Saint Gregory the Great Catholic Church sits in the heart of Scripps Ranch, a community within San Diego, just a short distance from Interstate 15 off Scripps Poway Parkway. The parish of about 3,300 families calls itself "a vibrant, faithful, Eucharistic, Catholic community who bring people to Christ and send them out to transform the world." Since July 2023 it has been served by the Paulist Fathers, and its campus - church, parish hall, school, and offices - has long been a gathering place not only for Catholics but for the wider neighborhood, including during the days following the devastating Cedar Fire of October 2003.
Mass Schedule and Livestream
The parish offers Mass every day of the week. Weekday Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 8:00 am, with an additional Mass at 12:00 pm on First Fridays. Saturday brings the Vigil Mass at 5:00 pm, and four Sunday Masses are celebrated at 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, and 5:00 pm. The 9:00 am Sunday Mass is signed for the deaf, and the church is equipped with a hearing assistance system for those who need it.
The 5:00 pm Sunday Mass is the parish's youth-led Mass, in which high school candidates serve as ushers, lectors, altar servers, extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, and choir members. Three of the regular Masses are livestreamed: weekday Masses at 8:00 am and the 9:00 am and 11:00 am Sunday Masses, with recordings available for later viewing.
Reconciliation is offered on Saturdays at 4:00 pm or by appointment, and on the fourth Thursday of each month at 8:40 am and 7:00 pm. Holy Day Masses follow a special published schedule.
Devotions Through the Week
Beyond the daily Mass, the parish keeps a quiet rhythm of devotional prayer. The Liturgy of the Hours is prayed on weekdays at 7:40 am before Mass. Tuesdays bring the Our Lady of Perpetual Help devotion at 8:30 am, the Divine Mercy Cenacle meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 9:00 am, and the Rosary Cenacle gathers on the third Thursday at 9:00 am. The Sacred Heart of Jesus devotion is observed on First Fridays at 8:30 am. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is offered on a bi-monthly schedule, and the parish also runs a home visitation program devoted to Our Lady of Fatima. The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is marked with a December celebration.
A Parish That Grew From 200 Families to 3,300
Saint Gregory the Great was established in August 1985. On September 3, 1985, the feast of the parish's patron, the first Mass was celebrated at Miramar Ranch Elementary School. For the parish's first two years, weekend liturgies were held in various locations, weekday Masses were said in the living room of the founding pastor, and Holy Day Masses were celebrated in the backyard. The parish office operated out of the Scripps Ranch home of Father Jim Poulsen until December 1987, when space was leased in the Geico building on Treena Street and served as the parish center for the next twelve years.
During that nomadic period the parish grew from 200 to more than 1,300 families. After three capital campaigns, years of meetings, and many prayers, the community broke ground on October 12, 1997 for a permanent home. On February 7, 1999, the first permanent cross was raised on the first permanent church in Scripps Ranch. Bishop Robert H. Brom formally dedicated the church on November 6, 1999. Within a year, the campus - church, grounds, parish offices, and hall - won a Grand Orchid Award from the San Diego County architectural community, with visitors from other parishes still touring the grounds for inspiration.
The parish building became a refuge in October 2003, when 300 Scripps Ranch homes were destroyed by the Cedar Fire. The church and parish hall served as an outreach center, with town hall meetings and a distribution point for clothing, food, and furniture for hundreds of displaced families. Two years later, the same parish hall became a Community Center for collecting truckloads of clothing and necessities bound for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Father Poulsen served as founding pastor for nineteen years before being succeeded by Father Nicholas Clavin in the fall of 2004. Father Nick's passion was Catholic Stewardship. Under his leadership the parish retired the debt for the church campus in 2005, purchased land in Stonebridge from developer Corky McMillan, and raised the funds to build the parish school, which opened in 2009 to sixty students under founding principal Maeve O'Connell. Six new classrooms were added in 2018.
The Paulist Fathers Arrive
After eighteen years of ministry, Father Clavin retired as pastor in 2023. Bishop Robert W. McElroy then entrusted the parish to the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle, the Paulist Fathers. The Paulists are known, as the parish describes them, "for wonderful liturgies, impactful ministries, and a strong sense of welcome for all people." Paulist Father Bartholomew Landry, C.S.P., was named pastor and Paulist Father Gerard Tully, C.S.P., associate pastor, both beginning July 1, 2023. Two additional Paulist presiders, Father Chuck Kullmann, C.S.P., and Father Jim Rafferty, assist with weekend Masses, joined by Deacons Dom Guzzardo and Doug Pingel.
