Saint James Catholic Church - Torrance Campus
Catholic · Liturgical worship · Torrance, CA
- Location
- Torrance, California 90503
- Denomination
- Catholic
- Worship style
- Liturgical
- Size
- Mid-size
- Ministries & emphasis
- Liturgical, Sacramental Preaching, Kids Ministry, Youth Ministry, Small Groups
- Google rating
- ★ 4.7 (208 reviews)
- Kids ministry
- Yes
Official websiteWatch the latest sermonStatement of faith / beliefs
What visitors say
This place feels deeply blessed and touched by God’s presence. The solemn and peaceful atmosphere brings comfort to the heart and soul. It is a beautiful sanctuary where you can pray, reflect, and feel spiritually renewed. Being here reminds you of God’s love and grace. I never expected one of the most painful phone calls of my life to be to a church. I called St. James Catholic Church because I am facing a financial crisis and desperately needed help with rent. I understand that not every parish offers financial assistance. That was never my biggest disappointment. It was the lack of compassion. When I asked whether they offered rental assistance, the receptionist, Katie Concklin, responded in an annoyed tone, “Who is saying that we offer that?” I was shocked. I replied that I simply thought a church would understand why someone in need might call asking for mercy and help. She hung up on me. When I called back to explain how hurtful the interaction had been, she hung up on me again. I later spoke with Fr. Matt Murphy, hoping he would at least listen. Instead, he defended the interaction and told me, in a condescending voice, “You are not acting like someone who needs help.” That sentence broke my heart. I have lived with severe mental illness for more than 30 years and Complex PTSD. I have spent decades trying therapy, medications, treatment programs, and doing everything I can to heal. It is not my fault that our mental health system is so broken or that so many people fall through the cracks. When someone has been drowning for years, they may sound desperate. Desperation is not a character flaw. What shocked me most is that even if the church could not help financially, no one stopped to ask if I was okay, offer a prayer, or refer me to another organization that might help. Compassion costs nothing. Sadly, this is not my first experience like this. In my personal experience, some of the least compassionate responses I have received during my darkest moments have come from people within the Catholic Church. That is one of the reasons I am no longer Catholic. Jesus met suffering with compassion. Pope Leo XIV has repeatedly called on Christians to accompany the vulnerable with mercy, tenderness, and love. That is what I hoped to find when I called a church. I am sharing this because I believe the Church can do better. The next person who calls may be suicidal, homeless, or experiencing the worst day of their life. A few moments of kindness could change everything. I also cannot ignore that, as a Latina, I left wondering whether bias played a role in how I was spoken to. I cannot say that it did, but I know I felt dismissed and spoken to as though I were unintelligent. This isn’t about money anymore. It’s about compassion. I pray so that God can touch the hearts of Fr Matt Murphy and Katie Conklin so that He can touch their hearts and they can be nicer to people in need no matter their background, sex, religion or race 🙏🏽. Amen. My favorite Church in Southern California in which I feel peace and tranquility especially during the most challenging times! It is sad that this is a place of worship that has placed a sign on their grass that excludes so many individuals. No Ball Games, No Dogs, No Skateboards, No Scooters, No Bicycles etc. etc. etc. No Trespassing. I've never known a Catholic Church to be private and only include "authorized persons". I guess "all are welcome" is not the message here. This is my local church. Everyone here is friendly and welcoming. Check the website for all the coming events.
Is Saint James Catholic Church - Torrance Campus right for me?
Saint James Catholic Church - Torrance Campus may be a good fit if you're looking for liturgical worship, a Catholic church, a church with a kids ministry in Torrance. Every church feels different in person — plan to visit a Sunday service, and check the church's website for current service times.
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