About Our Lady of Peace · Santa Clara, California
Our Lady of Peace Church and Shrine is a Roman Catholic parish and Marian shrine of the Diocese of San Jose, located in Santa Clara, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley. It is most recognizable for its 32-foot stainless-steel statue of Our Lady, Queen of Peace / Immaculate Heart of Mary, which is visible from U.S. Highway 101 and draws more than a million visitors a year. The parish maintains 24-hour, year-round Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, a heavy schedule of daily and Sunday Masses (including a weekly Spanish Mass), and a wide range of Marian devotions — making it one of the busiest Catholic churches in the United States. Pastoral care has been entrusted since 2002 to the priests of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE), supported by the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara (SSVM).
- Established
- 1961
- Patron
- Our Lady, Queen of Peace / Immaculate Heart of Mary (BVM Heart)
- Rector
- Rev. Brian Dinkel, IVE
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Jose (Diócesis de San José, California)
Why belong here
Our Lady of Peace offers an unusually rich Catholic devotional life for a parish — round-the-clock Perpetual Adoration, daily Mass with multiple Sunday options including a weekly Spanish Mass, a heavy Marian devotion calendar (Fatima First Saturdays, Our Lady of Vailankanni, Mother of Perpetual Help, St. Anthony, Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary, First Friday vigils), and a deep formation program for children, youth and adults. It is also a working pilgrimage site, anchored by one of the most photographed Marian statues in the western United States, with a large international and Hispanic community, active young-adult and youth groups, and Mass in both English and Spanish.
Mass times at Our Lady of Peace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 12:00 noon and 5:15 pm
- Tuesday–Friday: 8:00 am, 12:00 noon and 5:15 pm
- Saturday: 8:00 am and 3:30 pm through the 7:00 pm Mass
- Sunday: during each Sunday Mass (in the side hall)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration — 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (since August 15, 1976), continuing except during the celebration of Holy Mass
Welcome & Mission
Our Lady of Peace describes itself as 'a Church and Shrine dedicated to the greater Glory of God and the salvation of souls.' Its mission is built around four pillars: Perpetual Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, frequent celebration of the Sacraments (especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation), and integrated formation of the whole person — spiritual, moral, intellectual and emotional. The parish is staffed by the Fathers of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) and supported by the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara (SSVM). The parish's doors are open 24 hours a day, all year round, for prayer and pilgrimage.
- Parish registration available online via the parish website
- Bulletin and announcements distributed weekly
- Online registration form for new and existing parishioners
- Parishioner update form for changes of address/family info
History of the Parish and Shrine
Founded June 24, 1961, by Fr. Joseph G. Sullivan, the parish was originally built in a rural stretch of orchards. It nearly closed in the late 1960s before Fr. John Joseph Sweeny transformed it: he introduced First Friday All-Night Vigils (1969), Perpetual Adoration (1976), and the 32-foot Marian statue (dedicated 1983). The IVE assumed pastoral care in 2002, and the parish has continued to grow around its Marian and Eucharistic identity ever since.
- 1961 — Parish founded by Fr. Joseph G. Sullivan
- 1969 — Fr. John Joseph Sweeny arrives; First Friday All-Night Vigils begin Oct 3, 1969
- 1976 — Perpetual Adoration begins August 15, 1976
- 1980 — Fr. Sweeny commissions sculptor Charles C. Parks
- 1982 — Statue completed; first erected in Philadelphia
- 1983 — Statue dedicated October 7, 1983 by Bishop Pierre DuMaine; Fr. Patrick Peyton preaches
- 1996 — Family Learning Center constructed
- 2002 — IVE invited to assume pastoral leadership; Monsignor Sweeny retires
- 2014 — Bronze statue of St. John Paul II dedicated April 27, 2014 by Bishop McGrath
The Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is the physical and spiritual heart of the parish grounds. Its 32-foot stainless-steel statue of Our Lady — sculpted by Charles C. Parks and dedicated by Bishop DuMaine on October 7, 1983 — is widely considered one of the most prominent Marian statues on the U.S. West Coast. A matching bronze statue of St. John Paul II was added in 2014.
- 32-foot stainless-steel statue, 7,200 pounds, 15-foot wingspan
- Sculptor: Charles C. Parks, Wilmington, Delaware (1922–2012)
- 12,000+ hours of work, 50,000 weldings; Bruce Industrial Co. assisted
- Head, hands and feet cast in stainless steel; gown made of welded stainless strips
- Visible from U.S. Highway 101
- First erected at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia
- Fr. Patrick Peyton (Family Rosary Crusade) preached at the 1983 dedication
Marian & Eucharistic Devotions
The parish maintains an extensive calendar of Marian and Eucharistic devotions. These include the daily Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Rosary, the Tuesday Priest-Led Holy Hour, weekly novenas to St. Anthony and Mother of Perpetual Help, monthly Our Lady of Vailankanni and Fatima processions, and the First Friday All-Night Vigil.
