Parish Mission and History

Christ Our Savior Catholic Parish

Established in the Year 2005

INTRODUCTION – A Foundation of Faith from Humble Beginnings

From humble beginnings, this fledgling parish is headed toward a promising and historic future. For many years the densely populated southern portion of Santa Ana lacked a catholic Parish. When land became available in 2000, Bishop Tod Brown saw the opportunity to not only create a new parish but to purchase sufficient acres to support his vision of a new Cathedral Parish Church and buildings large enough to accommodate diocesan liturgies.

HISTORY – The People Embrace the Bishop’s Vision

The centrally located property was acquired at the crossroads of three freeways near the cultural and business centers of Orange County – a fitting location for gathering the 1.2 million Catholics in the county.

In January 2005, Bishop Brown announced that he would establish Christ Our Savior Cathedral Parish and on July 1, 2005 he appointed Msgr. J. Michael McKiernan as Rector. The first parish Masses were celebrated on September 18, 2005 in the multi-purpose room at Thorpe Fundamental School – just a block from the future parish site. From two Sunday Masses, one in English and one in Spanish, the diverse community quickly grew to three Sunday Masses and still experienced standing room only crowds. On October 1, 2006, the parish gathering site moved one step closer to its final destination, meeting in the large theater at Segerstrom High School.

Parishioners eager to help build up this new parish, immediately stepped forward to volunteer for liturgical, catechetical and outreach ministries. The first Pastoral Council and Finance Council are in formation and are currently meeting. A sense of belonging was easily created since parishioners of all ages help set-up for Mass each Sunday, and meetings and sacramental preparation are hosted in the intimacy of parishioners’ homes.

MOVING FORWARD – Parishioners Lead the Way in Faith to a Greater Future!

Beginning as a small faith-sharing community, in just over a year, the people of Christ Our Savior Cathedral Parish have already become a “church” and are developing a charisma for servant hospitality. In the coming years, they will – with the help of people throughout the Diocese of Orange – build a large Cathedral structure from which to minister to all of the people of the Church of Orange.

Christ Our Savior’s New Cathedral Parish Complex

In November 2008, Christ Our Savior Cathedral Parish continued to foster the dream and vision of Bishop Brown by opening the Cathedral Parish Complex in South Santa Ana, CA at Raitt and Alton streets. The complex opened providing a home for parishioners to gather together in worship and making available already regularly used meeting space. The Cathedral Parish offices  are also located at the new site.

Christ Our Savior will become a Diocesan Parish

In February, 2012, Bishop Tod Brown announced that the Diocese of Orange has acquired the Crystal Cathedral complex and therefore all efforts of building a Cathedral will be redirected to “Christ Cathedral” as it has been named.  Christ Our Savior Cathedral Parish has been renamed as Christ Our Savior Catholic  Parish and will be added to the list of Catholic Parishes in the Diocese of Orange.  A new era has begun for this young parish which will be facing the identity change  and the challenge of building a parish that answers to the needs of this community of faith in the diverse city of Santa Ana.