Who we are
St. Gregory's is a country parish of three hundred households, most of whom drive in past orchards to a church built of the limestone it stands on. We are known for our music, and we would rather be known for our welcome: the music is only there to carry the prayer.
On Sundays the 10:30 is sung — Gregorian propers from the schola, hymns everyone knows, and a Mass setting the whole church can sing by the second verse. The 8:00 is quiet, and the 12:30 is in Spanish, with the orchard crews and their families who have made this parish younger every year.
Through the years
Irish railway workers built the first chapel here in 1889, and a Benedictine from the abbey across the ridge rode over on the first Sunday of each month to sing Mass. The present church, of valley limestone, was consecrated in 1911; the organ, a two-manual tracker, arrived by train in 1924 and has been played at every Sunday Mass since. The schola was refounded in 1998 by a retired music teacher who found the parish's old Liber Usualis in the choir loft and asked who else could read square notes. Nine people could. Now forty can.
Shepherds & servants
Rev. Thomas Adeyemi
Pastor
Fr. Thomas came to us from the cathedral in 2019. He sings the Exsultet from memory and keeps bees behind the rectory.
Rev. Mr. Luis Carranza
Deacon
Deacon Luis preaches at the 12:30 and leads baptism preparation in Spanish and English. He and Marisol have five children, all in the choir.
Anne Whitlock
Director of Music
Anne directs the schola and the parish choir and plays the 1924 organ. She will teach anyone who asks to read chant in four Wednesday evenings.
Ruth Delaney
Parish Secretary
Ruth keeps the registers, the calendar and the peace. Mass intentions go through her.
Serve & belong
The Schola
Men and women who sing the Gregorian propers at the 10:30. Rehearsal Thursdays at 7; no audition, only patience.
music@stgregory-demo.org
Parish Choir
Four-part music for feasts, Lessons and Carols, and the Easter Vigil. Rehearses September to June.
Altar Servers
Boys and girls from nine, and a few grandfathers. Training the first Saturday of the month.
Coro Hispano
Canta la misa de las 12:30 y la Misa de Gallo. Ensayos los viernes a las 7.
Bread Committee
Bakes for every funeral lunch and the Lenten soup suppers. Nobody has left one hungry.
St. Vincent de Paul
Rent, heating oil and groceries for anyone in the county who asks, parishioner or not.
