From a Settlement on the Hill: Mission and History
St. Monica Catholic Community began in 1886 in what was then an unincorporated corner of LA County and the Ballona Township, at a time when Santa Monica was just establishing itself. Both the city and the parish take their name from Saint Monica, the North African mother remembered for her steadfast prayers for the conversion of her son Augustine. The parish was first located on what is now the Third Street Promenade between Santa Monica Boulevard and Arizona Avenue, and was at the time the only parish between Oxnard and Wilmington and downtown Los Angeles and the ocean.
Father Patrick Hawe served as the first resident pastor until 1923 and shepherded the parish through its early decades. His successor, Monsignor Nicholas Conneally, sold the original parish site and oversaw construction of the present church, dedicated by Bishop John J. Cantwell on July 11, 1926. Reported to be "a cathedral in its time," the new building cost about $340,000. For those familiar with the 1944 film Going My Way, the movie drew on anecdotes from Msgr. Conneally's years at the parish and was partly filmed at St. Monica.
The elementary school traces its roots to 1899 when the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary opened a school near Third and Arizona Streets; a high school was added in 1901 as the Academy of the Holy Names. The present high school building came together in 1938 and the first graduating class numbered twenty students, seventeen girls and three boys. Over the decades, additional land filled out an entire city block bounded by Lincoln Boulevard, California Avenue, Washington Avenue, and 7th Street, with the gymnasium built in 1946, the East Wing in 1958, the Trepp Center in the mid-1990s, and the Duval Center in 1998.
The 1994 Northridge earthquake forced the church's closure, and Mass was held in the gymnasium until Holy Thursday, April 13, 1995, when Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson, the pastor since 1987, presided at the reopening. A $27 million capital campaign in 2007 funded the new Caruso Community Center and Reception Pavilion, completed in August 2013.
The parish mission is short and direct: To form loving disciples who will transform the world.
The Block, the Parking, and the Coffee Bar
The church sits on the corner of 7th Street and California Avenue, with the parish office in the Caruso Community Center at the corner of Lincoln Boulevard and California Avenue. An underground parking structure beneath the Caruso Community Center offers free parking, with a separate weekend entrance and two EV charging stations. A schoolyard surface lot serves during the week and opens for special events, with priority given to those with disabilities. Free and metered street parking is also nearby, and the Santa Monica Police Department enforces posted signs.
The Big Blue Bus stops within a block of the church, and the Expo Line's Downtown Santa Monica station on 4th Street is a short walk. Bike racks dot the campus, and a Transit Information Board outside the Duval Center offers additional help for those arriving by bus or rail.
Inside the Caruso Community Center sits Holy Grounds at St. Monica, a coffee bar and gift shop that serves organic coffee and tea from Urth Caffe, pastries, soft drinks, books, music, jewelry, and religious gifts. Free Wi-Fi is available, Apple Pay is accepted, and orders can be placed in advance by phone. The shop carries on a tradition of parish hospitality that goes back to the earliest days of the parish.
Sunday and Weekday Masses
The Mass schedule covers every day of the week. Weekday Masses are celebrated on Monday through Friday at 7:00 a.m. and 12:10 p.m., with the noon Mass livestreamed. Saturday brings Mass at 8:00 a.m. (also livestreamed) and the Vigil Mass at 5:30 p.m. Sunday Masses are celebrated at 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. (livestreamed), 11:30 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. (livestreamed). Outdoor seating is available at all weekend Masses.
Each Sunday and Saturday celebration carries a distinct musical personality. The Saturday Vigil at 5:30 p.m. is the Reflections Ensemble, contemplative and traditional with some contemporary pieces, blending Gregorian chant, Taizé, praise and worship, and a cappella, accompanied by a grand piano and occasional rhythm section. The Sunday 7:30 a.m. is the Foundations Ensemble, with chant and traditional hymns accompanied by piano and organ. Sunday 9:30 a.m. is the Generations Ensemble, the parish's "family Mass," with a Children's Liturgy of the Word offered at the liturgy and an intergenerational choir of adults and children seven and older leading music. The Sunday 11:30 a.m. Heritage Ensemble leans traditional, with Early Music and Classical alongside current liturgical hymns, accompanied by both organ and piano. The Sunday 5:30 p.m. Elevations Ensemble is the parish's young adult Mass, with pop, rock, and soulful gospel music led by a choir and house band.
