About St. Stephen the First Martyr · Sacramento, California
St. Stephen the First Martyr is a Personal Parish of the Diocese of Sacramento, located in south Sacramento, California, and served by priests of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP). Established at its present location in 2002, the parish is the home of the Traditional Latin Mass community for the Sacramento capital region, drawing faithful from Davis, Elk Grove, Folsom, Woodland, and Roseville. The parish offers the traditional rites of the Catholic Church for Mass, the seven sacraments, and the Divine Office, in keeping with the Ecclesia Dei and Summorum Pontificum framework. A full parochial life — including multiple daily Masses, a robust schola, and numerous societies for men, women, youth, and children — supports a thriving community of families dedicated to the ancient liturgical traditions of Holy Mother Church.
- Established
- 2002
- Patron
- St. Stephen the First Martyr
- Rector
- Fr. Joshua Curtis, FSSP
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sacramento
Why belong here
St. Stephen the First Martyr offers Catholics in the Sacramento region a full traditional Latin Mass life: six Sunday Masses (including a Sung High Mass at 1:00 pm), three daily Masses, abundant confession times, the public recitation of the Divine Office, and a calendar of first-class feasts celebrated with Gregorian chant and polyphony. Parishioners of every age can join a society or apostolate — the Chesterton Society, Troops of Saint George, Little Flowers, Rosa Mystica, Sodality of the BVM, Altar Guild, Youth Group, Veritas young adults, Knights Penitent, the OLSW homeschool co-op, and a vibrant parish choir. As a personal parish of the Diocese of Sacramento, it welcomes families, visitors, and newcomers into a community that has been described by the diocese's bishop emeritus as 'a blessing for the Diocese of Sacramento.'
Mass times at St. Stephen the First Martyr
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 6:30 am & 5:30 pm
- Monday – Friday: 6:30 am, 11:30 am, 5:30 pm
- Saturday: 6:30 am, 8:00 am, 11:30 am
About the Parish
St. Stephen the First Martyr is a Personal Parish of the Diocese of Sacramento, served by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP). The Latin Mass community in the diocese has been served by the FSSP since 1997, and in 2002 the community moved to its current location in south Sacramento and was placed under the patronage of St. Stephen the First Martyr. The parish uses the traditional rites of the Catholic Church for Holy Mass, the Sacraments, other rituals, and the prayers of the Divine Office, following Ecclesia Dei Adflicta (Pope St. John Paul II) and Summorum Pontificum (Pope Benedict XVI). Bishop Emeritus William Weigand described the parish as 'a blessing for the Diocese of Sacramento,' and it draws faithful from across the capital region — Davis, Elk Grove, Folsom, Woodland, and Roseville.
- Personal Parish of the Diocese of Sacramento
- Served by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP)
- FSSP presence in Sacramento since 1997; established at current site in 2002
- Located at 5461 44th Street, Sacramento, CA 95820
Meet the Priests
The parish is currently served by four FSSP priests. Fr. Joshua Curtis, FSSP, serves as pastor; he began his studies at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, then transferred to Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Nebraska, where he was ordained in 2014. The parochial vicars are Fr. David Franco, FSSP (ordained 2015, having entered Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in 2008) and Fr. Evan Schwab, FSSP (entered Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in 2015, ordained 2022). Fr. Evaristus Eshiowu, FSSP, lives in residence; he was originally ordained in Nigeria in 1983 and incardinated with the FSSP in 2004 after five years of temporary incorporation.
- Fr. Joshua Curtis, FSSP — Pastor
- Fr. David Franco, FSSP — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Evan Schwab, FSSP — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Evaristus Eshiowu, FSSP — In Residence
The Divine Office and Devotions
In addition to Mass and confession, the parish publicly recites the Liturgy of the Hours, making it one of the few parishes in the region to do so on a daily basis. Terce, Sext, and Vespers are chanted in church on weekdays, with Vespers and Compline on Saturday. A wide range of traditional devotions punctuates the year: First Friday and First Saturday observances, a weekly Rosary for Priests, weekday Marian and Eucharistic devotions after Mass, the Fatima Procession in September, the Rorate Mass in Advent, Stations of the Cross and bread-and-soup meals in Lent, the Novena to St. Joseph in March, the Brown Scapular enrollment in July, and Enthronements to the Sacred Heart in June.
