About St. Philip Benizi · Fullerton, California
St. Philip Benizi is a Catholic parish in Fullerton, California, stewarded by the Order of Friar Servants of Mary (the Servites, O.S.M.) in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. Founded in 1958, it serves a culturally diverse community in western Fullerton, eastern Buena Park, a northern slice of Anaheim and a portion of La Habra, celebrating Mass in English, Spanish and Indonesian. The current parish is housed in a 1,000-seat sanctuary dedicated in 2005 after the original church was destroyed by an arson fire in August 2000.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- St. Philip Benizi (Philip Benizi de Damiani, O.S.M., fifth superior general of the Servite Order)
- Rector
- Rev. Dennis Kriz, O.S.M.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange (parish in Deanery 3); originally part of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles until the Diocese of Orange was erected in 1976
Why belong here
St. Philip Benizi is a multi-generational, multilingual Catholic community where English, Spanish, Indonesian and Filipino Catholics worship side by side. It pairs the long Catholic tradition of the Servite Order with robust parish life — a 1,000-seat sanctuary, year-round RCIA, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for children, teen Confirmation, a thriving Filipino Ministry, Adoración Nocturna, a St. Vincent de Paul conference and a clear track record of serving the homeless and immigrant neighbors of Fullerton. It is the kind of parish where families put down roots and find a real home.
Mass times at St. Philip Benizi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday, Wednesday & Saturday after 8:30 a.m. Mass
- Tuesday & Thursday after 6:30 p.m. Spanish Mass
Adoration times
- Participates in the North Orange County Diocesan all-night Adoration: Thursday 7:00 p.m. Mass followed by Adoration until midnight (Friday)
- Adoración Nocturna (Night Adoration ministry) — contact Benjamin Vega at the parish office
Parish History
St. Philip Benizi was founded in 1958 in what was then the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, carved out of St. Mary's, St. Boniface and St. Pius V parishes. The Servite Order (O.S.M.) was entrusted with the new community, and Fr. Manettus L. Ortmann, O.S.M. was named founding pastor in January 1958. The first Masses were celebrated at the Merilark Roller Rink on March 16, 1958, and the original 740-seat church was dedicated on the feast of St. Philip Benizi, August 23, 1959. Half a century later, the parish's resilience was tested when an arsonist's fire gutted the church on August 17, 2000; worship continued in a "circus tent" and then a steel structure until the new 1,000-seat sanctuary was dedicated by Bishop Tod Brown on March 12, 2005, completing the "Rise from the Ashes" campaign. In 2017–2019 the parish gained regional attention as a refuge for unhoused neighbors, and during COVID-19 it added two new prayer spaces while continuing its outreach.
Founding (1957–1959)
December 1957 negotiations between the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Servites; January 1958 Fr. Ortmann named pastor; March 16, 1958 first Masses at the Merilark Roller Rink; the parish had a school (St. Mary's Annex, opened 1957) but no church. In December 1958 Sunday and Holy Day Masses moved to Servite High School while the new 740-seat church was built, dedicated August 23, 1959.
The 2000 Arson & "Rise from the Ashes"
On August 17, 2000 at about 2:20 p.m., an arson fire gutted St. Philip Benizi. Masses moved first to Orangethorpe United Methodist Church and Servite High School, then to a "circus tent" in the parking lot, then to a steel "tent-like" structure on the school grounds. After diocesan and city approvals the rectory and burned church were demolished and a 1,000-seat sanctuary was built on the corner of Pine and Valencia, dedicated by Bishop Tod Brown on March 12, 2005.
Homeless Outreach & Pandemic Years (2017–2023)
The parish became a regional focal point during the homelessness crisis, with up to 37 people sleeping on its grounds at peak, prompting the City of Fullerton to address the issue citywide. St. Philip Benizi is recognized throughout the City, County and Diocese as a place where the poor are heard and defended. During COVID-19 the parish added two new prayer spaces — the Chapel of Undisclosed Location and the St. Joseph Courtyard — and continued as a hub of charitable outreach and a friend to immigrants, while also joining the local Interfaith community.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by the Servite Order. Fr. Dennis Kriz, O.S.M. serves as pastor, with Fr. Sebastian Mulu, O.S.M. as parochial vicar. In residence are Rev. Gerald Horan, O.S.M. and Rev. David D. Gallegos, O.S.M. (also identified as Pastor Emeritus, retired). Five deacons assist: John Lee, Jose Antonio Luna, Richard Doubledee, Isidro Sesmas and Richard Glaudini. The parish staff includes Luz Mireya Moreno (Parish Business Manager), Joe Rubio (Music / Liturgy Coordinator and RCIA contact), Imelda Pribe (Confirmation Coordinator), Marivel Alvarado (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd) and Benjamin Vega (parish ministries contact), along with maintenance staff and a parish receptionist.