The parish church is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and on Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to noon for quiet prayer and meditation outside of Mass times.
Confession, Adoration, and the Prayer Life
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered Monday through Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the church, with the vestibule as a waiting area. There are no confessions on Sundays, church holy days, and public holidays.
Eucharistic Adoration follows a regular rhythm. On the first and third Fridays of the month, adoration runs from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the church. On the second and fourth Sundays, adoration runs from noon to 3:00 p.m. in the St. André Bessette Chapel.
The Rosary is recited every weekday immediately following the 8:00 a.m. Mass, and Stations of the Cross are conducted on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. during Lent. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena is prayed on Wednesdays after the 12:10 p.m. Mass. Novenas are also offered for Mother's Day, Father's Day, and All Souls in November. Morning Prayer is prayed daily at 7:15 a.m. via Zoom, using the Liturgy of the Hours with the Psalms of David. The Junior Legion of Mary gathers on Saturday mornings from 8:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. for middle school and high school youth, while the Legion of Mary meets Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the Duval Center.
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is prayed online every Friday at 3:00 p.m., with the Divine Mercy Novena beginning each year on Good Friday.
Music at the Liturgies
Music Ministry is led by Director of Music Jeffrey Bonilla, Music & Media Associate David Lockwood, and a roster of ensemble directors and singers. Three Sunday choirs, the Generations, Heritage, and Elevations, anchor the weekend. Each choir meets about an hour before Mass to rehearse, and practice tracks for many of the parish's anthems and Mass settings are available to choir members throughout the week.
The parish's annual Festival of Lessons and Carols takes place in Advent, with the choir, band, and guest musicians presenting a full program in the Andre Bessette Chapel. The parish has also participated in the Archdiocese's Youth Day, with the Youth Day Choir preparing a full set of pieces from contemporary Catholic songwriters like Francesca LaRosa, Sarah Hart, Ed Archer, Pat Barrett, and Maverick City, alongside Mass settings by W. Clifford Petty and parish composers Jeffrey Bonilla and David Lockwood.
Sacraments
The seven sacraments are a major part of parish life, with preparation programs for children, teens, and adults.
Baptism is offered communally twice a month on Sundays at 1:15 p.m. in the church. Parents and godparents must attend a baptism preparation class. Godparents must be at least 16 years old, confirmed Catholics, practicing their faith, and living a life consistent with their baptismal vows. There is no baptism during Lent, and a suggested donation of $150 per child supports the parish.
First Eucharist is typically received in second grade, following two years of family-based sacramental preparation. Children in first grade or older may enter the process.
Confirmation is offered through a Teen Confirmation program for grades 9 through 12, with meetings twice a month (one Thursday evening and one Saturday morning) during the program year, and through an Adult Confirmation program for baptized Catholics 18 and older who have received First Communion.
Reconciliation is celebrated weekly, and children typically receive two years of instruction before first Reconciliation in second grade.
Marriage preparation begins with a Marriage Information Night, held on the fourth Wednesday of most months. Couples complete the FOCCUS inventory with a certified Imago Relationship Therapist, attend a Catholic Engaged Encounter weekend retreat, and take a one-day workshop called The Foundation. Weddings at St. Monica are celebrated on Saturdays at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m., and on Fridays at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., with active registered parishioners given preference for the 3:00 p.m. Saturday slot. Weddings are not celebrated on Sundays.
Anointing of the Sick is offered to those undergoing serious illness or weakened by age. A priest on duty visits parishioners at home, in nursing homes, or in hospitals, and last rites, Viaticum, and Anointing are available in emergencies.
