History of Our Lady of Soledad Parish
Our Lady of Soledad has been a cornerstone of the Catholic faith in the Coachella Valley for more than a century. The parish began in 1923 with the construction of a small church on First Street in Coachella. With just seven pews, the humble church was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 24, 1924. Originally established as a mission of Precious Blood Parish in Banning and served by the Franciscan Missionaries, the growing faith community was officially elevated to a parish by the Diocese of Los Angeles-San Diego in 1927.
As the community continued to grow, the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Victory (Maryknoll) arrived in Coachella in 1934 to provide religious education for children, youth, and families, helping to strengthen the parish’s spiritual foundation. Following World War II, the rapid growth of the Coachella Valley brought many new families to the area, and Our Lady of Soledad continued to expand alongside the community, remaining a place of worship, service, and fellowship for generations of faithful Catholics.
By the 1960s, Our Lady of Soledad had become a vibrant and growing parish, with more than 1,700 children and youth receiving religious education through catechetical centers in Coachella, Thermal, Mecca, and Oasis. As the parish continued to expand, the need for a larger church became clear. On December 12, 1971, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the parish celebrated the first Mass in its new church, located on Oasis Palm Avenue across from Avenue 52. This new church became a spiritual home for the growing Catholic community throughout the eastern Coachella Valley.
In the years that followed, Our Lady of Soledad continued to extend its mission by establishing mission churches in Thermal, 1000 Palms, and Mecca. The parish also became home to the Valley Missionary Program, a ministry dedicated to evangelization, spiritual renewal, and the formation of small faith communities that has served the Hispanic community for decades.
After ten years of prayer, sacrifice, fundraising, and the generosity of countless parishioners and benefactors, Our Lady of Soledad reached another historic milestone. On December 7, 2019, the new church, located at the corner of Avenue 53 and Cesar Chavez Street, was solemnly dedicated, providing a beautiful and welcoming home for worship that will serve the Coachella Valley for generations to come.
Throughout its rich history, twenty-six pastors have faithfully shepherded the parish, including members of the Congregation of Holy Cross and the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity. Through their leadership and the unwavering faith of its parishioners, Our Lady of Soledad has continued to grow and remains one of the largest and most vibrant parishes in the Diocese, carrying forward its mission of worship, evangelization, and service to the community.
Click here to see more photos of the new church being built.
Mission Sites
Misión Señor de la Misericordia
87217 Kokell Ave
Thermal, CA 92274
Misión San Jose
69455 Pierce St
Thermal, CA 92274
We also have an outreach site: Chiriaco Summit, 62450 Chiriaco Rd, Chiriaco Summit, CA 92201