St. Joseph Catholic Church sits on the north shore of Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains, serving Catholics who live in and visit the mountain community. The parish belongs to the Diocese of San Bernardino and is led by Fr. Paul Smith C.R., a member of a religious order, along with Deacon Jim Weber. The church building and adjoining parish hall are the center of Catholic life in Big Bear Lake, a place where English-speaking year-rounders and Spanish-speaking families pray side by side.
Mass Schedule in English and Spanish
The parish offers a full weekend schedule of Masses so that both English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics can worship regularly. Saturday's Vigil Mass begins at 5:30 p.m. On Sunday, Mass in English is celebrated at 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., followed by Misa en Español at 1:00 p.m. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard every Saturday from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., in the hour before the Vigil Mass.
A Parish Food Pantry Serving the Mountains
One of the most active ministries at St. Joseph's is the food pantry, which opens every Tuesday from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the church hall and serves more than one hundred households each week. The pantry keeps a rotating list of needed items, typically including oatmeal cereal, one-pound bags of rice and lentils, pasta, spaghetti sauce, canned fruit, beans of several varieties, Hamburger Helper, larger cans of tuna, peanut butter, instant mashed potatoes, soy and almond milk, and larger sizes of toilet paper and diapers. Anything that helps stretch a meal is welcome. Donations can be coordinated through the parish office.
RCIA and Sacramental Preparation
Adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church gather for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in St. Gabriel's room, located in the parish hall. The parish also provides bilingual paperwork for the sacraments of Baptism and First Communion, with Spanish-language forms covering class appointments, baptism requests, preparation requirements, and information for godparents. A photo gallery documents recent First Communions and the 2019 Confirmation class.
Three Choirs Under One Director
Music ministry at St. Joseph's is a three-part effort led by choir director Patty Byrd. The English-language Adult Sunday Morning Choir rehearses on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the church. The Spanish-language choir follows immediately, rehearsing from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the same space. A Children's Choir rehearses on Thursdays. Anyone nervous about joining is invited to simply show up to a rehearsal and speak with Patty about their place in the music program.
Vigil Candles and Devotions
Inside the church, an electric vigil candle stand with thirty-seven candles stands next to the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Fire codes have moved the parish away from traditional burning candles, but the devotion continues. The top row of ten blue candles can be reserved for a month with a $20.00 donation, and a small plaque bearing the name of a loved one or special intention is mounted before each one. The remaining twenty-seven red candles can be illuminated individually for six hours in exchange for a donation.
Friday Recovery Meetings and Community Ties
On Fridays, the parish hosts CODA, a recovery support meeting. Information about time and location is available by phone through the contact listed in the weekly calendar. The parish also points its members toward wider Catholic resources through its links page, including Catholic Relief Services, the CRS Rice Bowl for Lent, Relevant Radio, EWTN, the Diocese of San Bernardino's Offices of Catechetical Ministries and Marriage and Family Life, and the Department of Life, Dignity and Justice.
Parish Office and Practical Information
The parish office is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and can be reached at (909) 866-3030; messages left outside those hours are returned. The fax line is (909) 866-5087. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1709, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315. Donations, including recurring giving, can be set up online through the parish's giving platform. Visitors can also call the office to ask about current calendars, upcoming events, and the forms needed to begin sacramental preparation for a child.