On a residential block of Ballard Street in El Cajon, a few blocks east of Main, the stucco walls and stained glass of Holy Trinity Catholic Church have anchored Catholic life in San Diego's East County for more than seventy years. The parish itself is much older, tracing its roots to 1903, and the present building was only the third home of a community that had already outgrown a one-room schoolhouse and a Magnolia Avenue chapel. Today Holy Trinity is a bilingual parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, with weekend Masses in English and Spanish, a K-8 school next door, a working food bank, and a calendar that runs from sunrise adoration to evening choir rehearsal.
From horseback to Ballard Street: a century of parish life
Holy Trinity Parish traces its beginnings to a young French Canadian priest named Father Edmond Lapointe, who came to Southern California for his health and in 1903 became pastor of the first Catholic parish in El Cajon, known as Mission Saint Mary's. Before him, the pioneering Spanish priest Father Anthony Ubach had ridden three hours on horseback from San Diego once a month to serve the area. The little parish celebrated Mass in various halls and rooms until locating its first church in the old El Cajon schoolhouse. That building housed the pastor and served the community well until it was gutted by fire on the evening of Holy Saturday, April 7, 1917, destroying all sacramental records from 1903 to 1917.
Hard work and the generosity of the whole county rebuilt a new church on Magnolia Avenue. By the late 1940s, Father Leo Davis and the parish wanted a Catholic school. To raise the money, the energetic associate Father B. Francis Ross helped organize All Western Days at Gillespie Field in 1948 and 1949, a star-studded weekend of parades, games, food and celebrity guests including Bing Crosby, Andy Devine, Jimmy Durante, Gabby Hayes, Dorothy Lamour, Carmen Miranda and Ricardo Montalban, raising more than $100,000. The present site on Ballard Street was purchased, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters were invited to staff the school, and Holy Trinity School welcomed its first students in September 1951.
Father Edward Kokoszka arrived in July 1952, expanded the four-room school and completed the convent. In 1955, with no money for a new church, Father Ed bought an old barracks from Camp Callen and had it erected at the corner of Redwood and Ballard Streets as Holy Trinity Church, then set about building a rectory. Father Patrick Gerald Walsh finished the rectory and undertook a new church. The parish met a $250,000 fundraising goal, with each pew, stained glass window, station and altar funded by an individual family. Bishop Richard H. Ackerman dedicated the new church on May 24, 1959. A well-designed multi-purpose building with classrooms, a modern kitchen and a large banquet hall followed in February 1983.
From 1903 to 2016, sixteen pastors have served Holy Trinity. Monsignor Patrick Walsh, pastor from 1957 to 1986, served the longest. The parish has also been home to 46 associates and 3 deacons, and from its beginnings has recorded 11,393 baptisms, 8,269 First Communions, 5,395 confirmations, 2,667 marriages and 2,404 funerals. Out of the original Saint Mary's - Holy Trinity parish, four other thriving parish communities have grown in El Cajon: Saint Louise de Marillac in 1944, Our Lady of Grace in 1955, Saint Kieran in 1958, and Saint Luke in 1985.
Father Stephen Dunn, a Scripture scholar and liturgist, took the helm in 1986 and put the inclusive style of ministry promoted by the Second Vatican Council into practice. He converted the rectory into a humming Ministry Center, sponsored the founding of the Holy Trinity Seniors, pushed for the school to be financially independent of the parish, and helped start the Early Childhood Development Center in the convent building. Fathers Nick Clavin and Brian Corcoran continued that work, revamping parish and finance councils and purchasing a priests' house in 1997.
Father Brian Hayes, pastor from 2006 to 2015, oversaw major repairs: a leaky roof and damaged drywall were fixed, walls repainted inside and out, central air conditioning installed, the bathrooms and main entrance remodeled, the stained glass windows restored, new flooring laid in the parish hall, and a handicap and delivery ramp added at the Ministry Center. Father Eddie Ruiz, who had served as an associate to Father Corcoran from 2000 to 2004, returned as pastor in 2015.
Father Reynaldo Manahan, appointed July 1, 2019, guided the parish through the COVID-19 pandemic. When public Mass was suspended, he was one of only a handful of local pastors to video Mass every weekend and post it so that parishioners could continue to celebrate in their church. When indoor worship was again permitted, Father Rey celebrated Mass outdoors on the school grounds. Fr. Anthony Saroki became the new pastor of Holy Trinity on July 1, 2026. A San Diego native and the oldest of six children born to Chaldean Catholic immigrants from Iraq, he earned degrees from Georgetown University and UC Berkeley, practiced business law, and was ordained in 2005 at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo. Before Holy Trinity he served as Catholic chaplain at San Diego State University, associate pastor at Blessed Sacrament Parish, pastor of Ascension Parish in Tierrasanta, and Director of Priestly Vocations for the Diocese of San Diego.
