About San Jose · Jacksonville, Florida
San Jose Catholic Church is a vibrant, multicultural Catholic parish located at 3619 Toledo Road in Jacksonville, Florida, serving the area between downtown Jacksonville and Mandarin. Founded in 1959 by Archbishop Joseph Hurley and now part of the Diocese of St. Augustine, the parish combines English, Spanish, and other-language liturgies with a parish school (opened 1961 by the Sisters of Mercy from Ireland) and more than 60 ministries of service, formation, and outreach. Its mission statement describes the community as 'one in the Body of Christ, called to use the gift of our diversity to love and accompany others on their journey to encounter Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, the Word of God, the Sacraments, and the rich teachings & traditions of the Church.'
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- Saint Joseph (San José)
- Rector
- Rev. Remek Blaszkowski, J.C.D.
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Augustine
Why belong here
San Jose Catholic Church offers a rich, multi-generational Catholic life on Jacksonville's southside: daily and Sunday Mass in English and Spanish, weekly confession, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, a parish school staffed in continuity with the founding Sisters of Mercy, and almost 70 ministries spanning youth, music, Hispanic community, Faith Formation, and outreach through the Missions of Mercy program (Catholic Charities, Into Life, Veterans Day service projects, Prison Ministry, the Daniel Foundation, and an annual mission trip to the Dominican Republic through the Sister Parish Ministry). As the parish puts it, members are called 'to use the gift of our diversity to love and accompany others' on the journey to encounter Jesus Christ — a fitting summary of why families find a home here.
Mass times at San Jose
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM
- Every Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- By appointment with a parish priest
- Communal parish penance services during Advent and Lent
Adoration times
- 1st Friday of each month: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM (following the 8:00 AM Mass)
- Second Wednesday of every month: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Parish History
San José is one of the parishes established by the far-sighted Archbishop Joseph Hurley, who in 1954 recognized the potential for growth between downtown Jacksonville and Mandarin and purchased 25 acres at Toledo Road and St. Augustine Road. The new community was established in 1959, with the congregation first meeting for Mass in the gym of The Bolles School. On June 29, 1959 San Jose Catholic Church was formally established as a parish, with Father Mortimer Danaher as the founding pastor. Key milestones followed quickly: in 1961 the Sisters of Mercy from Ireland opened San Jose Catholic School with 184 students; in 1968 the Shrine of the Holy Family was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day; the Cultural Center arrived in 1974; Monsignor John Lenihan (pastor from 1977) oversaw the construction and dedication of the present Spanish-style church on November 9, 1990; and in 2009 the parish celebrated its Golden Anniversary with about 2,200 member families and nearly 70 ministries. Today, the parish 'reflects on the past, lives in the present, and looks to the future' as a community devoted to doing God's holy will.
- 1954: Archbishop Joseph Hurley purchases land at Toledo Rd. & St. Augustine Rd.
- 1959: Parish formally established June 29 — first pastor, Father Mortimer Danaher
- 1961: Sisters of Mercy from Navan, Ireland open San Jose Catholic School
- 1968: Shrine of the Holy Family dedicated Thanksgiving Day
- 1974: Cultural Center completed
- 1977: Monsignor John Lenihan appointed pastor
- 1990: New Spanish-style church dedicated November 9
- 1999: Succeeded by a pastor surnamed Moss
- 2009: Golden Anniversary marked with parish center named for Msgr. Lenihan
- Present: Rev. Remek Blaszkowski, J.C.D., serves as pastor
Mission & Identity
The parish mission statement reads: 'We the family of San Jose Catholic Church, united as one in the Body of Christ, are called to use the gift of our diversity to love and accompany others on their journey to encounter Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, the Word of God, the Sacraments, and the rich teachings & traditions of the Church.' With weekly Mass in English and Spanish, a parish school, dozens of ministries, and ongoing devotions like Eucharistic Adoration, San Jose presents itself as a 'Rooted in Christ. Alive in Faith.' community that welcomes newcomers, returning Catholics, and those discerning a call to the faith.
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
San Jose publishes a full daily and Sunday Mass schedule on its website. Weekday Masses are celebrated Monday through Friday at 8:00 AM and 5:30 PM, with a School Mass on Wednesday at 8:00 AM and an additional Mass on Saturday morning at 8:00 AM. The Saturday Vigil is at 4:30 PM. Sunday Masses are at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM in English, and 12:30 PM in Spanish (Español). Reconciliation is offered Saturdays 3:30–4:15 PM and Wednesdays 6:00–7:00 PM, plus by appointment, with additional communal penance services during Advent and Lent.
- Monday–Friday: 8:00 AM and 5:30 PM
- Wednesday 8:00 AM: School Mass
- Saturday 8:00 AM and Saturday Vigil 4:30 PM
- Sunday: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM (English); 12:30 PM (Español)
- Confession: Saturdays 3:30–4:15 PM, Wednesdays 6:00–7:00 PM, or by appointment
- Communal penance services in Advent and Lent
Clergy & Staff
San Jose is led by a pastor and parochial vicar, supported by three deacons and a full lay staff for administration, faith formation, youth, music, and Hispanic ministry. The parish school is staffed under a principal who also lists on the parish staff page.
