About St. Augustine · Pleasanton, California
St. Augustine Church, in the heart of Pleasanton, California, is the historic campus of the Catholic Community of Pleasanton (CCOP), a single parish family worshipping at two church sites. The parish was canonically established in 1901, making it the city's oldest Catholic parish, and the present church on Bernal Avenue was dedicated in 1968. A second campus, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, was dedicated in 2000 as the parish grew, and today the two buildings form one all-generations faith community serving the Tri-Valley under the Diocese of Oakland and Bishop Michael Barber. Worship is offered in English and Korean, with a robust sacramental life, OCIA (RCIA), faith formation for children and youth, Knights of Columbus service, and outreach through Catholic Social Teaching.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- St. Augustine of Hippo
- Rector
- Rev. Mark D. Wiesner
- Diocese
- Diocese of Oakland (Bishop Michael Barber, SJ)
Why belong here
CCOP describes itself as an all-generations community — two church campuses (St. Augustine and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton) sharing one parish family, with a place for everyone from young children to longtime members. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass in English plus a weekly Korean Mass through the Tri-Valley Korean Catholic Community, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, Saturday confessions, a full sacramental life, and a vibrant OCIA process for adults. Active ministries — Faith Formation for K–12, Confirmation, the Knights of Columbus Council #6043 with its Junior Knights, Music Ministries, the Social Justice Committee, Grief Ministry, Prayer Shawl, Respect Life, and Giving Tree — give parishioners concrete ways to live out the parish mission: "To know Christ better, live as He calls us to live, and make Him better known."
Mass times at St. Augustine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM at St. Augustine Church (two priests available)
- Anointing of the Sick and other Reconciliation times arranged through the rectory at 925-846-4489
Adoration times
- Weekly Eucharistic Adoration — Mondays 12:45 PM – 5:00 PM, St. Elizabeth Seton Eucharistic Chapel
- Weekly Eucharistic Adoration — Wednesdays 12:45 PM – 5:00 PM, St. Elizabeth Seton Eucharistic Chapel
- First Friday Adoration — after the 8:30 AM Mass until 10:00 AM at St. Augustine Church (in person)
- First Friday Adoration — after the 12:10 PM Mass until 2:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton Chapel (in person and livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube)
Our Story: 1901 to Today
St. Augustine's is the oldest Catholic parish in Pleasanton. A small chapel on Rose Avenue was built in 1882 and served by visiting priests from Mission San Jose; in 1901 it was formally constituted as a parish with its own resident priest, beginning a recorded succession of pastors that continues today. As Pleasanton grew after World War II the original church could no longer contain the congregation, and in 1968 the present St. Augustine Church opened on Bernal Avenue — the city's only Catholic church for more than thirty years. A second campus, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, was added in 2000, and the two buildings now form one parish family called the Catholic Community of Pleasanton (CCOP).
- 1882: Original chapel built on Rose Avenue; served by visiting Mission San Jose priests
- 1901: Parish canonically established; Fr. Thomas McNaboe becomes first resident pastor
- 1968: Current St. Augustine Church dedicated at 3999 Bernal Avenue
- 1985: Sacristy fire; main church saved, sacristy rebuilt
- 2000–2001: Centennial year; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton dedicated; centennial Mass, history book, time capsule
- 2019: Fr. Mark Wiesner returns as pastor on July 1
Mass & Worship Schedule
All Sunday Masses are celebrated at St. Augustine Church, with a Saturday Vigil and five Sunday options to accommodate the parish's all-generations community. Daily Mass is offered Monday through Saturday morning at St. Augustine, with a midday Mass at St. Elizabeth Seton Chapel that is livestreamed. Korean-language Mass is celebrated three days a week at St. Elizabeth Seton through the Tri-Valley Korean Catholic Community.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM
- Weekday Mass (Mon–Sat): 8:30 AM at St. Augustine
- Mon–Fri 12:10 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton Chapel (livestreamed; no Mass on holidays)
- Korean Mass: Tues/Thurs/Fri 9:30 AM at St. Elizabeth Seton
About Our Pastor: Fr. Mark D. Wiesner
Fr. Mark was born in Buffalo, NY in 1962, moved to the Bay Area as a child, graduated from UC Davis in 1985 with a degree in Rhetoric and Communications, served on NET (National Evangelization Teams), and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Oakland on June 10, 1995 at his home parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Concord. He served as a U.S. Air Force Reserve chaplain (Barksdale AFB, the Air Force Academy, Lowry AFB, Vandenberg AFB, Travis AFB) and previously served at CCOP from 1998–2001 under Fr. Dan Danielson before returning as pastor on July 1, 2019. During the 2016 Jubilee Year of Mercy he was commissioned by Pope Francis as a Missionary of Mercy, and he is also a trained working voice-over artist who has performed in more than 65 musicals.
