About St. Bernard - Holy Family Center · Tracy, California
St. Bernard's Catholic Parish is a large, multi-cultural Roman Catholic parish in Tracy, California, belonging to the Diocese of Stockton. With more than 7,000 registered families, it is one of the larger parishes in the Central Valley and worships at two locations: the historic church on West Eaton Avenue and the Holy Family Center on Valpico Road. Masses are celebrated in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, reflecting the diverse community of Tracy. The parish also runs a parish school (K-8) and preschool, an active youth ministry, faith formation for all ages, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and a perpetual Adoration Chapel.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- St. Bernard of Clairvaux
- Rector
- Rev. David Dutra
- Diocese
- Diocese of Stockton
Why belong here
St. Bernard's is a parish where a fast-growing, multilingual Central Valley community can worship, learn, and serve together. Catholics can attend Mass in English, Spanish, or Portuguese at two locations, spend time with the Lord in a perpetual Adoration Chapel open Monday through Friday, and find a ministry for every stage of life — from Family Catechesis and First Communion/Confirmation prep, to RESPECT for adults with learning disabilities, to youth and young-adult fellowship, to St. Vincent de Paul outreach and the Ministry of Caring for the sick and homebound. With its parish school and preschool, the parish also offers Catholic education for the youngest members of the community.
Mass times at St. Bernard - Holy Family Center
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 4:00–5:00 PM (in the church)
- Saturday: 6:30–7:30 AM (in the church)
- Special appointments available by contacting a parish priest
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel: Monday–Friday, after the 8:00 AM Mass until 6:00 PM
- 14 Stations of the Eucharist on the First Tuesday of the month after 8:00 AM Mass
- Sign-up for 24-hour Adoration in the church (monthly)
About St. Bernard's Catholic Parish
St. Bernard's is a large Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Stockton, serving the city of Tracy, California, and surrounding communities. The parish worships at two sites — the historic church on West Eaton Avenue and the Holy Family Center on Valpico Road — and serves more than 7,000 registered families, some 24,000 individuals. Its mission statement describes a community 'gathered as one family, rich in culture and tradition,' with the parish's stated purpose of 'leading people to an encounter with Christ that lasts forever.' Mass is celebrated in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
- Parish Mission Statement: 'Leading people to an encounter with Christ that lasts forever.'
- Core Purpose: 'Expressing our love of Jesus Christ through the Eucharist, enlightened by the Holy Spirit… we gather as one family, rich in culture and tradition.'
- Operates a Parish School (K-8) and Preschool on the Eaton Avenue campus
- Multi-lingual: English, Spanish, and Portuguese
Parish History
Catholic life in Tracy goes back to 1865, when the first Mass in the area was offered in a railroad section house at Ellis, four miles west of present-day Tracy. Priests from St. Mary's in Stockton came to say Mass until 1878, after which Masses were held in private homes. In 1888, a small 100-seat frame church was built at Eighth Street and Central Avenue on land donated by Charles Crocker of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The mission was formally established as a parish in 1908 by San Francisco Archbishop Patrick Riordan, who named it after St. Bernard of Clairvaux and appointed Father Thomas Peter Moran as the first pastor.
- 1865 — First Mass at Ellis section house
- 1878 — Masses move to private homes
- 1888 — 100-seat frame church built at Eighth and Central
- 1908 — Parish formally established; Fr. T.P. Moran arrives
Building the Parish
Under Father Moran, the parish quickly outgrew its first church. In 1911, parishioners built a 260-seat wood-frame church on the same site, and a two-story rectory was added in 1912. As Tracy grew through the early 20th century, a still larger church became necessary, and the present Eaton Avenue site was chosen in 1947 under Father Thomas F. Fleming. Construction began in 1950 and the 700-seat church, along with a parish house for three priests, was dedicated December 16, 1951.
- 1911 — 260-seat church at Eighth and Central
- 1912 — Two-story rectory completed
- 1950 — Construction begins at Eaton Avenue
- December 16, 1951 — 700-seat church dedicated
School, Convent, and Father Fleming Hall
Five years after the new church was dedicated, the parish opened a parochial school, staffed by the Daughters of the Cross, a religious order from Liège, Belgium. The school opened in September 1958 with 135 students in grades 1-3, and a convent was built to house the sisters. An all-purpose building — meeting hall, large kitchen, and 700-seat auditorium named Father Fleming Hall — followed. A kindergarten was added in 1981, and a preschool opened in 2015 in a new building facing Beverly Place.
