Tucked among the residential streets on the eastern edge of Huntington Beach sits a Roman Catholic parish that has quietly shaped the spiritual life of thousands of families for nearly five decades. St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, founded in 1977 by Bishop William Johnson for the Diocese of Orange, anchors the corner of Talbert Avenue at 8345 Talbert Avenue and offers a combination of bilingual liturgy, active youth ministry, round-the-clock Eucharistic adoration, and a deep bench of volunteer outreach through the parish's own Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference. Today it serves as a spiritual home for parishioners who gather around its altar under the parish motto of following Jesus and being centered in the Eucharist.

From Dilday Mortuary to the Church on Talbert

The parish was established on September 27, 1977, with four acres of undeveloped cemetery property donated from Good Shepherd Cemetery. The first Mass was celebrated on October 2, 1977, by 150 founding families at Dilday Mortuary, a temporary arrangement that earned the chapel the affectionate nickname "Saint Dildays." The community grew steadily and in 1981 built a Parish Hall, which doubled as the worship space for the next twenty years while faith formation classes, teen groups, socials, and liturgies all shared the same roof.

Meeting Rooms were completed in 1994 to relieve the growing demand for programming space, and the Parish Office was enlarged in February 1996. The dream of a permanent church building took shape in January 1997 with the launch of Church Campaign 2000. To make room for a lower parking lot, the Diocese of Orange donated an additional acre from Good Shepherd Cemetery. Construction finished in 2002, and Bishop Tod David Brown solemnly dedicated the new church on Saturday, February 2, 2002. Parishioners celebrated the first Masses in the finished building on the First Sunday of Lent, February 16 and 17, 2002.

Three significant artistic installations followed. In 2006 a Tabernacle created especially for the Blessed Sacrament Chapel by German artist Egino Weinert was blessed by then-Pastor Father Jerome T. Karcher and installed on the Solemnity of the Annunciation. For the tenth anniversary of the dedication, new statues were added: Our Lady of La Vang, blessed by Bishop Dominic M. Luong on May 16, 2012, and statues of Saint Vincent de Paul and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, blessed by Father Jerome on June 15, 2012. In 2015 new Meeting Rooms, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Office, and a Storage Room were blessed on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, along with a statue of Saint Michael the Archangel and a mosaic of Mary, Mother of Christians in the patio.

The Vincentian Fathers built up the parish from its founding until July 1995. Since that time diocesan priests have served, beginning with Father Jerome T. Karcher as pastor in 1995. After reaching retirement age, Father Jerome was named Pastor Emeritus on July 1, 2022. He is also the founder of Mercy House Living Centers, which began with Joseph House in 1990 to shelter homeless men and has grown to serve some 1,500 at-risk individuals and families annually across six counties in California and Arizona. Navy Captain Father Kevin Sweeney succeeded him as pastor on July 1, 2021, after twenty-four years as a chaplain with the Navy and Marine Corps. Father David Otto joined as Parochial Vicar on July 1, 2023.

Mass in English and Spanish Across the Week

Weekend Masses at St. Vincent de Paul are celebrated Saturday afternoon and throughout Sunday. The Saturday Vigil includes a 4:00 pm Mass in English and a 5:30 pm Mass in Spanish. Sunday features six Masses: 7:00 am, 8:30 am, 10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm in Spanish, and 4:00 pm. The 4:00 pm Sunday liturgy is the Youth Mass that feeds directly into the high school Life Night program. The 10:00 am English Mass and the 1:00 pm Spanish Mass are both livestreamed on the parish's YouTube channel, @SVDPMediaCommunications, and recordings remain available afterward.

Weekday Mass is offered at 8:30 am, Monday through Friday. First Friday brings an evening Mass and Adoration at 8:00 pm, and First Saturday opens with a bilingual Rosary at 8:00 am followed by Mass. On Holy Days of Obligation, the Vigil Mass is celebrated at 6:30 pm, and the Holy Day itself is marked by Masses at 8:30 am, 12:00 pm, and a bilingual Mass at 6:30 pm.

Confessions, Adoration, and the Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament of Penance is offered Friday mornings at 9:15 am and Saturday afternoons at 2:30 pm in the church, with an additional hour on First Friday evenings at 7:00 pm. Spanish-language confessions are heard on Saturday at 2:30 pm and on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Eucharistic Adoration is one of the most distinctive features of the parish. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament runs continuously from Monday at 9:00 am until Saturday at 2:00 pm in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, set apart by the Egino Weinert Tabernacle. Visitors during late-night or early-morning hours register in person at the Parish Office with identification to receive the door code. Adoration Society members commit to at least one hour per week before the Blessed Sacrament.

