Our Parish - Now and Then :

Because you are God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourself with heartfelt mercy, with kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievance one has against another; Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds the rest together and makes them perfect.

The Parish of SS. Joseph & Teresa of Avila is a unique ecclesial community. This uniqueness is firstly manifest in the configuration of two churches and a mission, which itself was the site of original parish church. While many parishes have multiple sites for which the local community is responsible, it is a singularly rare pastoral experience when the size of each site involves the complexities and obligations that are normally attendant to an independent parish structure.

Much of the emotions and pride in the Auburn community related to the Catholic churches, most especially St. Joseph Church in downtown Auburn, are grounded in the rich history of the region. This history is part and parcel of the very history of the state itself, from the European settlements of the Spanish, and later Mexican, influences, to the American incursions from the east in the pre-Civil War migrations.

The parish history is almost synonymous with the history of the beginnings of the Catholic dioceses in the State of California. Bishop Joseph Alemany was consecrated the first bishop of California (Diocese of Monterey) in June of 1850. In July of 1853, the Monterey Diocese was split into the Archdiocese of San Francisco (northern California) and the Diocese of Monterey (southern California). In June of 1858, a church mission was dedicated under the patronage of St. Joseph in Foresthill, and elevated to parish status on July 14, 1861.