About San Jose Mission · San Jose, Arizona
San Jose Mission is a small Catholic mission church located in the unincorporated community of San Jose, Arizona, in the Gila Valley of Graham County. It is one of five Catholic communities served by St. Rose of Lima Parish in Safford, in the Diocese of Tucson. The mission was originally built in 1894 to serve the Catholic families living in the San Jose area east of Solomon, was closed roughly sixty years later, and was re-dedicated as a House of God by Bishop Manuel Moreno of the Diocese of Tucson in 1985. Today it is overseen by the pastor and staff of St. Rose of Lima Parish and shares in the parish's Mass schedule, sacraments, and ministries.
- Established
- 1894
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Nicodemus Shaghel, V.C.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tucson
Why belong here
San Jose Mission is a small historic mission chapel in the heart of the Gila Valley, re-dedicated in 1985 and now ministered as part of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Safford. Worshippers and visitors can tap into the full sacramental life of a large, active parish — daily 8:00 a.m. Mass, three Sunday Masses plus a 5:00 p.m. evening Mass, Saturday confessions, RCIA, marriage prep, baptism classes, and a vibrant Catholic Daughters Court — while still gathering at a quiet country mission with deep 19th-century roots. For Spanish-speaking Catholics in San Jose, the parish offers a fully bilingual worship environment including Spanish-confirmed Mass times and ministries.
Mass times at San Jose Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30–5:30 PM (at St. Rose of Lima, Safford)
- Tuesday after the 8:00 AM Mass (Spanish, at St. Rose of Lima, Safford)
- Wednesday 9:30–10:00 AM (Spanish, at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Solomon)
About San Jose Mission
San Jose Mission is a small historic Catholic mission located in the community of San Jose, Arizona, just east of Solomon in the Gila Valley of Graham County. It is administered as a mission of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Safford, which sits in the Diocese of Tucson. Worshippers are warmly welcomed and may participate in the full sacramental and ministry life of the parish.
History of San Jose Mission
The mission was built in 1894 to serve Catholic families who had settled in the San Jose farming area east of Solomon, at a time when travel between the scattered communities of the Gila Valley was slow and difficult. After roughly sixty years of service it was closed. Bishop Manuel Moreno of the Diocese of Tucson re-dedicated the mission in 1985 as a House of God, restoring it to active pastoral life as one of the communities within St. Rose of Lima Parish.
- 1894 — San Jose Mission built east of Solomon, AZ, to serve the growing San Jose area.
- c. 1954 — Mission closed after about sixty years of service.
- 1985 — Bishop Manuel Moreno (Diocese of Tucson) re-dedicated the mission as a House of God.
St. Rose of Lima Parish — the Mother Community
San Jose Mission does not stand alone. It is one of five Catholic communities in the Gila Valley served by St. Rose of Lima Parish in Safford, whose story begins in 1937 when western Graham County was designated a separate parish. The first pastor was Rev. J. N. Patterson, succeeded by a long line of priests serving at 311 S Central Ave., Safford. The Sisters of the Eucharistic Missionaries of St. Dominic (the 'White Sisters') arrived in 1961 to help with the catechetical program, and the present St. Rose of Lima church was built under Father Kelly — groundbreaking August 12, 1962, first Mass Easter Sunday, April 14, 1963.
- St. Rose of Lima Church, 311 S Central Ave., Safford (main parish church, 1963)
- Our Lady of Guadalupe, Solomon (designated a Shrine in 1981)
- St. Martin de Porres Mission, Pima
- Newman Center, Thatcher
- San Jose Mission, 1642 S Church St., Safford (in San Jose, AZ)
Sacraments
Through St. Rose of Lima Parish, the faithful can prepare for and receive all the sacraments. Baptism requires a baptismal class on the second Saturday of the month (10:00 AM–12:00 PM), submission of the child's birth certificate, and an appointment with the priest. Children aged 11 and older go through RCIA preparation instead. Marriage requires contact with the parish office at least six months in advance, completion of Pre-Cana or Engaged Encounter, and gathering the listed documents (Baptismal, First Communion, Confirmation certificates, marriage license, and any prior marriage documents). Confirmation, First Communion, Anointing of the Sick, RCIA, and funeral services are coordinated through the parish.
- Baptismal class: 2nd Saturday, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Marriage preparation: at least 6 months; $300 donation ($100 non-refundable deposit)
- RCIA for adults and children 11+ seeking Baptism
- Pre-Cana / Engaged Encounter class required for marriage
Parish Ministries & Organizations
San Jose Mission benefits from the ministries of St. Rose of Lima Parish, which include the well-known national Catholic lay organizations and a full set of liturgical and educational ministries. The Catholic Daughters of America — Court Saint Rose of Lima #2398 — supports scholarships, the St. Vincent de Paul conference, local hospice, cancer-patient travel assistance, and other community needs through the parish's annual Festival of Trees and bake sales.
- Catholic Daughters of America — Court Saint Rose of Lima #2398
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Knights of Columbus
- Cursillo
- Sacristans, Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Music ministers / choir / cantors
- Youth & young-adult outreach
Staff, Clergy & Parish Leadership
The mission and parish are led by their pastor and supported by a Board of Directors. Parish office staff assist with sacramental preparation, bulletins, and general parish administration. Messages to the pastor and staff may be sent through the parish website's contact form.
- Pastor: Rev. Nicodemus Shaghel, V.C.
- Parish Board of Directors: President — Rev. Nicodemus Shaghel, V.C.; Vice President — Reverend John Arnold; Treasurer — Caro Gaethje; Secretary — Margaret Vidales; Bishop Gerald Kicanas
- Parish Office staff: Sara Garcia-Hott (Public Contact, 520-507-1145 after hours), Carla Vessels
Visiting, Address & Contact
San Jose Mission is at 1642 S Church St., Safford, AZ 85546 (within the community of San Jose, Arizona). All sacramental records, Mass intentions, and pastoral coordination are handled through the St. Rose of Lima Parish office at 311 S Central Ave., Safford, AZ 85546. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM; phone (928) 428-4920; fax (928) 428-4922; email [email protected].
- San Jose Mission address: 1642 S Church St., Safford, AZ 85546
- Parish office: 311 S Central Ave., Safford, AZ 85546
- Phone: (928) 428-4920 — Fax: (928) 428-4922
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. J. N. Patterson1937
First pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish when western Graham County was designated its own parish
- Rev. B. P. O'oyle1938–c.1948
Served the parish for approximately 10 years
- Rev. P. M. Larocque, O.F.1948–1961
Acquired the current Catholic center site in 1950
- Rev. Martin C. KellyMarch 1961–
Broke ground on the new St. Rose of Lima church on Aug. 12, 1962; first Mass in the new church Easter Sunday, April 14, 1963
- Rev. Tony Navvario
Listed on the parish's 'Past, Interim, and Present Pastors' roster
- Rev. Domenico Pinti
Listed on the parish's 'Past, Interim, and Present Pastors' roster
- Rev. Ariel G. Lustan
Listed on the parish's 'Past, Interim, and Present Pastors' roster
- Rev. Edward Lucero
Listed on the parish's 'Past, Interim, and Present Pastors' roster
- Rev. Robert A. Rodriguez07/2013 – 7/2018
Immediate predecessor of the current pastor
- Rev. Nicodemus Shaghel, V.C.07/2018 – Present
Current pastor; served previously at Immaculate Conception, Yuma, and earlier in Nigeria