St. Martha Catholic Church sits along Whitewood Road in the southwestern part of Murrieta, in Riverside County, and serves as a regional Catholic parish for a diverse mix of families, retirees, and young adults who call this stretch of the Temecula Valley home. The community describes itself as The Caring Community, grounded in a mission of conversion to Jesus Christ and compassion for others. With seven Sunday Masses, two spoken-language communities, a thrift store, and an active calendar of sacramental preparation, the parish covers a lot of ground for one location.
Mass Times and Sacred Liturgy
The parish gathers for Mass seven days a week. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Saturday at 7:30 AM. Saturday's vigil Mass is at 5:00 PM. Sunday Masses are offered at 7:15 AM, 9:00 AM (American Sign Language interpreted and livestreamed on Facebook), 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM in Spanish (also livestreamed on Facebook), and 5:00 PM. A monthly Filipino Mass follows on the fourth Sunday of every month at 3:00 PM, hosted by the Filipino Parish Community in the main church.
The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with an entrance code available through the parish office. A monthly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament runs from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, giving visitors an extended window for prayer before the exposed Sacrament. Reconciliation is heard each Saturday at 8:00 AM in the main church, immediately following the daily Mass, and appointments are available on request.
Clergy at the Heart of the Parish
St. Martha is led by Rev. Carlos Martinez, V.F., who serves as Pastor and Vicar. Two parochial vicars - Rev. Francis Grant and Rev. Rafael Flores - assist him, along with three deacons: Rev. Mr. Wilfredo Vita, Rev. Mr. Claudio Dominguez, and Rev. Mr. Porfirio Diaz (retired). The parish belongs to the Diocese of San Bernardino and serves as a regional faith community for southwestern Riverside County.
Music and Worship Ministries
Music ministry at St. Martha is built around several choirs, each with its own character and language. The Adult Choir, Children Choir, Contemporary Choir, Filipino Choir, Hispanic Choir, and Youth and Young Adult Choir all serve at various Sunday and Holy Day liturgies. Rhonda Parish directs the overall Liturgy and Music program. Kevin Kearney leads the Spanish Choir, Clinton Caliwag directs the Filipino Choir, and Mary Matthew directs the Youth Choir and serves as Primary Cantor.
Other liturgical roles are filled by trained volunteers. Greeters welcome worshipers before Mass and hand out bulletins afterward. Lectors proclaim the readings after diocesan and parish training. Ushers help seat the congregation, take up the collection, and keep the building secure during services. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist at daily, Sunday, and Holy Day Masses and bring Communion to the sick and homebound. Sacristans prepare each service, altar servers assist at the altar, and a Liturgical Art and Environment group provides seasonal décor following the Church calendar. The Altar Linen Ministry keeps the sacred cloths clean and pressed on a rotating schedule.
Preparing the Sacraments
Baptism. St. Martha invites families to baptize their children as soon after birth as possible. Parents and godparents attend a baptism class, often held in the Family Life Center, and preparation is coordinated by Angeles Lopez. Baptism packets are available in English and Spanish.
Marriage. Engaged couples - and those civilly married who wish to have their marriage blessed - begin with a Marriage Inquiry Form. Andrea Lopez, Director of Marriage and Quinceañeras, guides couples through the preparation process, which includes the Cana's Call Retreat. Forms and guidelines are available in English and Spanish.
Quinceañera. The parish celebrates the traditional quinceañera as a liturgy in which the young woman renews her baptismal promises and consecrates herself to Mary. Quinceañeras are held in groups of no more than three at a time and are celebrated by a deacon rather than a priest. Andrea Lopez coordinates this ministry.
Becoming Catholic (OCIA). Adults interested in becoming Catholic, completing their initiation, or exploring the Catholic faith are invited to join the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. Classes are organized through the parish's Faith Formation site.
Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, and Funerals. Reconciliation is available each Saturday morning and by appointment. The Anointing of the Sick is arranged through the parish office. For funerals, the parish works closely with the family and the funeral home to plan a meaningful Mass. A Season of Hope Bereavement Support Group meets on the first Saturday of each month in Straling Hall for those grieving the loss of a loved one.
Faith Formation for Children, Youth, and Adults
Faith Formation for children and youth is led by Rachel Noel, Director of Faith Formation. Catechetical assistants and bilingual support staff round out the team. Teens preparing for Confirmation and young adults continuing their formation gather through the parish Youth Ministry. Adult faith enrichment includes weekly Bible Study in English and Spanish, with the Spanish Estudio Bíblico meeting Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Retreats and the annual Bible in a Year and Catechism in a Year programs give parishioners year-round resources, and a free parish subscription to FORMED offers Catholic movies, talks, and ebooks.