- Daily Chaplet of Divine Mercy & Rosary — 3:00 pm weekdays
- Priest-Led Holy Hour with Benediction — Tuesdays 11:00 am
- St. Anthony Novena — Tuesdays 6:00 pm
- Mother of Perpetual Help Novena & Mass — Wednesdays 7:00 pm / 7:30 pm
- Our Lady of Vailankanni Novena & Mass — First Thursdays 7:00 pm
- St. Joseph the Worker Mass — Third Thursdays 7:30 pm
- First Friday Devotion — 7:30 pm Sacred Heart Mass, 8:30 pm Holy Hour, all-night vigil
- Fatima Devotion — 13th of each month (May–October), 7:00 pm Mass + procession + Eucharistic blessing
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Religious Education Office provides catechetical formation for children, youth, and adults, faithful to the Magisterium of the Church. The 2025–26 program year began September 16, 2025; classes are held weekly. Fees are $100 for most programs and $150 for Confirmation, with a $300 family cap.
- Catechism Office: (408) 988-7648, [email protected]
- Director: Sr. Maria Virgin de Izamal, SSVM
- Office Hours: Tue/Thu 6:30–8:15 pm; Wed 4:00–5:30 pm; Sat 9:00–10:45 am
- Classes once a week, all in English
- Registration: $100 (First Communion, Continuing Ed, RCIA, Post-Confirmation); $150 (Confirmation); max $300/family
- First day of classes 2025–26: September 16, 2025
Christian Initiation (RCIA) & Adult Sacraments
Adult inquirers and baptized Catholics seeking to complete their sacraments enter the parish's Christian Initiation program. English RCIA classes meet Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in Room 1101; Spanish RCIA classes meet Thursdays at 6:30 pm in Room 1101. The program runs September through May.
- Contact: Mother Revelacion, SSVM, [email protected]
- English RCIA: Room 1101, Wednesdays 7:00 pm
- Spanish RCIA: Room 1101, Thursdays 6:30 pm
- Adult Sacrament Preparation (ASP) for baptized Catholics needing First Communion/Confirmation
- Baptism Seminar for parents and godparents of infants under 7
Parish Life, Groups & Ministries
Beyond liturgy and devotions, Our Lady of Peace sustains a wide network of parish groups that serve worship, formation, fellowship, hospitality, and outreach. The parish also runs a Young Adult group for Catholics in their 20s and 30s, a high-school youth group, a flower-arrangement group, rosary-makers, the Altar Society, Altar Servers, Music Ministry, the St. Joseph the Worker visitation group, and the Hispanic Our Lady of Guadalupe group.
- Perpetual Adoration Society
- Young Adult Group (20s–30s)
- Youth Group & Friday Family Night
- Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary (St. Louis de Montfort)
- Our Lady of Fatima Flower Arrangement Group (Fridays)
- Rosary Makers (Saturdays 9:30–11:00 am, Old Hall)
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Hispanic Group
- St. Joseph the Worker Group
- Altar Servers, Altar Society, Music Ministry, Theology on Tap
Parish Staff & Administration
Parish operations are led by the IVE priests and lay staff. The rectory handles general inquiries, registrations, Mass intentions, the bulletin, weddings, funerals, and facilities. The parish bulletin and communications are coordinated by Elizabeth Nguyen.
- Pastor: Fr. Brian Dinkel, IVE
- Associate Pastors: Fr. Jonathan Dumlao, IVE; Fr. Simon Pedro Magaña, IVE; Fr. Andrew Barth, IVE
- Parish Administrator: Karen Ruiz — (669) 208-3410
- Office Manager / Receptionist: Perla Carrasco Matadamas
- Bulletin/Communications: Elizabeth Nguyen — (669) 208-3412
- Wedding/Funeral coordinator: Genevieve Van Tuyl — [email protected]
- Facilities Manager: George — (669) 208-3415, [email protected]
- Catechism Office: Sr. Maria Virgin de Izamal, SSVM — (408) 988-7648
Contact & Directory
The parish rectory office answers general inquiries and connects visitors to specific ministries.
- Parish Rectory: (408) 988-4585
- Fax: (408) 988-0679
- General email: [email protected]
- Address: 2800 Mission College Boulevard, Santa Clara, CA 95054
- Catechism Office: [email protected], (408) 988-7648
- Adult Education / RCIA: [email protected]
- Bulletin: (669) 208-3412
- Facilities: (669) 208-3415
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph G. Sullivan1961–1969
Founding pastor; oversaw construction of the original church, hall and rectory. Transferred in 1969 by Archbishop McGucken of San Francisco to another parish.
- Fr. John Joseph Sweeny1969–2002
Ordered in 1948 at St. Mary's Cathedral, San Francisco by Archbishop John J. Mitty. Established First Friday All-Night Vigils (Oct 3, 1969) and Perpetual Adoration (Aug 15, 1976); commissioned the 32-foot Immaculate Heart of Mary statue (dedicated 1983). Awarded the title Monsignor / Prelate of Honor by Pope John Paul II in 2002; retired the same year for health reasons. Died 2006.
- Fr. Walter Mallo, IVE2002–2010
First pastor from the Institute of the Incarnate Word after the diocese invited the IVE to assume leadership.
- Fr. Jose Giunta, IVE2010–2013
IVE pastor.
- Fr. Gustavo Nieto, IVE2013 – August 2016
IVE pastor.
- Rev. Brian Dinkel, IVEDecember 4, 2016 – present
Current pastor; oversaw the April 2014 dedication of the bronze St. John Paul II statue during his predecessor's tenure.
