About St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Parish · San Diego, California
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic community in the Mission Hills neighborhood of San Diego, California, belonging to the Diocese of San Diego (Cathedral Deanery). Founded in 1910 and staffed in its first twelve years by the Vincentian Fathers — who gave the parish its patron's name — the parish has served generations of San Diego families from its Hawk Street church. Today it is led by Fr. Alex De Paulis (arrived July 2017) and two deacons, with a thriving parish school (Preschool through 8th grade) and a discipleship-oriented parish life that emphasizes missionary formation, the Mass, Adoration, and outreach to the wider community.
- Established
- 1910
- Patron
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Rector
- Fr. Alex De Paulis
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego (Cathedral Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Vincent de Paul is a parish that intentionally forms missionary disciples — parishioners who are filled up at Mass, Adoration, and praise and worship, and then equipped and sent out to share the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. Lifelong Catholics and seekers alike are welcomed through the parish's Discipleship Immersion Process (OCIA), with one-on-one disciple mentoring. Families are supported from Preschool through 8th grade at the parish school, with Religious Education, Middle School and High School Youth Groups, Confirmation preparation, Family Faith Formation (Pre-K through high school), and special programs like Embrace Grace. Outreach goes beyond the parish walls through 'St. Vincent's Mission Outreach' opportunities around town and online, with lay-led formation called Kingdom Builders teaching members to share the gospel in everyday life.
Mass times at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 7:45–8:30 AM
- Saturday 3:00–3:50 PM
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday 7:45–9:00 AM (except Wednesday during the school year)
Our Story & Parish History
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Parish has served the Mission Hills community of San Diego since 1910, when the Vincentian Fathers (Congregation of the Mission) — who gave the parish its patron's name — first staffed it. The original three houses on the property were converted into a rectory and a church. In 1922 the Augustinian priests took over, and from 1925 diocesan priests have been permanently assigned to the parish. The parish timeline includes a major school-building period (1948–onward), the long pastoral tenure that included the 2005–2010 church renovation under Msgr. Dennis Clark, and the 2016 acquisition of the historic Jones House from Scripps Mercy to serve as the new parish rectory.
- 1910: Parish founded and staffed by the Vincentian Fathers; named for St. Vincent de Paul.
- 1922: Augustinian priests assigned to the parish.
- 1925: Diocesan priests permanently assigned after the Augustinians were transferred to St. Patrick's Parish.
- 1948: Under Msgr. Patrick Dunne, planning begins for a parish school.
- ~1950: School construction completed; Dominican Sisters of Tacoma, WA, invited to staff it.
- 1959: Two additional classrooms added due to enrollment growth.
- 1969: Dominican Sisters transferred; Msgr. Peter Mimnagh invites Mercy Sisters from Ireland to staff the school.
- 1983: New classroom built.
- 1988: Extended care program (before and after school) added for working parents; parent/volunteer after-school sports program launched.
- 2003: Computer lab, multi-purpose room, and additional classroom added.
- 2005–2010: Msgr. Dennis Clark renovates the Church; the old rectory is demolished and the current Preschool built in 2010.
- Late 2016: Then-Father (now Bishop) John Dolan and the Diocese accept the historic Jones House from Scripps Mercy for restoration as the new rectory.
- Summer 2021: Deacon Kevin Helfers joins the parish staff.
- July 2017: Fr. Alex De Paulis arrives as pastor.
Clergy & Parish Team
The parish is served by a pastor, two deacons, a preschool director, school principal, business manager, adult faith formation coordinator, director of religious education, facilities manager and engineer, office manager, wedding coordinator, and other support staff. Fr. Alex may be emailed directly at [email protected]; Deacon Kevin can be reached at [email protected]. Department contacts use the address pattern [email protected].
- Fr. Alex De Paulis — Pastor ([email protected])
- Dcn. Kevin Helfers — Deacon
- Dcn. Matt Rifat — Deacon
- Joette Correia — Preschool Director ([email protected])
- Principal — St. Vincent School
- Britni Coito — Business Manager
- Peggy (Özdemir / Tacchino) — Adult Faith Formation Coordinator / OCIA contact
- Rafael Quevedo — Director of Religious Education (and youth/young adult ministry)
- Abraham Garcia — Facilities Manager
- Reyes Evangelista — Facilities Engineer
- Olivia Firsching — Office Manager
- Sally Perez — (parish staff)
- Nicolette Sarrat — Wedding Coordinator
Special Masses & Holy Day Schedule
Beyond the regular weekly schedule, the parish publishes a year-round calendar of Holy Days, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, and Easter services, plus a single Easter Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM. The Saturday Vigil and the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass are livestreamed as part of the Diocese of San Diego's online Mass rotation.
- Holy Days of Obligation: 7:15 AM & 6:00 PM
- Thanksgiving Day: 9:00 AM
- Christmas Eve Mass: 4:00 PM; Christmas Day Mass: 10:30 AM
- Ash Wednesday: 7:15 AM & 6:00 PM
- Holy Thursday: 6:00 PM; Good Friday Service: 6:00 PM
- Easter Vigil: 8:00 PM; Easter Sunday: 10:30 AM
Becoming Catholic & Adult Faith Formation
The parish runs a robust adult-formation track built around the Discipleship Immersion Process (DIP) which, for those seeking full membership, functions as OCIA — the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly called RCIA). DIP is designed for non-Catholics exploring the faith, life-long Catholics wanting a deeper formation, and anyone 18 and older who wants to draw nearer to God. Participants may also be paired with a free one-on-one disciple mentor for monthly accountability and friendship in the Lord. Registration opens each year for the Inquiry Period (Tuesday gatherings typically begin in September).