Hispanic and Filipino Communities
Two vibrant cultural communities shape parish life. The Hispanic community celebrates a weekly Spanish Mass each Sunday at 1:00 PM and gathers additional fellowship through groups like Sociedad de Guadalupanos (which meets quarterly with the Rosary and Marian devotion), Betania Women's Ministry, The Fire of the Holy Spirit Spanish Charismatic Prayer Group (Fridays, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM), and a Spanish Estudio Bíblico. Andrea Lopez coordinates quinceañera and marriage preparation in Spanish.
The Filipino Parish Community hosts Mass on the fourth Sunday of every month at 3:00 PM in the main church. The community also gathers for social events throughout the year and is supported by a Filipino Choir that leads worship during their monthly liturgy.
Pastoral Care for the Homebound and Grieving
Ministers of Care to the Sick and Homebound bring Communion to those unable to attend Mass, both in private homes and in care facilities. The Legion of Mary gathers members after the morning Mass each week for prayer, formation, and active service - including Eucharistic ministry to the sick and Pilgrim Virgin Statue rotations - and members commit to two hours of ministry each week, working in pairs. The Divorce Ministry supports those navigating the effects of divorce. Our Lady's Sorrows Rosary meets on Wednesdays at noon to meditate on the Seven Sorrows of Mary. The Funeral Liturgy Ministry supports grieving families through the planning and celebration of a funeral Mass. The English Charismatic Prayer Group meets on most Fridays for praise, worship, and intercession.
Fellowship and Service Organizations
The parish's social life runs through several long-standing groups. St. Martha Mothers & Others, founded in 1999, hosts monthly fellowship meetings, fundraisers for parish projects, and service opportunities that have raised thousands of dollars and thousands of service hours over the years. Knights of Columbus Council 11393 supports the parish through charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism, including support for Catholic education and vocations. Men of Impact gathers men for praise, song, Bible study, and leadership formation. Betania Women's Ministry follows the example of Mary and Martha in preaching, formation, retreats, and reflection. The Senior Singles Group plans concerts, movies, trips, and potlucks for widows, widowers, divorced, and separated singles aged 55 and over. The Warm Welcome Team personally greets new parishioners through mailings, calls, and visits. Youth Light of Christ gathers young Catholics around service and Gospel witness.
Reaching Out in Murrieta and Beyond
St. Martha operates Second-hand Treasures, a thrift store open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Donations are accepted by calling ahead to 951-677-0078. Proceeds support parish ministries and outreach. The parish also partners with Community Outreach of Murrieta, a local food pantry that St. Martha helps supply and stock.
The Respect Life Ministry upholds Catholic teaching on the dignity of human life through monthly meetings, twice-yearly support for local pregnancy resource centers (Birth Choice Centers and Elsinore Valley Resource Center), sponsorship of a Precious Babies Mass, partnership with Rachel's Vineyard, and twice-yearly 40 Days for Life campaigns. Through the parish's special collections and the diocesan mission office, the community responds to international relief efforts as well.
Building for the Future
The parish has grown significantly since the mid-2000s. The church building opened in 2005 at a cost of close to $9 million. The Family Life Center opened in June 2013 for $3.1 million, and the debt from Phase 2 was paid in full in June 2016. Modular buildings purchased used by Fr. Schultz in 1992 served as offices and meeting rooms for decades, but mold and aging infrastructure have led to their removal. The parish is now in the planning stages of Phase III: Building Our Future, a 17,000-square-foot expansion that will add permanent meeting and pastoral office space. With $500,000 already saved, an early estimated cost of $3.4 million, and input from the Clergy, Finance Council, Pastoral Council, Hispanic Council, and Ministry Staff, the campaign - known as Our Legacy of Faith: Building Hope, Transforming Lives - will shape the next chapter of parish life.
Plan a Visit
The parish office at 37200 Whitewood Road is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with a lunch closure from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM. Mass is celebrated every day, and the Blessed Sacrament Chapel is available for quiet prayer from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Visitors can livestream the 9:00 AM English or 1:00 PM Spanish Mass on Facebook, and those unable to attend in person can give online through the parish's online giving portal. The parish phone is (951) 698-8180, with an emergency sick call line at (951) 813-0861. The community gathers for Mass in English, Spanish, and Filipino, and looks forward to welcoming new faces.