St. James - St. Leo Catholic Community serves Solana Beach through two Catholic worship locations: St. James Church at 625 S. Nardo Ave. and St. Leo Mission at 936 Genevieve St. It is known for a parish life that pairs daily Mass with English and Spanish faith formation, varied prayer ministries, youth and adult formation, service to older adults, social justice work, Catholic education, and a free concert series. Its mission is Love God, proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, serve all God's people. The community belongs to the Diocese of San Diego. Fr. Ricardo Chinchilla, CJM, and Fr. Gerard Lecomte, CJM, are identified with the Eudist congregation. The clergy team also includes Fr. George Perez and Deacons Peter Hodsdon, Bill Kazmierowicz, and Michael Cihak.
Mass at St. James and St. Leo
St. James Church keeps a steady rhythm of weekday and Sunday worship. Its regular schedule is:
- Monday through Friday: 8:15 a.m. Mass.
- Saturday: 8:15 a.m. Mass and 5 p.m. Vigil Mass.
- Sunday: 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 5 p.m. Mass.
The 9 a.m. Sunday Mass is livestreamed and recorded. Parishioners can watch the Mass online and return to the archive of past recordings.
St. Leo Mission offers Sunday Mass at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Spanish-language parish resources are centered at the mission, while faith formation for children is offered in both English and Spanish.
The sacrament of reconciliation is offered by appointment so that each person can have more time for a meaningful sacramental experience. The time before Saturday Mass is reserved for the presider's preparation.
A Prayer Life Across the Week
Prayer is not confined to Mass. Both churches have regular hours for adoration, contemplative prayer, the Rosary, and other forms of prayer:
- Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Adoration at St. Leo Church.
- Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Adoration at St. James Church.
- First Friday, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.: All-night adoration at St. Leo Mission.
- Tuesday at 9 a.m.: Centering Prayer at St. James.
- Third Sunday: Healing Prayer Ministry after the 9 a.m. Mass in the chapel.
- Monday through Saturday, 7:45 to 8:15 a.m.: Rosary at St. James, plus a Monday Rosary group at 6 p.m.
- First Friday, 7 to 8 p.m.: Monthly Holy Hour and Happy Hour at St. Leo Mission, followed by fellowship at a local restaurant or bar.
Centering Prayer at St. James is presented as an invitation to contemplative prayer that carries ancient Christian wisdom into a contemporary form. It does not replace other kinds of prayer; it is described as a discipline that fosters communion with God and deepens one's relationship with God.
On the first Tuesday of each month, the community prays for priestly vocations after the 8:15 a.m. Mass in the Adoration Chapel behind the altar.
Formation for Children, Teens, and Adults
Faith Formation for Children serves grades 1 through 8 on Sunday mornings. Preparation for First Communion is part of this program and follows a two-year path beginning in first grade or an older grade. Programs are available in English and Spanish. Volunteer catechists can co-teach at the elementary level, with training, curriculum, and support from the parish's catechetical team. Pamela Smith, MTS, serves as the contact for children's formation and the St. James RCIA program, while Blanca Rodriguez is the RCIA contact for St. Leo Mission.
Youth Confirmation is a two-year process during the high school years. Its purpose is both to prepare for the sacrament and to help young people become active members of the Catholic Church. Youth Ministry gathers approximately twice a month, with light snacks at the gatherings and a retreat included for each year of preparation. The broader Youth Ministry offers formative, social, and service opportunities for junior and senior high school students.
Adults preparing to join the Catholic Church are served through RCIA, which provides initiatory catechesis. Adult Confirmation preparation is also available for candidates who want to deepen their preparation for the sacrament. The community participates in the San Diego Catholic Adult Community, whose spiritual, social, and service activities connect Catholics who are single, married, divorced, or widowed.
The parish's own young-adult group for people in their 20s and 30s gathers on the second Sunday of each month. They meet outside St. James after the 5 p.m. Mass for introductions and then continue their gathering over dinner at a nearby restaurant. The first-Friday Holy Hour and Happy Hour offers another monthly opportunity for prayer and fellowship.
St. Leo's Spanish-language marriage group supports married couples through monthly meetings and an annual retreat. A separate Widows and Widowers ministry provides social opportunities for people who have lost a spouse.
Liturgy, Music, and Gatherings for the Whole Parish
The Liturgy Ministry brings together altar servers, Ministers of the Eucharist, lectors, musicians, sacristans, and ushers. Its work supports the worship celebrated at both churches and gives people different ways to participate in the liturgy.
The Music Ministry's motto is: Let us sing a new song, not with our lips, but with our lives.
The Camino Concert Series brings live music to the Parish Community Hall at St. James. It is donation-based, family-friendly, and open to the community. Performers from around the country present classical and contemporary music through soloists, ensembles, and bands.
- Admission is free, with donations supporting the performers and the parish music program.
- Donations may be made in cash, by check, or through Venmo.
