About Old St. Stanislaus Church (J Street Campus) · Modesto, California
St. Stanislaus Catholic Community is a bilingual (English/Spanish) parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton, headquartered at 709 J Street in downtown Modesto, California, with a second worship site and parish offices at 1200 Maze Blvd. Established in 1878 as the first Catholic parish in Modesto and the second-oldest in the San Joaquin Valley, the community grew out of a pioneer Catholic population along the Stanislaus River and built its current landmark Spanish Colonial-style church on J Street in 1913. After more than a century, the parish added a 1,300-seat copper-domed church on Maze Boulevard in 2008, and today it serves a large, multi-generational congregation with a parish school (Preschool–8), youth faith formation, OCIA, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and ministries in both English and Spanish.
- Established
- 1878
- Patron
- St. Stanislaus of Kraków (patron of Poland)
- Rector
- Rev. Adrian Cisneros
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton
Why belong here
St. Stanislaus is the spiritual home of one of Modesto's oldest Catholic communities, celebrating more than a century and a quarter of continuous worship on J Street while running a thriving K-8 parish school on Maze Boulevard. Daily Mass is offered in both English and Spanish, with confession on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings, Eucharistic Adoration, an active St. Vincent de Paul conference (209-524-0983), OCIA for adults discerning the faith, youth faith formation and Holy Hours for middle and high school students, a Wedding Ministry for engaged couples, and a parish partnership with the Hallow prayer app. With the Sisters of the Cross convent on Maze Boulevard, the Knights of Columbus Council 10694, a Church Cleaning Ministry, and a bilingual bulletin and website, the parish offers both a downtown historic church and a modern Romanesque worship space for its large, multigenerational family.
Mass times at Old St. Stanislaus Church (J Street Campus)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM (Maze Blvd. Church)
- Saturday 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM (Maze Blvd. Church)
- Other times by appointment
Adoration times
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Friday 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (709 J St.)
- Adoración al Santísimo, viernes 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (709 Calle J)
About St. Stanislaus Catholic Community
St. Stanislaus Catholic Community serves Modesto, California from two worship sites — the historic 1913 Spanish Colonial-style church on J Street (Old St. Stanislaus) and the modern 2008 Romanesque church on Maze Boulevard — as well as a preschool-through-eighth-grade Catholic school and an active bilingual (English/Spanish) parish life. The community belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton, is pastored by Rev. Adrian Cisneros, and offers daily Mass, weekly confession, Eucharistic Adoration, OCIA, youth faith formation, the St. Vincent de Paul conference, the Knights of Columbus Council 10694, the Sisters of the Cross convent, and a Wedding Ministry, all coordinated from the parish office at 709 J Street.
- Parish office: 709 J Street, Modesto, CA 95354
- Phone: 209-524-4381
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocese: Stockton
History of St. Stanislaus Parish
St. Stanislaus was founded in 1878 as the first Catholic Church in Modesto, growing out of the pioneer Catholic community John Murphy gathered along the Stanislaus River beginning in 1862. The original 28 × 48-foot frame church served until Father Michael Giles commissioned the present J Street concrete church in 1913, a Spanish Colonial-style building designed by Foley of San Francisco and dedicated by Archbishop Riordan on December 28, 1913. In 1922 Father James Galvin began acquiring property on the east side of town; after a rectory fire he used salvaged lumber to open St. Stanislaus Hall in 1924. Following the growth of east Modesto, the parish relocated its main worship to 1200 Maze Boulevard, where an $18-million, 1,326-seat Romanesque church designed by Shelly Hyndman was completed in November 2008, while the 1913 J Street church (Old St. Stanislaus) continues to host daily Mass in a more intimate setting.
- 1862 — John Murphy begins driving a team to Stockton to bring a priest to his home on the Stanislaus River
- 1878 — First Catholic Church in Modesto built; dedicated by Archbishop Alemany
- 1902 — Oakdale mission becomes its own parish
- 1906 — Newman parish formed (covers Patterson, Crows Landing, Gustine, Atwater, Buhach)
- 1910 — Turlock parish formed
- 1913 — Present J Street church built under Father Michael Giles; dedicated by Archbishop Riordan on December 28
- 1921 — Hughson parish formed
- 1922 — Father James Galvin acquires 16th & I property for future parish site
- 1924 — St. Stanislaus Hall opened at 7th & K Streets after a fire
- 1951 — Our Lady of Fatima parish formed
- 2008 — New 1,326-seat Maze Blvd. church completed (architect Shelly Hyndman; built by T.B. Penick & Sons)
Campus & Facilities
The St. Stanislaus community uses two church campuses and a school campus in Modesto. The downtown 1913 church at 709 J Street (the J Street Campus, referred to as Old St. Stanislaus) still hosts daily Masses in a more intimate setting, while the Maze Boulevard Campus — the 2008 church at 1200 Maze Blvd. — accommodates the main Sunday and Saturday Vigil liturgies. The parish school occupies 1416 Maze Blvd., and the Sisters of the Cross convent is at 1320 Maze Blvd.