The Anointing of the Sick is available to anyone whose health is seriously impaired by sickness, old age, or impending surgery, and may be repeated if the person recovers and falls ill again or if their condition worsens. The sacrament may also be received before surgery whenever a serious illness is the reason for the operation. Parishioners request the sacrament by calling the parish priests at 714-842-3000.

Faith Formation for Children: The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Rather than a textbook classroom model, the parish's elementary faith formation program is built around the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based approach developed in Rome in 1954 by Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi. The atrium, a specially prepared room, invites children to work with tactile materials that draw them into prayerful meditation on Scripture and liturgy. Level I serves ages three to six and centers on the parable of the Good Shepherd, the geography of the Holy Land, and the gestures of the Eucharist. Level II, for ages six to nine, moves into the True Vine image and the moral parables. Level III, for ages nine to twelve, develops a fuller sense of the history of salvation and the child's place in it.

The program runs on a rotating weekly schedule with sessions on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, both morning and evening. Older children preparing for First Eucharist follow a two-year preparation that begins as early as first grade, with readiness criteria that include an active daily prayer life, weekly Sunday Mass attendance, and an age-appropriate understanding of the Catholic faith. For older children and adolescents who have not yet been baptized, preparation takes place through the OCIA process.

EDGE, Life Teen, and Emmaus: A Continuum from Middle School through Young Adulthood

St. Vincent de Paul's youth and young adult ministry spans three age groups. The middle school program, EDGE, is open to all sixth through eighth graders and meets Monday nights from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm in the Parish Hall for games, talks, community, and snacks. The program is free, and youth are encouraged to bring friends of any background.

High schoolers gather under the Life Teen banner, meeting on Sunday evenings from 5:15 pm to 7:30 pm in the Parish Hall after the 4:00 pm Youth Mass. Life Nights include games, faith-centered talks, and small group discussion, and are open to all high school students regardless of background. The Confirmation program, called Chosen, meets the first and third Wednesday of the month from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, with a two-year process that includes small group work, parish service projects, sponsor selection, and a Confirmation saint, culminating in a Year Two retreat off-site.

For young adults ages 18 to 29, the parish runs Emmaus, named for the disciples' walk on the Road to Emmaus. Emmaus gathers twice a month on Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm in Rooms A and B for Rest Stop Nights, with light food and refreshments, plus an Acknowledge and Adore discussion series on Instagram each Wednesday.

Alpha, OCIA, and Adult Bible Study

For adults exploring the Catholic faith, the parish hosts Alpha, a ten-week series with talks on the existence of God, the identity of Jesus, prayer, the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and the Church, paired with small group discussion and a mid-course retreat day. The course meets Tuesday evenings from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm in the Parish Hall and is offered in both English and Spanish.

Those pursuing full initiation into the Catholic Church journey through OCIA, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, in four stages: the Period of Inquiry, the Catechumenate, Purification and Enlightenment during Lent, and Mystagogy after the Easter Vigil. The OCIA team is led by Father David Otto, Deacon Jerry Wallace, and coordinator Cathryn Wallace.

Adult Bible Study offerings include a Monday-evening Together in Christ walk through the Sunday readings via Zoom, a Wednesday morning Men's Bible Study that follows the daily Mass, an ongoing Thursday morning study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in Room E, and the six-week Into His Likeness study based on Edward Sri's book, offered both in person at the Parish Hall on Monday mornings and via Zoom on Thursday evenings. All adults preparing for Confirmation, marriage, or simply seeking a deeper prayer life are welcome.

Liturgical Ministries at the Altar

The parish's Liturgical Ministries invite adults and teens to serve at the Mass they typically attend, with a light commitment of once per month plus one Christmas or Easter Mass. Roles include Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (also sent to hospitals, nursing homes, and homebound parishioners), Greeters and Hospitality Ministers, Altar Servers (open to boys and girls who have received First Communion and are at least in third grade), members of the Altar Guild who care for the linens, vestments, and flowers, and members of the Environment Committee who mark the movement of the liturgical year.

The Adult Choir rehearses Tuesday evenings from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm in the church and sings at the 10:00 am Sunday Mass under Choir Director Grant Sevdayan. A Sunday Donut Ministry of volunteers serves coffee and donuts after the 7:00 am, 8:30 am, 10:00 am, and 11:30 am Masses on the first Sunday of each month.