Believing, Belonging, Becoming: a parish motto that names the work
The parish describes itself in three short words: Believing, Belonging, Becoming. Believing is the Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, one God in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, proclaimed in Sacred Scripture and celebrated in the seven sacraments. Belonging is the gathered community: people of many cultures, ages, states in life and ethnic backgrounds who are united in one Body, the Church, through the Eucharist. Becoming is the sending out, the parish's charge to be who it receives and to bring the Light of Christ into homes, workplaces, schools, streets and the public square.
Father Anthony, the parish notes, brings with him a strong background in both law and ministry. Before answering the call to the priesthood he had an impressive legal career as an attorney at a large law firm in Berkeley. His transition from courtroom to pulpit, the parish writes, has made him a deeply relatable and highly respected spiritual leader in the Diocese of San Diego.
Mass in English and Spanish: a weekend rhythm of four celebrations
Effective August 1, 2026, Holy Trinity's weekend Mass schedule is shaped around its bilingual community. Saturday Vigil is at 5:00 pm in English. On Sunday, Mass is celebrated at 8:00 am in English, 10:00 am in English, 12:00 pm in Spanish, and 7:00 pm in Spanish. Weekday Masses are offered Tuesday through Friday at 8:15 am, with no Monday Mass. On the first Saturday of each month, a 7:00 am First Saturday Devotion with Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is followed by Mass at 8:15 am.
The sacrament of Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm, and, with new times added in September, on Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:30 am to 8:00 am. Preparation for children to receive their First Reconciliation at Holy Trinity generally begins in second grade, through both the curriculum at Holy Trinity School and the parish's Faith Formation program for children attending public schools.
Adoration, devotions and a week shaped by prayer
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a daily rhythm at the parish. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is offered Monday through Thursday at 7:00 am, and Exposition with Benediction on Friday at 7:00 am. On Tuesdays, the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Devotion follows the 8:15 am Mass. The parish joins the universal Church in the First Saturday Devotion each month, beginning at 7:00 am with Exposition and Benediction followed by Mass at 8:15 am.
Around the daily Mass and adoration schedule, several prayer groups meet through the week. Holy Trinity Bible Study gathers on Wednesdays from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm in Room 6 of the Parish Hall, exploring all books of the Bible with the Catechism of the Catholic Church as an additional resource; newcomers can join at any time. The Grupo de Adoración, a Spanish-language Hispanic prayer group for adults, meets on Thursday evenings from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the Parish Hall for scripture study, praise and worship, and the sharing of personal testimonies, with retreats, fundraisers and special presenters throughout the year. A small Divine Will Study group reads the writings of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta, the Italian mystic whose works received their most recent nihil obstat in 2024, declaring them free from doctrinal error. Parishioners also take part in 40 Days for Life, joining a continuous peaceful prayer vigil in front of the Planned Parenthood at 1685 E. Main Street in El Cajon as part of the El Cajon campaign.
Forming young disciples from first grade through high school
Holy Trinity's Faith Formation program serves children from first grade through high school, in both English and Spanish, and draws students from many of the elementary schools around the county. Class times vary by age group. For the 2026-2027 year, English-language classes for Grades 1-6 begin October 7, 2026, meeting on the school campus on Wednesday evenings from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm. Spanish classes for the same grades meet on Sundays from 10:00 am to 11:30 am beginning October 4, 2026. Middle school and high school youth gather in the main room of the Parish Hall on Sundays from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm. First Reconciliation is generally prepared in second grade, First Eucharist in first and second grade, and Confirmation around ninth grade. A $20 late fee applies after the August 31 registration deadline.
For children over the age of seven who have not been baptized, the parish works with the family through the RICA adapted for children, leading to the three sacraments of initiation: Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation. Children in the program are also expected to attend Mass each Sunday, and parents and godparents share in the preparation.
For adults, the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, OCIA in English and OICA in Spanish, is a ritual process rather than a class, designed for the unbaptized, Christians from other traditions, or Catholics returning to the faith. Classes are taught by Fr. Anthony himself and meet on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm in the Parish Hall, beginning the Tuesday after Labor Day. The Glenn Meyer coordinates the English program; Patty and Manuel Jiminez coordinate the Spanish program.
Music and the liturgical ministries: a parish that sings
Music sits at the heart of Holy Trinity's liturgical life. The Adult Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm in the church and sings at the 10:00 am Mass every Sunday under the direction of Choir Director Wendy Andersen. A Spanish Choir, led by Jorge Gonzalez, supports the 12:00 pm and 7:00 pm Spanish Masses. The Music Ministry welcomes new singers; no previous choral experience or ability to read music is required, only a pleasant voice and a cheery disposition, and instrumentalists with experience are always invited to accompany the choir.
Around the choirs, a wide circle of lay ministers serves the liturgy. Lectors proclaim the first two scripture readings at Mass and lead the Prayers of the Faithful; training and preparation are required, and a separate team serves the Spanish Masses. Altar Servers carry the cross and processional candles, hold the book for the priest, carry the incense, and present the bread, wine and water at the preparation of the gifts; a separate team serves the Spanish Masses. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist the priest with distribution and bring the Eucharist to the homebound and infirmed. The parish reminds Extraordinary Ministers that they show the greatest reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist by their demeanor, their attire, and the manner in which they handle the consecrated species.
