About St. Steven · Sun Lakes, Arizona
St. Steven's Roman Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Phoenix located in Sun Lakes, Arizona, a community for active adults south of Chandler. The parish mission states, "Through actively living the sacraments, our community is made new by Christ to love God and one another." Originally founded in 1981 as St. Michael's Mission under St. Mary's Parish in Chandler, it became St. Steven's Mission in honor of the Most Rev. James Steven Rausch, Bishop of Phoenix who visited in April 1981. It was established as an independent parish on July 1, 1988, and the present church on Dobson Road was dedicated by Bishop Thomas O'Brien on November 4, 1990. Today the parish serves more than 1,600 registered families and offers daily Mass, perpetual Adoration, a full religious education program, OCIA, and dozens of ministries, organizations, and outreach efforts.
- Established
- 1988 (as a parish; mission established 1981)
- Patron
- St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr (spelled 'Steven' to honor Bishop James Steven Rausch)
- Rector
- Fr. Wilfred Yinah, V.C. (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Phoenix
Why belong here
St. Steven's is a mid-sized Sun Lakes parish with more than 1,600 registered families, where retirees and young families worship side-by-side. Worshippers can attend daily Mass Monday through Friday, three weekend Masses, and spend time in the Adoration Chapel open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM and on Fridays. There are rich lay ministries for nearly every calling — from OCIA, Catechetical/Religious Education, Altar Servers, and Eucharistic Ministers to Knights of Columbus #9678, Ladies Guild, Legion of Mary, Spirit Fire Prayer Group, Seven Sisters Apostolate, St. Vincent de Paul conference, Respect Life, Giving Garden, Grief Support, Pastoral Ministry of the Sick, and a parish Gift Shop. The community is explicitly described as 'an open, welcoming and reverent community.'
Mass times at St. Steven
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
- 1st Friday: 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM
Adoration times
- Monday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (Adoration Chapel)
- Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (Adoration Chapel)
- Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (Adoration Chapel)
- Thursday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (Adoration Chapel)
- Friday: 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM (Adoration Chapel)
- 1st Friday: 8:45 AM – 5:00 PM (In the Church) with Benediction
Parish History
St. Steven's traces its roots to 1974, when two dozen Sun Lakes residents began meeting to plan an all-faiths chapel for the new retirement community developed by Edward J. Robson. After years of fundraising, the chapel opened on March 15, 1981, with about 1,800 people attending the first service. The Catholic congregation, originally 'St. Michael's Mission' under St. Mary's in Chandler, was renamed 'St. Steven's Mission' in April 1981 to honor Bishop of Phoenix James Steven Rausch, who visited that month and died shortly after. Although the parish is under the spiritual patronage of St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr, the bishop's middle name — and its spelling — was used for the parish name. The mission grew steadily, bought five acres on Dobson Road in 1987, became an independent parish on July 1, 1988, and dedicated its new church on November 4, 1990.
- 1972–73: Sun Lakes developed by Edward J. Robson
- 1981: All-faiths chapel opens; Catholic community begins as St. Michael's Mission
- 1981: Mission renamed St. Steven's in honor of Bishop James Steven Rausch
- 1984: Fr. Michael McGovern appointed Administrator
- 1987: Five acres purchased on Dobson Road
- July 1, 1988: Established as a parish; Fr. E. J. FitzPatrick named Founding Pastor
- August 14, 1990: Procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the new church (635 families)
- November 4, 1990: Church dedicated by Bishop Thomas O'Brien
Growth, Expansion and the Sanctuary Renewal
Under founding pastor Fr. E. J. FitzPatrick, the parish built the Great Hall (groundbreaking February 17, 1994) and added 'bump outs' on the north and south sides of the church in 1997. Fr. FitzPatrick died in October 2004. Fr. Pierre Hissey, installed by Bishop Olmsted in late February 2005, led the next era — launching the parish's first religious education program that same year, completing an office/classroom wing in 2010, and expanding the rectory in 2012 to house a parochial vicar. In 2013 the parish marked its 25th anniversary with a Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo A. Nevares and the dedication of a statue of St. Stephen, funded through the 'Living Stones' tradition.
- 1994: Great Hall groundbreaking
- 1997: Church 'bump out' expansion
- 2004: Death of founding pastor Fr. E. J. FitzPatrick
- 2005: Fr. Pierre Hissey installed; religious education program launched
- 2010: Office and classroom wing completed
- 2012: Rectory expansion for parochial vicar
- 2013: 25th anniversary; 'Living Stones' statue of St. Stephen dedicated
- 2015–2017: 'Wings of St. Stevens' Sanctuary Renewal
- 2016: Bishop Olmsted consecrates new stone altar with relics of a saint beneath it
Clergy and Staff
St. Steven's is currently led by Fr. Wilfred Yinah, V.C. as Parochial Administrator, with Fr. Manasseh Iorchir, V.C. as Parochial Vicar and Deacon David Runyan assisting with Liturgy, Altar Servers, and parish life. A full lay staff supports parish operations, liturgy, music, faith formation, communications, and maintenance.
