About St. Rose of Lima · Chula Vista, California
St. Rose of Lima is a Roman Catholic parish in Chula Vista, California, belonging to the Catholic Diocese of San Diego. Founded in 1921 by Rev. Michael Egan with 25 families, it was the first Catholic church established in Chula Vista. Today it serves roughly 5,500 registered families through nearly 20 Masses each week in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language. The parish runs a K–8 school, a preschool, Daniel's Den, a Religious Education program, all-day Friday Adoration, Saturday confessions, and more than 30 ministries — all committed to helping parishioners grow in their life with Christ.
- Established
- 1921
- Patron
- St. Rose of Lima
- Rector
- Fr. Miguel Campos
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
St. Rose of Lima is a vibrant, multicultural Catholic community of roughly 5,500 families in the heart of downtown Chula Vista. It offers daily and weekend Masses in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language; all-day Adoration on Fridays and Saturday-morning Confessions; and more than 30 ministries covering youth, young adults, families, seniors, the deaf community, and outreach to the homeless through the Sister Dolores Outreach Program. Add a K–8 school, preschool, Daniel's Den, Religious Education, RCIA, and year-round retreats, and St. Rose is a parish designed to walk with you and your family at every stage of faith.
Mass times at St. Rose of Lima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday morning (per parish website)
Adoration times
- All-day Adoration on Fridays
History of St. Rose of Lima Parish
Founded in February 1921 by Bishop John J. Cantwell of the Diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles at the request of South Bay Catholics, St. Rose of Lima became the first Catholic parish in Chula Vista. The first church, an abandoned building relocated by horse-drawn carriage from Palm City to Third Avenue and Alvarado Street, was dedicated Sept. 18, 1921, seating 120. A larger 450-seat church replaced it in 1950 (dedicated Nov. 26), and the current 875-seat church was dedicated Dec. 20, 1965, on the same H Street site. The parish school opened Sept. 13, 1948. The parish marked its 100th anniversary in 2021 with the theme 'Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future.'
- Founded 1921 by Rev. Michael Egan with 25 families
- First church dedicated Sept. 18, 1921 (120 seats)
- Second church dedicated Nov. 26, 1950 (450 seats)
- St. Rose of Lima School opened Sept. 13, 1948
- Current church dedicated Dec. 20, 1965 (875 seats)
- Centennial celebrated in 2021
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
The parish is currently served by Fr. Miguel Campos as Pastor, with Fr. Mario Vesga and Fr. Ernesto Torres among the priests in residence or associate roles. Fr. Eric Tamayo was associate pastor as of the 2021 centennial. The diaconal team includes John Gabbard, Juan Buenrostro, and Adrianna Ceja Melvin. Lay staff support faith formation, youth ministry, communications, the parish/school business office, religious education front desk, music, and IT/network administration.
- Fr. Miguel Campos — Pastor
- Fr. Mario Vesga — Associate Pastor / Resident Priest
- Fr. Ernesto Torres — Priest
- Fr. Eric Tamayo — Associate Pastor (2021)
- Deacon John Gabbard (parishioner since 1983)
- Deacon Juan Buenrostro
- Deacon Adrianna Ceja Melvin
- David Zamudio — Youth Faith Formation / Young Adult / Communications Coordinator
- Jackie Carmona — Religious Ed Front Desk
- Joseph Advento & Josephine Dana Advento — parish family / centennial committee
- Maly Vargas — Office Admin
- Cory Chavez — parish staff
Liturgical and Spiritual-Growth Ministries
Parishioners serve at Mass as Altar Servers (open to children in 4th grade and above who have made First Communion), Ushers and Greeters (Ministers of Hospitality), and Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound. Spiritual-growth groups include the Legion of Mary, Heart of Mary, Cursillo, Men's and Women's Retreats, the Altar & Rosary Society, Reflexiones Bíblicas, CCD, Marriage Ministry, and Engaged in Love.
- Altar Servers
- Ushers & Greeters (Ministers of Hospitality)
- Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound
- Legion of Mary
- Heart of Mary
- Cursillo
- Men's & Women's Retreats
- Altar & Rosary Society
- Reflexiones Bíblicas
- CCD
- Marriage Ministry
- Engaged in Love
Social-Connection and Cultural Communities
St. Rose of Lima's Social Connection ministries knit together the parish's multicultural life. The Men of Joseph meet weekly to support spiritual fatherhood; the Filipino American Association (FASRL) fosters fellowship and the Filipino Catholic heritage; the Deaf Community gathers for a 10:00 AM Sunday Mass in the hall followed by lunch; the Comité Hispano and Guadalupanos (with a monthly 7:00 PM Mass on the 12th in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe) serve Spanish-speaking parishioners; and Young Adults, the 5-S Club, Seniors, and Italian Catholic Federation round out the parish's communal life.
- Men of Joseph (Men of St. Joseph)
- Filipino American Association (FASRL)
- Deaf Community (Sunday 10 AM Mass in the hall + lunch)
- Comité Hispano
- Guadalupanos (monthly Mass, 12th at 7 PM)
- Young Adults
- 5-S Club
- Seniors
- Italian Catholic Federation
Community Service and Outreach
Outreach is at the heart of parish life at St. Rose of Lima. The Sister Dolores Outreach Program — developed and dedicated to serving the poor — is supported by parishioners who collect day-old bread, bag food for distribution, provide fellowship to the homeless, and donate food and clothing to the parish pantry. Other service ministries include God's Helping Hands, Prison Ministry, Social Outreach, and Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound.
- Sister Dolores Outreach Program
- Day-old bread collection
- Food bagging for distribution
- Fellowship to the homeless
- Food and clothing pantry donations
- God's Helping Hands
- Prison Ministry
- Social Outreach
- Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound
Youth Ministry and Faith Formation
David Zamudio coordinates Youth Faith Formation, Young Adults, and Communications, with youth nights meeting Wednesdays 6–8 PM. The parish provides catechesis from children's CCD through Confirmation preparation, RCIA for adults, and ongoing adult Bible studies and sacramental preparation. The parish website links to a Confirmation packet and to the parish youth Instagram for ongoing updates.
- Youth Ministry — Wednesday nights 6–8 PM
- Confirmation preparation
- RCIA (becoming Catholic)
- CCD / Religious Education
- Adult Bible studies
- Young Adult ministry
St. Rose of Lima School and Preschool Programs
Located in the De Flores Center, St. Rose of Lima School is a K–8 Catholic school (the 'Lancers') offering a rich extracurricular life that includes Robotics/Coding, Tech Team, Academic Decathlon, Music Club, Lancers News Team, Sports (Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer), Cheerleaders, and Performing Arts. The parish also runs a Preschool Program for ages 3–4 and Daniel's Den, extending care and formation to the youngest parishioners. The school broadcasts its Mass via livestream.
- St. Rose of Lima School (K–8, 'Lancers')
- Robotics/Coding
- Tech Team
- Academic Decathlon
- Music Club
- Lancers News Team
- Sports — Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer
- Cheerleaders
- Performing Arts
- Preschool Program (ages 3–4)
- Daniel's Den
- Livestream Mass broadcasts from the school
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael Egan1921 (founding pastor)
First pastor; founded the parish with 25 families.
- Auxiliary Bishop John Dolan2002–2014
Later Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego; returned to celebrate the parish's centennial Mass on the feast of St. Rose of Lima, Aug. 29, 2021.
- Fr. Charles "Chuck" Fuld
Former pastor; editor emeritus of The Southern Cross; attended the 2021 centennial Mass.
- Fr. Miguel CamposPastor at 100th anniversary (2021)
Led the parish through the COVID-era centennial year.