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The Unseen Powerhouse: 7 Surprising Facts About St. Anthony Church Oxnard And Its 2024 New Leadership

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Saint Anthony Church Oxnard, a cornerstone of faith in Ventura County, continues to evolve its deep-rooted community service and spiritual offerings, particularly with recent changes in its pastoral leadership. As of late 2024, the parish is buzzing with new energy and a renewed commitment to its diverse congregation, solidifying its role as a vital hub in South Oxnard.

The parish, part of the extensive Archdiocese of Los Angeles, is more than just a place of worship; it is a center for education, outreach, and cultural celebration. This article dives into the most current and compelling facts about St. Anthony’s Parish, revealing the unseen structure and recent developments that make it such a powerful force in the local Catholic community.

The New Faces and Foundation of St. Anthony's Parish Leadership

The strength of any parish lies in its spiritual guidance, and St. Anthony’s boasts a dedicated team of clergy and staff committed to serving their diverse family of believers. The year 2024 brought significant changes, introducing new leadership that is already shaping the parish's future.

  • Pastor: Fr. Joshua Diener
  • Associate Pastor (New 2024): Fr. Alejandro Reynaga
  • Senior Deacons: Joe Kennedy, George Garcia, & Roy Sadowski
  • Deacon: Donald Pinedo
  • Key Entities: Fr. Joshua Diener, Fr. Alejandro Reynaga, Joe Kennedy, George Garcia, Roy Sadowski, Donald Pinedo, Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

7 Surprising Facts That Define St. Anthony Church Oxnard Today

Beyond the Sunday Mass, St. Anthony's Parish is a complex organization with a rich history and a powerful, modern impact. The following facts highlight the breadth and depth of its influence in the Oxnard community.

1. The 2024 Clergy Assignment Marks a New Era of Spiritual Guidance

One of the most current and significant updates for the parish is the assignment of a new Associate Pastor. Fr. Alejandro Reynaga, ordained as a new LA priest in 2024, was officially assigned to St. Anthony Church, Oxnard.

Fr. Reynaga's placement is a fresh injection of energy into the parish clergy, working alongside Pastor Fr. Joshua Diener and the dedicated deacons. This new leadership structure is crucial for managing the parish's extensive services and ministries, ensuring the community receives comprehensive spiritual and pastoral care. His arrival, coming from his home parish of St. John the Baptist Church in Baldwin Park, signifies the ongoing commitment of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to resource the Oxnard area.

2. The Parish Is a Hub for Education Since 1956

St. Anthony School (SAS) is a vital entity within the parish, proudly serving students from Pre-K through 8th grade. Established on September 11, 1956, the school has a long and storied history of providing Catholic education in South Oxnard.

The school was originally staffed by the Sisters of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, a testament to its deep roots in the Archdiocesan educational system. Today, St. Anthony School continues to accept applications, operating as a coeducational institution that emphasizes both academic excellence and faith formation.

3. The 'Monsignor Condon Center' Is the Core of Youth and Community Life

The parish features a prominent facility known as the Monsignor Condon Center, which acts as the central hub for numerous community and youth activities. This center is the dedicated meeting place for the high school-focused Youth Ministry, known as LifeTeen.

High school students are welcomed to attend LifeTeen youth nights every Wednesday evening, providing a safe, faith-based environment for fellowship and spiritual growth. The center also hosts various other parish events, solidifying its role as the physical and spiritual heart of St. Anthony's non-liturgical life.

4. A Powerful Outreach Program Serves the Hungry Every Week

The commitment to service is perhaps most visible through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a ministry dedicated to serving the poor and hungry in the Oxnard community. This is not a sporadic effort but a consistent, weekly outreach program.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society manages a dedicated Food Pantry that is accessible to anyone in need. The pantry is open on Tuesdays, providing essential food resources and embodying the parish’s mission to be a lively hub of faith and service. This program is a critical component of the parish’s social justice efforts.

5. The Mass Schedule Caters to a Deeply Bilingual and Diverse Congregation

St. Anthony's Parish recognizes the rich cultural tapestry of Oxnard, and its Mass schedule reflects this diversity with multiple languages and styles. The schedule is carefully structured to accommodate different preferences and languages, fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all parishioners.

Key Mass offerings include a Saturday Vigil Contemporary Mass at 5:15 PM and a Saturday Vigil Spanish Mass at 7:00 PM. On Sundays, the Traditional Choir Mass is celebrated at 7:30 AM. This bilingual approach ensures that the spiritual needs of both English and Spanish-speaking communities are met with dignity and reverence.

6. The Parish History is Tied to a Major Ventura County Milestone

While the exact founding year of the main church building is pre-1959, the parish played a significant role in the establishment of other local Catholic communities. In 1959, the Mary Star of the Sea Church became a mission of the "newly-established St. Anthony Church in Oxnard."

This historical detail establishes St. Anthony’s not just as an individual church, but as a mother church responsible for nurturing and establishing other parishes in Ventura County, highlighting its seniority and importance within the regional Archdiocese. The parish's history also includes the establishment of its elementary school in 1956, further cementing its long-standing presence.

7. Specialized Devotions and Ministries Offer Year-Round Spiritual Deepening

The spiritual life at St. Anthony’s extends far beyond the weekend Mass with a comprehensive schedule of devotions and specialized ministries. These programs are designed to help parishioners deepen their faith throughout the week.

Daily spiritual practices include the Daily Rosary, which is recited every morning after the 8:00 AM Mass and is offered in both English and Spanish (Rosario). Furthermore, the parish observes Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday, a powerful devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Other specialized groups include the Music Ministry (Ministerio de Música), which manages the choirs and rehearsals, and Planificatión Familiar Natural, a program focused on natural family planning, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to faith and life.

St. Anthony's: A Community of Faith, Service, and Education

St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Oxnard is clearly a vibrant and multi-faceted institution. From its newest clergy assignment in 2024, Fr. Alejandro Reynaga, to its long-standing educational legacy through St. Anthony School, the parish continuously strives to fulfill its mission.

The presence of the Monsignor Condon Center, the critical outreach work of the St. Vincent de Paul Society Food Pantry, and the culturally sensitive Mass schedules all point to a parish that is deeply engaged with the contemporary needs of its Ventura County congregation. It is a true community of faith, service, and education, committed to building a stronger, more spiritual Oxnard.

The Unseen Powerhouse: 7 Surprising Facts About St. Anthony Church Oxnard and Its 2024 New Leadership
saint anthony church oxnard
saint anthony church oxnard

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