About St. Stephen Mission · Big Pine, California
St. Stephen Mission is a small Roman Catholic mission church serving the community of Big Pine, California, in the Owens Valley of the Eastern Sierra Nevada. It is administered as a mission of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Bishop, roughly 25 km to the northwest, and falls under the Diocese of Fresno. The mission offers weekend Mass for local parishioners and is supported by Father John Gracey, pastor of the parent parish, and the broader OLPH community.
- Patron
- St. Stephen
- Rector
- Father John Gracey
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fresno
Why belong here
St. Stephen Mission brings the Eucharist to the small Catholic community of Big Pine with a regular weekend Mass, while connecting parishioners to the wider life of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Bishop. Through that parish, members have access to confession, Eucharistic adoration, daily Mass, religious education, the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul Society, pro-life ministry, a soup kitchen, and a bereavement group. It is an ideal parish home for those living in Big Pine and the surrounding Eastern Sierra who want a faithful Catholic community without having to travel to Bishop.
Mass times at St. Stephen Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
About St. Stephen Mission
St. Stephen Mission is a Roman Catholic mission church at 461 S Main Street in Big Pine, California, serving the Catholics of Big Pine and the surrounding Eastern Sierra community in Inyo County. It is a mission of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) parish in Bishop and is part of the Diocese of Fresno. Because it is a mission rather than a standalone parish, its sacramental and pastoral life is closely tied to the priest and programs of OLPH Bishop, while still offering a regular weekend Mass in Big Pine itself.
- Type: Catholic mission church
- Diocese: Diocese of Fresno
- Parent parish: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bishop, CA
- Vicariate: High Desert Vicariate
History of the Mission
The Catholic presence in the Owens Valley dates back more than a century; the parent parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Bishop traces its origins to 1910, when Mass began to be celebrated in a mission church there. The Bishop parish was formally established in 1947, and the current OLPH church was built in 1970. As the Catholic community expanded south along Highway 395 through the small towns of the valley, St. Stephen Mission was established to serve Big Pine and remains a mission church under the pastoral care of OLPH Bishop today.
- Catholic life in Bishop: Mass began in a mission church in 1910
- OLPH parish formally established: 1947
- Current OLPH church built: 1970
- St. Stephen Mission continues as part of the OLPH family of missions
Parish Staff and Clergy
As a dependent mission, St. Stephen Mission is served by the priests of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Bishop. The current pastor is Father John Gracey, who was ordained to the priesthood in 1993 and grew up in a military family. He is known for reverent, faithful preaching, and his homilies are published on the parish website.
- Father John Gracey — Pastor (ordained 1993)
- Parish office: (760) 872-7231
Ministries and Parish Life
Parish ministries and faith formation are coordinated through the parent parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Bishop. The community is active in service, prayer, and fellowship, with several established groups and outreach efforts. There is no parish school, but religious education classes are offered.
- Knights of Columbus
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Pro-life ministry
- Soup kitchen
- Bereavement group
- Religious education classes
- Morning prayer, Monday–Friday, 7:15 AM (OLPH)
- Evening prayer, Monday–Friday, 5:15 PM (OLPH)
Visiting and Belonging
St. Stephen Mission warmly welcomes visitors and newcomers to the Big Pine area and the wider Eastern Sierra. Whether you are a long-time resident, a seasonal visitor to the Sierra, or passing through on Highway 395, you are invited to join the parish family for Mass and sacramental life, and to become part of the broader Our Lady of Perpetual Help community through its ministries and devotional life.
- All are welcome at weekend Mass
- Parishioners are encouraged to join ministries at OLPH Bishop
- Faith formation and sacramental preparation available through the parent parish