About Holy Family · San Jose, California
Holy Family Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of San Jose, serving the diverse South San Jose community from its current home at 4848 Pearl Avenue. Begun in 1905 to minister to Italian immigrants in downtown San Jose, the parish was staffed by the Jesuits (Society of Jesus) for roughly ninety years before transitioning to diocesan leadership in 1995. Today it serves more than 2,400 registered families in the heart of Silicon Valley, supported by a Catholic elementary school (PreK–8), a robust faith formation program, youth and young adult ministries, and more than 80 active parish ministries. Its parish motto, 'Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam' (For the Greater Glory of God), reflects the lasting Jesuit imprint on its identity.
- Established
- 1905
- Patron
- The Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Rev. Andrew V. Nguyen
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Jose (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
Holy Family offers a full and active Catholic life for every age and stage: daily and weekend Mass in English with a Vietnamese Mass on Saturday evenings, a Catholic elementary school serving PreK through 8th grade on the same Pearl Avenue campus, and faith formation from Children's Liturgy of the Word through OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults. More than 80 active ministries — including Edge and Life Teen youth groups, a young adults community, Scripture studies, Alpha, family camp, Eucharistic Adoration, and outreach — give newcomers many ways to plug in. It is a parish with deep historical roots (founded in 1905 by Italian immigrants and shaped by 90 years of Jesuit leadership) that still centers itself on the Jesuit motto 'Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.'
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Weekdays: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- First Fridays: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Parish History
Holy Family Parish traces its roots to 1905, when Italian immigrants in downtown San Jose organized to build a church that would embody the spirit of their new community. Designed by architect Alberto Porta as a small replica of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the Chiesa Italiana della Sacra Famiglia was dedicated on October 6, 1907. The parish was led by Jesuit priests for ninety years, growing with the Santa Clara Valley's Italian and Spanish-speaking populations and weathering the disruptions of the 1960s downtown redevelopment that forced relocation to South San Jose. In 1995 the Diocese of San Jose assumed pastoral responsibility, and the parish marked its centennial in 2005–2007 with the theme 'Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.'
- 1905 — Construction begins on the Italian Church of the Holy Family at San Fernando & River Streets.
- 1907 — Church dedicated October 6; Fr. Joseph Cataldo, SJ, first pastor.
- 1909 — Holy Family declared an independent National Church.
- 1969 — Last Mass offered at the downtown site; parish relocates to Pearl Avenue.
- 1972 — Current church building completed on Pearl Avenue.
- 1986 — Holy Family School opens as the first new Catholic elementary school in the Santa Clara Valley in more than a decade.
- 1995 — Diocese of San Jose takes over staffing from the Jesuits.
- 2004 — New junior high building opens through the 'Bold Visions & Bright Dreams' capital campaign.
- 2005–2007 — Centennial celebrations under the motto 'Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.'
Mass & Liturgy
Holy Family offers a full schedule of daily, weekend, and Vietnamese-language Masses, with two weekend Masses livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person. Confessions are heard Saturday afternoons, and Eucharistic Adoration is offered on weekdays and First Fridays.
- Weekday Mass: Monday–Saturday at 8:00 AM (English)
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM (English, livestreamed) and 7:00 PM (Vietnamese, Our Lady of La Vang)
- Sunday Masses: 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM (Young Families; livestreamed), 11:15 AM, 5:00 PM (Life Teen)
- Confessions: Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- Eucharistic Adoration: Weekdays 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM; First Fridays 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Morning Lauds: Tuesday–Friday at 7:30 AM
- Live Stream: Saturday 5:00 PM and Sunday 9:30 AM via the parish website
Faith Formation
The parish offers lifelong faith formation from early childhood through adulthood, organized under the Faith Formation Office (Director Jackie Cantu). Programs are designed to walk Catholics through every stage of discipleship — sacraments, Scripture study, youth ministry, adult inquiry, and ongoing enrichment.
- Baptism Preparation (children under age 7) — contact parish office
- Children's Faith Formation (PreK–5th Grade) — Sunday classes
- Children's Liturgy of the Word — Sundays at 9:30 AM (ages 4+)
- Adult Confirmation — Thursday evenings
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — for adults and children 7+ seeking Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist
- Scripture Study — Monday mornings 10:30 AM–12:00 PM and Tuesday evenings 7:00–9:00 PM
- Alpha — small-group introduction to the Christian faith (currently on hold)
- Marriage Preparation — appointment with one of the parish priests
- Young Adults and Young at Heart (18–35 and 36+) — social events, prayer, and service
Youth & Young Adults
Holy Family's youth ministry gathers middle schoolers, high schoolers, and young adults for faith, fellowship, and service. Life Teen and Edge meet Sunday evenings after the 5:00 PM Mass, with rotating family dinners that make the parish's youth ministry a family ministry as well.
