OUR PARISH HISTORY

Construction site with dirt, heavy machinery, and buildings in the background, with a hilly, wooded landscape.

A small sign on the ground reads "Future Site of St. Timothy's Catholic Church for Information Call 495-9210." The ground appears to be dirt or sand.

Breaking Ground

In 1964, property for a new parish site in Laguna Nigel was purchased by the Archbishop of Los Angeles. Sunday Mass was celebrated for the few parishioners of the area at a variety of locations, including the Monarch Bay Plaza movie theater, Shepherd of the Hills Church and the Crown Valley Elementary School, by priests from Saint Catherine of Sienna Parish in Laguna Beach and Saint Edward Parish in Dana Point.

Bishop William R. Johnson, the first Bishop of the Diocese of Orange established Saint Timothy Parish at a Sunday Mass in Crown Valley School on July 13, 1980. Formal building plans were announced; and a house on Via San Sebastian was purchased as a rectory. Father Harold Fumo, administrator, oversaw the construction of the first multi-purpose building, with groundbreaking on February 22, 1981. This multi-purpose room is now St. Timothy’s Parish Hall, which holds many of our Parish and ministry events to this day.

Outdoor gathering with a large congregation of people, a speaker at the front, and a cross, suggesting a religious or community event at a park or churchyard.

Group of people outdoors at a ground-breaking ceremony, with three men in the front holding shovels and smiling, surrounded by others standing and watching.

Building the Church

In November, 1984, Father Bruce Lavery was appointed first pastor of Saint Timothy. Within eight years, the multi-purpose building in which Sunday Mass was celebrated was too small.

Bishop Norman F. McFarland, who succeeded Bishop Johnson, originally thought another site would be better, but in 1989 he reconsidered and a major building fund drive began in 1991. The crib wall which enlarged the property, was completed in June 1994, and the two level parking garage in April 1996. At the same time the new Church was under construction, additions to the original multi-purpose building were made which included new parish offices, remodeled parish hall and kitchen. Work on the present Church began in June 1997.

A church building with large glass windows, illuminated from inside, and a stained glass window in the steeple, during the evening with blue sky.

We Have a Church!

The first Mass in the new church was celebrated on Palm Sunday 1998. Consecration of the new church, May 8, 1999, was presided over by retired Bishop McFarland.

In early 2004, we started the final building phase. By the end of the year, the "Upper Room" building and the Faith Formation offices had been completed.

People gathered outside a Catholic church, with some standing under a tent that says 'Catholic Church'. The area has trees and brick-paved walkways, with a building in the background and a small church tower with a cross on top.

People standing and praying in a church during a religious service.

St. Timothy Parish Today

As of 2025, St. Timothy ministers to over 2,600 families. Our Children and Youth Faith Formation programs begin at age three with Tiny Tims and continue through Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, and High School. Adult Faith Formation is also a high priority, especially with a thriving Young Adult Community, the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, dynamic weekly Bible studies, and various prayer ministries. We strive to serve our community and surrounding areas through various service and outreach ministries, such as the Food Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul, and the Knights of Columbus, to name a few. Our Spanish Community has also been growing since the establishment of our 1:00 p.m. Spanish Mass in 2023.

To this day, St. Timothy Catholic Church is not only a faithful community, but also a thriving hub for evangelization with a vibrant Sunday experience as the heartbeat of our Parish.

Our Patron Saint, St. Timothy

Saint Timothy was an early Christian evangelist, mentored by Saint Paul. He was born of a Jewish mother who had become Christian, and a Greek father. He was the first Bishop of the Church of Ephesus.

St. Timothy is the patron saint of stomach ailments.