THE TEN: Reclaiming Sundays Around Mass, Food, and Formation
On a residential stretch of Yorba Linda in Orange County, Santa Clara de Asis Catholic Church has built its identity around a single weekly gathering called THE TEN. It begins at 10:00 AM with Sunday Mass, continues with a shared meal, and runs formation programming until 12:30 PM. Parish leadership describes THE TEN as a shift "from a factory of Masses to a community of intentional disciples rooted in faith and tradition," with three words repeated often on the parish site: Faith, Fellowship, and Formation.
THE TEN is not a separate event from Mass; it is the 10 AM Sunday Mass plus everything that follows. Food is served every Sunday. On roughly two Sundays a month, the community breaks into age-based groups for formation called Connect. On the other Sundays, the parish strengthens community through service projects, socials, spiritual reflections, small groups, and special activities like worship nights, a Saints and Souls Project, an Advent Parish Faith Day, a Lent Parish Faith Day, Stations of the Cross, a Penance Service, a Divine Mercy Social, and Sacramental Sundays. Children attend Mass with their families and then move into SCDA Kids, Tots, or Connect groups. Middle schoolers and high schoolers gather as MSM and HSM with their own Connect Sundays and Wednesday YTH Nights. Adults stay for food, conversation, and an opportunity to grow in faith together.
For families whose Sundays are already crowded with sports and school commitments, the parish makes a point of saying nothing at THE TEN is mandatory. "We want our mentality of Sundays to change," the parish writes, "but we are not making any part of our program mandatory. If you can't make THE TEN then we hope to see you at another Mass that weekend."
Mass Times, Reconciliation, and a Daily Eucharistic Rhythm
Beyond THE TEN, Santa Clara de Asis offers a full weekly schedule of Masses. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Saturday at 8:30 AM. On Saturday evening, a Vigil Mass is offered at 5:00 PM. Sunday Masses are celebrated at 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM (THE TEN), and 5:00 PM.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available on Saturdays at 3:30 PM, just before the Vigil Mass. Couples preparing for marriage and parishioners in general are also directed to Reconciliation as one of the seven sacraments celebrated at the parish.
A Building Campaign and a Flat Fr. Michael Keychain
Santa Clara de Asis is currently in a building campaign under the heading SCDA LET'S GO, with the tagline "Church is not just a place you go. It is a family you belong to. Every Parish needs a Church. Every family needs a home." The campaign lifts up the vision of a "Holy Hilltop of Assisi in Yorba Linda" and offers online giving to support it.
One of the more distinctive features of the campaign is a small acrylic keychain called Flat Fr. Michael. Families can pick one up at the welcome cart on Sundays or in the parish office during the week, then take it on vacations, school drop-offs, road trips, sports events, and theme parks. When donors "pay for Fr. Michael too," the extra gift goes toward the building fund. Parishioners are asked to submit photos of the keychain in its travels as part of the campaign's playful tone. Giving to the parish as a whole is handled through WeShare, available at scdayl.churchgiving.com, with options for checking, savings, debit, and credit cards.
SCDA Kids: Tots, Friends, Eucharist, and the Liturgy of the Word
SCDA Kids is the parish's family formation program, built around THE TEN. Its mission is "families and supporting their faith through the avenues of formation, events, and curriculum."
For the youngest children, SCDA Tots welcomes ages 1 to 3 in Room A during THE TEN year-round and focuses on learning through play with a Catholic foundation. SCDA Friends gathers preschoolers ages 3 to 5 in Room D on Sundays during THE TEN for Bible stories, crafts, and Gospel-based, hands-on lessons. Both Tots and Friends are free.
SCDA Connect is the parish's formation program for preschoolers through fifth grade on select Sundays from 10 AM to 12:30 PM. After Mass and a meal, children gather by grade level for engaging faith discussions tailored to each group. Registration is $125 per SCDA Kid per year. Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered during most Sunday Masses when Connect is not meeting; children are dismissed before the readings for an age-appropriate experience of the liturgy with the parish's Director of Parish Life.
For baptized children in at least first grade, a two-year Eucharist 1 and 2 program prepares them for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion. The first year is built around THE TEN and Connect; the second year adds two sacrament preparation day retreats. Children who attend second grade at Saint Francis of Assisi and are registered at Santa Clara may prepare for and celebrate their sacraments at the parish.
