A Trilingual Catholic Presence in Central Anaheim
St. Boniface Catholic Church stands on West Lincoln Avenue a short distance from Harbor Boulevard, near the crossroads where Anaheim's oldest neighborhoods meet the commercial corridors of northern Orange County. It is the oldest Catholic parish in the city. German-American settlers built the first small wooden chapel here in 1869, and the parish was officially recognized six years later, in 1875, under the patronage of St. Boniface, the eighth-century Apostle of Germany.
The parish is recognized throughout the Diocese of Orange as a multicultural community where Mass is celebrated in three languages every week. English, Spanish, and Vietnamese communities pray, learn, and serve side by side under the leadership of a pastor and three parochial vicars, while a full pastoral center, music program, and family faith formation office keep the rhythms of parish life running across one of the larger church campuses in northern Orange County.
Mass Schedule: Three Languages, Seven Sunday Celebrations
Sunday Mass at St. Boniface begins at 6:30 AM in English and continues through the day with seven celebrations that reflect the parish's three communities:
- 6:30 AM - English
- 8:00 AM - Spanish (Español)
- 10:00 AM - English (livestreamed)
- 12:00 PM - Spanish (livestreamed)
- 3:00 PM - Spanish
- 5:00 PM - English
- 6:30 PM - Spanish
Weekday Masses keep a quiet but steady rhythm. Monday through Friday, Mass is offered at 8:00 AM in English, with a 6:30 PM Spanish Mass each evening except Tuesday. On Tuesdays the evening Mass is celebrated in Vietnamese at 6:30 PM. Saturday morning Mass is at 8:00 AM in English, followed by the Vigil Mass at 4:30 PM in English and another Vigil Mass at 6:30 PM in Vietnamese.
Confession in Three Languages and Daily Adoration
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered three times a week. Priests hear confessions from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese) and on Fridays (in English and Spanish). The parish describes Reconciliation as "a personal encounter with God's infinite mercy," and encourages regular confession as part of ordinary Catholic life.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament runs Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM and again from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. On the first Friday of each month, adoration extends for 24 hours, beginning after the 8:00 AM Mass.
From a Wooden Chapel to a Mid-Century Sanctuary
The story of St. Boniface stretches back to the very beginnings of Anaheim. The first Mass in what would become the city was celebrated in 1867 in the home of Theodore Rimpau, a German immigrant, by Reverend Peter Verdagauer, who traveled from San Gabriel Mission. Two years later the local faithful built a modest wooden church measuring just 42 by 20 feet and rising only 16 feet high. The parish was formally established in 1875 and has operated continuously ever since.
By 1888 the parish had welcomed the Dominican Sisters, who opened St. Catherine's School the following March, just eight days after Orange County was incorporated. As Anaheim grew, the wooden church became too small. Under Reverend Francis Dubbel, a much larger second church was completed in 1903 - a Gothic-inspired building adorned with elaborate stained-glass windows that offered five times the space of the original chapel.
That church served the parish for more than half a century. By the late 1950s the structure could no longer be properly repaired, and under Monsignor John Quatannens, pastor from 1958 to 1971, the people of St. Boniface broke ground on a new sanctuary west of the corner of Harbor Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue. The current church was completed and dedicated in 1964, built in the architectural style of the mid-twentieth century with marble walls, terrazzo flooring, a prominent crucifix, mosaics of the Stations of the Cross, and a monumental statue of St. Boniface. The parish marked its 150th anniversary in 2025 with a year of celebration under the theme "One Bread, One Body: 150 Years of Family, Community, and Service."
The Stained Glass of Alex Asperlagh
The crown jewels of the 1964 sanctuary are its sixteen stained-glass windows, each twelve feet tall, filling the clerestory with a catechism in color. They were designed by Dutch artist Alex Asperlagh (1901-1984), a student of the Academie van beeldende Kunsten in The Hague, and crafted locally in Altadena, California, using the traditional European method of stained-glass making.
Asperlagh's program is a visual theology. The eight east-clerestory windows depict the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit - Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord - through the lives of saints such as St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine, St. Joseph, St. Charles Borromeo, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The eight west-clerestory windows depict the seven sacraments, with figures including St. John Vianney for Penance, St. James the Greater for the Anointing of the Sick, St. Francis Xavier for Baptism, St. Paul for Confirmation, St. John Bosco for Holy Orders, St. Pius X for Holy Eucharist, and St. Elizabeth of Hungary for Matrimony. Two opposing windows in the sanctuary illustrate the Sacrifice of Abraham and the Sacrifice of Melchizedek, Old Testament prefigurements of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary.
Each window carries details intended to teach - flowers for purity, lilies for virtue, oak leaves for endurance, a sunburst for divine brilliance. The parish describes the effect of walking into the church in the morning light as experiencing "grace breaking through the darkness and bathing our existence with its radiance."