Adult Initiation follows the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), an inquiry-based journey of eight to twelve months. Inquirers meet weekly, attend Mass on Sundays, and become increasingly involved in parish activities, with the Sacraments of Initiation typically celebrated at the Easter Vigil.
Faith Formation and the OCIA Journey
Faith Formation begins with children age 3 through grade 8, gathering on Sundays for ongoing religious education with family involvement. Teen Confirmation serves grades 9 through 12. Adult Initiation through OCIA welcomes those considering Catholicism, with inquiry groups of eight to fifteen people meeting weekly during the process.
Cornerstone Retreats offer separate men's and women's retreat experiences throughout the year. Scripture Encounter is a small-group Bible study program, while JustFaith offers formation in Catholic social teaching. The Spirituality Center hosts the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, monthly spiritual direction, and a series of Spirituality Chats on Ignatian spirituality. Called & Gifted helps parishioners discern their charisms and apply them in service. Spirituality Center retreats feature outside speakers and engage the wider parish.
The Bridges of Faith Sunday school program serves children in grades 3 through 5, leading them into the liturgy as lectors and altar servers. First5 is a ministry for couples in the first five years of marriage.
Youth, Young Adults, and the Lifespan of Groups
Youth Ministry gathers middle school and high school teens for ongoing formation, retreats, and service. YMA (Young Ministering Adults) serves those in their twenties and thirties with Vespers, Theology on Tap, retreats, and service projects. TTF (Thirty-five Through Forties) gathers that age group, while Primetime serves adults 50 and older, and Always Beginning serves those 65 and older. Mothers of Monica connects mothers across the parish for fellowship and faith.
The Boutique Crafts Group meets to craft and create, the Film Club hosts "screenings with meaning" throughout the program year, and the St. Francis Pet Ministry gathers pet lovers and offers the parish's annual Blessing of the Animals. The GLO: LGBTQ+ Outreach Ministry welcomes members of the LGBTQ+ community and their families. Fishers of Men and Women on the Journey offer small-group formation for men and women respectively. Small groups also gather for Advent, Lent, Thomas Merton, and Christian Meditation throughout the liturgical year.
Pastoral Care and Stephen Ministry
The Spiritual Care & Engagement ministry area coordinates the parish's response to illness, grief, and life challenges. Stephen Ministry provides one-on-one peer support through trained lay ministers. Bereavement Ministry walks with families through the loss of a loved one and helps plan funeral liturgies. Ministry to the Sick brings Holy Communion and prayer to parishioners in hospitals, nursing homes, and at home. Phoenix Ministry offers divorce support. Health Ministry promotes physical well-being. Hope at the Door extends the parish's outreach to those experiencing homelessness. The Military Prayer Board prays for service members.
The parish maintains an active Prayer Wall, where parishioners can post prayer requests or praises. Requests may be marked public or anonymous, and others can mark that they prayed for a particular intention. Intercessory Prayer names are read at each weekend Mass, with names submitted by Friday at noon included in the following weekend's liturgies.
Helping the Homeless, the Incarcerated, and the Local Community
Outreach is led by Pastoral Associate Delis Alejandro. Helping the Homeless coordinates the parish's response to those living on the streets of Santa Monica and the Westside. Ministry to the Incarcerated sends volunteers into local detention facilities. Loaves & Fishes is a parish-wide food drive, and Holiday Outreach collects gifts and support for families in need during the Christmas season.
The annual Thanksgiving Feast and Thanksgiving Boutique are among the parish's largest outreach events, with hundreds of volunteers preparing a complete Thanksgiving meal and distributing clothing and gifts to those who would otherwise spend the holiday alone. The St. Monica Green Team promotes environmental stewardship, while Habitat for Humanity builds and rehabs homes alongside partner families. Respect Life Ministry advocates for the dignity of human life from conception to natural death, and the Black Lives Matter Too initiative continues the parish's commitment to racial justice.
