St. Rocco Parish

Parish Identity and Mission

St. Rocco Catholic Church — known to its Spanish-speaking members as Iglesia San Roque — was established by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as the first national Hispanic parish in the archdiocese, specifically serving the Hispanic community of southern Chester County and the surrounding region. Unlike a territorial parish, which is assigned by geographic boundaries, a national parish is set up to serve a particular ethnic or linguistic community. The parish's stated mission is to evangelize and strengthen the faith of Hispanics in a stable manner that lets them identify with the local church in a language and culture that is welcoming and accessible, reaching families through bilingual staff, social-services outreach, faith formation for youth, and adult involvement in the life of the Church.

History: From 1970 Mission to 2010 Parish

The community that became St. Rocco began in 1970, when roughly twenty Spanish-speaking families organized themselves and began petitioning the Archdiocese for their own parish. Spanish-language Catholic outreach in Chester County was originally launched by Fathers Charles Kennedy and James Catagnus across five existing parishes: St. Patrick (Kennett Square), St. Gabriel (New Garden Township), Assumption B.V.M. (West Grove), Sacred Heart (Oxford), and Our Lady of Consolation (Parkesburg). Monsignor Frank Depman joined the work in 1990 as chaplain of the resulting mission, Misión Santa María, Madre de Dios. In 2006, banker Rocco Abessinio stepped forward with the seed gift that made a permanent home possible; the new 500-seat Mission-style church on Sunny Dell Road was dedicated on the feast of St. Rocco, August 16, 2010.

• 1970 — Hispanic families begin organized outreach in Chester County
• Pre-1990 — Fr. Charles Kennedy and Fr. James Catagnus begin Spanish-language Masses across five parishes
• 1990 — Monsignor Francis J. Depman joins as chaplain
• 2006 — Rocco Abessinio funds the construction of a dedicated church
• August 16, 2010 — Mission elevated to a full national Hispanic parish; dedication attended by ~3,000

Clergy, Religious, and Staff

The parish is led by founding pastor Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Depman (officially in residence at Assumption B.V.M., West Grove) and parochial vicar Rev. Andrés García Arambula, a native Mexican priest (in residence at St. Patrick, Kennett Square). A team of four religious sisters from the Sisters, Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara carries out evangelization and catechesis: Hna. Stella Maris serves as Director of Religious Education (DRE), alongside Hna. Lacrimosa, Hna. María del Sacro Monte, and Hna. María del Río Blanco; Hna. Juanita Houtman serves as founding counselor and Madre María del Cenáculo is superior of the Convento N.S. de Guadalupe.

• Pastoral team: Monsignor Depman (Pastor), Fr. Andrés García Arambula (Parochial Vicar)
• Religious sisters (Sisters, Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara): Sr. Stella Maris (DRE), Sr. Lacrimosa, Sr. María del Sacro Monte, Sr. María del Río Blanco, Sr. Juanita Houtman, Madre María del Cenáculo
• Parish secretaries: Sra. Ismaela Vázquez, Sra. Jazmin Moreno
• Outreach and social services: Margarita Rojas (Temporary Services), María Mata (Social Services)
• Finance: Cynthia C. DeStafney (Business / Financial Administrator)

Faith Formation: CCD and RCIA

The parish runs an extensive CCD / Catecismo program that serves around 1,200 children, making it one of the largest catechetical programs in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Six parish school buses transport students to classes. The program is directed by Sister Stella Maris, with classes held at the Parish Center and at Sacred Heart school in the Oxford area. RCIA / RICA classes for unbaptized youth and adults are held Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM at the Parish Center.

• Director of Religious Education: Hna. Stella Maris ([email protected])
• Classes serve ~1,200 children, transported in six parish school buses
• Adult and youth RCIA / RICA — Tuesdays 7:00 PM at the Parish Center
• Catecismo classes during the school year at the Parish Center and at Sacred Heart (Oxford)

Parish Ministries and Groups

St. Rocco supports a wide range of Hispanic devotional and pastoral groups that meet at the Parish Center. These include a weekly Círculo de Oración (Prayer Circle), a monthly Comité Guadalupana, a weekly Legion of Mary, a Pre-Cana team that organizes marriage-preparation retreats, a Pastoral Council that meets monthly, a quarterly Finance Committee, and a pastoral team that assists the priests. The parish also hosts a council of the Knights of Columbus (Caballeros de Colón), which meets monthly at the Parish Center.