The Patron: St. Boniface, Apostle of Germany
The parish takes its name from St. Boniface, born Wynfrith in Devon, England, around 675. Educated in a Benedictine monastery and ordained into the Benedictine Order, Wynfrith was sent by Pope Gregory II in 719 to evangelize the Germanic peoples. The pope gave him the name Boniface, and in 732 he was made Archbishop of all of Germany.
Boniface is credited with a Christmas tradition familiar to most Western Christians. While traveling through Lower Hesse, Boniface interrupted a pagan sacrifice at Geismar by chopping down the sacred Thunder Oak of Thor. As the tree fell he pointed to a small evergreen standing behind it and told the villagers to bring it into their homes as "the tree of the Christ-child" - in the parish's telling, the first Christmas tree. In 754, near the age of eighty, Boniface was martyred at Dokkum by a band of hostile pagans while preparing to confirm a group of new converts. He is now patron saint of Germany, brewers, tailors, and the Diocese of Fulda, where his tomb rests beneath the cathedral high altar. His feast day is June 5.
Sacraments and Sacramental Preparation
St. Boniface prepares every member of the parish family for the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Parents preparing for a child's Baptism attend a pre-baptismal class along with the chosen godparents, who must be practicing Catholics at least sixteen years old who have themselves received Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation. A suggested donation of $75 accompanies the registration. Children over age seven follow a special catechumenate route through the Family Faith Formation office.
Couples preparing for Matrimony are asked to begin at least six months before their chosen date, providing recent baptismal certificates, confirmation certificates, a civil marriage license where applicable, and the names of a Best Man and Maid of Honor who are themselves married in the Church. The parish offers Community Weddings several times a year as a way of welcoming couples into the sacrament in a communal celebration.
Adults seeking First Communion and Confirmation join a two-track formation program. The English Adult Faith Formation meets Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 PM in two annual cycles, January through May and July through November, under Director Angel Rangel. The Spanish Sacramentos para Adultos meets Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM and is led by Sergio Torres. Unbaptized adults and those baptized in another Christian tradition enter the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) and are received into full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. The Anointing of the Sick is available to any parishioner who is elderly, seriously ill, or preparing for major surgery, and arrangements are made through the parish office.
Faith Formation for Children, Teens, and Families
The Family Faith Formation Program prepares children to receive First Communion with the active participation of their parents. The program requires that at least one parent or adult relative stay with the student during every session, treating faith formation as a family experience rather than a drop-off class. The office, directed by Coordinator Irma Vega and staffed by assistants Wendy Sanchez, Brenda Barrios, and Pam Ortiz, is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons from 3:30 to 7:00 PM and Saturday morning from 8:00 to 11:00 AM.
Young people in junior high and high school follow the Youth Faith Formation track, which prepares candidates for the Sacrament of Confirmation over a two-year process following the guidelines of the Diocese of Orange. Components include Sunday Mass attendance, catechesis, retreats, Christian service, days of renewal, and spiritual guidance. Teens who need a safe place after school are welcome at the After Bell program (Monday through Wednesday, 3:30 to 5:00 PM in the Youth Room), where supervised staff provide space for homework, community, and faith. Youth Ministry is led by Director Nohemi Gutierrez.
Young Adults, Choir, and Bible Study
Young adults aged 18 to 39 have their own corner of parish life in Upper Room, a Catholic community that gathers Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM in Room B for Bible study, fellowship, prayer, and service.
Parishioners who love to sing are welcome to the St. Boniface English Choir, which leads music at the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass and at major liturgies throughout the year under Director of Music and Liturgy Diana Fisher. Those who prefer to proclaim the Word join the Lector Ministry; those who have already received First Communion and are in fifth grade or older may train as Altar Servers. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion bring the Eucharist to the altar and to the sick and homebound. Ushers serve as the first point of contact for those walking through the front doors.
Bible Study meets Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 PM in Room C, working through the historical context of the Scriptures, their place in Catholic teaching, and their meaning for daily life. The El Shaddai Prayer Group, a Filipino charismatic community, gathers Friday evenings at 7:00 PM in Bethany Hall for praise, worship, healing prayer, and fellowship.
A Wide Network of Hispanic Ministries
The Spanish-speaking community at St. Boniface runs one of the larger networks of devotional groups and lay ministries in the Diocese of Orange. Rooted in popular Catholic devotion and parish identity, these groups meet weekly in parish halls and chapels across the campus.
Among the many groups: the Hermandad de San Dimas, a brotherhood of Catholic men over eighteen who support one another in faith; the Preciosa Sangre, a men's group devoted to the Precious Blood of Jesus; the San Sebastián Mártir fraternity; the Hermandad del Señor de los Milagros, which organizes the Mass and procession each October; the Movimiento Familiar Cristiano, promoting Christian family life; and Encuentro Matrimonial for couples seeking to renew their sacramental marriage.
