About St. Rose of Lima · Paso Robles, California
St. Rose of Lima is a Roman Catholic parish in Paso Robles, California, in the Diocese of Monterey in California. The parish's mission statement describes it as 'a Eucharistic, Christ-centered, Spirit-filled, Roman Catholic community committed to living a sacramental life of prayer, service and stewardship.' It serves a bilingual community with Masses in both English and Spanish, operates a Pre-K through 8th-grade Catholic school (St. Rose Catholic School), and runs 24-hour Perpetual Adoration in St. Joseph's Chapel next to the parish office on Trigo Lane.
- Established
- 1922
- Patron
- St. Rose of Lima
- Rector
- Rev. Rodolfo Contreras
- Diocese
- Diocese of Monterey in California
Why belong here
St. Rose of Lima offers a richly bilingual Catholic life on California's Central Coast: four Sunday Masses (two in English, two in Spanish), a daily Mass Monday through Saturday, 24-hour Perpetual Adoration in St. Joseph's Chapel, and a parish school serving students of all faiths from Pre-K through eighth grade. The community is small enough that newcomers are quickly known by name, yet large enough to sustain a school, a music ministry welcoming instrumentalists and cantors, an active Men's Ministry, altar servers, ushers, and ongoing faith formation. If you are looking for an established parish with deep Paso Robles roots — going back to a wooden church hauled over the Cuesta Grade in 1890 — and a present-day mission centered on the Eucharist, service, and stewardship, St. Rose of Lima is worth a visit.
Mass times at St. Rose of Lima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday after the 8:00 AM Mass
- By appointment
Adoration times
- 24 hours a day in St. Joseph's Chapel (Perpetual Adoration — currently open to scheduled adorers; call to sign up for a regular hour)
Parish History
Catholic worship in Paso Robles goes back to 1890, when a small wooden church was built on a donated lot at 15th and Park. The parish was formally established in 1922 when Father Leo J. Foin was appointed the first pastor. He purchased the cemetery land (1922), the 13th & Vine property (1922), built the rectory (1925), and physically relocated the church building to its current site in 1926. A succession of pastors has served the parish ever since — see the pastor history above.
- 1890 — first small wooden Catholic church built; lumber hauled by horse teams from Port San Luis over the Cuesta Grade.
- 1892 — earliest parish records; Doctor Woehl the first child baptized.
- 1899–1903 — Father Peter O'Reilly of San Miguel Mission celebrates Saturday Masses in Paso Robles.
- 1908 — Rev. William Power establishes a parish residence; Bishop Conaty of Monterey visits.
- November 11, 1921 — Paso Robles separated from San Miguel Mission.
- 1922 — Father Leo J. Foin becomes first pastor.
- 1925 — two-story wooden rectory completed at 13th & Vine.
- 1926 — church building physically relocated to its present 13th & Vine site.
- 1930 — Father Foin dies in San Jose on July 18; Father Leo Beacon succeeds him.
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry serves the entire parish, both English and Spanish Masses. Trained cantors and accompanists (organ, keyboard, guitar) lead sung liturgy, and the ministry welcomes additional musicians — woodwinds, strings, brass, and percussion — to enhance congregational singing. The stated mission is to 'bring people to God through the inspirations provided by composers of all genres.'
- Cantors and accompanists (organ, keyboard, guitar).
- Welcomes instrumentalists: woodwinds, strings, brass, percussion.
- Serves both English and Spanish Masses.
- Coordinator: Mary Alvarado — (805) 238-2218 ext. 208, [email protected].
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is offered in both English and Spanish, with separate coordinators for each. Programs include ongoing religious education for children, First Communion preparation, Youth Confirmation, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA / OCIA) for adults and adapted for children and teens. Inquiries go through the parish office.
- Religious Education Coordinator (English): Diane Mariscal, ext. 143.
- Religious Education Coordinator (Spanish): Alejandra Mariscal, ext. 154.
- Youth Confirmation Coordinator: Jeanne Olsen, ext. 150.
- RCIA / OCIA — contact the parish office at (805) 238-2218.
St. Rose Catholic School
Saint Rose Catholic School is a parish school offering a 'whole-person approach to knowledge, spirituality and character development,' open to students of all faiths from Pre-K through eighth grade. The school has its own principal, vice principal, preschool director, campus ministry, and extended care program, and is supported by the parish and the Diocese of Monterey's Office of the Superintendent of Schools.