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — register for the 2025 Inquiry Period, Tuesday gatherings starting September 9
- Discipleship Immersion Process (DIP) — adult formation with Bible, hearing God's voice, and Church teaching
- One-on-one disciple mentoring — free monthly pairing with a trained core team member
- Young Adults ministry (ages 18–39)
Family Faith Formation, Youth & Confirmation
From Pre-K through high school, the parish supports families in growing together in the Catholic faith. The heart of formation happens at home — through daily prayer, meaningful conversations, and celebrating the Sacraments together — reinforced by monthly on-campus gatherings. The youth ministry is divided into Middle School (6–8) and High School (9–12), with Confirmation preparation as a two-year process based on the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Renewing the Vision framework. The High School ministry welcomes all teens, whether preparing for Confirmation or already Confirmed.
- Family Faith Formation (Pre-K through high school) — monthly community sessions plus at-home curriculum
- Religious Education 1st–5th grade / First Communion preparation
- Middle School Youth Group — prayer and encounter-driven
- High School Youth Group — spiritual, social, and service opportunities
- Confirmation Preparation (two-year process for grades 9–12)
- Embrace Grace
- Protect the Unborn
- Feeding outreach
St. Vincent School (Preschool through 8th Grade)
Founded around 1950 under Monsignor Patrick Dunne and expanded continuously since, St. Vincent de Paul School is a Catholic, fully-accredited elementary school in Mission Hills serving preschool through 8th grade. The school offers a two-year Kindergarten program (Transitional Kindergarten for 4½-year-olds and Kindergarten for 5-year-olds) and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Western Catholic Association (WCEA). The campus is conveniently located with easy access from the I-163, I-5, and I-8 freeways, and welcomes families from across San Diego.
- Preschool (Tiny Vikings age 2, Little Vikings age 3, Junior Vikings age 4) with weekly Spanish or ASL enrichment
- Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Kindergarten (two-year program)
- Grades 1–8 with enrichment in music, Spanish, sign language, technology (Promethean boards), physical education, art, and science
- WASC and WCEA accreditation
- On-site extended care (before and after school) and after-school sports program
- School phone: (619) 296-2222; Preschool phone: (619) 296-2261
Parish School History & Facility Upgrades
Since the 2010s the physical plant has been systematically renewed: a new electrical system; Phase I of the technology improvement plan; hallway and stair carpeting replacement; new flooring in first- and second-grade classrooms; new blinds with lock-down shades in five classrooms; a rechargeable cart with 30 notebook computers for 7th and 8th grades; Promethean boards installed in every grade and in the science room. Permanent security-camera installation was completed in 2019 as Phase II of the technology plan.
- 1959: Two classrooms added to meet enrollment growth.
- 1969: Mercy Sisters from Ireland take over staffing from the Dominican Sisters.
- 1983: New classroom built.
- 1988: Extended care and after-school sports programs launched.
- 2003: Computer lab, multi-purpose room, and additional classroom built.
- 2010: Old rectory demolished; Preschool built, allowing a dedicated science lab and new library above for the K-8 school.
- 2010s upgrades: new electrical system, Promethean boards in every grade, lock-down shades, notebook cart.
- 2019: Permanent security-camera installation completed (Phase II).
Outreach & Missionary Discipleship
The parish explicitly identifies as a community 'on fire with the Holy Spirit and eager to call others into encounters with the love of God by doing the works that Jesus did — and even greater ones' (John 14:12). Parishioners are formed through Kingdom Builders to share the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and then sent out together through various 'St. Vincent's Mission Outreach' opportunities around town and online.
- Kingdom Builders — lay formation for gospel-sharing
- St. Vincent's Mission Outreach — local and virtual outreach opportunities
- Embrace Grace
- Protect the Unborn
- Feeding outreach
Contact, Location & Visiting
The parish office is at 4077 Ibis Street, San Diego, CA 92103, with office hours 8:00 AM–4:30 PM Monday through Friday (fax 619-299-9509). The church itself stands at 4080 Hawk Street, San Diego, CA 92103. Visitors wishing to attend Adoration or Reconciliation after 8:00 AM during the school day should use the parish office gate on Ibis Street rather than the front gate of the church, which closes at 8:00 AM for school operations. Mass is livestreamed through the Diocese of San Diego's online Mass rotation (Mon–Fri 7:15 AM, Sun 10:30 AM).
- Parish Office: 4077 Ibis Street, San Diego, CA 92103
- Church: 4080 Hawk Street, San Diego, CA 92103
- Phone: +1 619-299-3880
- Fax: 619-299-9509
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
- Fr. Alex direct: [email protected]
- Easy freeway access: I-163, I-5, I-8 (school site note)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Vincentian Fathers (Congregation of the Mission)1910–1922
First pastors; gave the parish the name of their patron, St. Vincent de Paul.
- Augustinian priests1922–1925
Assigned to the parish; later transferred to St. Patrick's Parish.
- Diocesan priests permanently assignedfrom 1925
Beginning of continuous diocesan pastoral leadership.
- Monsignor Patrick Dunne
As pastor, spearheaded the founding and construction of the parish school (completed ~1950); invited the Dominican Sisters of Tacoma, WA, to staff it.
- Monsignor Peter Mimnagh
After the Dominican Sisters transferred in 1969, invited a group of Mercy Sisters from Ireland to staff the school.
- Monsignor Dennis Clark2005–2010
Undertook the major Church renovation to its current look and feel; oversaw demolition of the old rectory and construction of the current Preschool (2010).
- Father (now Bishop) John Dolan
Late 2016 — then-Father Dolan and the Diocese agreed to accept the historic Jones House from Scripps Mercy for restoration as the parish rectory.
- Fr. Alex De Paulis2017–present
Arrived July 2017 as current pastor; leads missionary discipleship vision.