In 1985, Bishop Maher appointed Fr. Jim Rafferty to head a new parish located in the southern part of Escondido, California.  The first Mass for this pioneering parish was held on October 26, 1985 in the auditorium of Del Dios Middle School.  At that time we started with 150 families.  These early parishioners would set the tone for what would become a church community that found its strength and energy, its love and warmth in the parishioners.

On June 25, 1995 ground was broken on the construction of our new church building on Canyon Road.  As we saw the construction progress, we also saw the light at the end of the tunnel: a permanent home.  Our new home was completed in April 1996.

Who was St. Timothy?

The church is named for St. Timothy, a timid and affectionate young man, and a loyal and faithful follower of St. Paul.

The son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother, Timothy was raised as a Christian by his mother, who converted. He probably embraced the Faith during St. Paul's first visit to Lystra, in Lycaonia. On a return trip in the year of A.D. 50, Paul found Timothy so esteemed by the local Christians that Paul asked Timothy to join him as a coworker to spread the gospel on his missionary journeys. Since Timothy had a Jewish mother, Paul circumcised him as an accommodation to Jewish tradition.

Timothy CO-wrote Thessalonians' 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon and visited Paul in Rome when Paul was suffering a lonely imprisonment.

Timothy became the first Bishop of Ephesus, witnessed Mary's departure from this world and was martyred in A.D. 97 About 260 years later his remains were moved to Constantinople.

Because of his own frail health, he is considered to patron of stomach disorders. His feast day is celebrated January 24.