A Vacation Bible School is also part of the parish year, with dates for the upcoming season announced each year.
SCDA Youth: Middle School MSM, High School HSM, and Confirmation
SCDA's middle school ministry, called MSM, is open to any sixth through eighth grader. MSM meets on select Sundays during Connect and on Wednesday YTH Nights from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, with snacks provided. The high school ministry, HSM, is open to ninth through twelfth graders and meets for Wednesday YTH Nights as well as Connect Sundays, with an annual retreat weekend, LA Youth Day, and the Steubenville Conference on the calendar.
Confirmation is offered as a two-year process for ninth through eleventh graders under the Diocese of Orange's guidelines. The first year is integrated into Connect Sundays at THE TEN, with additional Wednesday YTH Nights, First Friday Adorations, and Parish Faith Days. Teens are expected to attend Sunday Mass, THE TEN Connect, YTH Nights, First Friday Adoration with a reflection form, and to complete sponsor forms, a saint reflection, and service at SCDA. The first year includes a mandatory youth ministry retreat weekend each November. The second year adds a dedicated Confirmation retreat in the fall of the following year, a Friday Night Adoration, a Spring Reconciliation with reflection, a saint art project, and a bishop letter.
SCDA Young Adults: Tuesday Nights from 7 to 9 PM
SCDA YA is for anyone in their twenties or thirties looking for community and a place to grow in faith, Catholic or not. The group meets every Tuesday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, most weeks at the parish but sometimes at worship nights, trivia at breweries, or bowling outings. The format is described simply as "good people, good conversation, good food, and space to grow in faith together." The parish reassures new faces that "most of us showed up not knowing anyone" and that the community is easy to step into.
SCDA Adults: Bible Studies, Marriage, Men, Women, Moms, and Grief
Adult formation at Santa Clara de Asis is organized as a series of named ministries, each with its own page and registration.
Bible on Tap is a men's Bible study for adults 18 and over, gathering once a month on a Friday from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Men are also invited to First Friday Adoration from 6:00 to 7:00 PM beforehand, though it is not required. Childcare can be available. Seeking God is the parallel women's Bible study, gathering on the same Friday schedule with wine, shared appetizers, and time for honest conversation and prayer.
Hitched is the parish marriage ministry for couples of all ages, from newlyweds to those celebrating decades together. Hitched gathers every other month to grow in faith, strengthen marriages, and build friendships.
Men Awaken is the parish men's ministry, meeting Thursday mornings from 6:00 to 7:00 AM as the sun rises, with breakfast burritos and coffee served. Heart 2 Heart is the women's ministry, a caring community devoted to Christ and built around small group sharing and activities rooted in the Catholic faith.
MomCo is the parish's community for mothers, gathering monthly with a meal, a speaker, and meaningful conversation, paired with KidsCo childcare for children from newborn to age five during nine sessions per year. There is a separate Moms' Night Out series held in the evenings, with each event registered separately.
Embrace is the parish's grief and loss support group, meeting twice a month on Thursday evenings at 6:00 PM. Open to anyone who desires support through grief, Embrace welcomes those walking through the loss of a loved one, including those connected to the parish through the Ministry of Consolation.
The Knights of Columbus Council 13311 is the parish's fraternal Catholic organization, supporting priests through events like pancake breakfasts and Big Burrito weekends and contributing to charitable works. Membership is open through kofc.org or by emailing the council at kofc13311@gmail.com.
Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing, Marriage, Holy Orders
Seven sacraments frame parish life at Santa Clara de Asis.
Child baptism is celebrated for children from birth through age seven. Parents are required to be registered, active parishioners and to complete Pre-Baptism Preparation classes before an individual baptism is scheduled with a priest or deacon.
Adult baptism is part of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), the parish's process for adults and children over age seven who are preparing to enter the Catholic Church. OCIA begins in the fall, runs through the year, and culminates in the Easter Vigil, when those ready receive the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism (if needed), Confirmation, and the Eucharist.
Eucharist preparation for children is built into the two-year SCDA Kids Eucharist 1 and 2 program. Adult confirmation is offered for those over 18 who have been baptized and received First Communion but have not yet been confirmed. Youth confirmation is built into the two-year high school process described above.
Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons at 3:30 PM and during Lenten Penance Services.
