About St. Rose of Lima · Safford, Arizona
St. Rose of Lima is a Roman Catholic parish in Safford, Arizona, part of the Diocese of Tucson. It anchors five Catholic communities across Arizona's Gila Valley under Pastor Rev. Nicodemus Shaghel, V.C., including its main church on Central Avenue in Safford, a Newman Center at Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Solomon, and mission communities in Pima and San Jose. The parish offers daily Mass, a full weekend schedule with three Sunday Masses plus a Saturday Vigil, and a robust slate of ministries — St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, Cursillo, religious education K–8, and three parish choirs — serving the rural communities of western Graham County.
- Established
- 1937
- Patron
- St. Rose of Lima
- Rector
- Reverend Nicodemus Shaghel, V.C.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tucson
Why belong here
St. Rose of Lima offers a deeply rooted rural Catholic community with daily Mass, three Sunday Masses, a Saturday Vigil, confession several times a week, daily Eucharistic adoration and Divine Mercy Chaplet, and a robust Religious Education program for grades K–8. The parish is also the hub of a wider Catholic family across the Gila Valley — with active St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus #4260, Catholic Daughters of America Court #2398, and Cursillo chapters — making it an ideal place to belong, serve, and grow in faith.
Mass times at St. Rose of Lima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM (after the 8:00 AM Mass)
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
- Saturday: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Adoration times
- Weekdays: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM — Daily Divine Mercy Chaplet in the Chapel
Parish History
The original church of St. Rose of Lima Parish was constructed by the parishioners themselves between 1925 and 1927. In 1937 western Graham County was designated a separate parish with St. Rose of Lima as headquarters, with Rev. J.N. Patterson as the first pastor. A succession of pastors — Rev. B.P. O'oyle, Rev. P.M. Larocque, and Rev. Martin C. Kelly — guided steady growth. The present Catholic Center site was acquired in 1950, and on August 12, 1962, Father Kelly broke ground for the new church; the first Mass there was celebrated on Easter Sunday, April 14, 1963.
- 1925 – Construction of original church begins
- 1927 – Original church dedicated
- 1937 – Western Graham County designated as a separate parish; Rev. J.N. Patterson first pastor
- 1938 – Rev. B.P. O'oyle arrives; serves 10 years
- 1948 – Rev. P.M. Larocque appointed pastor
- 1950 – Site of present Catholic Center acquired
- March 1961 – Rev. Martin C. Kelly assumes pastoral duties
- Fall 1961 – Sisters of the Eucharistic Missionaries of St. Dominic arrive for catechetical work
- August 12, 1962 – Groundbreaking for new church
- April 14, 1963 (Easter Sunday) – First Mass in new church
- July 2018 – Rev. Nicodemus Shaghel, V.C. installed as pastor
Our Staff
St. Rose of Lima is served by a pastor and deacon, supported by parish office and maintenance staff, and overseen by a Board of Directors.
- Reverend Nicodemus Shaghel, V.C. — Pastor (928-428-4920)
- Deacon Carl Vessels, Ph.D. — Parish Clergy
- Sara Garcia-Hott — Office Manager (928-424-4901)
- Carla Vessels — Administrative Assistant (928-428-4920; [email protected])
- Concepcion "Chono" Aranda — Maintenance Tech
- James Gersitz — Compliance (928-424-4903)
- Madonna Kvale — Director of Religious Education (928-348-4785 / 928-965-5223)
- Bishop Gerald Kicanas — Diocesan Bishop
- Reverend John Arnold — Vice President, Board of Directors
- Caro Gaethje — Treasurer, Board of Directors
- Margaret Vidales — Secretary, Board of Directors
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The parish Religious Education (CCD) program serves children in Kindergarten through 8th grade, with a graduated class schedule and an annual registration each August. Children preparing to receive First Reconciliation and First Eucharist must be attending Mass weekly, completing RE classes, and learning the core prayers. The program is led by Director of Religious Education Madonna Kvale.
