Sacred Heart of Jesus

About Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish has been in existence since 1925. It is located between Willow Glen and downtown San Jose and serves the community in northern San Jose. Most of its parishioners are of Latin descent and Spanish is their main language. The parish is next to Martha's Kitchen, which serves the poor and hungry in the area, and to the urban Catholic Sacred Heart Nativity School. The parish mission statement (in both English and Spanish on the website) reads: 'We, the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, a multicultural community of faith, strive to provide a home for all those who seek the Lord. As stewards of God's blessings, we are committed to becoming the love of Christ for those most in need.'

• Founded 1925
• Located between Willow Glen and downtown San Jose
• Predominantly Latino / Spanish-language community
• Adjacent to Martha's Kitchen (meals for the poor)
• Adjacent to Sacred Heart Nativity School (Jesuit middle school)

History of the Church

The parish dates to 1925 in northern San Jose. The church building was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, alongside several other Catholic churches in the Diocese of San Jose. In the late 1990s, the late Monsignor Mateo Sheedy, then pastor, saw too many of his parish youth failing to finish high school and invited the Jesuits to launch a Nativity-model school. In early 2000 Fr. Peter Pabst, S.J. took on the project; the first sixth-grade class of boys opened in September 2001, and a companion girls' school (Our Lady of Grace Nativity) followed in 2006. The parish's About page also includes a section on its stained-glass windows, indicating artwork of historical interest inside the church.

• 1925 — parish founded
• 1989 — church damaged in Loma Prieta earthquake
• 2001 — Sacred Heart Nativity School opens (boys)
• 2006 — Our Lady of Grace Nativity School opens (girls)

Parish Mission Statement

The parish publishes its mission in both English and Spanish: English — 'We, the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, a multicultural community of faith, strive to provide a home for all those who seek the Lord. As stewards of God's blessings, we are committed to becoming the love of Christ for those most in need.' Spanish — 'Nosotros/as, la comunidad del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, somos una comunidad multicultural de Fe que anhela proveer un hogar para todos los que buscan al Señor. Como discípulos de Dios, nos comprometemos a ser el amor de Cristo para los más necesitados.'

Staff and Clergy

Parish staff can be reached via the office email [email protected].

• Rev. Luis Vargas — Pastor
• Fr. James Saenz Diaz — Parochial Vicar
• Sandra Torres — (parish staff; [email protected])
• Darlene Marshall — Bookkeeper
• Paola Iquinas — Director of Catechetical Ministry ([email protected])

Other Devotions and Services

Beyond the regular Mass schedule, the parish posts seasonal devotions.

• Lenten Fridays: 7:00 pm (Spanish-language devotion during Lent)
• Bilingual Mass for holy days (described by parishioners as particularly beautiful)

Liturgical Ministries

The parish's liturgical ministry page lists several commissioned lay ministries; each requires appropriate training, which the parish helps provide. Descriptions are published in both English and Spanish.

• Lectors / Lectores — proclaim the Word of God and lead the Prayer of the Faithful
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion / Ministros Extraordinarios de la Comunión
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the Sick / Ministros Extraordinarios de la Comunión para los Enfermos — bring the Eucharist to homes and hospitals
• Altar Servers / Monaguillos — adults and youth who have received Baptism and First Communion
• Hospitality Ministers / Ministros de Hospitalidad — welcome the assembly, distribute worship aids, assist with collection and bulletins
• Music Ministry / Ministerio de la Música — lead the congregation in sung liturgy (English and Spanish choirs)

Parish Groups and Youth

The Community/Ministry page of the parish website gathers lay groups and parish organizations together for easy access.

• Jovenes Para Cristo — parish youth group / Adolescentes
• Sacred Heart Education Center — parish-based education resource

Community Organizations and Outreach

Sacred Heart of Jesus sits within a wider network of Catholic service in northern San Jose.

• Martha's Kitchen — next-door nonprofit serving meals to the poor and hungry
• Sacred Heart Nativity Schools — Jesuit partner schools serving parish children (see 'Schools' below)

Schools: Sacred Heart Nativity and Our Lady of Grace Nativity

Sacred Heart Nativity Schools are urban Catholic middle schools founded in partnership with the Society of Jesus, the Diocese of San Jose, and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. They follow the Nativity-Miguel model and prioritize students from the parish community. The vision began with the late Msgr. Mateo Sheedy and was launched by Fr. Peter Pabst, S.J. in 2001.

• Sacred Heart Nativity School for Boys — opened September 2001; first sixth-grade class of boys
• Our Lady of Grace Nativity School for Girls — opened July 2006
• Grades 6–8 (middle school), Jesuit, faith-based, Nativity-Miguel model
• Extended school day and year, smaller classes, Chromebooks and educational software
• Sports and clubs: softball, soccer, basketball, track; robotics, school newspaper, student council, choir
• 100% high-school graduation rate (2015–2021), compared to 82% for Latinx students countywide
• Tuition assistance model: average family income ~$34,000; families asked to pay ~$100/month for activity fees
• 96% of students are Latinx; many from immigrant families; English often not the primary home language
• Address: 310 Edwards Ave., San Jose, CA 95110; Phone: (408) 993-1293; Website: shnativity.org

Sacraments

Information on sacramental preparation is coordinated through the parish office and the Director of Catechetical Ministry.

• Baptism
• First Holy Communion
• Confirmation
• Marriage (by appointment through the parish office)
• Anointing of the Sick and Communion to the Sick (visits to homes and hospitals)

Visit, Contact and Office Hours

Parishioners and visitors are welcomed at the parish office during published hours.

• Address: 325 Willow St., San Jose, CA 95110
• Phone: (408) 816-7822
• Fax: (408) 292-0172
• Email: [email protected]
• Office hours: Monday closed; Tuesday–Friday 10:00 am–12:00 pm and 2:00 pm–5:00 pm
• Website: sacredheartjesuschurch.org
• Facebook: facebook.com/sacredheartjesussjsj