About Mount St. Joseph Carmelite Monastery · San Jose, California
Mount St. Joseph Carmelite Monastery is a Discalced Carmelite Friars' house of formation located at 12455 Clayton Road on the east foothills of San Jose, California. Founded on August 25, 1959, under the patronage of St. Joseph, it serves as the Postulancy of the California-Arizona Province of St. Joseph — the place where men first enter religious life before being sent to the novitiate in Mt. Angel, Oregon. The community lives the Carmelite charism of St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross, combining contemplative prayer with active pastoral ministry, and welcomes the faithful to daily Mass, holy hours, and First Saturday devotions. Its chapel and grounds are open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Thomas Reeves, O.C.D. (Prior)
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Jose
Why belong here
Mount St. Joseph offers a rare opportunity for East San Jose Catholics to worship with an authentic Discalced Carmelite community — friars who follow St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross and live by their four hallmarks: devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist, total consecration to Mary, loyalty to the Church, and the union of contemplation with active ministry. Visitors can attend a quiet 7:00 a.m. weekday Mass, join the Thursday Holy Hour for Vocations (Vespers, Adoration & Benediction), pray Solemn Vespers with the friars on Sunday evenings, or make a First Saturday devotion at 8:00 a.m. Because the friars are a mendicant order supported by benefactors, the community welcomes both the prayers and the practical generosity of anyone drawn to Carmelite spirituality.
Mass times at Mount St. Joseph Carmelite Monastery
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment (call 408-251-1361)
Adoration times
- Thursday 5:00 PM — Holy Hour for Vocations (Vespers, Adoration & Benediction)
- Sunday 5:00 PM — Holy Hour (Solemn Vespers, Adoration & Benediction)
About the Monastery
Mount St. Joseph Carmelite Monastery, located in San Jose, California, is home to the Postulancy for the Discalced Carmelite Friars of the California-Arizona Province of St. Joseph. The community follows the spirituality of St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross and seeks to respond to Christ's call by combining the contemplative spirit with the active apostolate. Their stated mission: 'We Carmelite Friars, followers of Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint John of the Cross, live as brothers in community. With Mary as our patroness, we serve Christ and His Church through ministries of prayer, presence, evangelization and pastoral care.'
- Founded August 25, 1959
- Patron: St. Joseph
- Status: Postulancy, Diocese of San Jose
- Four Carmelite hallmarks: devoted to Jesus in the Eucharist; totally Mary's; men of loyalty to the Church; contemplative and active
Postulancy & Vocation Formation
When men join the California-Arizona Province, they first enter here. The postulancy year is a transition into religious life in which candidates begin formation in the charism and spirituality of the Discalced Carmelite Friars. At year's end, the postulants move to the novitiate in Mt. Angel, Oregon, where they are clothed in Our Lady's Habit and receive their religious name. Brothers with priestly vocations continue on at the St. Elijah House of Studies in Mt. Angel. The Province website notes: 'Mount St. Joseph has an important place in the hearts of our Carmelite Friars as it is where most of us began our religious lives.'
- First year of Carmelite formation
- Send-out to Mt. Angel, OR novitiate
- Clothed in Our Lady's Habit, receive religious name
- St. Elijah House of Studies for priestly candidates
Carmelite Community
The community at Mount St. Joseph is led by the Prior and includes both priests and a Secular Carmelite brother.
- Fr. Thomas Reeves, O.C.D. — Prior
- Fr. James Geoghegan, O.C.D.
- Fr. Patrick Sugrue, O.C.D.
- Fr. Charles Nawodylo, O.C.D.
- Fr. Matthias Lambrecht, O.C.D.
- Fr. Jan Lundberg, O.C.D.
- Fr. Julius Ntalo, O.C.D.
- Bro. Roger Larre, O.C.D.S.
Sacraments
Mount St. Joseph is a chapel of public worship within the Diocese of San Jose. Daily and Sunday Mass are offered openly, and confessions are available by appointment. The First Saturday Mass at 8:00 a.m. is a particular Marian devotion common to Carmelite spirituality.
- Daily and Sunday Mass open to the public
- Confessions by appointment (call 408-251-1361)
- First Saturday devotional Mass
Visiting & Contact
The chapel and grounds are open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The monastery is located on Clayton Road in the eastern foothills of San Jose. Confessions and special visits are best arranged by calling the friary in advance.
- Chapel & grounds: open 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily
- Phone: (408) 251-1361; alternate line (408) 251-6682; Fax (408) 251-1854
- Physical: 12455 Clayton Rd, San Jose, CA 95127
- Mailing: P.O. Box 3420, San Jose, CA 95156-3420
Donate & Annual Fundraisers
The Carmelites are a mendicant order that depends largely on the generosity of benefactors. The community accepts online giving and prays daily for its supporters. The monastery is a 501(c)(3) religious non-profit (Tax ID 94-6087494).
- Online giving available via the monastery website
- Annual Benefit Luncheon
- Annual Grand Raffle
- Tax ID: 94-6087494
History & 60th Anniversary
Mount St. Joseph was established August 25, 1959 as a Discalced Carmelite foundation in San Jose, joining a wave of West Coast Carmelite houses that included El Carmelo Retreat House (Redlands, 1952) and the Carmelite House of Prayer (Oakville, 1955). Originally serving as the Province's novitiate, it later became the Postulancy — the entry point for new candidates. The community marked 60 years in 2019, sharing testimonials from friars whose religious lives began at Mount St. Joseph.
- Founded August 25, 1959
- Original role: Province novitiate; later transitioned to Postulancy
- 60th anniversary celebrated in 2019
California-Arizona Province of St. Joseph
Mount St. Joseph belongs to the Discalced Carmelite Friars' California-Arizona Province of St. Joseph (DCFCAP), which today comprises six communities plus the Carmelite House of Studies in Mt. Angel, Oregon, and a Carmelite House of Formation for the Ugandan Mission (est. 2002).
- Carmelite House of Studies — Mt. Angel, OR (1999)
- Carmelite House of Formation — Uganda Mission (2002)
- Mount St. Joseph Carmelite Monastery — San Jose, CA (1959)
- Other houses in Stanwood, WA; Tucson, AZ; Oakville, CA; Redlands, CA; Alhambra, CA