About St. Bernard · Tracy, California
St. Bernard's Catholic Parish is a large, multicultural Roman Catholic parish in Tracy, California, within the Diocese of Stockton. Established in 1908, the parish today serves more than 7,000 registered families — some 24,000 people — through the historic church on West Eaton Avenue and the modern Holy Family Center campus on Valpico and Corral Hollow Roads. Rooted in the legacy of the Irish railroad families of 19th-century Tracy and named for the 12th-century Cistercian St. Bernard of Clairvaux, the community celebrates Mass in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Filipino. It is led today by Pastor Rev. Fr. David Dutra with three parochial vicars and three deacons, and runs a parish school, faith formation for all ages, perpetual adoration, a pregnancy resource center, and dozens of ministries.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- St. Bernard of Clairvaux
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. David Dutra
- Diocese
- Diocese of Stockton
Why belong here
St. Bernard's is Tracy's oldest and largest Catholic parish, an English- and Spanish-speaking community with additional Portuguese and Filipino Masses that genuinely reflects the diversity of the San Joaquin Valley. Active parishioners worship in a mid-century church designed by architect Martin Rist, pray in a weekday Adoration Chapel, and gather at the 1,200-seat Holy Family Center — and they put their faith into action through a Pregnancy Resource Center, Ministry of Caring for the homebound and hospitalized, Respect Life, Hispanic and Filipino committees, youth and adult faith formation, and a vibrant Music Ministry. With more than 7,000 registered families, it offers the sacramental, formation, and pastoral resources of a much larger parish while staying rooted in its 1908 founding identity.
Mass times at St. Bernard
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 4:00–5:00 PM (Church)
- Saturday 6:30–7:30 AM (Church)
- Wednesday 8:00 AM (Spanish)
- Wednesday 5:30 PM (English)
- Special appointments by calling (209) 835-4560
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday: after the 8:00 AM Mass until 6:00 PM (in the Adoration Chapel)
- The Adoration Chapel is closed on all Parish Holidays
Our History
Catholic life in the Tracy area dates to 1865, when the first Mass was offered in a section house in Ellis. The mission church at Eighth Street and Central was built in 1888, the parish was formally established in 1908 under Archbishop Patrick Riordan, and the present church on Eaton Avenue was dedicated in 1951. The Holy Family Center on Valpico and Corral Hollow opened on Easter 2009, the parish's 100th anniversary.
- 1865 — first Mass in Ellis section house
- 1878 — priests from St. Mary's, Stockton begin regular visits
- 1888 — 100-seat frame church built at Eighth Street and Central
- 1908 — parish formally established; Rev. Thomas P. Moran named first pastor
- 1911 — 260-seat church built; 1912 — two-story rectory added
- 1947 — vote to build a larger church
- 1951 — present church dedicated December 16
- 1958 — parochial school opened by the Daughters of the Cross
- 1960 — Father Fleming Hall built
- 1988 — major church renovation under Msgr. Ivo D. Rocha
- 2007 — Holy Family Center groundbreaking (Nov 9)
- 2009 — first Mass in Holy Family Center on Easter Sunday (parish centennial)
- 2015 — Fr. David Dutra installed as pastor after Msgr. Rocha's retirement
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Bernard's is staffed by a pastor, three parochial vicars, three deacons, a parish administrator, and lay directors of faith formation, Hispanic ministry, youth ministry, music, and maintenance.
- Pastor: Rev. Fr. David Dutra (Ext. 125)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Fr. Antonio Hernandez Urbina (Ext. 118)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Fr. Chris Varghese (Ext. 112)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Fr. John Ngo (Ext. 156)
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Peter Ryza
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Ray Whitlock
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Victor Rodriguez
- Parish Administrator: Remedios M. Barrera
- Office Manager: Jim Gwerder
- Parish Secretary: Guadalupe Duran
- Hispanic Ministry Director / Baptism Ministry Coordinator: Leticia Villegas-Gomez
- Youth Ministry Director: Brenda Gomez
- Calendar Coordinator & Youth Ministry Assistant: Diana Gamez
- Faith Formation staff: Diana Gamez
Worship, Sacraments & Devotions
Mass is celebrated in four languages each week, with weekday Masses Monday through Saturday and a full Sunday schedule in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Filipino. Confessions are heard on Wednesdays and Saturday mornings in the church, with special appointments available by phone. The parish maintains a weekday Adoration Chapel and gathers monthly for the 14 Stations of the Eucharist.