- Grades: Preschool (PS) through 8th grade, coed.
- Mailing/campus address: 900 Tucker Avenue, Paso Robles, CA 93446 (office) — 820 Creston Road (church campus).
- Principal: Trevor Knable.
- Phone: (805) 238-0304; Fax: (805) 238-7393.
- Email: [email protected].
- Website: saintrosecatholicschool.org.
- Canonical Pastor: Rev. Rodolfo Contreras.
Parish Ministries & Groups
Beyond Music and Faith Formation, the parish sustains several lay-led ministries that keep weekend liturgies running smoothly and offer fellowship opportunities for parishioners.
- Usher Ministry — welcomes newcomers and regulars at Mass.
- Altar Servers — assist the celebrant at liturgy (training provided).
- Men's Ministry — meets the second Monday of every month at 6 PM in the Adult Learning Center for prayer and fellowship.
- Adult Learning Center — hosts parish meetings and faith discussions.
Parish Cemetery
St. Rose of Lima operates its own parish cemetery, located on a hill above the Paso Robles Cemetery District at the junction of Nacimiento Lake Drive and Mountain Springs Road in northwest Paso Robles. The fifteen-acre parcel was purchased by founding pastor Father Leo J. Foin on April 2, 1922, less than a year after the parish was separated from Mission San Miguel.
- Acres: 15.
- Location: junction of Nacimiento Lake Drive and Mountain Springs Road, northwest Paso Robles.
- Purchased: April 2, 1922 by Father Leo J. Foin.
Clergy, Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by a pastor with the assistance of a parochial vicar and two deacons. The lay staff handles parish administration, religious education in both languages, music, and youth ministry. St. Rose Catholic School has its own administrative team working alongside the parish.
- Pastor: Rev. Rodolfo Contreras.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Raphael Reniva.
- In Residence: Very Rev. Miguel Grajeda.
- Deacons: Dcn. David Vargas, Dcn. Manuel Espinoza.
- Office Manager: Claudia Navarro (ext. 132, [email protected]).
- Administrative Assistants: Kathie Malloy (ext. 134), Arinda Miller (ext. 152).
- Religious Education — English: Diane Mariscal (ext. 143); Spanish: Alejandra Mariscal (ext. 154).
- Youth Confirmation: Jeanne Olsen (ext. 150).
Sacraments & Devotions
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Mass and Reconciliation are scheduled weekly; Baptisms, Weddings, Anointing of the Sick, First Communion, and Confirmation are prepared for and celebrated throughout the year. For information about weddings, baptisms, and RCIA, contact the parish office at (805) 238-2218.
- Mass (daily and Sunday, English & Spanish).
- Reconciliation (Saturday after 8 AM Mass or by appointment).
- Baptism — by arrangement through the parish office.
- Marriage — by arrangement through the parish office.
- Anointing of the Sick — by request.
- First Communion — preparation through Faith Formation.
- Confirmation — Youth and Adult (RCIA) tracks.
- Perpetual Adoration — 24 hours in St. Joseph's Chapel.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Leo J. Foin1922–1930
Founding pastor; oversaw purchase of cemetery and 13th & Vine property, built the rectory, and relocated the church building to its current site. Died in office on July 18, 1930.
- Rev. Leo J. Beacon1930–1939
Continued building up the parish; began the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in 1935.
- Rev. Patrick Leddy1939–1940
- Rt. Rev. Michael Sullivan1940–1954
- Rev. Timothy Cummins1954–1956
- Rev. Patrick E. Flood1956–1960
- Rev. Brendan McGuinness1960–1969
- Rev. Msgr. James Marron1969–1974
- Rev. Douglas F. Keating1974–1991
- Rev. James P. Henry1991–1996
- Sr. Maris Stella O'Loghlen, R.S.M.1996 (Administrator)
Religious Sister who administered the parish.
- Rev. Derek Hughes1997–2004
- Rev. Michael Volk2004–2007
- Rev. Wayne Dawson2007–2011
- Rev. Roberto Vera2011–2017
- Rev. James Henry2017 (Administrator)
Diocesan administrator during the transition.
- Rev. Rodolfo Contreras2017–present
Current pastor; also serves as canonical pastor of St. Rose Catholic School.