- Rev. Remek Blaszkowski, J.C.D. — Pastor ([email protected])
- Fr. Sebastian Garcia — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Jesus Garcia
- Deacon Chris Supple
- Deacon Peter Watry
- Patti Lombardo — Director of Administration (Ext. 114)
- Donna Carle — Bookkeeper (Ext. 104)
- Lamee Chase — Administrative Assistant (Ext. 101)
- Diane Foley — Director of Evangelization & Religious Education (Ext. 108, [email protected])
- Ana Maria Montoya — Administrative Assistant & Hispanic Ministry (Ext. 110)
- Denisse Collins — Director of Youth Ministry (Ext. 114)
- Kimberly Conway — Director of Music Ministry (Ext. 115)
- Facilities Supervisor
- Jennifer Swain — School Principal (904-733-2313)
San Jose Catholic School
San Jose Catholic School has been part of the parish since 1961, when it opened with 184 students in six grades under the Navan Sisters of Mercy from Ireland — Mother M. Therese, Sister Enda, Sister Patrick, and Sister De Montfort, along with three lay teachers. Their mission was 'to provide students with a strong Catholic foundation that educates the whole person,' a commitment the school continues today. Over the decades the school has grown to include science labs, a media center, an Early-Childhood Learning Center, a gymnasium, and athletic fields. The current principal is Jennifer Swain.
- Opened 1961 by the Navan Sisters of Mercy, Ireland
- 184 students in six grades at founding
- Today includes Early-Childhood Learning Center, science labs, media center, gymnasium, and athletic fields
- Principal: Jennifer Swain — 904-733-2313
Faith Formation & Youth
Faith formation at San Jose is coordinated through the Director of Evangelization & Religious Education (Diane Foley, Ext. 108, [email protected]) and the Director of Youth Ministry (Denisse Collins, Ext. 114). Programs support sacramental preparation (Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation) as well as ongoing formation for children, youth, and adults exploring the Catholic faith. The parish also publicizes a 'Becoming Catholic' / OCIA pathway on the homepage for those discerning entry into the Church.
- Director of Evangelization & Religious Education: Diane Foley
- Director of Youth Ministry: Denisse Collins
- Becoming Catholic / OCIA inquiry
- Sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation
Music Ministry
Liturgical music is led by Kimberly Conway, Director of Music Ministry (Ext. 115). The parish celebrates Sunday Masses in English and Spanish with music appropriate to each liturgy, and supports a school Mass on Wednesdays.
- Director of Music Ministry: Kimberly Conway ([email protected])
Hispanic Ministry
San Jose has one of the larger Hispanic communities in the Diocese of St. Augustine, with a weekly Sunday Mass in Spanish at 12:30 PM and dedicated Hispanic Ministry staffing. Ana Maria Montoya serves as Administrative Assistant & Hispanic Ministry (Ext. 110). The parish's 2009 Golden Anniversary profile noted Hispanic membership at nearly 500 families.
- Misa dominical en Español: Domingo 12:30 PM
- Hispanic Ministry contact: Ana Maria Montoya (Ext. 110)
Missions of Mercy (Outreach)
Missions of Mercy is a ministry 'dedicated to forming missionary disciples within our parish,' combining teaching with hands-on service and the Works of Mercy. The annual calendar (subject to change) rotates through a different outreach or mercy organization almost every month, with an annual international mission trip in the spring. All events are open to all people of all ages.
- September — Catholic Charities
- October — Into Life: Love Changes Everything
- November — Veterans Day service project
- January — Prison Ministry
- February — Daniel Foundation
- March — TBA
- April — Mission trip to the Dominican Republic (Sister Parish Ministry)
- Contact: Diane Foley, [email protected], 904-733-1630
Sacraments
San Jose celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and publishes dedicated pages for each on its website. Schedules and requirements (such as marriage preparation, baptism preparation, or anointing of the sick) are best obtained by contacting the parish office, since most sacramental dates are coordinated individually.
- Baptism — preparation required; contact parish office
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:30–4:15 PM, Wednesdays 6:00–7:00 PM, or by appointment
- First Communion — preparation through Faith Formation
- Confirmation — preparation through Faith Formation
- Anointing of the Sick — by request / hospital visitation
- Marriage — preparation and meetings with a priest required
- Priesthood / Holy Orders — vocations discernment supported
Visit, Register & Connect
The parish homepage prominently invites new members with 'Parish Registration' and 'Becoming Catholic' buttons, plus links to Sacraments, Online Giving, Bulletins, the School, the parish Facebook page, and a Vacation Bible School announcement. Visitors are welcomed with the tagline 'You Belong Here' — a phrase echoed throughout the site's banners.
- Parish Registration (online via sjcatholic.org)
- Becoming Catholic / OCIA inquiry
- Online Giving
- Weekly Bulletins (posted online)
- Vacation Bible School (VBS 2026 announced)
- Facebook: facebook.com/SanJoseCatholicJacksonville
Capital Campaign & Building
The parish website surfaces an active 'Mass Times Capital Campaign' and a recent Groundbreaking Ceremony as part of the parish's ongoing facility development. The campaign complements existing facilities — the church (1990), the Shrine of the Holy Family (1968), the Cultural Center (1974), and the parish center named for Monsignor Lenihan.
- Mass Times Capital Campaign (in progress)
- Groundbreaking Ceremony announced
- Campus includes church, Shrine of the Holy Family, Cultural Center, parish school, and parish center
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father (later Monsignor) Mortimer Danaher1959–1977
Founding pastor; oversaw the arrival of the Navan Sisters of Mercy and the opening of San Jose Catholic School in 1961.
- Monsignor John Lenihan1977–1999
Expanded the school and oversaw construction of the present Spanish-style church, dedicated November 9, 1990. A parish center is named in his honor.
- Moss (first name not verified)1999–(predecessor to current pastor)
Succeeded Monsignor Lenihan in 1999 per the parish's 2009 Golden Anniversary history.
- Rev. Remek Blaszkowski, J.C.D.present
Current pastor, listed on the Diocese of St. Augustine parish page and on the parish's own staff page.