- Fr. Wilfred Yinah, V.C. — Parochial Administrator (480-895-9266 ext. 103)
- Fr. Manasseh Iorchir, V.C. — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon David Runyan — Altar Servers & Liturgical support
- Debbie Eastman — Parish Manager
- Liz Fenn — Admin Assistant II
- Donna Markopoulos — Admin. Assistant / Receptionist
- Andrew Gaitan — Audio/Video Coordinator (ext. 120)
- Peggy Surat — Coordinator of Liturgy
- Ron Clavecilla — Music Coordinator
- Barbie Marr — Catechetical Coordinator (ext. 1109)
- Todd Hansen — Maintenance
- Tom Juran — Sacristans / Maintenance
- Finance Council: Keith Murfield (480-536-2670)
- Pastoral Council: Jane Douglas (480-319-3130)
Faith Formation and OCIA
Barbie Marr serves as Catechetical Coordinator for the parish's religious education program, which began in 2005 to serve the growing number of young families moving into the area from the Fulton Ranch development. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) welcomes inquirers seeking baptism, completion of sacraments, or preparation for marriage. The 2025–2026 OCIA year began Sunday, August 10, 2025, with classes running 5:00–7:00 PM on Sundays.
- Religious Education (elementary, with classes during the school year)
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (begins August 10, 2025)
- Bible Study for Women; Saturday Women's Bible Studies
- Women's Retreats (e.g., 'Living With Christ in the Present Moment,' Feb 1, 2025)
Parish Ministries and Organizations
St. Steven's has an unusually broad range of lay ministries and parish organizations, reflecting both the gifts of its many retired parishioners and the energy of the younger families now in the parish. Pastoral Care includes Ministry of the Sick (Eucharist brought to the homebound plus monthly Mass at group homes), Grief Support, Prayer Line, and the Pastoral Council.
- Liturgical: Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Sacristans, Music, Arts & Environment, Audio/Visual
- Prayer & Devotional: Legion of Mary, Divine Mercy Cenacle, Seven Sisters Apostolate, Spirit Fire Prayer Group, Patriotic Rosary, Prayer Line
- Pastoral Care: Ministry of the Sick, Grief Support, Martha's
- Outreach & Charity: St. Vincent de Paul Conference, St. Steven's Giving Garden (organic community garden), Crystal Card Project, Maggie's Place
- Life & Family: Respect Life, Ladies Guild, American Heritage Girls (AHG)
- Fraternal: Knights of Columbus — Father John Arens Council #9678 (meets at St. Steven's Hall)
- Hospitality: Gift Shop, Event Coordinator, Hospitality Ministers
Devotions and Special Services
Beyond the regular Mass and Adoration schedule, St. Steven's offers a robust calendar of devotions. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is held in the Adoration Chapel every Friday, with extended Exposition and Benediction in the church on 1st Fridays. The Divine Mercy Novena begins on Good Friday and concludes on Divine Mercy Sunday, when the parish holds a 2:00–3:30 PM service that includes the Opening Prayer, Benediction of the Image, Confession, and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The Patriotic Rosary is prayed monthly.
- Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (Adoration Chapel)
- 1st Friday Exposition with Benediction (in the Church)
- Divine Mercy Novena (Good Friday through Divine Mercy Sunday)
- Divine Mercy Sunday Service (2:00–3:30 PM)
- Patriotic Rosary
- Stations of the Cross (Lent)
- Communal Penance Services (Advent and Lent)
Parish Campus and Facilities
The parish campus is centered on the church at 24827 S. Dobson Road in Sun Lakes. The 1990 church was expanded in 1997 and sanctuary steps were re-spaced and hand-railings added under Fr. Hissey. The Great Hall (begun 1994) hosts large parish gatherings and meetings of groups such as the Knights of Columbus. The Adoration Chapel, office wing, classrooms, and expanded rectory (2012) round out the campus. The 2015–2017 Sanctuary Renewal gave the church a permanent fixed stone altar (consecrated 2016), a solid unmovable ambo, and a relocated tabernacle; a mural depicting St. Stephen was also blessed, all under the project theme 'For the Glory of God.'
- Church (dedicated 1990; expanded 1997; sanctuary renewed 2015–2017)
- Great Hall (1994)
- Adoration Chapel
- Office and classroom wing (completed 2010)
- Rectory (expanded 2012)
- Statue of St. Stephen and 'Living Stones' display (dedicated 2013)
- St. Steven's Giving Garden (organic community garden)
Getting Involved and Contact
Parishioners and visitors are encouraged to register with the parish, sign up for online giving, and subscribe to Flocknote for parish communications. The parish also offers free access to FORMED, an on-demand Catholic video service. To volunteer or join a ministry, contact the parish office at 480-895-9266 during weekday hours, or reach individual ministry leaders via the contact information in the weekly bulletin.
- Parish Registration: saintstevensparish.org
- Online Giving (Donate Online): saintstevensparish.org
- Flocknote: parish communications signup
- FORMED: free Catholic video on-demand (search 'St. Steven's')
- Bulletin: saintstevensparish.org/bulletins
- Safe Environment Training: required for parish volunteers working with minors and vulnerable adults
- Livestream of Masses: saintstevensparish.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael McGovern1984–1988
Appointed by Bishop O'Brien as Administrator of St. Steven's Mission; led the purchase of the Dobson Road land.
- Fr. E. J. FitzPatrick1988–October 2004
Founding Pastor of St. Steven's Parish; oversaw construction and 1990 dedication of the Dobson Road church, the 1994 Great Hall, and the 1997 expansion. Died in office, October 2004.
- Fr. Pierre HisseyFebruary 2005–present listing in older sources
Second pastor; installed by Bishop Olmsted. Launched religious education in 2005, completed office/classroom wing (2010), expanded the rectory (2012), led the 25th anniversary 'Living Stones' celebration (2013) and the 'Wings of St. Stevens' Sanctuary Renewal (2015–2017).
- Fr. Wilfred Yinah, V.C.Current
Current Parochial Administrator.