Rev. Mark Joseph Stetz
Deceased: 2022-03-13
Diocese: MONTEREY
ICTE Fall: 2004
Catholics and community members alike are mourning the sudden death of the Very Rev. Mark Stetz, who has for about a dozen years been the charismatic, gentle and deeply caring pastor at Cambria’s Santa Rosa Catholic Church. Rev. Stetz, 63, whom nearly everybody called “Father Mark,” died Sunday, March 13, 2022. He had undergone a new surgical treatment for heart arrhythmia at UCLA Medical Center, according to his sister Kathy Stetz.
In a phone interview Tuesday night, she said that this was her brother’s fifth heart procedure. While he was eligible for a heart transplant, she said, he didn’t want one.“‘I’ve already lived a good, long life,’” she said he told her, and “he wanted that donated heart to go to someone younger, so they could have a wonderful, full life, too.”
Rosaries/novenas in English and Spanish are being said nightly at the church through Tuesday, March 22, with the dual-language services honoring his love and respect for his Hispanic parishioners. Mass of Christian Burial for Rev. Stetz will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 31, at the Santa Rosa Church, the parish secretary told parishioners by email Wednesday. A reception in the parish hall will follow the services.
People wishing to send messages of condolence or Mass Intention cards to the family can mail them to Kathy Stetz, 15453 Borges Drive, Moorpark CA 9 3021. She will share them with their extended family.