Hispanic Ministries and the Neocatechumenal Way

The Spanish-speaking community of the parish gathers under several groups. La Legión de María meets Monday evenings from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm on Zoom and assigns two hours of weekly apostolic work, ranging from bringing the Pilgrim Virgin to homes to visiting the sick and the imprisoned. El Cenáculo de Oración meets Friday afternoons for meditation on the Passion of Christ and a commitment to a daily holy hour. Matrimonios en Cristo gathers married and engaged couples in Rooms A and B on Saturday evenings at 7:00 pm for praise, preaching, and mutual support, with childcare provided. Mujeres de Fe and the Neo-Catecumenado small communities round out the ministry, with the Neocatechumenal Way meeting weekly with diocesan approval to discern and live the Gospel.

The parish's Spanish-language sacramental preparation, liturgical ministries, and faith formation run in parallel with their English counterparts, and the parochial vicar, Father David Otto, has begun to learn Spanish in his own time as part of his pastoral assignment.

Serving Beyond the Parish Walls

The parish's own Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, founded by Frederic Ozanam in Paris in 1833 and named after the patron saint of charity, operates as a lay volunteer network of Vincentians who visit families and the homeless and provide financial assistance, food, groceries, household necessities, and medicines. Assistance is available through the parish office; food assistance is distributed Thursday mornings from 9:00 am to 10:30 am and on Mondays and Saturdays from 11:00 am to noon.

The Bereavement Ministry guides families through the planning of Vigils and Funeral Masses, with volunteers suggesting Scripture readings and helping involve family members as lectors. The Legion of Mary meets Thursdays at 12:30 pm in Room 3 for jail ministry, hospital visitation, faith formation classes, and door-to-door evangelization. Deacon Jerry Wallace also visits patients at UCI hospital and serves in Detention Ministry for the Orange County jails.

The parish is closely tied to Mercy House Living Centers, founded by Pastor Emeritus Father Jerome in 1990. Mercy House now serves over 100,000 homeless individuals across six California and Arizona counties through transitional housing, emergency shelter, and supportive services. The Knights of Columbus Council 6020 and the Respect Life Ministry also maintain active presences within the parish.

Marriage, Baptism, and the Sacraments in Family Life

Couples preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony are asked to begin at least six months in advance, with most reserving their date a year or more ahead. Wedding dates are reserved only through a priest. Free Natural Family Planning classes in English and Spanish are offered in partnership with the Couple to Couple League and the California Conference of NFP.

Infant Baptism is celebrated on Saturday mornings, and parents are encouraged to begin planning at least three months in advance, ideally during pregnancy. Godparents must be at least 16, confirmed Catholics who have received First Eucharist and lead a life in harmony with the faith, and if married, married within the Catholic Church. A second baptized Christian from another tradition may serve as a witness. The suggested donation is $80 for in-parish families and $150 for those outside parish boundaries. For couples whose civil marriage needs sacramental validation, the parish offers Convalidation ceremonies.

Annual Gatherings: Parish Fest, the Golf Tournament, and Our Lady of Guadalupe

Three major celebrations mark the parish calendar. Parish Fest and Car Show brings classic cars, food, opportunity drawings, carnival games, and a community raffle with themed baskets to the parish grounds each year. The Annual St. Vincent de Paul Charity Golf Tournament and Awards Dinner is held at Tijeras Creek Golf Club in Rancho Santa Margarita, with a shotgun start at 1:00 pm and an awards dinner at 5:00 pm. The Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 begins with a 5:00 am Mass with mariachi in Spanish and continues with a 7:00 pm Mass in Spanish, plus a bilingual 10:00 am Mass and a parish festival from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm with Latin food, entertainment, kid's activities, and an opportunity drawing for prizes up to $1,500.

Other recurring rhythms include a monthly Noon Day Potluck in the Parish Hall on the second Wednesday of each month, with featured speakers after lunch, and a Blessing of the Animals each autumn in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Becoming a Parishioner

Anyone who lives within parish boundaries or simply wishes to join the community is welcome to register. Newcomers can sign up in person at the Parish Office or through the parish's online registration forms in English and Spanish. Office hours are 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Thursday and 8:00 am to 2:30 pm on Sunday. The parish staff includes a Director of Parish Life and Evangelization, Director of Faith Formation, Coordinator of Faith Formation, Youth and Young Adult Coordinator, Liturgy Coordinator, OCIA Coordinator, Finance Manager, Choir Director, and Maintenance Supervisor, all reachable at 714-842-3000.

After nearly five decades on Talbert Avenue, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church continues to build up the Body of Christ in Huntington Beach through the same combination of Word, Sacrament, and service that has shaped it since the days of Dilday Mortuary, with a pastor who once served as Command Chaplain at Camp Pendleton, a pastor emeritus who founded a network of homeless shelters, three permanent deacons, and a parish community that gathers around the Blessed Sacrament seven days a week.