A Roman Catholic Parish on East Lassen Avenue
Our Divine Savior Catholic Church sits at 566 East Lassen Avenue in Chico, California, a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Sacramento serving the greater Chico community under Bishop Jaime Soto and Auxiliary Bishop Myron Cotta. The parish describes itself as a community "nourished by grace and the sacraments" that embraces the mission of Jesus Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit, and living the Gospel through worship of God and loving service to one another and to the wider Chico area.
Father Joshy Mathew serves as pastor, leading a parish that offers Mass in both English and Spanish, a full sacramental life, religious education from transitional kindergarten through high school confirmation, an active social concerns and outreach network, and a small church community program with roots going back more than four decades. Liturgical Coordinator Joanie Frericks, Director of Religious Education Jennifer Leon, and Music Director Allison Ward round out the ministry leadership team.
Mass Times, Reconciliation, and the Choir Loft
The parish celebrates the Eucharist as "the source and summit" of Catholic faith. The regular weekly Mass schedule is:
- Tuesday at 6:00 PM
- Wednesday through Friday at 8:30 AM
- Saturday at 5:00 PM (Vigil Mass)
- Sunday at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM
Reconciliation is offered on Tuesday from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, alongside Eucharistic Adoration, and on Saturday from 3:30 to 4:30 PM. Confessions are also available by appointment by calling the parish office at 530-343-4248.
Music at all weekend Masses is traditional, with the parish choir rehearsing every Wednesday at 7:00 PM. The 10:00 AM Mass on the second Sunday of each month is designated as the parish Youth Mass, with greeters, ushers, readers, Eucharistic ministers, and musicians drawn largely from younger members of the community.
The Seven Sacraments at the Parish
Our Divine Savior celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments, which the parish identifies as the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist), the Sacraments of Healing (Penance and the Anointing of the Sick), and the Sacraments at the Service of Communion (Marriage and Holy Orders). Through the sacraments, the parish teaches, God shares his holiness with us so that we, in turn, can make the world holier.
Infant baptism is prepared for through the "Belonging: Baptism in the Family of God" video study with Father Mike Schmitz. Parents and godparents complete a Baptism Information Form, a godparent eligibility form, and submit a donation for materials along with the child's birth certificate. After the video series, parents and godparents gather for a 90-minute follow-up meeting on the second Monday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Baptisms are typically celebrated during the Friday 8:30 AM daily Mass, the Saturday Vigil, or one of the Sunday Masses.
First Holy Communion preparation requires a foundation year of faith formation and regular Mass attendance. Children are taught basic prayers (the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and Act of Contrition), the Ten Commandments, and how to make a good examination of conscience for First Reconciliation. They also study the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and how to receive the sacrament reverently. First Communion typically culminates in a 10:00 AM parish Mass, preceded by a morning retreat.
Confirmation is a two-year journey beginning in seventh grade, with classes held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 PM in the Parish Center. Adult Catholics who have been baptized and received First Communion but have not yet been confirmed are welcomed through an Adult Confirmation program that culminates in the sacrament conferred by Bishop Soto at a parish Mass.
The Anointing of the Sick is available for those who are sick, hospitalized, or preparing for surgery; parishioners in need are asked to call the parish office. Marriages are arranged through the parish, and inquiries about Holy Orders and Convalidation are also welcomed through the parish office.
Building the Domestic Church: Faith Formation TK-6
The parish's religious education program supports parents as the primary educators of the faith, drawing on the Catechism of the Catholic Church's teaching that "parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children." The Family Faith Formation program for Transitional Kindergarten through sixth grade supplements what children learn at home and helps them form a community of faith among their peers. Classes run from mid-September through May, ending at Pentecost.
Parent gatherings are held each month in the Parish Center and are a required part of the program, allowing parents to learn more about the Mass, the liturgy, and the Eucharist. Director of Religious Education Jennifer Leon oversees the program and can be reached through the parish office or at odsreligioused@yahoo.com.
Children are also welcomed to participate in a summer Vacation Bible School, "Rainforest Falls," with space for about 80 children. Adult volunteers help transform the Social Hall into a rainforest backdrop during Wednesday evening build days from late April through early June.
Confirmation Preparation and Adult Faith
Confirmation, the parish teaches, is "the strengthening of our role in the mission of the Church," not a graduation from religious education. Students in seventh grade or older who have been baptized Catholic, received First Reconciliation, and First Eucharist are eligible. The two-year program includes sponsor conversations, a Saint Discovery Summary, diocesan permission forms, service hours, and an interview with the Director of Religious Education. Candidates are expected to be registered and actively participating parishioners; candidates from other parishes are welcome with their pastor's permission and an additional offering.
Adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church are welcomed through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA). Classes meet Sunday mornings from 8:15 to 9:45 AM. Parishioners can serve as sponsors, catechists, or help with "Breaking Open the Word" during the Sunday liturgies.
Adult Confirmation candidates prepare through a series of seven Sunday morning classes focused on the basics of the Catholic faith, including beliefs, practices, prayer, and living the faith, before receiving the sacrament from Bishop Soto.
