Message From the Pastor

Welcome to the website for St. Apollinaris Parish (aka “Saint A’s”).

Although few exact details are known about him, St. Apollinaris was the Bishop of Ravenna, Italy, probably in the late second century, and was probably martyred there.  Devotion to him was already common in the seventh century. Our parish was dedicated to him at its founding in 1957, and is (as far as we know) the only St. Apollinaris Parish in the US.  The feast of St. Apollinaris is celebrated on July 20.

Our parish is part of the Diocese of Santa Rosa.  I was ordained for this diocese in 1986 and have been Pastor here since 2019. Our Associate Pastor (Parochial Vicar), Father Thomas Stuart, was ordained for Santa Rosa diocese in March 2020 and joined our pastoral team in June 2024.  Father Thomas Kyallo, our Senior Priest in Residence, is a priest of the Diocese of Machakos, Kenya, and was ordained in 1985. Deacon Peter Mathews and Deacon John Dermody also assist with the pastoral and liturgical life of our parish, as does Acolyte William Guirguis.

Lay liturgical and pastoral ministries include Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Ushers, Ministry to the Homebound, 9:00am Mass and Noon Mass choirs, Christmas Eve Children’s Choir, St. Vincent De Paul, Legion of Mary, and Blessing Bag Ministry.  We have a Parish Finance Council, a Parish Pastoral Council, a Women’s Guild, a Men’s group (“Men of St. A’s”), a “Spirited Singles” group, monthly Hospitality Sunday, monthly “Lunch with Friends”, an annual Barbecue-Picnic in the Fall, and our long-standing November “Angel Bazaar” in support of our Religious Education Program.

St. Apollinaris Catholic School was founded in 1959 by four Sisters of Mercy from County Galway, Ireland, and is celebrating its 65th year in 2024-2025. It currently serves students in grades TK through 8th, and is staffed by a high-qualified team of lay teachers, aides, and administrative personnel, under the leadership of Principal Olivia Brazil and Vice-Principal Lani Manasse.  More information may be found at https://stapollinarisschool.org/

Our parish-based faith formation programs include religious education for students in grades 1 through 7 who do not attend our parish school.  These classes include First Holy Communion and Youth Confirmation preparation, and are under the direction of Mrs. Christine Walsh. We also have a Youth Program for those in grades 8 through 12, a young adult program for those 18 to 30 years old, OCIA for non-Catholics wishing to join the church, and adult confirmation preparation, baptism preparation for parents and godparents, pre-marriage preparation, adult bible study, “Theology by the Barrel”, and other seasonal faith enrichment programs. We also have access to formed.org for all parishioners and school families through St. A’s School.

If you would like to find out more about any of these activities, to be added to our “Flocknote”  email update resource, or if you would like to register in our parish, please email the parish office at office@stasparish.org.

Please join us for any of our weekend or weekday Masses.  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every Friday after 8:45 Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is celebrated on Saturday morning at 9am (or by appointment with a priest).  You may contact the parish office for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

May God bless and keep you and those you love.

Fr. Fergal McGuinness

Pastor