Several prayer and formation groups gather during the week. The Grupo de Oración Vino Nuevo meets Tuesday evenings in the parish hall, and the Grupo de Oración La Viña del Señor meets weekly for praise, Scripture, and prayer. Cursillos de Cristiandad meets on the first Friday of each month in Bethany Hall. The Grupo Mariano gathers Mondays at 7:00 PM in Room C and Fridays at 6:00 PM in the temple to pray the Rosary. Adoración Nocturna keeps a monthly overnight vigil before the Blessed Sacrament for vocations and personal intentions. The Ministerio de Detención carries the parish's outreach into local correctional facilities, and the Ministerio de Salud Mental, Emocional y Acompañamiento en Duelo accompanies parishioners navigating grief, mental health challenges, and emotional distress.
Liturgical roles - altar servers (Servidores del Altar), lectors (Proclamadores de la Palabra), Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Hospitality Ministers, and Ministers to the Sick - are filled by Spanish-speaking parishioners, who keep the seven Sunday Masses and the weekday Spanish Mass running smoothly. Pastoral Migratoria, the parish's ministry to young adult Hispanic migrants over the age of eighteen, is coordinated by Alba Ramiro and follows the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching defined by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The group accompanies immigrants through formation and service and publishes bilingual prayer resources for migrant families.
The Vietnamese Community
The Vietnamese Catholic community of St. Boniface has its own gathering space linked from the parish homepage under "Vietnamese Community," and gathers around Tuesday evening Mass at 6:30 PM, the Saturday Vigil at 6:30 PM, and a catechetical program for children, teens, and adults coordinated by Sr. Mary Nguyen. The Vietnamese community shares the parish's overall schedule of confessions and feast days and is fully integrated into parish life.
Reaching Out: Service, Stewardship, and Care for Creation
St. Boniface reaches well beyond its sanctuary walls. The St. Vincent de Paul Service Center opens its food-distribution pantry Wednesday mornings from 8:30 to 11:00 AM, providing material aid to vulnerable families and individuals. The Knights of Columbus, the parish's Catholic men's fraternity, meets on the first Tuesday of each month for fellowship, formation, and service to the wider community.
Two newer ministries show the parish's engagement with contemporary Catholic social teaching. The Care for Creation ministry, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi and the encyclical Laudato Si', organizes local gardening projects, environmental education, and creation-care events. The Respect Life Ministry builds a culture that "welcomes, cherishes, and protects" human life from conception to natural death through prayer, education, and pastoral support.
The Giving Tree invites parishioners to donate gift cards at Christmas for less fortunate families within the parish community. The Ministry to the Sick and Homebound sends trained Extraordinary Ministers to bring the Eucharist and fellowship to elderly and homebound parishioners. The Bereavement Ministry offers prayer, presence, and practical care to families in mourning. The Stewardship Committee - which meets the third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM in the Pastoral Center - fosters stewardship of time, talent, and treasure as "a way of life" for the parish.
The Pastoral Center and Parish Leadership
The Pastoral Center is the operational heart of St. Boniface. It is staffed Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM, Saturday from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, and Sunday from 8:45 AM until the evening.
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Edward Poettgen, supported by three parochial vicars: Rev. Nicolaus Thai, Rev. Alejandro Nicolat, and Rev. Hector Bedoya, the latter shared with neighboring St. Columban. Deacons serving the parish include José Luis Reynoso, Alfredo Hernández, Roberto Hernández, Joseph Minh Tong, and Alex Menez.
Director of Music and Liturgy Diana Fisher oversees the parish's choirs and music program. Director of Social Communications and Technology Ana Merino handles the livestream, social media channels, and event broadcasts. Faith formation offices for children, teens, and adults are coordinated respectively by Irma Vega, Nohemi Gutierrez, and Angel Rangel. Alba Ramiro brings together the work of Hispanic young adult ministry, Pastoral Migratoria, and Care for Creation.
Joining the Parish
Parishioners and visitors can support St. Boniface financially through the Diocese of Orange's Pastoral Services Appeal (PSA), with online giving available through the diocesan portal. The PSA funds Catholic education, seminarian formation, priest retirement, Catholic Charities of Orange County, and other ministries across the diocese; once the parish reaches its assigned goal, all additional funds raised return directly to St. Boniface for local priorities. Baptisms, weddings, and quinceañeras are scheduled through the Pastoral Center at (714) 956-3110.
For more than 150 years - through world wars, waves of new immigrants, and the construction of three successive churches - the Catholic community at Lincoln and Harbor has remained a steady presence in Anaheim. In its present sanctuary, with Asperlagh's windows lighting the morning Mass and the bells of seven Sunday celebrations tolling in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, St. Boniface continues to gather, form, and send out the disciples it was founded to shape.