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Churches Worth Driving To

 November 20, 2009

St. Joseph’s, Mammoth Lakes

Name of Church St. Joseph’s
Address P.O. Box 372, Mammoth Lakes CA 93546
Located approximately 1 mile from Von's Supermarket on Old Mammoth Road, just past the Snowcreek Golf Course. The cross street is Ranch Road and the Church is there on the corner (on Old Mammoth Road, 1.6 miles from Main Street.).
Phone number (760) 934-6276
Parish website www.mammothcatholicchurch.org
Mass times Saturday: 6:00 PM; Sunday: 8:00 AM
Daily Mass: 7:00 AM each morning, including Saturdays. Mass is in the rectory and not in the church. The door is unlocked at 6:45 AM. Just walk in and up the stairs. Do not knock or ring the bell.

Christmas: Christmas Eve (Dec. 24): 6:00 PM, 10:00 PM and 12:00 Midnight; Christmas Day (Dec. 25): 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM
New Year's: New Year's Eve (Dec. 31): 6:00 PM; New Year's Day (Jan. 1): 8:00 AM

Masses by same priest at mission churches in Lee Vining Sundays, 10:00 a.m. and in Bridgeport Sundays, 12:00 noon

On all Holy Days of obligation (except Christmas), Mass times are the same as Sunday at all locations. If the Holy Day falls on a Saturday or a Monday, there is no obligation to attend Mass and there will be no Masses at the mission churches, only at Mammoth Lakes.

Names of priests Father Andrew Dachauer, S.J. (Brother Daniel Corona, S.J. assists Father Dachauer), eastern-rite bishop from Los Angeles usually visits in August and celebrates some Masses
School none
Special events Parish picnic usually second Sunday of August in Lee Vining

Special parish groups Ushers and lectors from volunteers – schedule on the website
Exterior Wooden chalet style
Interior Large enough to seat the hundreds who attend holiday Masses during Christmas and other skiing holidays. Seating extends to both sides of the altar. Altar, like much of the interior, reflects the woodsy atmosphere. Tabernacle not prominent.
Liturgy Standard new Mass. Because of insistence of the bishop of Stockton, most parishioners stand at parts of the canon and after receiving the Eucharist.
Music Local talent used for standard popular church music. Sometimes recorded music used.
Homilies Father Dachauer has stentorian voice and well-constructed, inspiring homilies.
Fellow parishioners Except for holiday season, when the church is dominated by skiers, including many families, the parishioners are workers and off-season vacationers from Mammoth and surrounding towns.
Parking Ample parking lot, except for ski season, when parking on streets necessary,
Acoustics Good
Cry room Cry room has been made into gift shop, the Den of Piety.
Literature in vestibule Little except for bulletin.
Parish Bulletin The parish is renowned for Fr. Dachauer’s homilies, which are often reproduced in the bulletin called “Mountain Echoes.” The bulletin is uploaded each week on the parish website.
Additional observations Parish community year-round comprises 20-30 families. Everyone gets to know one another and Fr. Dachauer and Brother Dan.

Latest information is that the Stockton bishop has asked Father Dachauer to step down.

Copyright California Catholic Daily 2009. All Rights Reserved.

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