Michael Brooks
California is home to a large Catholic community, with 1210+ parishes across its 12 Roman Catholic dioceses. The Catholic Church in California is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, which is in communion with the Pope, currently Leo XIV. In 2018, the Catholic Church in the United States had 17,007 local parishes, making it the third-largest religious grouping in the country. California's Catholic population is culturally, socially, and politically significant, and the state is also home to the nation's largest number of Vietnamese Catholics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic parishes in California | 1,210+ |
| Number of geographical dioceses and archdioceses in the US | 196 |
| Number of local Catholic parishes in the US in 2018 | 17,007 |
| US population identifying as Catholic in 2018 | 23% |
| US population identifying as Catholic in 2020 | 25% |
| Global ranking of US Catholic population | 4th |
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What You'll Learn
California's Catholic parishes and their contact information
California is home to over 1,210 Catholic parishes across its 12 Roman Catholic dioceses. The Diocese of Orange, for example, has 58 churches, 5 centers, and 36 schools within its domain. It also has the nation's largest number of Vietnamese Catholics. The Diocese of San Bernardino, on the other hand, has over 1.6 million believers throughout San Bernardino and Riverside counties in Southern California.
The state also has a Catholic Conference, which is the executive body that makes decisions on behalf of the Catholic Church in California. The conference is headed by an executive director, a position currently held by Ned Dolejsi, who is set to retire in the summer.
Due to the dynamic nature of contact information, I cannot provide a comprehensive and up-to-date list of contact details for all of California's Catholic parishes. However, you can find contact information for California's Catholic parishes through online directories, such as Catholic Data, which offers an Excel file for purchase that contains contact details for over 1,210 parishes. Alternatively, you can refer to national Catholic directories or individual parish websites for the most current information.
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Catholic parishes in California's Diocese of Orange
California is home to over 1200 parishes across its 12 Roman Catholic dioceses. One of these dioceses is the Diocese of Orange, which covers all of Orange County, California. The Diocese of Orange is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
The history of the Catholic presence in Orange County dates back to 1776 with the founding of Mission San Juan Capistrano by Junipero Serra and the Franciscan order. The first Catholic church in the county, St. Boniface in Anaheim, was dedicated in 1872. The oldest continually operating Catholic church in the county, it was followed by St. Mary's in Fullerton in 1912, and the first parish in Orange, Holy Family, in 1921.
The Diocese of Orange is currently organized into seven deaneries of seven to twelve parishes or worship centers each. It has 56 parish churches, 31 parochial elementary schools, and three high schools. The diocese also oversees 41 schools, three general hospitals, one disabled ministry center, and five ethnic ministry centers. The total number of Catholics in the diocese is around 1.3 million.
The diocesan cathedral of the Diocese of Orange is Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove. Christ Cathedral was originally known as St. Callistus parish, and the St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts were opened beneath the cathedral in 2019. The diocese is led by Bishop Kevin W. Vann, who works to establish and support dynamic and vibrant parishes and schools welcoming all faiths.
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The Catholic Church in California: an annual report
The Catholic Church in California has witnessed several significant developments in the past year, encompassing a range of topics from leadership transitions to community initiatives.
Leadership Changes
The year saw several changes in the state's Catholic Church leadership. In January, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Stephen E. Blaire from the Diocese of Stockton, appointing Auxiliary Bishop Myron Cotta, previously of Sacramento, as his successor. In March, the longtime pastor of St. Rose Parish in Sacramento, Monsignor Kavanagh, passed away at the age of 93. In the same month, Pope Francis appointed Fr. Robert Christian as the new auxiliary bishop for San Francisco. In April, Msgr. Marc V. Trudeau, who had served as personal secretary to Cardinal Roger Mahony, became the new auxiliary bishop for the Los Angeles archdiocese.
Community Engagement
The Catholic Church in California continued its community engagement efforts through various initiatives. The Diocese of Orange, home to the nation's largest number of Vietnamese Catholics, prepared for the ordination of Bishop-elect Thanh Thai Nguyen, a Vietnamese "boat person" serving as pastor in Jacksonville, Florida. The diocese also celebrated the opening of the St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts at Christ Cathedral, honouring the original St. Callistus parish. Additionally, Bishop Robert McElroy of the Diocese of San Diego, comprising 100 parishes, held a diocesan synod to unite the diverse communities within his diocese.