Anointing of the Sick and funeral arrangements are coordinated through the parish office. The Ministry of Consolation surrounds families with practical support after a loss: scheduling Mass Intentions, organizing visits from Extraordinary Ministers to the Homebound, arranging meetings with a priest, coordinating meals or food delivery, and inviting the family to Embrace when they are ready.
Weddings at Santa Clara de Asis are typically scheduled on Saturdays at 10:00 AM or 2:00 PM, with weekday weddings considered depending on the church calendar. Couples are encouraged to reach out three to six months in advance. A $100 deposit holds the date. At least one member of the couple must be a baptized Catholic, though the fiancé does not need to be Catholic. The parish lists a recommended music menu for weddings, with traditional choices such as Canon in D and Prayer of St. Francis alongside contemporary songs by Bethel, Maverick City, Elevation, and others, plus Marian options like Schubert's Ave Maria and Hail Mary, Gentle Woman.
Holy Orders, the sacrament by which men are ordained as priests or deacons, is also referenced on the parish site as part of the seven sacraments.
SCDA Serve: Liturgy, Fellowship, and Service
Volunteer life at the parish is organized under SCDA Serve. Liturgical ministries include Altar Server, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (for weekday and weekend Masses), Lector, Sacristan, Ministers to the Homebound, and the Worship Team. Funeral and Consolation Ministry walks alongside families during end-of-life and bereavement.
Beyond the sanctuary, the parish runs a long list of practical ministries. Hilltop Coffee Co. operates a coffee cart after the 8 AM Mass and THE TEN, with proceeds supporting the Building Campaign. The Linen Ministry washes and irons purificators and towels each week, using the rinse water to nourish garden plants. Martha's Ministry prepares food for parish events like Faith Days and ordinations, with an annual ladies' gathering each spring. The Donut Ministry hosts coffee and donuts after the 8:00 and 10:00 Masses as a short, family-friendly service opportunity.
The Corazón Ministry travels twice a year, once in spring and once in fall, to build a house in a community in Mexico in a single day. Cursillo is offered as an approved and supervised Catholic movement in Orange County, with weekend experiences designed for spiritual growth. The Filipino Ministry gathers to celebrate Filipino culture and heritage as part of parish life.
The Saint Vincent de Paul Conference at the parish supports parishioners and local families in need, providing roughly $45,000 in direct assistance each year for utilities, groceries, gasoline, and cell phones, along with student backpacks, monthly food collections, and Christmas gift deliveries. On the first full weekend of every month, non-perishable food items are collected before all Masses: 75 percent of donations go to Immaculate Heart of Mary and 25 percent to Placentia Veterans Village. Needed items include canned proteins, pantry staples, canned and boxed goods, and household basics.
The Usher Ministry welcomes and assists parishioners and guests at Mass, including seating help and securing the collection.
All volunteers are required by the Diocese of Orange to complete a Federal Background Check/Fingerprint Clearance and Safe Environment Training before serving. Safe Environment Training, called Safe Haven: It's Up to You, is offered online through CMG Connect and must be renewed every three years.
Safe Environment and Diocesan Oversight
The parish affirms the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' National Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and the Diocese of Orange's Covenant With the Faithful. Santa Clara de Asis is part of the Diocese of Orange, with the Office of Child and Youth Protection supporting the parish's fingerprinting, background screening, and safe environment training efforts. Safe Environment information is available at orange.cmgconnect.org and through the diocesan child and youth protection office.
Practical Details for First-Time Visitors
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with extended hours on the last Wednesday of the month from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, and closed Friday through Sunday. The office phone number is (714) 970-7885. The parish address is 22005 Avenida de la Paz, Yorba Linda, California 92887.
Visitors can sign up to receive the parish's LIFE AT SCDA email through the parish site, follow the parish on Facebook and Instagram, or register as parishioners online. SCDA's bulletin is published weekly and is available on the parish site in PDF form, with each week's edition including announcements, the Mass schedule, and reflections from the pastor.
Weekly bulletins, the parish's calendar of events, and registration links for ministries, sacraments, Bible studies, and parish events are all available on the parish site. Online giving is processed through WeShare. SCDA Tots and SCDA Friends teachers are listed on the Work at SCDA page as current openings, with applications directed to the parish's Faith Formation Coordinator.
The parish's ministry structure, from Tots to Young Adults to grief support, reflects the same idea behind THE TEN: that parish life is meant to be lived together, across ages and stages, week after week.