The Africa Mission and Global Service
The St. Monica Africa Ministry partners with the Holy Cross Africa Mission to support education, infrastructure, and pastoral work in parishes and schools across the continent. Each year, parishioners travel on an Annual Trip to visit the sister communities, and Race 4 Veronik's Place raises awareness and funds for Veronik's Place, a program supporting education and formation. The parish also continues its longstanding relationship with the Mission Cooperative Appeal, hosting mission preachers from the global Catholic community each year to share stories from the field.
Saint Monica Preparatory and the School Community
Saint Monica Preparatory is the parish's TK-12 school, formed from the merger of the historic elementary and high schools founded by the Sisters of the Holy Names in 1899 and 1901. The school admits students regardless of race, color, national origin, or ethnic origin, and publishes its non-discrimination policy in parent and student handbooks.
The school community includes athletics, arts, and campus ministry, with several of the priests in residence assisting with campus ministry classes. Past students have gone from St. Monica to seminary and religious life: Fr. Gregorio, Fr. John, Fr. Tim, all priests of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles; Fr. Patrick Agustin, ordained a diocesan priest for the Archdiocese of Washington in 2020; and Shane Liesegang, SJ, who discerned a vocation to the Jesuits after years in the parish's young adult ministry.
Leadership and Governance
Pastor Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson has served at St. Monica for over 30 years and as pastor for more than 25. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Boys' and Girls' Club of Santa Monica and as Vicar for Ministerial Formation for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Fr. Hieu Nguyen and Fr. Eusebio Llonoso serve as Associate Pastors. Fr. David Guffey, CSC, and Fr. Vince Kuna, CSC, both priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross, live in residence at the parish and serve in the liturgy and parish life, while also working full-time at Family Theater Productions in Hollywood. Deacon Kevin McCardle was ordained to the permanent diaconate in June 2022 and served as President of the schools from 2018 to 2025.
The Parish Council, in place since 2000, advises the pastor on a wide range of issues. Six Ministry Councils cover the parish's more than 100 ministries and activities: Worship and Parish Life, Administration, Spiritual Care & Engagement, Justice and Peace, Community Life, and Faith Formation. The Council aims to reflect the diversity of voices in the community and meets bi-monthly. "Coffee with Council" is held on the first Sunday of each month after the 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Masses.
The parish is also a member of the universal Synod process called by Pope Francis. More than 200 parishioners took part in listening sessions in February and March 2022, with reports submitted at the parish, archdiocesan, regional, and national levels.
Safeguarding the Children
Safeguard the Children is a comprehensive program designed to promote a safe environment for children, youth, and vulnerable adults. All volunteers and clergy, along with parish staff, are required to attend a VIRTUS "Protecting God's Children" adult awareness training session. Volunteers who supervise children must also submit to a background check through LiveScan fingerprinting by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Faith Formation volunteers, students, and parents take part annually in the "Empowering God's Children" safe environment education program.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles operates a reporting hotline, and the parish joins in the National Child Abuse Prevention Month each April with a series of bulletins, petitions, and resources for parishioners. Priests, deacons, school faculty and administrators, and other staff members are designated as mandated reporters under California law and must report a "reasonable suspicion" of child abuse to the appropriate authorities.
Becoming Catholic, Becoming a Parishioner, Becoming a Saint Monica Volunteer
Parishioners are invited to register through the parish office. Those discerning a call to become Catholic are invited to begin with OCIA inquiry, with information sessions offered each summer for the program that starts in August. For those who wish to walk with someone preparing for the sacraments, sponsorship in OCIA, Confirmation, and other programs is welcomed.
For newcomers and members alike, the Navigators Ministry offers one-on-one consultations to help parishioners find the ministry or service opportunity that fits their gifts and schedule. Navigators are trained parishioners who meet online, by phone, or in person and follow up after the initial conversation to make sure the match works. After the conversation, the Navigator identifies some possible ministry opportunities, connects the parishioner with ministry leaders, and follows up a few weeks later.
Visitors, newcomers, and longtime parishioners alike will find a place at St. Monica. As the parish puts it plainly, all are welcome.