- Concessions are available during concerts.
- All concerts are hosted by the Youth Music Ministry.
Parish gatherings continue beyond the concert series. The Sandpipers dance party takes place every fourth Saturday, and bingo runs every Tuesday from 4:30 to 9 p.m. These social events complement the community's worship, formation, and service activities.
Justice, Immigration, and Care for Creation
The Faith in Action Committee is a subcommittee of the St. James - St. Leo Pastoral Council. Grounded in the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching, its mission is to educate and work in solidarity and inclusiveness for justice, equality, respect, and the dignity of all people, while caring for God's creation. It meets on the second Monday of each month from 4 to 5 p.m.
The committee educates the community about social justice concerns and promotes projects, programs, and policies that respect human dignity. Its work addresses discrimination related to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and poverty, as well as education, housing, policing, immigration, and care for the planet.
The Creation Care Ministry advocates through civic and charitable acts for loving concern and the protection of God's natural gifts. Its work follows the themes of Pope Francis's 2015 encyclical Laudato Si' on care for the shared home.
Immigrant advocacy focuses on the safety and well-being of immigrant families, including their health, housing, education, employment, and protection from discrimination. Volunteers provide English-as-a-Second-Language and citizenship preparation through Pathways to Citizenship. The committee's concern for human trafficking follows Catholic teaching on the dignity and sacredness of human life, with an emphasis on eliminating trafficking and empowering survivors.
Pax Christi San Diego is a local chapter of Pax Christi USA and a Catholic peace and justice movement that seeks to model the peace of Christ through the mandate of nonviolence. Its meetings are held on the third Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Catholic Education with a Practical Purpose
St. James Academy has been rooted in Catholic tradition since 1952. The school seeks to nurture each child's spiritual, academic, and personal growth within a supportive family community. Its Catholic identity is expressed through the whole educational endeavor rather than through one subject alone.
Cristo Rey San Diego High School offers a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum, a relevant work-study experience, and community service for students from families with limited economic means. Students of all denominations are welcome. The Eudists of St. James and St. Patrick's parishes serve as the school's religious sponsors.
Every Cristo Rey student works five days a month in an entry-level position through the Corporate Work Study Program. Corporate partners share full-time positions, while students earn tuition, gain work experience, and prepare for college and service to their communities.
Senior Care and Direct Service
The Senior Ministry and Senior Care Ministry focus on engaging senior parishioners in parish life and creating opportunities for socialization and service. Senior luncheons are held each month except in July and August. Volunteers help with parish projects and are matched with seniors who request assistance, making this one of the community's most personal forms of ongoing ministry.
St. James - St. Leo's Medical Clinic is a dedicated part of the parish's service ministry. Mission Circle: Ministry to the Poor is another organization through which the community works with people experiencing poverty, while Saints Thrift Store provides a practical way for parishioners to support the wider community.
The Knights of Columbus is a parish organization that hosts a community breakfast in the Parish Hall. Eudist Associates support the Eudist priests and seminarians, extending the community's commitments beyond its own immediate life. St. Leo Libreria sells religious articles and books each Sunday.
Sacraments and Weddings
Baptism is the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship for Catholics. Baptisms are celebrated during weekend Masses, one family at a time, and a class may be required for parents and godparents. The parish welcomes preparation for infant, child, and adult baptism.
Marriage preparation must begin at least nine months before the wedding date. Priests and deacons assist couples, who are also assigned a couple from the Marriage Ministry Team. Every couple attends either the Diocesan Marriage Preparation Program or the Marriage Mentors Program, along with an Engaged Encounter weekend.
Weddings are scheduled at noon, 1 p.m., or 2 p.m., with the church available from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Rehearsals take place on Friday evening at either 5 or 6 p.m. Director of Music Ministries V.J. Brion helps couples choose music, arrange a program or worship aide, and coordinate instrumentalists when desired.
Children participating in a wedding ceremony should be at least four years old, and children under four are not permitted to participate. No alcohol is allowed on church premises, and only bottled water is permitted in place of other food or soft drinks.
The parish also provides the Anointing of the Sick and funerals. Mass intentions may be offered for a loved one who is living or deceased, and sacramental records can be requested for a suggested donation of $10.
One Community Across Two Solana Beach Locations
St. James Church on S. Nardo hosts the daily Mass schedule, three Sunday Masses, children's formation, youth activities, music ministry, and the Camino concerts in the parish hall. St. Leo Mission on Genevieve St. offers two Sunday Masses, Spanish-language resources, Monday adoration, monthly all-night adoration, and a setting for the first-Friday Holy Hour. The same community links both buildings through parish administration, sacraments, ministries, and service.
St. James - St. Leo Catholic Community is a two-location Catholic parish with a shared direction: love God, proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, and serve all God's people. The parish office for both locations is (858) 755-2545. Online giving supports the same worship, formation, prayer, and service life across St. James and St. Leo.