Saint Gregory the Great Catholic School
Saint Gregory the Great Catholic School sits on the parish campus and serves as a core expression of the parish's commitment to Catholic education. Under the leadership of principal Dr. Erin Zwahlen, Ph.D., BCBA-D - a long-time parishioner who succeeded founding principal Maeve O'Connell in 2023 - the school offers an education rooted in faith and a culture of growth mindset. The principal has described her aim as fostering lifelong learners and stewards of faith and community. Enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year is currently open.
Faith Formation From TK Through Middle School
Faith Formation for children runs from transitional kindergarten through fifth grade, meeting on Thursdays at 4:00 pm and on Sundays at 8:15 am and 10:15 am in the parish hall, with children dismissed to attend one of the Sunday Masses. The integrated curriculum weaves together Catholic catechism, Scripture, music, and liturgical experiences. Parents are recognized as the primary catechists in their children's lives, with the parish staff offering tools and coaching.
Middle School Faith Formation, for grades six through eight, gathers on Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:30 pm in the parish hall. The focus is on community building, with an emphasis on the Bible, Catholic teaching, and connecting Catholic tradition to daily life. Sacramental Preparation for First Eucharist and First Reconciliation is completed during the second year of Faith Formation, with concurrent enrollment required. Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered during the summer months when Faith Formation is not in session, calling children ages three to ten forward during the 9:00 am and 11:00 am Sunday Masses for age-appropriate readings and activities before they return to their families for the homily. Vacation Bible School, a week of games, crafts, Bible stories, singing, and dancing, runs on the parish grounds each summer for children in TK through fifth grade.
Youth Ministry and Confirmation
The Youth Ministry serves high school candidates with a creative and inclusive youth group, a two-year Confirmation program, and a youth-led Sunday evening Mass. Reggie Badua coordinates the ministry, which meets for youth nights, Bible studies, rosary groups, retreats, service days, and outings throughout the year. The Youth Bible Study typically gathers on the first and third Mondays from 5:00 to 6:00 pm in the youth room, and the Youth Rosary Group on the second and fourth Thursdays from 5:00 to 6:00 pm.
Confirmation preparation follows a two-year curriculum of invitation, formation, and reflection, followed by a period of mission. Candidates are expected to attend Sunday Mass - preferably the 5:00 pm youth-led Mass - to participate in Confirmation sessions on Sunday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, to take part in youth nights and retreats, and to complete service hours in the parish. Year One candidates complete ten hours of liturgical service and fifteen hours of parish service; Year Two candidates complete fifteen hours of liturgical service and ten hours of parish service. Each candidate chooses a sponsor who is a practicing Catholic at least eighteen years old, has received the sacraments of initiation, and is not a parent.
The Sacraments
The parish prepares Catholics for all seven sacraments. Baptism marks the entry of the believer into the Christian community and is offered to infants, children of catechetical age, and adults through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Parents who are registered parishioners of at least six months may request infant baptism. Both parents and godparents must attend a pre-baptismal class, whose certificate is valid for five years. Baptisms are often celebrated communally with two or three other parish families, with a suggested offering of $50.
The Eucharist, celebrated at every Mass, is the sacrament in which Christ is truly present in the consecrated bread and wine. Children preparing for First Eucharist typically begin in the second grade after one year of religious education. Confirmation, the sacrament that completes Christian initiation through the anointing with sacred chrism and the laying on of hands, is celebrated for high school students after the two-year preparation. Reconciliation is offered on Saturday afternoons and by appointment, with a First Reconciliation usually received in second grade alongside preparation for First Eucharist. The Anointing of the Sick is available to anyone who is seriously ill, facing surgery, dealing with chronic illness, grieving, or in danger of death. Matrimony preparation begins at least nine months in advance with a priest or deacon, and Holy Orders - to the episcopate, priesthood, or diaconate - is discerned through conversation with the pastor and the diocesan Office of Vocations.
Becoming Catholic Through OCIA
Adults interested in becoming Catholic are invited into the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, the formal process by which the Church welcomes new members. Deacon Dom Guzzardo directs the program at the parish. OCIA walks inquirers through the teachings of the Catholic Church, the lives of the saints, and the rhythm of the liturgical year, culminating at the Easter Vigil with the sacraments of initiation. The parish recommends Scott and Kimberly Hahn's Rome Sweet Home and Chad Torgerson's Waking Up Catholic as companions on the journey.
