Whether you’re visiting beautiful
Redondo Beach or looking for a church to
belong to, St. James will always
welcome you. We have been home to
anyone looking to grow to spiritual maturity
and deepen their faith
since the 1800’s.
Come and join us and we promise
we’ll make you feel right at home too.
We have been caring for people in the
community for generations through our
Feed the Needy ministry.
We’re reaching out to homeless families with our
participation in the Family Promise of the South Bay.
We have been bringing sacraments and
encouragement to those in prison, homebound or in
hospitals.
Our expanding youth ministry is changing the lives
of young people as they grow in fellowship
with each other anddevelop a deepening faith.
Spend a few moments
talking to members of our parish family,
browse through our every
expanding list of ministries,
and consider volunteering for where
God is leading you.
Your life will be forever changed
as we grow together on the path to spiritual maturity,
becoming the holy, healthy, vibrant person that
God has created you to be.
Saint James Celebrates 125 years of Serving Redondo Beach
The Origin of St. James Church
Imagine what Redondo Beach looked like in the late 1800’s.
Cars were not invented and people walked, or rode a horse. The modern bicycle was just gaining popularity.
The beginnings of a small, informal community of Catholics began to come together to pray with Sunday Mass in the home of Susana Dominguez. The Dominguez family owned 75,000 acres of land, which includes most of the south bay. They financed the building of a little chapel, named the ‘Dominguez Memorial Chapel.’
This chapel grew into what we now know as St. James Catholic Church.Imagine the number of baptisms, First Holy
Communions, Weddings, Funerals and Confessions that have been provided over the years.
Consider the number of cars that drive by our church each day. The silent witness of our faith is a beacon of comfort and hope to the community.
On November 29, 1914, our 2nd church, a stately brick church which sat 400 people was dedicated to St James by Bishop Thomas James Conaty with Msgr. Nicholas Conneally as the pastor. St. James the Greater, known for pilgrimages to his shrine in Compostela, Spain with the scallop sea shell as a symbol for “the quest, the journey to God” was chosen as the patron saint of the parish.
We similarly parallel the symbolism of “the quest, the journey to God”, with the nearby sea as our background.
Our present church was dedicated on June 18, 1961. Contemporary in styling and with seating for 1200, the tower reaches 88 feet high. Join us!
Here is the original bell from the chapel.
It is located in the parking lot of the west side of the church.
It called people to prayer and
announced Mass from 1892 until 1914.
Today, the church bells toll hourly and the chimes the Angelus at noon and 6 pm. 
The Angelus is a call to prayer and to spread goodwill to everyone. The angel referred to in the prayer is Gabriel, a messenger of God who revealed to Mary that she would conceive a child to be born the Son of God (Luke 1:26–38).
Our church was founded the same year as the City of Redondo Beach.
Our roots in the community are deep and strong. We have been providing spiritual care, guidance and sacraments to God’s people for 125 years.
We have a rich tradition; a strong foundation of serving the community. Over the years life has become more and more complicated, and the demands of living in our modern world are placing ever greater strains on our families, our children and our relationships. St. James has served as a source of quiet comfort and support to all who seek to find meaning and purpose in their lives.
Come join us in the celebration of this milestone. Invite friends or family members who may have drifted away to attend this Mass. Give them the hope that countless others have experienced by being touched by members of St. James.
As we strive together to grow in holiness, let us be an example of Christ’s love to our members of our families, our neighbors and all those we meet.
Discover what it means to be children of God, to live honorably, leave a legacy and yield only to Christ. As we look to the future, and learn from the past we stand united and live by a faith unshaken to testify to the Truth.
The Angelus
The Angel of the LORD declared unto Mary,
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, full of grace…
Behold the handmaid of the LORD.
Be it done unto me according to thy word. Hail Mary, full of grace…
And the Word was made flesh.
And dwelt among us. Hail Mary, full of grace…
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
That we might be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray,
Pour forth, we beseech You, O LORD, Your grace into our hearts; that, we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Your Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit .
As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen.