- J Street Campus (Old St. Stanislaus): 709 J Street, Modesto, CA 95354
- Maze Boulevard Church: 1200 Maze Blvd., Modesto, CA 95351
- Parish School (Preschool–8): 1416 Maze Blvd., 209-524-9036, ststanscs.org
- Sisters of the Cross Convent: 1320 Maze Blvd., 209-526-3525, sistersofthecross.org
- Faith Formation Office: 209-522-6534 ext. 300, [email protected]
- St. Vincent de Paul: 209-524-0983
Sacraments
St. Stanislaus celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Parents and godparents seeking Baptism begin preparation by calling the parish office at 209-524-4381. Confirmation and First Communion are prepared through the Office of Faith Formation ([email protected]). Engaged couples are supported by the parish Wedding Ministry, which trains and coordinates volunteer wedding coordinators for rehearsals and the day itself. Adults seeking full initiation are welcomed through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), which culminates at the Easter Vigil, and the Anointing of the Sick is arranged through the parish office.
- Baptism — 209-524-4381 to begin preparation
- Confirmation — through Faith Formation
- First Communion (Holy Eucharist) — through Faith Formation
- Marriage — Wedding Ministry coordinates rehearsals and liturgies
- OCIA — adults entering the Church ([email protected])
- Anointing of the Sick — by request via the parish office
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
Adults interested in becoming Catholic are welcomed into the parish's OCIA process (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults). Inquirers are asked to email [email protected] or call 209-524-4381 and leave a message for the OCIA Coordinator, and the process ordinarily reaches its climax at the Easter Vigil with the celebration of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 209-524-4381
- Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation usually integrated into the Easter Vigil
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Office of Faith Formation (Catechism) coordinates youth faith formation in both English and Spanish, including sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation, catechist coordination, and programs for children and families. Registrations for youth catechism classes are held at the Community Center, 1416 Maze Blvd., and the office is currently hiring a bilingual Director of Youth Faith Formation.
- Office of Faith Formation — 209-522-6534 ext. 300, [email protected]
- Located at 709 J Street, Modesto, CA 95354
- Registration at the Community Center, 1416 Maze Blvd.
- Bilingual programs in English and Spanish
Youth & Young Adult Ministries
Middle-school youth meet Thursday nights at The LifeHouse (1416 Maze Blvd.) for fun and faith, and high-school and middle-school students are invited to a monthly Holy Hour and social on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM in the church. A parish-wide retreat is also offered. The parish has additionally partnered with the Hallow prayer app so that parishioners can pray together beyond Sunday Mass.
- Middle School Nights — Thursdays at The LifeHouse, 1416 Maze Blvd.
- High School & Middle School Holy Hour + Social — first Wednesday of the month, 6:00 PM
- Annual youth retreat
- Hallow prayer app parish partnership
St. Stanislaus Catholic School (Preschool–8)
St. Stanislaus Catholic School, located at 1416 Maze Blvd., is a Preschool-through-Grade-8 Catholic school with more than 50 years of experience educating children in the Modesto area. The school enrolls roughly 210 students in K–8 and 48 in Preschool/PreK, is about 90% Catholic, and features self-contained classes in PS through Grade 5 with departmentalized Grade 6–8, monthly Mass, weekly community prayer, daily religion classes, service opportunities, and an extended-day program from 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM and 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
- Address: 1416 Maze Blvd., Modesto, CA 95351
- Phone: 209-524-9036
- Website: ststanscs.org
- Grades: Preschool through 8
- Enrollment: ~210 (K-8); ~48 (Preschool/PreK)
- Extended Day: 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM and 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Parish Pastoral & Finance Councils
The parish is led pastorally by Rev. Adrian Cisneros in collaboration with two parochial vicars, four deacons, and the lay Pastoral and Finance Councils. Vince Furtado chairs the Pastoral Council and the Finance Council supports the parish's temporal administration. The parish also employs a manager ([email protected]) and is hiring a Facilities Manager and a bilingual Director of Youth Faith Formation.
- Pastor: Rev. Adrian Cisneros
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Jovito (Jovy) Roldan, J.C.L.; Rev. Benny Kottarathil Antoney, O.S.B.
- Deacons: Oscar Cervantes; Jim Kottinger; Juan Carlos Palomar; José A. Reyes
- Pastoral Council Chair: Vince Furtado
Outreach & Charity
St. Stanislaus hosts an active Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference for material and spiritual works of mercy, and the parish bulletin regularly features a Respect Life Corner with the bishops' prayer to the Sacred Heart and notices of local Consecrations of the United States. The parish's Wedding Ministry, Church Cleaning Ministry and Knights of Columbus Council 10694 each open concrete paths for parishioners to serve.
- St. Vincent de Paul — 209-524-0983 (meets 7:00 PM)
- Knights of Columbus Council 10694 — first Thursday of the month, 7:00 PM, Community Center
- Wedding Ministry — training provided, flexible commitment
- Church Cleaning Ministry — Saturdays 7:00 AM at Maze Blvd. Church
- Respect Life Corner — weekly reflection in the parish bulletin
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father O'Connor1870s
Pioneer priest who, with Father Kennly, came from Stockton by horse and buggy and was ferried across the Stanislaus River to celebrate Mass in Catholic homes.
- Father Kennly1870s
Pioneer priest from Stockton who served the scattered Catholic families along the Stanislaus River.
- Father Michael Giles1913
Decided in 1913 that a larger church was needed and built the present Spanish Colonial-style concrete church on J Street, dedicated by Archbishop Riordan on December 28, 1913.
- Father James Galvin1922 onwards
Acquired property at 16th and I Streets as a possible future parish site; after the rectory fire (insurance $12,000) he used salvaged lumber to open St. Stanislaus Hall in 1924.