A bilingual Catholic parish serving Hemet Valley
Holy Spirit Catholic Church sits at 26340 Soboba Street in Hemet, California, and was established to meet the needs of Catholics in the Valley. The parish belongs to the Diocese of San Bernardino and is served by priests of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, known as the Spiritans (C.S.Sp.). Its 2006 mission statement describes a community centered on the Eucharist, marked by service, social justice, and a warm welcome to all, with a special care for reaching out in hope and dignity.
Mass schedule in English and Spanish
Mass is offered Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 AM in English, followed by a Saturday vigil Mass at 5:00 PM in English. Sundays bring four celebrations: 7:30 AM and 11:00 AM in English, and 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM in Spanish. The alternating pattern of languages reflects the bilingual character of the parish and gives Spanish-speaking Catholics two Sunday options.
Confession, Adoration, and a prayer of Spiritual Communion
Confessions are heard on Saturdays at 4:00 PM, an hour before the vigil Mass. Eucharistic Adoration is celebrated every first Friday of the month, beginning immediately after the 8:30 AM Mass. A Vigil of Adoration follows that evening from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM in Spanish, drawing the bilingual community into a shared hour of prayer. Visitors and parishioners who cannot receive the Eucharist are invited to pray a Prayer of Spiritual Communion, a devotion printed on the parish site that asks for the presence of Christ in the heart.
Faith Formation for children, youth, and adults
The Faith Formation Department, under Coordinator of Catechetical Ministry Josie Chagolla, organizes sacramental preparation and ongoing religious education. Children in grades one through eight attend Faith Formation classes every other Sunday. Two sacramental tracks run on Wednesdays from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM: Reconciliation sessions are offered from September through December, and First Communion sessions from February through May. Youth Confirmation is also available, with registration arranged through the Faith Formation office.
Adults who have not completed initiation have a clear path through Adult Confirmation classes. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults meets on Mondays from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM for those exploring the Catholic faith, and a parallel RCIA for Children serves young people ages seven to seventeen who have not been baptized. Contact for every track runs through the parish office at (951) 927-8544.
Sacraments celebrated at the parish
Holy Spirit celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments on site: Reconciliation, Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders. The parish welcomes inquiries from couples preparing for marriage, families arranging baptisms, and those discerning a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life. A short online form, "Let's Talk," gives visitors an easy way to begin a conversation with the parish office.
Ministries in English and Spanish
The parish offers a long list of lay ministries, organized in two parallel tracks that mirror its bilingual life. The English-language roster includes Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Bible Study, Bereavement, Nurses, Pastoral Council, Sacristan and Sacristan Linens Crafters, Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick and Homebound, Finance Council, Hospitality Team, Lectors, Lectors for the Little Church, Building Committee, Knights of Columbus, Arts and Environment, Faith Formation, Music Ministry, and Liturgical Committee.
Spanish-language ministries are listed under Ministerios Hispanos and include Grupo de Oración, Formación de Fe, Comité Litúrgico, Concilio Pastoral, Guadalupanos, Ambiente Hispano (Decoration), and Estudio Bíblico. Anyone interested in joining a ministry is invited to call the parish office.
Parish staff and Spiritual Fathers
Three Spiritan priests currently staff the parish: Rev. Daniel Ojochide Silas Abba, C.S.Sp., as pastor, joined by Fr. Michael Onwuemelie, C.S.Sp., and Fr. Joe Gaglione, C.S.Sp. Deacon Manuel Ramirez assists in ministry. Norma Lopez serves as Pastoral Associate, Maria Alvarez leads Youth Ministry, and Josie Chagolla coordinates catechetical work. Administrative Secretary Melony Sandoval keeps the parish office running.
Safe environment and volunteer formation
All volunteers who work with children, including catechists and aides, Youth Leaders aged eighteen and older, and Youth and Children's Choir leaders, are required to complete Catholic Mutual Safe Environment training. The same requirement applies to liturgical servers (ushers, extraordinary ministers, lectors, and choir members), all coordinators and substitutes, and all lay and ordained staff. The training is offered in both English and Spanish.
Giving and staying connected
Parishioners can support Holy Spirit through online giving, weekly donation envelopes, or by mailing tithing to P.O. Box 5268, Hemet, CA 92544. Worship aids, parish bulletins, and recordings are posted regularly, and a YouTube channel shares videos of parish life. The parish is also active on Facebook, where announcements and prayer intentions are shared with the wider community.
Visit and contact
The church is located at 26340 Soboba Street in Hemet, with parking on site. Office hours can be confirmed by calling (951) 927-8544 or emailing hemetholyspirit@gmail.com. Visitors are warmly received at any of the daily or Sunday Masses, with the bilingual schedule offering an easy entry point for English speakers, Spanish speakers, and bilingual families alike.