Junior High and High School Youth Ministry
Youth Ministry at Our Divine Savior brings together junior high and high school students on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the Social Hall. The gatherings include food, games, activities, and outings rooted in Catholic community life, with all Confirmation and high school students welcome to attend.
Adult and young adult volunteers are invited to serve as Core members for the Youth Ministry team, and students must have a parent consent form on file to participate. The youth ministry is supported through annual fundraisers, including a drive-thru tri-tip dinner featuring award-winning barbecue, beans, coleslaw, and dessert.
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Music is described as "a vital and integral part of our worship," and the parish uses traditional music at all weekend Masses. The choir rehearses every Wednesday at 7:00 PM, and singers or cantors are always welcome. Music Director Allison Ward can be reached at musicdirectorods@yahoo.com or 530-345-2176.
Other liturgical roles include altar servers (open to children from fourth grade through high school, with parent involvement encouraged), Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, lectors, and ushers. Liturgy Coordinator Joanie Frericks can be reached at 530-345-4283 for more information on serving in these roles. A separate Flowers ministry welcomes donations in memory of loved ones or for special occasions; arrangements for flowers and plants at the altar are coordinated through the parish office.
Social Concerns and Outreach
The parish's social outreach is rooted in the words of Matthew 25: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." It encompasses several long-standing organizations and projects.
The Knights of Columbus Council meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM and partners with St. John's Church for a COR men's Bible study on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in Room 2 of the ODS Social Hall. The Catholic Daughters of the Americas engage in creative and spiritual programs promoting faith, justice, equality, and the advancement of human dignity.
Catholic Ladies Relief Society #3 founded and operates the Chico Community Food Locker, which serves the homeless and needy with food and emergency services. The St. Vincent de Paul Conference meets the second and fourth Mondays at 7:00 PM and provides practical assistance to those in need. Parishioners from Our Divine Savior also feed the homeless a simple meal six days each month, with teams providing or preparing the food for serving between 5:45 and 6:45 PM.
The Respect for Life committee promotes a culture of life from conception to natural death with dignity, meeting the first Thursday of each month in the prayer room from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. The parish also welcomes office volunteers to help with bulletin folding, envelope stuffing, and other occasional tasks.
Hospitality, Bereavement, and Community Life
The Hospitality and Community Life ministries focus on accompanying parishioners through life's milestones. The Bereavement Ministry prepares a reception for family and friends following a Funeral Mass, with volunteers providing food and beverages. The Consolation Ministry sends cards of sympathy throughout the year and hosts workshops and an All Souls' Day celebration.
Catholics Come Home is a thirteen-week outreach program for non-practicing Catholics seeking to return to active faith. The Ministry to the Sick and Homebound takes the Eucharist to those who are ill, confined to their homes, or in extended care facilities, and cooperates with St. John the Baptist Parish to bring communion to Catholic patients at Enloe Hospital.
The parish supports several ongoing faith-sharing groups. Small Church Communities meet weekly for prayer, study of the upcoming Sunday readings, faith sharing, and service. The Tuesday Morning Bible Study, founded in 1983, meets from 9:00 to 11:00 AM using Dr. Scott Hahn's study guides. A Thursday Discipleship Group meets from 9:00 to 11:00 AM for spiritual reading and group discussion. The Men's Bible Study gathers every Friday at 6:00 AM. The Respect Life Rosary Group meets the first Wednesday of each month at 5:00 PM in the social hall library, and a Pro-Life Catholic Ministry meets every Wednesday at 5:00 PM in the same space. Care for Creation meets the second Thursday of each month.
Belief and a Bilingual Welcome
Our Divine Savior professes the Nicene Creed, with a special focus on the oneness of God, the divinity of Jesus Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, and "one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church." The parish identifies itself as Roman Catholic and is part of the Diocese of Sacramento, led by Bishop Jaime Soto.
The parish website is mirrored in Spanish, with information on Mass times, sacraments, faith formation, ministries, and parish life available in both English and Español. The parish office can be reached at 530-343-4248, with office hours Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Parish registration forms, Mass intention requests, and online giving through ParishSoft and WeShare are all available, and Mass cards are sent to families or individuals to notify them that a Mass is being offered for a particular intention.
The Parish Garden, the Bulletin, and Beyond
The parish garden offers 4-by-10-foot planter boxes to families on a first-come, first-served basis, with automatic irrigation provided. Each family supplies its own seeds, starters, and plants and maintains its own section; sign-ups are available on a clipboard in front of the church.
Each week, the parish publishes an online bulletin with announcements, the Gospel of the week, and the Saint of the Week. The parish is supported in this work by Newton Bracewell Funeral Home, whose contribution helps underwrite the bulletin and website program.
Our Divine Savior is part of a wider network of Catholic institutions in the area, including Notre Dame School Chico (a Transitional Kindergarten through eighth grade coeducational Catholic school), the Chico Newman Catholic Center, the Cistercian monks of the Abbey of New Clairvaux, retreat centers such as Christ the King, Camp Pendola, and the Marello Youth Center, and other area parishes in Paradise, Oroville, Willows, Orland, and Corning. The parish points parishioners to national and international Catholic resources including the Vatican, EWTN, Formed.org, Word on Fire, Ascension Press, Catholic Answers, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.