Faith Formation & Sacraments
St. Philip Benizi runs an extensive Faith Formation program in both English and Spanish. Children's sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion uses a two-year, family-catechesis model; an alternative path is the Montessori-based "Catechesis of the Good Shepherd," offered in both languages. Teen Confirmation is a separate two-year program with parent sessions in English and Spanish. Year-round RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) prepares unbaptized adults and adults from other Christian communities, with sacraments typically received at the Easter Vigil; already-Catholic adults preparing for First Communion or Confirmation take courses in Fall and Winter, with reception usually at Pentecost. A separate Indonesian-language track is available for the Indonesian Catholic community.
- Baptism of Infants and Children (Deacon team)
- Baptism of Children 6+ and Teens (two-year program)
- RCIA — Adults (English & Spanish)
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — two-year family catechesis (English & Spanish)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — Montessori model (English & Spanish)
- Confirmation for Teens — two-year program with parent sessions
- Adult Confirmation & First Communion — Fall and Winter courses; reception at Pentecost
- Marriage Preparation
Ministries & Get Involved
Parish life is organized around a broad slate of ministries and devotional groups. Liturgical roles are filled by English- and Spanish-speaking Altar Servers (overseen by Deacons Doubledee and Luna) and an Environment Committee. Pastoral care is offered through Extraordinary Ministers who bring Holy Communion to the sick, plus Adoración Nocterna and a Bible Study group. Outreach is anchored by the St. Vincent de Paul conference (with its own phone line) and the parish's longstanding ministry to immigrants and the homeless. Cultural and family groups include the Filipino Ministry, the Indonesian Catholic community, RCIA (inquiry welcome year-round) and a Youth Ministry staffed by Fr. Sebastian Mulu, O.S.M.
- Adoración Nocturna
- Altar Servers (English & Spanish)
- Baptism Team
- Bible Study
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Confirmation Coordinator
- Environment Committee
- Extraordinary Ministers / Visitation to the Sick
- Faith Formation / Catechists
- Filipino Ministry
- Liturgy / Music Coordination
- Marriage Preparation
- RCIA
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference
- Youth Ministry
Outreach & Social Justice
Outreach is core to the parish's identity. The St. Vincent de Paul conference operates from the parish (phone 714-871-9317) and supports neighbors in need. Between 2017 and 2019 the parish became a known refuge for unhoused individuals, with up to 37 sheltered on its grounds at peak, prompting a community-wide response to homelessness. Longstanding ministry to immigrants and recent engagement with the local Interfaith community are described by the parish as central to its mission of being "a place welcome to all people of good will."
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference (714-871-9317)
- Homeless advocacy and shelter partnerships
- Immigrant ministry
- Interfaith community involvement
About the Parish
Mission: "We, the Catholic Community of St. Philip Benizi, enriched by our cultural diversity, recognize, accept, and respond to the call to live the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We are nourished through Word and Sacrament, energized through participation in various ministries and social gatherings, and compassionately serve our brothers and sisters in need." The parish is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange (Deanery 3) and is staffed by the Servite Order.
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
Parish office: 235 S. Pine Drive, Fullerton, CA 92833. Main phone 714-871-3610; after-hours emergency line 714-277-5590. Office hours posted as Tuesday–Friday 9:00 AM – Noon and 1:00 – 4:00 PM (one page also lists Mon–Fri 9 AM–12 PM / 1–6 PM and Sat 9 AM–12 PM). Weekends and (per one schedule) Mondays closed. General email [email protected].
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Manettus L. Ortmann, O.S.M.January 1958 –
Founding pastor; led the parish from its first Mass at the Merilark Roller Rink through the dedication of the original church on August 23, 1959.
- Fr. David D. Gallegos, O.S.M.circa 2000–2001
Performed the first wedding in the parish tent after the 2000 arson fire, per Orange County Register coverage.