- Life Teen (high school) — Sunday evenings 6:00–8:00 PM following the 5:00 PM Mass
- Edge (middle school) — Sunday evenings 6:00–8:00 PM
- Rotating family dinner schedule
- Youth Liturgical Ministries — altar serving, lectors, choir, and more for public- and private-school youth
- Young Adults and Young at Heart — community building, prayer, and service
- Family Camp — Memorial Day Weekend (currently on hold)
Holy Family School
Holy Family School is a parish-affiliated Catholic elementary school serving PreK through 8th grade at 4850 Pearl Avenue, immediately adjacent to the parish church. The school motto is 'Believe & Achieve.' It opened in 1986 as the first new Catholic elementary school in the Santa Clara Valley in more than a decade and now enrolls roughly 350 students, supported by a shared gymnasium, library, computer and science labs in the junior high building added in 2004.
- Grades: PreK–8
- Enrollment: approximately 351 students
- Founded: 1986 (first eighth-grade class graduated 1990)
- Motto: 'Believe & Achieve'
- Phone: 408-978-1355
- Website: holyfamilyschoolsj.com
- Extracurriculars include Academic Chess, Altar Servers, Boy Scouts, CJSF, Eucharistic Ministers, Girl Scouts, Lego Robotics, Liturgical Choir, Ministry of Movement, National Junior Honor Society, Newspaper Club, Spanish K–4, and Student Council
- Sports: Track and Field, Volleyball, and others
Sacraments
Holy Family prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Preparation typically begins with a phone call or appointment with the parish office.
- Infant Baptism — preparation can begin before or after the birth of a child; call 408-265-4040
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM
- First Eucharist — through Children's Faith Formation
- Confirmation — youth and adult tracks available
- Christian Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Communion) — contact 408-265-5374
- Marriage — appointment with one of the parish priests; call 408-265-4040
- Anointing of the Sick / Hospital Emergency — 408-622-5167 (life-or-death line)
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music and liturgical service are central to parish life at Holy Family, with several choirs and ministries supporting weekend and holy day liturgies. Youth are especially welcomed into liturgical roles through the parish's Youth Liturgical Ministries program.
- Alleluia Folk Group — Sunday morning liturgy
- Simbang Gabi Choir — Filipino Christmas tradition and other liturgies
- Caritas Choir — major liturgies including Holy Week and the Easter Vigil
- Youth Liturgical Ministries — altar servers, lectors, and other roles for parish youth
- Ministry of Movement — liturgical movement ministry
Visit, Contact & Hours
Parishioners and visitors can reach Holy Family by phone, in person at the parish office, or online. Masses are open to all without reservation; live-stream options remain available for those at home.
- Address: 4848 Pearl Ave, San Jose, CA 95136
- Phone: 408-265-4040
- Priest emergency line: 408-622-5167
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Friday 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00–5:00 PM; Sunday 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
- School Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 1:00–7:00 PM; Friday 1:00–5:00 PM (closed Saturday)
- Website: holyfamilysanjose.org
- Facebook: fb.me/HolyFamilySanJose
- Live stream: Saturday 5:00 PM and Sunday 9:30 AM on the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Cataldo, SJ1907–1908
First pastor; previously instrumental in the Third Council of Baltimore (1884), establishing the first Catholic mission among the Spokane tribe, and founding Gonzaga University.
- Fr. Aggio Valpolini, SJ1908–1916
During his tenure, Holy Family was declared an independent National Church on March 28, 1909.
- Fr. Serafino Snider, SJ1917–1923; 1924–1927
Also served Holy Cross Church (another Italian parish); pastor of both Holy Family and Holy Cross from 1920 to 1923.
- Fr. Ottavio Villa, SJ1923–1924
Brief tenure between Snider's two stints.
- Fr. Aloysius J. Roccati, SJ1927–1959
Oversaw remodeling and added stained-glass windows; founded the Italian Catholic Federation and the Holy Family Dramatic Club; recovered from a heart attack three days before the planned 1956 golden jubilee.
- Fr. Harold E. DeLucchi, SJ1959–early 1970s
Led the parish through condemnation and relocation from downtown San Jose to Pearl Avenue; celebrated the last Mass at the old church in August 1969.
- Fr. Bernie Brannon, SJ1972–1977
Led a pastoral team of Jesuits and lay staff implementing Vatican II; emphasized good liturgy and new ministries.
- Fr. Tom Foster, SJ1977–1987
Introduced charismatic renewal; oversaw construction of the community center (1981) and the opening of Holy Family School (1986).
- Fr. Pat Doherty, SJ1987–1988
Took over as pastor while Fr. Foster recovered from a long illness.
- Fr. Gerald McCourt, SJ1988–1993
Brought a new emphasis on adult faith formation and a vision for the parish's future; oversaw negotiations for an affordable housing complex shared by parish, school, and community.
- Fr. John Martin, SJ1993–1995
Last Jesuit pastor of Holy Family Parish.
- Fr. Francis Cilia1995–1998
First diocesan pastor of Holy Family after the Society of Jesus handed over staffing to the Diocese of San Jose.
- Fr. Matthew Stanley1998–~2003
Focused parish on ministry, social justice, outreach, enhanced liturgy, and technology; launched the parish website.
- Rev. Andrew V. Nguyen2003–present (as of available sources)
Current pastor; oversees faith formation, school, and a multi-ministry parish of more than 2,400 families.