- Education: De La Salle HS, UC Davis (1985), St. Joseph's College Seminary, St. Patrick's Seminary
- Ordained June 10, 1995 for the Diocese of Oakland
- U.S. Air Force Reserve chaplain (Barksdale, USAFA, Lowry, Vandenberg, Travis AFBs)
- Commissioned a Missionary of Mercy by Pope Francis in 2016
- Serves on Presbyterial Council and Bishop's College of Consultors
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is led by pastor Fr. Mark Wiesner with two associate pastors and a team of five deacons who serve in liturgical, formation, and outreach roles. The lay staff includes an Office Manager, Finance Manager, Pastoral Associate, Music Director, Director of Operations, and coordinators for elementary, middle school, and high school faith formation, plus OCIA and facilities/maintenance.
- Pastoral: Fr. Mark Wiesner (Pastor); Fr. Brandon Macadaeg and Fr. Gerald Pedrera (Associate Pastors)
- Deacons: Gary Wortham (Director of Liturgy), Joe Gourley (Director of Christian Living), Richard Denoix (Detention Ministry), Mario Butzner (Asst. Director of Liturgy/Altar Servers), Michael Gallagher
- Staff: Olga Morineau (Office Manager), Alejandrina Fonseca (Finance), Hannah Newell (Pastoral Associate), Christine Cardullo (St. Elizabeth Seton Secretary), Ira Stein (Director of Music Ministries), Michael Harmon (Director of Operations)
- Faith Formation: Matt Gray (OCIA/RCIA), Alexia Fierro (Elementary & Children's Sacraments), Justin Swinkels (Middle School), Ed Quindipan (High School Confirmation & Youth Group)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Parish Faith Formation Ministry's stated purpose is helping people grow in the image of Christ through programs that first win hearts (evangelization), then equip minds (catechesis), and then send people forth (service). Programs span elementary (K–5), middle school (6–8), and high school Confirmation (Year 1 and Year 2), plus sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. The parish also runs an annual Vacation Bible School and Confirmation retreats.
- Elementary Faith Formation (K–5) — Coordinator: Alexia Fierro
- Middle School Faith Formation (6–8) — Coordinator: Justin Swinkels
- High School Confirmation & Youth Group — Coordinator: Ed Quindipan
- Year 1 & Year 2 Sacramental Preparation for Reconciliation and Eucharist
- Vacation Bible School, Confirmation Retreats, RCIA Rite of Reflection Retreat
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
The parish uses the new title OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), the model identified by the U.S. Bishops to renew parish life around the link between Liturgy, Learning and Living. Adults journey through OCIA to be welcomed into the Catholic Church through the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist — in a parish-wide process marked by ongoing conversion, shared faith, hospitality, and a sense of mission.
- Director of OCIA: Matt Gray (925-202-5425)
- Components: Ongoing conversion, Faith that is shared, Hospitality as a way of life, Visible presence of the outcast & broken, Joy & celebration, Sense of mission
- RCIA Rite of Election Retreat, Rite of Reflection Retreat held annually
Knights of Columbus & Junior Knights
CCOP is home to Knights of Columbus Council #6043, the Michael J. Costello Council, which celebrated 50 years of service to the pastor, priests, parish and community in 2018. The council runs Donut Sunday, the annual Crab Feed, retreats, prayer groups, food basket deliveries, and raises donations for numerous charities. It also sponsors a Junior Knights program for Catholic boys and young men ages 8–17, focused on faith, friendship, leadership, and service. The council meets at St. Augustine's Parish Hall on the second Thursday of each month.
- Council #6043 (Michael J. Costello Council) — 50+ years of service (as of 2018)
- Council website: www.kofc6043.org
- Meets second Thursday of the month, St. Augustine Parish Hall, rooms 4–5
- Junior Knights: boys and young men ages 8–17
- Founded by Fr. Michael J. McGivney in 1882; principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity
Social Justice & Outreach
The parish's Social Justice Committee gathers on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton to encourage parishioners to serve the most vulnerable, and to educate and empower the community in the Church's Social Teachings. Sponsored and organized programs include a teaching organic garden (Fertile GroundWorks), Kids Against Hunger meal-packing events, CRS Rice Bowl during Lent, Habitat for Humanity builds, Concern America Fair Trade and Fair Trade Easter & Advent Sales, and Lenten collections for the homeless served by St. Mary's and the Livermore Homeless Refuge.