- Sunday Mass: 7:00 AM English, 9:00 AM Portuguese, 11:00 AM English, 4:30 PM English
- Spanish Masses: Saturday 7:00 PM vigil and Sunday 8:00 AM, with additional 1:30 PM Mass at the Holy Family Center
- Weekday Mass Monday–Saturday at 8:00 AM
- Confessions: Wednesday 4–5 PM and Saturday 6:30–7:30 AM
- Adoration: Monday–Friday after 8 AM Mass until 6 PM
- Stations of the Eucharist: First Tuesday of the month after the 8 AM Mass
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Organized around the four pillars of parish stewardship — Spirituality/Prayer, Service, Formation, and Hospitality — St. Bernard's supports more than a dozen active ministries, including a state-licensed Pregnancy Resource Center that serves clients regardless of age, race, income, immigration status, religion, or disability.
- Ministry of Caring — spiritual support for the homebound, hospitalized, and those in Tracy convalescent/assisted-living facilities
- Faith Formation — First Communion and Confirmation preparation
- Respect Life — building a culture of life from conception to natural death
- Youth Group — spiritual growth and discipleship for teens
- Hispanic Committee — supports activities of the Hispanic Community
- Filipino Ministry — supports activities of the Filipino community
- Vocations Ministry (Spanish) — families praying for priests and seminarians
- Pre-Cana Marriage Preparation (Spanish)
- Pregnancy Resource Center — California state-licensed medical clinic
- Music Ministry — singers and instrumentalists for English, Spanish, Filipino, and Portuguese Masses
Facilities: Church, Holy Family Center & School
The parish operates from two main campuses in Tracy. The historic main church and parish school sit on Eaton Avenue; the Holy Family Center, dedicated Easter 2009, occupies a 20-acre site at Valpico and Corral Hollow Roads and seats about 1,200 for Mass and community events.
- Main church: 163 W. Eaton Avenue (dedicated 1951; designed by architect Martin Rist)
- Holy Family Center: Valpico and Corral Hollow Roads (first Mass Easter 2009)
- Father Fleming Hall: meeting hall, large kitchen, and 700-seat auditorium (built 1960)
- Adoration Chapel: weekday adoration (renovated under Fr. Dutra)
- Parochial School: opened 1958 by the Daughters of the Cross; K-8 faith-based education
- Ministry Center: parish offices and meeting space; restrooms recently expanded
Getting Involved
Parishioners can register online, serve in a ministry, or participate in faith formation at any stage of life. The parish describes itself as one family 'rich in culture and tradition, willing to share our gifts with all.'
- Register or update family information through the parish office
- Volunteer through any of the parish ministries
- Faith Formation for children and adults
- Youth Ministry and Youth Group for teens
- Music Ministry ensembles in four languages
St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Patron of the Parish
Named in 1908 when Archbishop Riordan established the parish, St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153) was a French Cistercian monk and abbot who founded 163 monasteries across Europe and was declared a Doctor of the Church. His feast day is August 20.
- Patron: St. Bernard of Clairvaux
- Feast day: August 20
- Cistercian monk, abbot, and Doctor of the Church
- Founder of 163 monasteries in Europe
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Peter Moran1908–
First pastor; appointed by Archbishop Riordan, a native of County Cavan, Ireland; celebrated the parish's first baptism and wedding on November 28, 1908; built the 260-seat church (1911) and rectory (1912) at Eighth Street and Central.
- Rev. Thomas F. Fleming1944–
Appointed pastor in 1944; oversaw the construction of the present 700-seat church on Eaton Avenue, dedicated December 16, 1951, and the building of the parochial school and Father Fleming Hall.
- Monsignor Ivo D. Rocharetired 2015
Led the 1988 church renovation and development of parish offices and the Ministry Center in the mid-1990s.
- Rev. Fr. David Dutra2015–present
Installed as pastor in 2015; led the parish through COVID-era outdoor Masses and confessions; oversaw painting of church and school, new school roof, renovated Adoration Chapel, solar installation, refurbished Father Fleming Hall, and additional Ministry Center restrooms.