- Divine Office: Tue–Fri Terce 8:50 am, Sext 11:20 am, Vespers 5:00 pm
- Divine Office: Sat Sext 11:20 am, Vespers & Compline 5:00 pm
- First Friday devotions after all Masses
- First Saturday devotions (15 decades) after the 8:30 am Mass
- Weekly Rosary for Priests — last Saturday after 8:30 am Mass
- Fatima Procession in September
- Rorate Mass in Advent
- Stations of the Cross in Lent
Societies, Groups & Youth Apostolates
St. Stephen's supports an unusually broad range of parish societies for every age and interest. Girls' formation begins with Little Flowers (ages 5–8) and continues through Rosa Mystica (ages 9–13, the parish's largest girls' ministry, which crafts handmade baby items for Bishop Gallego's Maternity Home) and the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary (ages 14–18). Boys serve in the Altar Guild and Altar Guild Minor (ages 7–18) and the Troops of Saint George, Troop 750 (Catholic scouting ages 6–18). The high school Youth Group meets twice monthly for catechesis, Mass, fellowship, and priest-led conferences. Adults join Veritas (young adults 18–39), the Sacramento Chesterton Society (monthly reading/discussion since 2012), Knights Penitent (men's fraternity), the parish choir, and many service groups.
- Little Flowers — girls 5–8 (first Saturday)
- Rosa Mystica — girls 9–13 (first Saturday)
- Sodality of the BVM — girls 14–18 (first Saturday)
- Altar Guild & Altar Guild Minor — boys 7–18 (third Saturday)
- Troops of Saint George, Troop 750 — boys 6–18 (second Saturday)
- Youth Group — ages 14–18 (second & fourth Friday)
- Veritas Young Adults — ages 18–39 (third Tuesday)
- Chesterton Society — adults (second Tuesday, since 2012)
- Knights Penitent — adult men (regional meetings)
Sacred Music & Choir
Since the founding of St. Stephen the First Martyr, the parish choir has worked to honor and glorify God through music, singing for the 1:00 pm Sunday Mass, first-class feasts, weddings, Requiems, and other liturgies throughout the year. The choir rehearses on Thursday evenings and before each sung Mass, preparing full Gregorian propers, Gregorian or polyphonic ordinaries, sacred motets, and traditional hymns. Children interested in becoming choir members receive thorough musical formation based on the Kodály method, Edwin Gordon's Music Learning Theory, and other curricula, with several class levels meeting Thursday afternoons for ages 4 through high school. Each summer the parish hosts a Chant Camp for children ages 8–18.
- Choir sings the 1:00 pm Sunday Sung Mass, first-class feasts, weddings, and Requiems
- Thursday evening rehearsals
- Kodály- and Gordon-based children's music formation (ages 4–high school)
- Annual Chant Camp for children ages 8–18
Faith Formation: Catechism & Sacramental Prep
The parish runs a year-round catechetical program rooted in the traditional Latin Mass tradition. Adult Catechism classes meet on the second and fourth Thursday evenings, taught by Fr. Curtis, with recordings of the 2024–2025 series published online; the course is intended for prospective converts, Catholics completing their Sacraments of Initiation, and fully initiated Catholics seeking deeper formation. Confirmation Catechism begins each September. Children preparing for First Holy Communion take part in parish preparation, and a First Communicants' Recollection is held during Lent. In the spring of 2024 Fr. Curtis hosted a Marriage Workshop with seven lectures covering the theology, properties, and practical life of Christian marriage; those recordings remain available.
- Adult Catechism — second & fourth Thursday (Fr. Curtis)
- Confirmation Catechism — begins each September
- Marriage Workshop — seven lectures available online
- Recollection for First Communicants during Lent
Sermons, Lectures & Online Formation
Selected homilies, the Adult Catechism series, the Marriage Workshop, and other recordings are made available on the parish's website and YouTube channel. Fr. Curtis delivered sixteen lectures on the Catholic faith during the 2024–2025 Adult Catechism year, along with eleven supplemental texts. A separate parish workshop on Social Security and Infant Benefits was offered by parishioner Marci Arredondo, an attorney with experience in those areas.