• Círculo de Oración (weekly)
• Comité Guadalupana (monthly)
• Legión de María (weekly)
• Equipo de Pre-Cana (monthly)
• Caballeros de Colón — Knights of Columbus council
• Comité Pastoral de la Parroquia (monthly)
• Comité Financiero (quarterly)
• Equipo Pastoral de la Parroquia

Outreach and Social Services

Outreach to migrant and low-income families in the region's mushroom-farm camps is a central part of the parish's identity. The former Misión Santa María, Madre de Dios now functions as the parish Donation Center at 29 Gap Newport Pike, Avondale (610-268-1515). Margarita Rojas directs temporary-services outreach and María Mata directs social services, supported by bilingual parish secretaries. The parish welcomes tax-deductible donations to sustain this ministry.

• Misión Santa María, Madre de Dios — Donation Center, 29 Gap Newport Pike, Avondale (610-268-1515)
• Directora de Servicios Temporales — Margarita Rojas
• Directora de Servicios Sociales — María Mata
• Bilingual parish secretaries assist with access to services

Architecture and Facilities

The 500-seat church on Sunny Dell Road was built in a Spanish Mission style reminiscent of California's Mission San Juan Capistrano. The complex includes the church itself, the Parish Center / Saint Rocco Center at 9016 Gap Newport Pike (which serves as the parish offices and CCD classrooms), and the Convento N.S. de Guadalupe at 420 Auburn Rd., Avondale (610-268-0675). The church, meeting room, and restrooms are ADA compliant: entrances, curb cuts, ramps, accessible parking (with van-accessible spaces and signage), restrooms adapted for wheelchair users, and an assistive listening system for the hard of hearing are all in place.

• Spanish Mission architecture inspired by Mission San Juan Capistrano
• 500-seat sanctuary
• Parish Center / Saint Rocco Center — 9016 Gap Newport Pike
• Convento N.S. de Guadalupe — 420 Auburn Rd., Avondale (610-268-0675)
• ADA-accessible church, meeting rooms, restrooms, and parking
• Assistive Listening Device (ALD) for hearing-impaired parishioners

Diocesan and Deanery Information

St. Rocco belongs to the Deanery of Chester County West — Parishes with Hispanic Apostolate within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. As a national Hispanic parish, it draws Spanish-speaking Catholics from across the geographic boundaries of St. Patrick (Kennett Square), St. Gabriel (New Garden Township), Assumption B.V.M. (West Grove), Sacred Heart (Oxford), and Our Lady of Consolation (Parkesburg). Pastoral care at those parishes is closely coordinated with St. Rocco's clergy, which is why Monsignor Depman is officially in residence at Assumption B.V.M. and Fr. Andrés at St. Patrick.

• Deanery: Chester County West — Parishes with Hispanic Apostolate
• Partners: St. Patrick (Kennett Square), St. Gabriel (New Garden Twp.), Assumption B.V.M. (West Grove), Sacred Heart (Oxford), Our Lady of Consolation (Parkesburg)
• Pastor officially in residence at Assumption B.V.M., West Grove
• Parochial Vicar in residence at St. Patrick, Kennett Square

Visiting and Getting Involved

Visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Rocco, and Mass is offered in Spanish throughout the week with an English option on Sunday morning. Confessions are heard before and during every Mass. Families interested in enrolling children in CCD, adults seeking the sacraments of initiation through RCIA, engaged couples preparing for marriage, or anyone needing social-services help are encouraged to contact the Parish Center at 9016 Gap Newport Pike (mailing address) or call 610-268-3365. Volunteers and donors are welcomed across ministries including catechesis, the Knights of Columbus, the Círculo de Oración, the Comité Guadalupana, the Donation Center, and social-services outreach to the region's migrant families.

• Mass schedule: Saturday Vigil 6:00 PM; Sundays 8:45 AM English plus four Spanish Masses; daily Masses Mon–Fri at 12:00 PM and 6:30 PM
• Confession before and during every Mass
• Contact: 610-268-3365 / [email protected] / 9016 Gap Newport Pike (mail), 333 Sunny Dell Rd. (church)
• Volunteer opportunities: catechesis, Knights of Columbus, prayer and Marian groups, social-services outreach