- Director of Religious Education: Madonna Kvale (928-348-4785 or 928-965-5223 after 3 PM)
- Registration: held after all Masses on August 10 in Room St. Mark
- Kinder & 1st Grade — Monday 4:00–5:15 PM
- 2nd & 3rd Grade — Tuesday 4:00–5:15 PM
- 4th & 5th Grade — Wednesday 4:00–5:15 PM
- 6th, 7th & 8th Grade — Monday 7:00–8:15 PM
- Pima 1st–4th Grade — Thursday 4:00–5:15 PM at St. Martin de Porres
- Required prayers: Sign of the Cross, Glory Be, Hail Mary, Our Father, 7 Sacraments, Ten Commandments, Act of Contrition, and format for Penance/Reconciliation
- Fee: $35 first child per family (waivers available)
Music Ministries
Three parish choirs support liturgy at St. Rose of Lima, providing music for English, Spanish, and youth celebrations.
- English Choir — Marvin Rios
- Spanish Choir — Lupe Munoz
- Youth Choir — Jane Villalba
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve in a wide variety of liturgical roles that ensure the Mass is celebrated with reverence and beauty. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion also bring the Eucharist to the sick and homebound; the homebound ministry is led by Veta Estrada.
- Sacristans
- Altar Servers
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Music Ministers
- Extraordinary Ministers to the Homebound — led by Veta Estrada
Parish Organizations & Outreach
St. Rose of Lima is home to several long-standing Catholic organizations that combine faith, fellowship, and service to the wider Gila Valley community.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — 928-428-0460
- Knights of Columbus Msgr. Timmermans Council #4260 — founded 1959; Grand Knight Paul Dube; meets 1st Wednesday at 6 PM; named after Msgr. Peter Timmermans, Vicar of St. Augustine Cathedral, Tucson, in the early 1940s
- Catholic Daughters of America — Court Saint Rose of Lima #2398 — funds scholarships, sponsors a child in Colombia, supports the Mt. Graham Safe House, St. Vincent de Paul, hospice, and the Lions Club gas cards for cancer patients traveling to Tucson or Phoenix
- Cursillo
- Pastoral Council
- Finance Council / Board of Directors
Mission Communities Across the Gila Valley
St. Rose of Lima Parish anchors a family of Catholic communities across the Gila Valley, sharing its pastor and weekly bulletin while each operates independently with its own parish office.
- Main church — St. Rose of Lima, 311 S Central Ave, Safford
- Newman Center — Eastern Arizona College, 3592 4th St., Thatcher (Tuesday 11 AM Mass when college is in session)
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish & Shrine — Solomon (united with St. Rose of Lima; Sunday 9:30 AM Mass)
- St. Martin de Porres Mission — Pima (50 S Main St., Pima, AZ 85543)
- Mission community in San Jose
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, email, or in person. The office and gift shop are located on the west side of the church at 311 S Central Avenue.
- Address: 311 S Central Ave, Safford, AZ 85546
- Phone: 928-428-4920
- Fax: 928-428-4922
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Website: http://www.saintroselima-safford.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. J.N. Patterson1937
First pastor when western Graham County was designated a separate parish with St. Rose of Lima as headquarters.
- Rev. B.P. O'oyle1938–~1948
Succeeded Patterson and served for 10 years; oversaw steady growth of parish census and activities.
- Rev. P.M. Larocque1948
Appointed pastor; acquired the site of the present Catholic Center in 1950.
- Rev. Martin C. KellyMarch 1961
Presided over groundbreaking for the new church on August 12, 1962; welcomed the Sisters of the Eucharistic Missionaries of St. Dominic for the catechetical program in fall 1961.
- Rev. Nicodemus Shaghel, V.C.July 2018–present
Assigned July 1, 2018; officially took up duties July 7, 2018; previously served at Immaculate Conception in Yuma and for seven years in Nigeria.