Name of Church St. John Vianney Chapel, Balboa Island

Address 314 Marine Avenue, Balboa Island, Newport Beach

Phone number 949-675-2221

Mass times Saturday Vigil, 5 p.m. Sundays 8 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m. Weekdays, 7:45 a.m.

Confessions Make an appointment, or visit nearby Our Lady Queen of Angels Church.

Names of priests Msgr. Lawrence J. Baird, Administrator. Norbertine Priests of St. Michael’s Abbey assist on weekends.

School None. Misc. religious education opportunities, usually for adults.

Special events 24-hour adoration, 4th of the month, with a special intention to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Liturgy All in English, always reverently done.

Music Weekend Masses usually have a cantor or a three or four voice choir.

Homilies Msgr. Baird is faithful to church teaching. Often preaches in an Archbishop Fulton Sheen style, a prominent figure in Catholic life in America when Monsignor was a child. He is assisted by a Norbertine priest on weekends. The Norbertines are excellent. The most frequently visiting priest is Fr. Hugh Barbour, who serves as Prior of St. Michael’s Abbey. He’s a terrific homilist.

Fellow parishioners Most are from Balboa Island, which is a wealthy community. Most are older and conservative. The church is small and can fill up quickly for weekend Masses, so it’s a good idea to arrive early.

Parking Can be a challenge, particularly during the summer. You can drive the streets on the island looking for street parking, but you might only find a space several streets away. Best to park in the medical facility across the bridge on weekends and walk over onto the island.

Acoustics Good.

Cry room No.

Additional observations A beautiful old church which dates back to the 1940s. It is actually a parish mission of Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish, Newport Beach, hence Monsignor’s title is administrator rather than pastor. It is bright, decorated well and always has fresh flowers in the front. After Sunday Mass, enjoy free coffee and donuts (donations welcome!) and stroll Marine Avenue and enjoy many tourist shops and restaurants. It is also a short walk from Newport Harbor. St. John Vianney is the only church on Balboa Island, and is prominently located on Marine Avenue. It is easily identifiable by the beautiful mosaic about its entryway.