St. Callistus

Parish Overview and Mission

St. Callistus Parish is a faith-filled Catholic community in El Sobrante, California, part of the Diocese of Oakland. The parish's published mission statement reads: 'We, the faith community of St. Callistus Parish welcome every person to share and celebrate the living of our Christian faith. In this family, nourished by the Sacraments and the Word of God, nurtured by worship and prayer, strengthened by compassion and understanding, we witness to the unconditional love of Christ in the sharing of our gifts and talents for the Glory of God and the building up of His Kingdom on Earth.'

• Goal 1: A welcoming community, honoring diversity.
• Goal 2: A caring community, reaching beyond ourselves into the greater community.
• Goal 3: A loyal community, working together in union with Christ for the service of others.

A Diverse, Cosmopolitan Community

The parish proudly describes itself as 'Roman Catholic in faith … catholic also because of our diversity,' with 'all kinds of nationalities under the sun.' St. Callistus frames itself as a community that is 'not all the same, but … united in the Lord.' This diversity is presented as a defining feature of parish life and worship.

History and Pastoral Succession

Founded in 1952 under Fr. Michael Ryan, who also oversaw construction of the present church, St. Callistus has been served by eight pastors across more than seven decades. Key building milestones include the parish hall and stained glass windows under Fr. Patrick Kearney (1973–1984), hall extension and classrooms under Fr. Edward Casey (1984–1991), the parish office, church vestibule, and youth modular building under Fr. Richard Gagliardi (1991–1997), and the church remodeling under Fr. James Thottapally (2006–2020).

• Fr. Michael Ryan (1952–1964) — founding pastor; built the church.
• Fr. Parnell McCarthy (1964–1973) — second pastor.
• Fr. Patrick Kearney (1973–1984) — built hall and stained glass.
• Fr. James O'Connor (1984) — administrator.
• Fr. Edward Casey (1984–1991) — extended hall, built classrooms.
• Fr. Richard Gagliardi (1991–1997) — Vatican II reforms, first parish council.
• Fr. Dana Paul Michaels (1997–2006) — led parish into the new millennium.
• Fr. James Thottapally (2006–2020) — church remodeling; 2010 Pastoral Award of Excellence.
• Fr. Dante Biala Tamayo (2021–present) — current Parochial Vicar.

Clergy and Parish Staff

The parish is led by Rev. Dante Biala Tamayo, who began as Parochial Vicar on January 1, 2021. He was ordained in 1993 for the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan in the Philippines and has served multiple Oakland-area parishes since 2003.

• Fr. Dante Biala Tamayo — Parochial Vicar (effective January 1, 2021)
• Marina Zamora — Office Manager / Bookkeeper
• Gilbert Estrada — Administrative Assistant
• Leadership Council (assists the Pastor)
• Pastoral Council (assists the Pastor)

Liturgical Ministries

The parish maintains a full complement of liturgical ministries that support the celebration of Mass and devotions. The website notes that 'there are many opportunities, in the various ministries of Saint Callistus Church, to use our gifts to show our love for God and for each other.'

• Altar Servers
• Art and Environment
• Eucharistic Ministers
• Greeters
• Lector
• Music Ministry
• Ushers

Faith Formation

Faith Formation at St. Callistus includes programs for children and adults, with the OCIA process for those seeking initiation into the Catholic Church. The parish website invites participation in classes on the Catholic faith for both children and adults.

• Children's Liturgy of the Word
• Children's Faith Formation
• OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
• Classes on the Catholic faith for children and adults

Young Adults Group (Ages 18–28)

The Young Adults Group at St. Callistus invites young adults ages 18–28 to grow in faith, community, and joy, seeking to deepen their relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The group meets weekly on Mondays at 6:00 PM in the St. Callistus Youth Building for prayer, friendship, service, talks, spiritual reflections, and fun activities rooted in the faith.

• Meets Mondays at 6:00 PM in the St. Callistus Youth Building
• Contact: Kylo Mallari — 304-894-4501
• Contact: Beatriz Martinez — 415-670-1149

Outreach, Prayer, and Auxiliary Ministries

Beyond liturgy and formation, St. Callistus runs outreach and prayer ministries and hosts auxiliary groups that serve the wider community, including the parish's Respect Life ministry and parish-wide rosary devotions.

• Outreach: Respect Life
• Prayer: Apostleship of Prayer
• Prayer: Block Rosary
• Other: Property Maintenance, Hospitality
• Auxiliary: Knights of Columbus
• Auxiliary: St. Vincent de Paul Society

Devotions and Special Events

St. Callistus maintains a daily devotional rhythm — the Rosary is prayed before every Sunday Mass and Saturday Vigil, and Devotional Prayers are prayed each weekday morning at 8:30 AM before the 9:00 AM Mass. The parish also hosts periodic Days of Recollection for parishioners, often featuring guest priests.

• Rosary before Sunday Masses and Saturday Vigil
• Daily Devotional Prayers (Mon–Sat, 8:30 AM)
• Mother of Perpetual Help Devotion
• Parishioner Days of Recollection (e.g., with Fr. John Mark Ettensohn)

Contact, Office, and Online Giving

Parishioners and visitors can contact the parish office by phone or email, and the office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM (closed on major holidays). Online giving is available, and parishioners can sign up for bank transfers to support the parish. Masses are livestreamed via Zoom and Facebook, with links posted on the parish website.

• Address: 3580 San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante, CA 94803
• Phone: 510-223-1153
• Email: [email protected]
• Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Online offering / bank transfers available via website
• Parish registration form available on the Contact page