- Fertile GroundWorks (Garden of Grace, Livermore)
- Kids Against Hunger — global meal-packing initiative
- CRS Rice Bowl (Lenten solidarity)
- Habitat for Humanity (Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara Counties)
- Concern America Fair Trade (Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Bangladesh)
- Fair Trade Easter & Advent Sales
- Lenten Homeless collections (St. Mary's / Livermore Homeless Refuge)
Family Life Ministries
A suite of Family Life ministries accompanies parishioners through the major moments and challenges of life — from marriage preparation and grief support to prayer shawls, the Giving Tree at Christmas, Respect Life advocacy, and Dress A Girl Around the World. Women of Faith and Ministry to the Sick round out the pastoral care offered to parishioners who are homebound, grieving, or in need.
- Grief Ministry
- Women of Faith
- Ministry to the Sick
- Marriage Preparation
- Dress A Girl Around The World
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Giving Tree Program
- Respect Life Ministry
Liturgical Ministries & Music
Parishioners of all ages serve at the altar and in the sanctuary as Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, Ushers and Greeters, Sacristans, and Altar Linen ministers, plus Funeral Mass and Wedding Mass Coordinators. Ira Stein directs Music Ministries and leads the parish choir and instrumentalists who support Mass, holy days, parish missions, and the annual Christmas Concert.
- Altar Linen Ministry, Altar Server Ministry, Daily Mass Sacristan
- Extraordinary Minister of Communion, Lector, Ushers & Greeters
- Funeral Mass Coordinators, Wedding Mass Coordinator
- Director of Music Ministries: Ira Stein (925-474-2776)
- Parish Missions (e.g., 2023 "Come Holy Spirit"; 2024 "Great Grace, Great Gratitude"; 2021 "Nothing But Mercy")
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Information, preparation, and registration for each is coordinated through the parish office; Anointing of the Sick and emergency pastoral care are available 24/7 through the rectory emergency line.
- Baptism — preparation through the parish
- Confirmation — Year 1 & Year 2 Sacramental Preparation
- Eucharist (First Holy Communion) — second-year sacramental prep
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:00 PM and by appointment
- Marriage — Marriage Preparation program
- Anointing of the Sick — Healing Masses; emergencies via 925-846-4489, option 1
Visiting & Joining CCOP
Fr. Mark's welcome on the parish website invites visitors and newcomers to register online, browse ministries, and stop by the Welcome Team table on the third Sunday of the month (next to the donuts) for a welcome bag and information about parish life. The parish describes itself as an "all-generations community" — two church buildings, one parish family, with a place for everyone.
- Pastor's Welcome from Fr. Mark Wiesner
- Welcome Team table — third Sunday of the month after Mass
- Online parish registration available
- Parish mission: "To know Christ better, live as He calls us to live, and make Him better known."
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Thomas McNaboe1901–1906
First resident pastor when the parish was canonically established
- Fr. Joseph McAuliffe1906–1912
- Fr. Charles F. Meyers1912–1918
- Fr. Thomas O'Malley1918–1922
- Fr. Patrick McGrattan1922–1925
- Fr. Patrick O'Neill1925–1927
- Fr. Phillip Byrne1927–1928
- Fr. Timothy Galvin1928–1931
- Fr. J. Viladomat1931–1933
- Fr. Patrick J. Hennessy1933–1935
- Fr. Robert I. Falvey1935–1938
- Fr. Thomas F. Byrne1938–1941
- Fr. William F. Hennessy1941–1951
- Fr. Raymond W. Kenny1951–1954
- Fr. Edward P. Higgins1954–1959
- Fr. Joseph M. Pier1959–1965
- Fr. Edmond Cloutier1965–1981
Previously served Star of the Sea, San Francisco (1953–60); oversaw the opening era of the new 1968 church
- Msgr. Michael Lucid1981–1984
- Fr. Daniel E. Danielson1985–2008
Led the parish into its second campus (St. Elizabeth Seton, 2000) and the 2001 centennial
- Fr. Padraig Greene2009–2013
- Fr. Paul Minnihan2013–2019
- Fr. Mark Wiesner2019–present
Returned to CCOP as pastor on July 1, 2019; previously served here 1998–2001 as parochial vicar; Air Force chaplain; commissioned a Missionary of Mercy by Pope Francis in 2016