- Sept 17, 1958 — School opens with 135 students in grades 1-3
- Daughters of the Cross (Liège, Belgium) staff the school
- Father Fleming Hall — meeting hall, kitchen, 700-seat auditorium
- 1981 — Kindergarten added
- 2015 — Preschool begins in new building on Beverly Place
Monsignor Rocha Era and the Holy Family Center
Monsignor Ivo D. Rocha became pastor in 1984 and led the parish for 31 years. He led a major renovation of the church in 1988, the development of the parish offices and the new Ministry Center in the mid-1990s, and the planning and construction of the Holy Family Center. Ground was broken on the new 20-acre Valpico and Corral Hollow site on November 9, 2007, and the 25,000-square-foot, 1,200-seat multi-purpose building opened at sunrise on Easter Sunday 2009 — the parish's 100th anniversary. Monsignor Rocha retired in 2015 after 49 years as a priest, and was succeeded by Father David Dutra, who had served the previous year as associate pastor. The Daughters of the Cross were also recalled to Belgium in 2015 to care for their elderly sisters.
- 1984 — Msgr. Ivo D. Rocha becomes pastor
- 1988 — Major church renovation
- Mid-1990s — New Ministry Center and parish offices
- Nov 9, 2007 — Groundbreaking at Valpico & Corral Hollow
- Easter 2009 — Holy Family Center opens (parish centennial)
- 2015 — Msgr. Rocha retires; Fr. David Dutra installed as pastor
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is currently led by Father David Dutra as pastor, with three parochial vicars and three deacons assisting. The staff page also lists a Parish Administrator, Office Manager, Director of Liturgy, Director of Music, Director of Adult Formation, two Faith Formation staff, a Youth Ministry Director and assistant, Hispanic Ministry / Baptism Coordinator, Ministry of Caring Coordinator, bookkeeper, receptionists, secretaries, administrative assistant, and maintenance and custodial staff.
- Pastor — Rev. David Dutra (ext 125)
- Parochial Vicars — Rev. Marcelino Malana, Rev. John Hieu Ngo, Rev. Christhudasan Varghese
- Deacons — Rev. Mr. Victor Rodriguez, Rev. Mr. Peter Ryza, Rev. Mr. Ray Whitlock
- Parish Administrator — Joe Curtis
- Office Manager — Marie White
- Director of Liturgy — Mary Costa
- Director of Music — Jim Gwerder
- Director of Adult Formation — Leticia Villegas-Gomez
- Faith Formation — Diana Gamez, Guadalupe Duran
- Youth Ministry Director — Brenda Gomez; Assistant — Laura V. Ramos
- Hispanic Ministry / Baptism — Remedios M. Barrera
- Ministry of Caring — Martha Segura
- Pastoral Council led by Pastor Rev. David Dutra ([email protected])
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Bernard's is a two-year Family Catechesis program preparing children and youth for the Sacraments, with separate tracks for Holy Communion and Reconciliation (grades 2–5), Confirmation (grades 6–11), First Communion & Confirmation for previously-baptized children grades 6–11 (HCC), and the Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC) for unbaptized children grades 6–11. The parish also offers the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. program, which prepares persons with learning disabilities for the Sacraments. The two-year program is open to registered parishioners who are residents of Tracy or Mountain House.
- Family Catechesis — two-year program for First Communion/Reconciliation and Confirmation
- Holy Communion & Reconciliation — grades 2–5
- Confirmation — grades 6–11
- HCC — Holy Communion & Confirmation for baptized children grades 6–11 not yet receiving Communion
- OCIC — Order of Christian Initiation for Children, grades 6–11 not yet baptized
- R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Program — Sacramental preparation for persons with learning disabilities
- Faith Formation Office contacts: Diana Gamez ([email protected], 209-673-8852), Guadalupe Duran ([email protected], 209-673-8890)
Adult Formation, Youth, and Young Adults
Adults can grow in their faith through Faith Enrichment for Adults (FEA) workshops, the Adult Formation program under Director Leticia Villegas-Gomez ([email protected], 209-673-8873), and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Middle-school (ED Night) and high-school (HS Night) youth meet weekly for fellowship, formation, prayer, and service under Youth Ministry Director Brenda Gomez and assistant Laura V. Ramos. The Hive (HV) is a young-adult community for Catholics in their 20s and 30s who want to deepen their Catholic faith and build community through fellowship, fun, and formation.
