Andrea McKenna • June 29, 2026

Father Emilio Magaña Named New Pastor of St. Richard Parish

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New leadership begins for St. Richard Parish and Christ the King Mission.

Beginning July 1, 2026, Father Emilio Magaña will become the new pastor of St. Richard Parish in Borrego Springs. Father Magaña, who currently serves at St. Mark's Parish in San Marcos, will also oversee Christ the King Mission in Desert Shores as part of his new assignment.


St. Richard Parish has been part of the Borrego Springs community for more than 75 years. The parish traces its beginnings to 1949, when the Diocese of San Diego established a Catholic mission to serve the growing desert community. The church was dedicated on April 25, 1954, and has served generations of residents and visitors ever since.


Father Magaña currently serves at St. Mark's Parish in San Marcos and will officially assume leadership of St. Richard Parish. His assignment also includes Christ the King Mission in Desert Shores, extending his ministry to Catholic communities throughout the eastern desert region.


Before entering the seminary, Father Magaña worked for the San Diego Police Department, focusing on juvenile crime, auto theft investigations, and incarcerated youth. Although he found success in his career, he later shared that he felt called to something more.

Saint Richard Catholic Church - 611 Church Ln, Borrego Springs, CA 92004

"I felt something was missing," Father Magaña said in an interview before his ordination. Through prayer, guidance from priests, and his work with the Diocese of San Diego's Office for Youth and Young Adults, he realized he was being called to the priesthood.


He was ordained for the Diocese of San Diego in 2003 after completing his studies at the University of San Diego and St. John's Seminary in Camarillo.


Father Magaña’s new assignment includes both St. Richard Parish and Christ the King Mission, serving Catholic communities in Borrego Springs and Desert Shores.


The Diocese's assignment marks a new chapter for St. Richard Parish as Father Magaña begins serving the Borrego Springs community.


 


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