- Adult Catechism 2024–2025 recordings (Fr. Curtis, sixteen lectures)
- Marriage Workshop 2024 (Fr. Curtis, seven lectures, ~8 hours)
- Social Security & Infant Benefits Workshop (Marci Arredondo)
Homeschool Co-ops & Family Education
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom (OLSW) is a homeschool cooperative that operates as a parish ministry at St. Stephen the First Martyr. It supports Catholic homeschooling parents in fulfilling their obligation as primary educators, particularly in math and science, with classes taught by the parish priests, credentialed teachers, and parents. A separate CCM Co-op serves younger students ages 6–14.
- Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom (OLSW) High School Co-op — ages 14–18 (Tue & Thu)
- CCM Co-op — ages 6–14 (Thursday)
Parish Life, Hospitality & Outreach
Beyond the sanctuary, the parish runs a busy calendar of community-building and charitable activities. Sunday Coffee & Donuts (started in its current form in July 2024) provides fellowship after the 7, 8:30, and 10 am Masses and supports the St. Bernadette Fund for parishioners in financial distress. Other outreach includes the Brown Bag Lunch Program, the Gabriel Project (pro-life support for expectant mothers), a Senior's Lunch for those 55 and older, and visits to the dying. The parish also maintains an active liturgical and physical plant through the Altar Linen & Flowers Society, Church Cleaning, Church Flowers, the Collection Count Crew, and a Security team.
- Coffee & Donuts — Sundays after 7, 8:30, and 10 am Masses; supports St. Bernadette Fund
- Brown Bag Lunch Program — Sundays
- The Gabriel Project — pro-life support
- Senior's Lunch (55+) — third Thursday
- St. Bernadette Fund for parishioners in financial need
Annual Calendar of Events
The parish maintains a full annual rhythm of feasts, retreats, and parish festivals. Highlights include the Parish Retreat (July), the Pig Roast on the first Saturday of August in honor of the Finding of the Relics of St. Stephen, the Feast of the Assumption with adult catechism resuming, All Hallows' Eve Party in October, the Christmas season with a Rorate Mass and the Feast of St. Stephen, Lent with Stations of the Cross, the Parish Mission, and Camp Sacred Heart / Camp Immaculate Heart for the youth each summer.
- January–February: Confirmation prep, events
- March–April: Lent, Stations of the Cross, Novena to St. Joseph, Parish Mission, First Communicants' Recollection
- May: Confirmations (Bishop Bersabal), May Procession by girls' societies
- June: Sacred Heart Enthronements, Graduation, Camp Sacred Heart, Camp Immaculate Heart
- July: Parish Retreat, Brown Scapular enrollment, Independence Day Party
- August: Pig Roast, Chant Camp, Finding of the Relics of St. Stephen, Assumption
- September: Veneration of the True Cross, Catechism resumes, Fatima Procession, all societies resume
- October: Chesterton Event, Confraternity Enrollment, All Hallows' Eve Party
- November–December: Advent, Rorate Mass, Our Lady of Guadalupe Festival, Christmas, Feast of St. Stephen
Becoming Catholic & Sacramental Preparation
Those interested in becoming Catholic or completing their Sacraments of Initiation are invited to the Adult Catechism classes, which meet on the second and fourth Thursday evenings. Baptism is normally celebrated within the first two weeks after birth; couples preparing for marriage are asked to allow approximately six months of preparation; the dying may call the parish office (916-455-5114, press 1) at any hour to reach the priest-on-call for the Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum. The parish website also maintains a FAQ page answering common questions about the traditional Latin Mass and parish practice.
- Baptism — within first two weeks after birth
- Matrimony — six months of preparation
- Anointing of the Sick — home visits by appointment; priest-on-call 24/7
- Adult Catechism (OCIA / RCIA) — second & fourth Thursday
Visiting, Contact & Parish Office
The parish bookstore and office are open every day from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. The main office line is 916-455-5114; for sacramental emergencies, callers press 1 to be transferred immediately to the priest-on-call. Email reaches the parish secretary at [email protected]. The parish is located at 5461 44th Street in south Sacramento, a few blocks east of US-99. Visitors are warmly welcomed to any of the six Sunday Masses or any of the daily Masses and devotions.
- Office & Bookstore open daily 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Bookstore: 916-223-3112
- Parish Secretary: Tish Gallagher ([email protected])
- Choirmaster: Keven Smith
- Parish Bookkeeper: Kelly Mantsch
- Custodian & Office Assistant: Stella Zapata
- Bookstore Assistants: Beth Afsari, Kate Townsend, Ana Warner
- Sacristan: Francis Dugyon