- Faith Enrichment for Adults (FEA) workshops
- RCIA for adults — Director of Adult Formation: Leticia Villegas-Gomez
- Youth Ministry — ED Night (middle school) and HS Night (high school), weekly meetings 6:00 PM
- Annual events: Stations of the Cross nights, Trust Fall, Pentecost, Fire Fall Down, Jewelry Sales
- The Hive Young Adults — fellowship, formation, community
Outreach and Social Ministry
St. Bernard's lives out the call to service through several outreach ministries. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) is a lay Catholic organization offering person-to-person service to the needy and suffering. Tracy Interfaith Ministries (TIM) is an interdenominational partner organization that provides food and clothing to low-income and homeless families in Tracy. The Ministry of Caring provides spiritual support to parishioners who are unable to attend Mass, including visits to local hospitals and Tracy convalescent and assisted-living facilities. The Respect Life Ministry works to build a culture of life from conception to natural death through prayer, education, pastoral care, and advocacy.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) — person-to-person service to the needy
- Tracy Interfaith Ministries (TIM) — food and clothing for the poor and homeless in Tracy
- Ministry of Caring — visits to hospital, convalescent, and assisted-living facilities; coordinator: Martha Segura
- Respect Life Ministry — prayer, education, pastoral care, and advocacy for life
- Hispanic Ministry and Baptism Ministry — Remedios M. Barrera (209-673-8856)
Parish School and Preschool
St. Bernard's Parish School serves preschool through eighth grade on the Eaton Avenue campus, sharing facilities with the church. The school was founded in 1958 by the Daughters of the Cross, who came from England at the invitation of A.P. Bogetti's wife Jeanne, a native of Belgium. A kindergarten was added in 1981 and a preschool opened in 2015 in a new building facing Beverly Place. As the number of available religious sisters declined, lay teachers took over the faculty; the last religious sister to teach, Sister Mary Eugene (mathematics), retired in 2000. Father David Dutra serves as the school's pastor.
- Parish School: preschool and K-8, on the Eaton Avenue campus
- Founded 1958 — first three grades, 135 students
- Originally staffed by the Daughters of the Cross from Belgium
- Kindergarten added 1981; preschool added 2015
- Pastor — Rev. Fr. David Dutra
Facilities: Church, Holy Family Center, and Father Fleming Hall
The parish operates out of two connected campuses. The main church and school are on West Eaton Avenue; the Eaton Avenue church seats 700 and was renovated in 1988 and again under Father Dutra (repainted, along with the school). The Holy Family Center, a 25,000-square-foot tilt-up concrete multi-purpose building on a 20-acre site at Valpico and Corral Hollow Roads, seats about 1,200 and hosts additional Sunday Masses, recreation, meetings, classes, and dinners for the parish and the wider Tracy community. Father Fleming Hall — meeting hall, kitchen, and 700-seat auditorium — anchors the school complex. Under Father Dutra, the parish has painted the church and school, replaced the school's roof, renovated the Adoration Chapel, installed solar to offset PG&E costs, refurbished Father Fleming Hall, and added restrooms to the Ministry Center.
- Main Church (163 W. Eaton Ave.) — 700 seats, dedicated 1951, renovated 1988 and again under Fr. Dutra
- Holy Family Center (12100 Valpico Rd.) — 25,000 sq ft, ~1,200 seats, opened Easter 2009; 400 parking spaces
- Father Fleming Hall — meeting hall, kitchen, 700-seat auditorium (c. 1960)
- Ministry Center — additional restrooms added under Fr. Dutra
- Adoration Chapel — open Mon–Fri after 8:00 AM Mass until 6:00 PM, recently renovated
- Solar installation to offset utility costs
Getting Involved
The parish invites parishioners to register (or update their family information) through the website and to engage through the Four Pillars of Parish Stewardship — Spirituality/Prayer, Service, Formation, and Hospitality. A Pastoral Council, led by Pastor Rev. David Dutra, helps set the direction of the parish. There is a Ministry Inquiry Form on the website for anyone who would like more information about any of the parish's many ministries, and a wide range of groups welcome volunteers of all ages, languages, and backgrounds.
- Parish registration / family information update on the website
- Pastoral Council — led by Pastor Rev. David Dutra ([email protected])
- Four Pillars of Parish Stewardship: Spirituality/Prayer, Service, Formation, Hospitality
- Ministry Inquiry Form available on the website
- Contact: (209) 835-4560 for general information and emergency sacramental needs
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Peter Moran1908–
First pastor; arrived autumn 1908 from County Cavan, Ireland; performed first baptism and wedding on Nov 28, 1908; built the 260-seat church (1911) and rectory (1912).
- Rev. Thomas F. Fleming1944–
Appointed 1944; oversaw construction of the present 700-seat Eaton Avenue church (dedicated Dec 16, 1951) and the school/Parish house.
- Rev. Msgr. Ivo D. Rocha1984–2015
Served 31 years as pastor; grew parish from under 1,000 to ~7,300 families; led 1988 church renovation, Ministry Center development, and the Holy Family Center project; retired 2015.
- Rev. David Dutra2015–present
Installed as pastor in 2015 after a year as associate pastor; led the parish through COVID-19 and ongoing facility improvements.