sunday mornings) and 12-week sacramental formation for First Communion and Confirmation for adults.
- Catechism (Grades 1–8): Tues & Wed, 4:15 PM at Our Lady of Mercy School
- Preschool of Religion & Childcare (ages 3–5) during 10 AM Sunday Mass in the Parish Hall
- First Reconciliation & First Communion (two-year preparation)
- High School Confirmation (Grades 9–12, 2 years, small groups)
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (year-round Sundays)
- OCIC — Order of Christian Initiation for Children (2-year process)
- Adult First Communion & Confirmation (12 weekly classes) — Dcn. Chuck Reyburn
Our Lady of Mercy School
Our Lady of Mercy School has been in operation since 1927, serving Preschool through 8th Grade, and is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and certified by the Western Catholic Education Association. The campus is located at 1400 E. 27th Street, Merced, CA 95340 (phone 209-722-7496). The principal is Mrs. Judy Blackburn ([email protected]).
- Preschool through Grade 8
- Accredited by WASC; certified by WCEA
- Operating since 1927
- Principal: Mrs. Judy Blackburn
Sacraments at St. Patrick's
St. Patrick's is the primary site for sacramental celebrations for the combined parish: all Baptisms are celebrated at St. Patrick's Church — English Baptisms on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month at 1:30 PM, and Spanish Baptisms on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month at 11:30 AM. First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, and full initiation through OCIA/OCIC are all supported by the faith-formation team. Weddings and Quinceañeras are coordinated through Veronica Ochoa at the parish office, and outreach to the sick and homebound is provided through the parish's care ministries.
- Baptism (English): 2nd & 4th Sundays, 1:30 PM
- Baptism (Spanish): 2nd & 4th Saturdays, 11:30 AM
- First Reconciliation & First Communion (children)
- Confirmation (youth, 2-year program)
- OCIA / OCIC — full initiation
- Weddings & Quinceañeras
- Pastoral care / Communion to the Sick and homebound
Music & Liturgy
The parish's Music & Liturgy ministry is directed by Dennis Brown and supports the full schedule of Masses in both English and Spanish, including liturgies of the Easter Vigil where candidates receive the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist). The music team works with cantors and instrumentalists to support First Communion Masses and other parish celebrations.
- Director: Dennis Brown ([email protected])
- Supports English & Spanish Masses
- Coordinates music for First Communion, Easter Vigil, and parish feast-day liturgies
Parish Campus & Facilities
The St. Patrick's campus stretches across roughly 15.5 acres at the corner of Yosemite Avenue and Mansionette Drive, across from the Raley's Shopping Center and InShape. The parish center — built in four phases beginning June 1999 and dedicated by Bishop Steinbock on November 23, 2002 — features a parish hall that seats up to 1,100 (or 500 for dining), classrooms with bathrooms, formal dining room, large storage spaces, and a small daily-Mass chapel attached to the parish center. The Harguindeguy Center (renovated 1998) houses the parish offices. Our Lady of Mercy Church (459 W. 21st Street) and Our Lady of Mercy School (1400 E. 27th Street) round out the campus facilities. Hall rentals are arranged through the parish office.
- St. Patrick's Church & Office — 671 E. Yosemite Ave.
- Harguindeguy Center — parish offices
- Parish Hall — seats up to 1,100 (500 for dining), available for rent
- New parking lot, fire lane and lighting (Phase 1 of capital campaign)
- Our Lady of Mercy Church — 459 W. 21st St. (by appointment for office)
- Our Lady of Mercy School — 1400 E. 27th St.
Outreach & Community Service
In keeping with its mission to make God's Word 'come alive… through service and generosity to each other and our community,' the parish organizes food collections for the needy, supports Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child shoebox project, and reaches out to the sick and homebound through pastoral visits, Communion calls, and ministry to those in convalescent care. The parish also welcomes new members and invites anyone to stop by the parish office Tuesday–Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM, to learn more about getting involved.
- Food drives for the needy
- Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child
- Communion calls to the sick and homebound
- Care for those in convalescent facilities
- Welcome ministry for new parishioners
Getting Involved — 'Ways to Serve'
The parish actively invites parishioners to take an attitude of 'ownership and responsibility' so each person feels like a participant rather than an observer. There are roles for catechists and aides in the CCD program, sponsors and hospitality team members for OCIA, musicians for liturgy, ministers of care for the sick, and volunteers for school and hall-rental events. Each ministry contact is listed on the parish's 'Ways to Serve' page.
- Catechists & aides in CCD (call Debbie Rosa, 209-723-8888 / [email protected])
- OCIA sponsors & hospitality team (Dcn. Chuck Reyburn)
- Music ministry
- Hospitality, welcome, and outreach
- Maintenance & event support
- School volunteer opportunities at Our Lady of Mercy
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father McNamara1873
First pastor in Merced; raised capital to purchase the original church property at 21 and L Streets dedicated to St. Patrick.
- Monsignor John Harguindeguy
Long-serving former pastor of Our Lady of Mercy / St. Patrick's, honored with the naming of the Harguindeguy Center, blessed by Bishop Steinbock on March 17, 1998.
- Father David A. Brum1991
Launched the final fundraising campaign for the new St. Patrick's Church.
- Father Jean-Michael Lastiri1993–
Assigned as Pastor on July 1, 1993; finalized plans and broke ground on November 12, 1993 with Bishop John Steinbock; oversaw construction completed December 1994.