Social Issues
The Catholic Church in California remained engaged in addressing social issues. Bishop Robert McElroy spoke out on the issue of gun control, stating his support for restricting automatic and semi-automatic weapons. The California Catholic Conference, an organization representing California's bishops, also continued its work, advocating for the state's Catholic community.
National Events
The Catholic Church in California participated in national events, such as the three-year National Eucharistic Revival. As part of this revival, the St. Katharine Drexel Route from Indianapolis to Los Angeles was launched, inviting people of all ages to join in prayer as the pilgrimage travelled across the country.
Challenges and Controversies
The Catholic Church in California, like its counterparts across the nation, continued to face challenges and controversies. The clergy sex abuse crisis has undermined trust in church leadership, with nearly two-thirds of Catholics expressing diminished faith in their leaders. Additionally, issues of asset ownership and financial management have prompted debates and resulted in changes to how the Church handles its finances.
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Catholic parishes in California and their bishops
California is home to over 1,210 Catholic parishes across its 12 Roman Catholic dioceses. The state's Catholic community numbers over 1.3 million people. The Diocese of Orange, for example, includes 58 churches, 5 centers, and 36 schools.
The bishops of California play a significant role in leading and guiding the Catholic community. For instance, in 2018, Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego held a diocesan synod that united the 100 parishes within his diocese and celebrated their diversity. The synod responded to two global synods on the family convened by Pope Francis in 2014 and 2015. Bishop McElroy also took a strong stance on gun control, stating that restricting automatic and semi-automatic weapons is not a restriction on personal rights.
The Diocese of Orange, under the leadership of Bishop Kevin W. Vann, strives to establish and support dynamic and vibrant parishes and schools. They welcome all individuals and families to join their community and participate in events like the St. Katharine Drexel Route, a pilgrimage that runs through various parishes in the diocese.
California's Catholic community also includes a significant number of Vietnamese Catholics, particularly in the Diocese of Orange. In 2018, Thanh Thai Nguyen, a Vietnamese "boat person," was ordained as the second auxiliary bishop of Orange. The first Vietnamese-born Roman Catholic bishop in the US, Dominic Luong, served in the same diocese until his death in 2018.
The state's bishops work closely with the Vatican and Pope Francis, who has appointed several auxiliary bishops in California, including Robert Christian for San Francisco and Msgr. Marc V. Trudeau for Los Angeles. The pope also declared 2025 the Jubilee Year of Hope, encouraging Catholics to visit holy sites, perform acts of kindness, and renew their relationship with God.
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Catholic parishes in Southern California
California is home to over 1,210 parishes across its 12 Roman Catholic dioceses. The state's Catholic community is diverse, with the Diocese of Orange, for example, boasting the nation's largest number of Vietnamese Catholics.
In Southern California, the Diocese of Orange is a vibrant community of 1.3 million Catholics. It encompasses 58 churches, 5 centers, and 36 schools, including Rosary Academy and JSerra Catholic High School. The diocese is led by Fr. Angelos Sebastian, who celebrates Mass at Christ Cathedral, the seat of the diocese. The cathedral's Arboretum is a special place for married couples and families, who are invited to attend diocesan events like the Jubilee of Marriage.
The Diocese of Orange also includes the original St. Callistus parish, now housed within Christ Cathedral since the diocese acquired the property. The St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts, in the Romano-Byzantine style, are located beneath the cathedral and were blessed and dedicated in October.
The diocese offers a range of spiritual experiences, from traditional Mass and adoration to unique events like the St. Katharine Drexel Route, a national Eucharistic pilgrimage from Indianapolis to Los Angeles. The Immersion Conference, another notable event, combines street evangelization in Southern California with hands-on experiences.
Southern California is also home to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which invites Catholics to start their day with the Always Forward e-newsletter, featuring the latest Catholic news. The archdiocese includes the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels, where daily Mass is celebrated, and parishes like Corpus Christi Church in Pacific Palisades, whose parishioners have become "roaming Catholics" after their church burned down.
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Frequently asked questions
There are over 1,210 Catholic parishes in California's 12 Roman Catholic dioceses.
Catholics gather as local communities called parishes, headed by a priest, and typically meet at a permanent church building for liturgies every Sunday, weekday, and on holy days.
A diocese is a district under the jurisdiction of a bishop; an archdiocese is a diocese with a larger number of Catholics, with jurisdiction over a bishop.
A bishop is a senior member of the Christian clergy who holds authority over a diocese or archdiocese.
The Catholic Church in California is part of the worldwide Catholic Church in communion with the pope, who, as of 2025, is Chicago-born Leo XIV.