Liturgical Ministries
Behind every Mass is a quiet army of liturgical servants. Greeters and ushers extend hospitality at the door. Altar servers, lectors, and extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist assist the priest from the sanctuary. Martha's Ministry cares for the altar linens. The Audio-Visual Ministry runs sound and projection. The Liturgical Environment Ministry decorates the church through the seasons. The Music Ministry, under Director of Liturgical Music John Chicca, leads the parish in sung worship. The Wedding Ministry supports couples preparing for marriage, and the Funeral Ministry accompanies families through the loss of a loved one. A Prayer Wheel circulates prayer intentions among parishioners, and the Communion to the Homebound Ministry brings the Eucharist to those who cannot attend Mass.
Parish Outreach Beyond the Border
Outreach is part of the parish's identity. Build-A-Miracle and Outreach for Nazareth Orphanage assist with shelter, job-skills training, and daily needs for brothers and sisters in Mexico. The Sister Parish Outreach Ministry maintains a relationship with Our Lady of Angels. The Rosary Makers Ministry crafts and ships mission rosaries around the world. STGG Food Share helps neighbors in need within the local community. Respect for Life and Social Justice concerns bring parishioners together for prayer and advocacy, including the parish's participation in 40 Days for Life.
Groups and Organizations
The parish hosts a wide range of lay groups. The Knights of Columbus and the Boy Scouts serve men, families, and youth. The COR Men's Prayer Group, the Ministry of Mothers, the Women's Book Club, and the Women's Friendship Circle bring members together around faith and fellowship. The Filipino-American Ministry gathers the parish's significant Filipino-American community, and the Military Friendship and Support Ministry accompanies service members and their families. The Pastoral Parish Council, Development Steering Council, Safety and Security Team, Stewards of Finance, and Stewards of the Catholic School give laypeople a voice in the governance of the parish.
Parish Life and Parishioner Care
Smaller ministries weave daily life into the life of the parish. Connection 2 Christ Small Groups bring parishioners together around Scripture and shared prayer. Donuts and Coffee after Sunday Mass builds community at the parish hall. Divine Dining gathers parishioners for shared meals. The Family Cancer Support Ministry walks with families facing a cancer diagnosis. The Gardening Ministry tends the campus grounds. The Kitchen Coordinator supports parish events. The Prayer Wheel circulates prayer requests, and the Special Needs Ministry welcomes parishioners with disabilities and their families. The Computer Help Ministry offers technical support, and the Blood Drive brings donors to the campus. Prayers and Squares creates comforting quilts for those who are sick or grieving.
The Parish Library
A small lending library in the parish hall offers books on Catholic spirituality, prayer, the saints, Scripture, and the moral life. Organized by category and shelved for easy browsing, the collection runs on the honor system, with a limit of two books per checkout and a four-week return window. From the letters of Saint Athanasius to contemporary writers, the library is meant to give parishioners a daily companion for the spiritual life.
Steardship as a Way of Life
Saint Gregory the Great frames stewardship as a multi-faceted expression of discipleship that is Scripture-based, rooted in dependence on God, marked by gratitude, and expressed in the giving of time, talent, and treasure. The parish points to the United States bishops' pastoral letter Stewardship: A Disciple's Response as the foundation of its understanding, with a Stewardship Prayer prayed by parishioners asking the Lord to "make us better stewards of the great wealth of gifts you have bestowed upon us." Online Giving is available through the parish's OSV hub, and additional funds include the Annual Catholic Appeal, the Annual Paulist Appeal, the Deacon Ron Diem Maintenance Fund, and the Memorial Wall.
About the Patron Saint
The parish takes its name from Pope Saint Gregory the Great, who lived in Rome during a period of wars, invasions, and famine. Born to a wealthy Roman senator, Gregory rose to become chief prefect of Rome before turning his back on political power for the religious life. He converted his family estate into the Abbey of St. Andrew, founded six Benedictine monasteries in Sicily, served as a papal ambassador to Constantinople, and finally, unwillingly, accepted election as pope in 590. He was the first pope to call himself "servant of the servants of God," negotiated peace with the invading Lombards, reorganized the Church's granaries to relieve famine, and sent missionaries to England - earning the title Apostle of England even though he never made the journey himself. His feast day is celebrated on September third, the same date the parish celebrated its very first Mass in 1985.
Joining the Parish
Newcomers are invited to register with the parish through the registration form, attend a New Parishioner Orientation, and join one of the many ministries on the campus. Parish Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (closing for lunch from 12:00 to 1:00 pm) and Sundays from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Summer hours shift weekday afternoons to 3:00 pm. The church building itself is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, Saturdays from 4:00 to 6:15 pm, and Sundays from 7:00 am to 12:30 pm and 4:00 to 6:15 pm. In case of an after-hours emergency requiring a priest, the parish answering service can be reached through the main office line.