A parish that feeds its neighbors: the food bank and other service ministries
The Holy Trinity Parish Food Bank is open to the wider community every Wednesday from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, distributing bags of non-perishable groceries and, when available, bread, from the main entrance of the Parish Hall. The parish notes a name and home address are normally required for records, but the food bank also serves homeless neighbors. Families may receive a bag of staple items every other week. The food bank is an all-volunteer effort that depends on donations from local stores, the larger San Diego food banks, and the generosity of parish and school families.
Prayers and Squares, an interfaith outreach ministry, combines the gift of prayer with the gift of a hand-tied quilt. Each knot tied in a quilt represents a prayer offered for a person in need, and the finished quilt, sometimes called a comforter, is given as a silent testimony to the power of prayer. Holy Trinity's quilters meet on the first and third Saturday of every month from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Conference Room of the Parish Hall, and quilts made here have gone all over the world.
The Holy Trinity Knights of Columbus council meets on the second Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm in the Parish Hall. The parish describes the Knights as Catholic men who lead, serve, protect and defend, sharing a desire to be better husbands, fathers, sons, neighbors and role models and to put charity and community first. A Guadalupana Association, the parish school and youth groups join the Knights and other parish organizations in organizing celebrations that mark the rhythm of parish life, including the Follow the Star Advent celebration and the Parish Festival celebrating the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity.
San Pedro Calungsod, seniors and the social life of the parish
The San Pedro Calungsod Group at Holy Trinity is a very active part of parish life. In addition to organizing seasonal events, outings and fundraisers, members participate in many parish ministries, including altar flowers and other church beautification efforts. The Holy Trinity Seniors organization, founded under Father Stephen Dunn in the late 1980s, has been bringing back its Senior Lunches as a way for older parishioners to meet new friends and reconnect with long-time buddies over food, games and raffles. Doors open at 10:30 am in the Parish Hall, and a $20 per person reservation is required. The parish plans to start with four luncheons a year and add more if helpers and interest allow.
Holy Trinity School: be it known that Christ is the reason for this school
On the same Ballard Street campus stands Holy Trinity School, a Catholic school serving preschool through eighth grade that is now celebrating 75 years of excellence. Its mission is to be a joyful, welcoming, caring, active community of believers supporting families in educating children in academics and Catholic values to meet the challenges of the world. The Early Childhood Development Center, a preschool housed in the former convent, is part of the same parish ministry. The sign at the school entrance reads, in the words of the school community, Be it known to all who enter that Christ is the reason for this school. The school and the parish share a calendar, and a strong grandparent and parent presence at the daily and weekend Masses that the school supports is one of the quiet rhythms of the year.
A hall for the whole valley: weddings, quinceañeras and parish life
For a parish of more than a century, the gathering spaces matter. The Holy Trinity Parish Hall can accommodate up to 600 people for a sit down dinner and hosts wedding receptions, theatrical productions and rehearsals, quinceañeras, dinner dances, meetings and workshops. The hall is air conditioned, has a large dedicated parking lot, a full-size kitchen with an ice machine, a large stage with a projector and screen, a PA system, and handicap accessibility. Collapsible walls let the space be split into a main hall and smaller rooms. Weddings and quinceañeras are scheduled on Fridays and Saturdays; office, group and similar events run Monday through Thursday. Hall Manager Farrah Ferreira handles reservations, and deposit and rental details are listed in the parish packet.
Sacraments at Holy Trinity
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Baptisms are scheduled in the parish, with at least one parent required to attend a baptismal preparation class; private baptisms are not generally scheduled, but the Ministry Center can be contacted to ask if a priest or deacon is available. First Reconciliation is prepared in second grade, First Eucharist in first and second grade, and Confirmation around ninth grade, with adult preparation through OCIA and OICA. The Anointing of the Sick is offered to those facing serious illness or surgery, the elderly, and children old enough to understand its significance. Weddings are prepared over six to nine months, with a non-refundable deposit to reserve the date; the parish lists a $700 wedding fee, with the balance due two months before the date, and offers a Wedding Anniversary Mass for couples celebrating milestones. The Ministry Center can also help arrange a funeral, a vigil, a graveside service or a Mass intention in the church.
Joining the parish
Anyone is welcome to become a part of the Holy Trinity community by filling out a parish registration form, in either English or Spanish, on the parish site, or by stopping by the Ministry Center. The parish also reaches its members through Flocknote, an opt-in email and text service. The Ministry Center is open Tuesday through Friday from 8:45 am to 5:15 pm, closed for lunch from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, and on Sunday from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm; it is closed Mondays and Saturdays. The parish phone number is (619) 444-9425.
Two ways to keep up with parish life are the weekly bulletin and the parish calendar, both linked from the parish site. The Annual Catholic Appeal for the Diocese of San Diego is also promoted throughout the year, and online giving is available through the parish's secure giving page. The parish describes itself in the words of Numbers 6:24-26, blessing those who enter: The LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace.