About St. Joan of Arc · San Ramon, California
St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Oakland located at 2601 San Ramon Valley Boulevard in San Ramon, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area's East Bay (Contra Costa County). Founded in 1979 and built on an eight-acre parcel once part of a 20-acre ranch, the parish serves more than 3,300 registered families under the motto 'To be Christ for others as Christ is for Us.' It offers a full sacramental and formation life — daily and Sunday Mass, Saturday confession, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, RCIA, a robust children's and youth ministry, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference (with a youth branch called VOTA), Knights of Columbus Council 9206, music ministry, and outreach to neighbors in need.
- Established
- 1979
- Patron
- St. Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc), virgin and martyr, patron of France and of soldiers
- Rector
- Rev. Johnson Abraham (Father Johnson Abraham)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Oakland (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
St. Joan of Arc is a large, mission-driven parish of more than 3,300 families that lives out the motto 'To be Christ for others as Christ is for Us.' Daily and Sunday Mass, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (6 a.m.–9 p.m.) and weekly confession make the sacraments easy to access, and there is a clear pathway for every age — SJAKids for K–5 families, SPARK for middle schoolers, LIGHT and Confirmation for high school teens, and a full OCIA/RCIA process for adults. Practical faith extends into the community through the parish's own St. Vincent de Paul conference (with a youth branch, VOTA), Knights of Columbus Council 9206, and regular food and clothing drives.
Mass times at St. Joan of Arc
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–4:00 pm in the church
- By appointment (call the Parish Office, (925) 830-0600)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration Chapel open daily 6:00 am – 9:00 pm, concluding with Benediction (chapel is downstairs, lower parking lot)
Parish History
St. Joan of Arc was established in 1979 by the Diocese of Oakland, carved from the growing Catholic communities of St. Isidore in Danville and St. Raymond in Dublin. Bishop John S. Cummins appointed Rev. Michael Joyce as founding pastor. For the first four years, Masses were held in the library of John Baldwin Elementary School in Danville — a makeshift 'St. John Baldwin' where volunteers moved chairs in and out weekly and even baptisms and weddings took place. A trailer on the future church site served as parish and religious-education headquarters.
- 1979 — Parish established by the Diocese of Oakland; Fr. Michael Joyce appointed founding pastor.
- April 25, 1982 — Groundbreaking ceremony on the eight-acre former ranch site.
- October 16, 1983 — First Mass celebrated in the new church.
- December 11, 1983 — Bishop Cummins consecrates the altar at the dedication.
- 1985 — Bronze statue of St. Joan of Arc commissioned, sculpted by Heloise Swaback, dedicated June 9, 1985.
- September 8, 1991 — Second groundbreaking for the Parish Center.
- Fall 1993 — Parish Center completed and church expanded to its present size.
- 2008 (June 8) — Church renovated and rededicated by Bishop Allen Vigneron.
Architecture and the St. Joan of Arc Statue
The church was designed by Aaron Green of San Francisco, a long-time associate of Frank Lloyd Wright, whose plan was selected after the parish compiled a list of desired features. The eight-acre site is on a former 20-acre ranch, with the church sitting on the site of the old farmhouse and looking out at Mt. Diablo. The original 1983 church seated 450 and was expanded to its present size during the 1993 Parish Center project, also designed by Green as part of the master plan.
- Architect: Aaron Green, San Francisco (Frank Lloyd Wright associate).
- Original central seating: 450; church expanded during 1993 Parish Center construction.
- Parish Center (1993): six pastoral offices, main office, lobby/workroom, two conference rooms, religious education office, library, gymnasium, four classrooms, multipurpose room with kitchen and lawn.
- Bronze statue: 13'9" tall, ~2,000 lbs, by sculptor Heloise Swaback via the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation; cast at Artworks Foundry, Berkeley; dedicated June 9, 1985.
Pastorate and Succession
Five pastors have shepherded the parish. The founding pastor, Fr. Michael Joyce, led it for 15 years (1979–1994) and was honored with a plaque on the Parish Center. His successor, Fr. Fred Riccio, oversaw the 2008 renovation/rededication before transferring to St. Joseph Basilica in Alameda. Fr. Ray Zielezienski, Fr. Ray Sacca and (since September 2023) Fr. Johnson Abraham have continued that work, with several parochial vicars serving alongside them.
- Rev. Michael Joyce (1979–1994) — founding pastor.
- Rev. Fred Riccio (1994–2008) — oversaw 2008 rededication by Bishop Vigneron.
- Rev. Ray Zielezienski (2008–2015).
- Rev. Ray Sacca (2015–Sept 2023).
- Rev. Johnson Abraham (Sept 2023–present) — current pastor.
- Parochial vicars named on the parish history include Fr. Ian Mendoza (2010), Fr. Jayson Landeza, Fr. Derrick Oliveira (2014), and Fr. Joseph Le (2016).
Children & Youth Faith Formation
Children's faith formation is offered age-by-age through the parish. SJAKids (grades K–5) is a family-based program — kids come with at least one parent and learn the faith through Scripture, music, prayer, crafts and games. It meets in three sessions across the school year (Sunday morning before 10:00 Mass, Sunday before noon Mass, and Thursday evenings). First Reconciliation and First Communion are a two-year process built into SJAKids, with extra sacramental sessions in the second year.
- SJAKids (K–5, family-based) — sessions Sunday A (8:45–10 am), Sunday B (10:45 am–12 pm), and Thursday (6:00–7:15 pm)
- First Reconciliation / First Communion — two-year preparation integrated with SJAKids
- SPARK — Middle School Youth Ministry, Wednesdays 6:50–8:30 pm in the Multi-Purpose Room
- LIGHT — High School Youth Ministry ('Leading Teens Closer to Christ'), Sundays 6:50–8:30 pm
- S.A.L.T. — Serving And Leading Together (youth leadership team)
- Confirmation — for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors (prerequisites: 3 semesters of LIGHT, 20 hrs community service, 1 retreat)
Adult Faith Formation and OCIA (RCIA)
Adult faith formation at St. Joan of Arc is directed by Mark Morelli, with OCIA/RCIA coordinated through Maureen Tiffany. Adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation or full reception into the Catholic Church are welcomed through the RCIA process. Ongoing adult formation, Bible Study and Young Adults ministry are also part of parish life.
- RCIA / OCIA for adults (ages 18+) — contact Maureen Tiffany at [email protected] or (925) 830-0600
- Adult Faith Formation — Director Mark Morelli
- Bible Study
- Young Adults ministry
Reaching Out: Outreach and Service
Outreach is a pillar of parish life, rooted in the motto 'To be Christ for others as Christ is for Us.' The parish hosts its own Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference (with a youth branch, VOTA — 'Vincentians of the Arc'), Knights of Columbus Council 9206, and regular food, clothing and seasonal drives. SPARK youth support Monument Crisis Center through ongoing service projects, and VOTA teens serve at the SVdP Family Resource Center free hot-shower program and food distributions.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference — utility/financial assistance, vouchers for clothing/furniture, food pantries
- Vincentians of the Arc (VOTA) — youth branch of SVdP, 8th grade through sophomore age
- Knights of Columbus Council 9206 — parish fraternal council
- Monument Crisis Center support — cereal/Peanut Butter (October), Thanksgiving boxes (November), Christmas stockings (December), sock drive (January)
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — led by SPARK youth; fleece tie-blanket prayer shawls prepared for those in need
Music Ministry
Music Ministry is directed by Ryan Bradford and supports the parish's liturgical life. The parish invites instrumentalists and singers to join the music family — those interested are encouraged to contact Ryan Bradford at the parish office.
- Director of Music Ministry: Ryan Bradford
- Phone: (925) 830-0600 ext. 227
- Instrumentalists and singers welcome to join
Parish Staff
The parish staff supports pastor Fr. Johnson Abraham, the deacons, and the wider parish in liturgy, formation, music, communications, facilities and administration.
- Rev. Johnson Abraham — Pastor (ext. 223)
- Deacon Keith Machi
- Deacon Fred Seril
- Bob Cummings — Pastoral Associate (ext. 224)
- Ryan Bradford — Director of Music Ministry (ext. 227)
- Maureen Tiffany — OCIA/Liturgy Coordinator; Director of Adult Faith Formation (ext. 222)
- Mary Machi — Director of Family Formation
- Kristin Crews — Family Formation Administrator
- Lien-Thi de la Pena — Youth Administrator (ext. 228)
- Sally Oto — (ext. 234)
- Marie Pena — Office Administrator & Communications (ext. 233)
- Wendy Bankson — (ext. 232)
- Mark Morelli — Social Media
- John Cummings — Facilities Plant Manager
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors are welcomed at the Parish Office, open M–Th, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The parish can be reached by phone at (925) 830-0600 or by email at [email protected]. Funeral arrangements can be made by calling the Parish Office or emailing [email protected]. The Adoration Chapel is downstairs, accessed from the lower parking lot, and is open daily for prayer.
- Address: 2601 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon, CA 94583
- Phone: (925) 830-0600
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office hours: Mon–Thu, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
- Adoration Chapel access: lower parking lot, downstairs entrance
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael Joyce1979–1994
Founding pastor, appointed by Bishop John S. Cummins. Led the parish from its establishment through construction, first Mass (Oct 16, 1983), and the 1993 Parish Center expansion. Honored with a plaque on the Parish Center when he departed in May 1994.
- Rev. Fred Riccio1994–2008
Second pastor. Expanded parish ministries; oversaw the 2008 church renovation and rededication by Bishop Allen Vigneron on June 8, 2008. Transferred to St. Joseph Basilica in Alameda in August 2008; honored with a plaque on the Christos window behind the altar.
- Rev. Ray Zielezienski2008–2015
Third pastor. Retired in 2015.
- Rev. Ray Sacca2015–September 2023
Fourth pastor. Retired in September 2023.
- Rev. Johnson AbrahamSeptember 2023–present
Fifth and current pastor.